GB2523599A

GB2523599A - Solar heater

Info

Publication number: GB2523599A
Application number: GB1403639.6A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Gideon Stã Wan Kukard
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2014-03-01
Filing date: 2014-03-01
Publication date: 2015-09-02
Also published as: GB201403639D0

Abstract

A solar heater comprises a chamber 2, phase change material 3 in the chamber that can be activated to deliver heat to the chamber, solar means 5 to heat the phase change material and means to extract heat 9 from the chamber. At night, heat generated by the phase change material can be extracted from the chamber. The solar means may heat a fluid (14, figure 2) in thermal contact with the phase change material. The solar means may include a solar panel 5 remote from the chamber and connected to a heat exchanger 6 in the chamber or may be a lens (15) for focussing light onto the chamber. The solar heater may be used to heat a building or to heat water in a building.

Description

Tit1e Solar Heatet The pttsent invertion relates to a solar heater.

It is known t provide solar hating systems to heat buildings or to heat water in. a hulldirkg, A problem with such $ateffls is that they do not provide heat at-night In the absence. ofsunlight.

The invention seeks to provtdea solution to this problem.

According to the present invention there is provided a solar heater comprIsing: a) a chamber, b) phase vh-ange. rnateria in the chamber *hich can be activated to deliver heal to the chamber, C) solar means-to heat the phase-change material in the chamber,, and ci) means to extract heat from the chamber, in use in the day heat be extracted kern the chamber from heal generated. by the solar means,-a-nd at night heat can be-extracted from the chamber from heat generated by the phase change material.

The solar means may heat a fluid in then al conLact with the phase change-materiaL n The phase change rntetial may he a single mass of phase change material or a plurality of sub-masses which each can. he activated to deliver heat to the chamber at different times, ili one embodiment the solar means includes, a solar panei.I remote frm the chamber, the solar panel being craineeted to a heat exchanger in the chamber wheat the phase dhange.materhd and or fluid, in the chamber.

th another embodiment the solar means may be a lens to focus light on the thamber to heat phase change material and/or fluid iii the chamber.

Embodiments of the' invention will now he described with reibrence to and aS shown in the accompanying drawings in which: ilgure I shows a schematic "view of a first enibodhuent, and Figure 2 shows a schematic view of a secrnd ethbodimcnt.

Referring to the drawings there is shom a solar healer I Fleater I has an enclosed chamber L Inside chamber 2 is a mass of phase chwtge n.:athrial 3 such as sodium.aetatc which can be acti.ated to deliver heat to the chamber. Phase change material. 3 i oVa type well known the art.

in which the material can be heated ap into aflquid and stored charged? in this. state, and thai at a desired time it can he made. to. change into a solid phase so releasing heat.

Solar means in the fonii oVa solar panel 5 is connected to a first heat exchanger 6 in chamber: 2 with flow and return pipes 7A,713. A. pump S circulates. fluid to heat the fluid in: the chamber and the phase change tnatetial.

A second heat exchanger 9 is provided in. chamber 2 with fluid flow and return pipes. 9A.9B provided as a means to extract heat from the chamber I. in use in te day, solar panel 5 will heat the chamber I and the phase ôhange material 3 wili.be heated into a chatged' liquid form. Heat can be extracted from the charnberthrough second heat exvlangr 9 to beat a building aM/or v.atcr in i budd'ng Fiwo running thror gi' heat exchangers 6 aid 9 may be a liquid or ga'> kt right heat, the psse cnange materia 3 can he made to change in to. a solid phase so releasing and generating heaL and this heat can be extracted from the eham.ber2 using the second heat exchanger 9 The rerna.ider.of the chamber 2 may filled with fluid 4 (e.g. water, given!., or afr) in. thermal contact with the phase change material. lidesired the second heat exchanger could be omhted and th.e flow and return pipes 9A,9B could circulate fluid. 4 in and. out of the chamber I so extracting heat.

The phase change material 3 may be a single mass of phase change matci iw or a puraht} of sub masses wnth each can be activated to deliver heat to the chamber at auierent limes Referring flow to Figute2 there is shown an alternative solar heater 0 to that shown. in. Figure 1.

Solar heat 10 has an enclosed chamber 11.

inside chamber ills a layer of graphene fbam 12 aid a mass of phase dhange material 13 such as sodium, acetate whióh. can be activated to deliver heat to the chamber. The remainder of the thamher 2 is tilled with fluid 14 (e.g.. water, giveoh or air) in'themial. contact with the phase ëhange. materi'ai 13.

Solar means hi the thrm of a. fresnel lens 1.5 is pravicted in focus sunlight trnuij the.chamber Ii to heat the graphene foam 12, the fluid 14 in the chamber and the phase change material 13, The gmphene foam provides, a super heat, conductive material to help heat the fluid 14 and phase chanue material 13 Fluid flow and teturn pipes 19A, i9B are ptovid as a means to extract heat from the chamber 1.

In Oat iP the day, solar panel 35 will heat the chamber I, graphene foam 12, fluid 14, and the phase. ëhange.materfal 1.3 will be. heated into a charged' liquid form. Heat can be extracted from.

the chamber [1. through the flow and return pipes 19A,19B to heat a building andIor water in a building. }.iuid ntnnig thrcgh the flow and return pipes I9A,19B may be a Nuid orgas. At night heat, phase change material 33 can be made to change in to a solid phase so releasiiig and generating hat, and this heat can. be extracted if am the chamber.1.1. the flow and return pipes 1 9A, I 913, If desire ci the flow atid teturn pipes I9A,198 could he connected t& a heat exchanger inside chamber 1 to extraetin.g heat.

The phase change material 13 may be a single mass of' phase change material or. a plurality of sub-masses which each can be activated, to deliver hcat to the chamber at different tines.

The in ventioil may take a form different to that specifically described above.

Further modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing form the scope of the uresent invention,

Claims

CLAIMS1. A solar heater comprising a) a chamber.b) phase change material in the chamber which can he activated to deliver heat to the chamber, e) solar aieans: tO heat thc pbs e cit angc material ifi the ci aTnher, and ci) means. to extract heat. from the chamber.in. use in the day heat can be extracted from the chamber from heat generated by the. solar means, and at night heat cafj he extracted from the chamber from heat generated by the phase change material.
2 A solar heater aecordmg to daim I wherein the solar means heats a fluid m thermai contact with the phase dhange materiaL 3 A sela leatci accoicing to clam 1 oi 2 wnercm the phase charge mateual is a sngle mass of phasc charge material or a plinality of SOD masses s,hu.h each can be activaLed to deirce" ieat to thechaffiber at different times.4. A solar heater accordmg to any preceding claim, wherein the solar means includes a solar.panei.remote from the chamber, the solar panel being connected to a heat exchanger in the chamber to.heat the phase change material and or fluid. in the chamber.5. A solar heater acording to any o claims I. to 3, wheteih the solar means may be a lens to focus light on the chamber to heat phase. changmateri& and/or fluid in the chamber.6 A olar hcar substantially as here Thetore dcscnbetl with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.