IE86352B1 - Sunsoc internal solar collectors - Google Patents

Abstract

Solar collectors are housed inside a structure (roof) wfthin:an insulated sock (like inside a protective baloon), with hi-tech photo-voltaic cells or simple water based tube collectors which can be randomly placed. The liner insulated sock can have a black (dark colour) or highly reflective surface etc. The whole unit will act like a thermos tube and heat loss will be minimised. The glazing panels are orientated towards the sun in new or existing surrounds (roof pitches) trapping the sun rays. These rooflights can be shielded to prevent any heat drain during night time/cold periods of no solar gain and when not in use. The energy is transmitted to the user in heated water /power depending on collector employed.

Description

FIELD OF INVENTION 5 The invention relates to a solar power collecting and/or heat absorbent collecting device, which principally operates inside a protective, insulated, reflective housing.

This internal solar power collector can be installed to create farms. It can also operate on the roof tops of buildings and in the attic of a building.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Conventional photovoltaic cells / solar heat collectors are designed to be built for the exterior environment, this has its problems: Conventional solar heat collectors: The heat collected dissipates, very quickly in cloud or at night (particularly in winter), this is a result of there being no / very little insulation in and around the unit. During winter months, when frost can occur, conventional heat collectors have anti-freeze in their exterior water pipe work. Anti20 freeze is highly toxic and must be replaced every ten to fifteen years. Solution; the internal solar power collector operates inside a housing sealed from the elements and is well insulated.

Conventional photovoltaic cells: Do not use a lens to focus solar rays into the cells, as the sun moves east to west i.e. they lie flat; this looses energy production unless the sun is directly above. A lens will also magnify the suns rays, focusing it into stronger beams of solar rays. Solution; the internal solar power collector operates in tandem with a lens or series of lenses and a reflective surface to further intensify solar rays and thus increase energy production and efficiency.

STATEMENT OF INVENTION The invention relates to a new concept for a solar power collecting {photovoltaic cell(s) and/or heat absorbent collecting} device. The device comprises of an exterior housing, which will make up the frame to house the internal components and protect -2836352 them from the elements. Part of the exterior housing has a pitch/slant. A window is inserted into the exterior housing in this pitch/slant. The pitch/slant is necessary to increase efficiency in tandem with the sun’s movements; it is best suited to face south as the sun moves east to west. This window comprises of a lens/series of lenses, it enables the suns rays to focus into the interior of the housing as the sun moves east to west. A flashing surrounds this window to seal it completely from rain water/ocean spray/sand/dust/grit etc... Inside the housing lies an insulated and/or reflective membrane sock which reduces loss of heat and reflects the suns rays (which come in from the lens/series of lenses) into the solar collector (photovoltaic and/or liquid tube system) which is suspended in the centre of the housing via thin cables or a stand {should the suns now reflected rays miss the solar collector, the rays will be reflected back by another part (opposite) of the membrane sock}. The kinetic energy produced by the sun is transferred into electric energy by the solar collector (photovoltaic cells and/or heat absorber). This electric energy produced can be transferred to the mains electrical grid and/or help power ones home/high-rise building and/or battery device to be consumed at a later date. For heat absorbers a pump will be used to circulate this heated liquid into a collecting tank for example the hot water tank in ones home. The electric energy needed to run this pump can either come from, if installed, the photovoltaic cells or from the electric mains.

Materials used are yet to be determined as a prototype will be needed to test and evaluate. However in order to folly comprehend this device, likely materials and manufacturing techniques that would suggest preference would be; The exterior housing is required to protect the components from the elements (note; the exterior housing may not be required if this device is installed in a pitched roof e.g. the attic of one’s home) and would suggest a cheap and durable solution such as plastic injection moulding to provide interlocking plastic components of the exterior housing. The lens/series of lenses would probably be convex or double convex (testing is needed to accurately identify the correct lens/series of lenses to maximise efficiency as the sun moves east to west and identify if a sensor is needed to tweak the lens/series of lenses to focus as the sun moves east to west) and would probably be made of glass or transparent plastic. The lens/series of lenses is installed into the pitched/slanted part of the housing (pitched roof if exterior housing is not required) and would have a flashing around it to ensure no water/dust/sand/grit etc... can enter the internal part of -3the housing, insulated and/or reflective sock would most likely consist of thermo insulation material with a smooth (direct sun beam) or rough (suns rays are dispersed but reflect everywhere) reflective membrane such as silver (as it is the most reflective element in the world) this sock can be solid or flexible and is fixed inside the interior ofthe housing (note: if gaps are present between the exterior housing and the sock, wool/spray type insulation will fill it in). There will be access to the internal components of the housing via a: zip (or similar closure system) if a flexible reflective membrane sock is used, or a panel if a fixed reflective membrane sock is used. The solar collectors) can consist of photovoltaic cells and/or liquid tube system, and would be suspended in the centre of the reflective insulated sock by a transparent plastic stand or several thin cables connected from above. An electric cable will be connected between the photovoltaic cells and the mains/building/battery and to energise a pump if installed with a liquid tube system (pump would likely be placed in-between the housing and the sock) to circulate the hot liquid produced in with a tank. The liquid tube as well as collecting heat from the suspended solar collector would route around the exterior of the insulated/reflective sock several times to avail of the extra heat (even though the suns rays are being reflected back heat would still remain) plus as mentioned it is where the pump would be located, thus routing the liquid tube like this would reduce the time necessary to bring the liquid to optimum/highest temperature. A thermal shield may be incorporated for the window/lens(es) area to keep heat in at night or when not in use, increasing efficiency, reduce loss of heat.

This internal solar power collector device can facilitate a series of transparent photovoltaic cells suspended in-between the lens/series of lenses and the insulated and/or reflective sock and would be suspended from a central point outwards, as the suns rays will pass through each series of transparent photovoltaic cells and the suns rays would also be reflected back again due to the reflective membrane (organic photovoltaic cells are becoming more and more transparent as the technology in this field advances).

Specific features relating to the drawings: (1) Lens/Series of lenses. -4(2) Insulated and reflective sock. (3) Solar collector^) (photovoltaic and/or liquid tube system). (4) External housing. (5) Stand. (6) Liquid in a tube and/or electric cable. (Note: in the drawings it does not show the liquid tube going around the exterior of the insulated reflective sock membrane several times but this is implemented to avail of the extra heat generated. As this internal solar power collector can either be for heating liquid and/or electricity production (6) it has incorporated both under one number) (7) Service access. (8) Suns rays. (9) Liquid pump and/or electrical cable outlet.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS: Fig. 1 is a two-dimensional side view of the internal solar power collector, in the attic of ones home.

Fig. 2 is a two-dimensional side view of the internal solar power collector, in a raised box detail.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION With regard to the drawings, parts with the same functions have the same reference numbers. With reference to the drawing, a detailed description of the internal solar power collector will be explained. -5A fixed exterior housing with a slanted/pitched side (4) which will protect the internal components from the elements whilst making the support frame (this exterior housing is not required in the installation of a insulated pitched roof like an attic). This slanted/pitched side, will have a window cut out with a flashing sealed lens/series of lenses (1) which will magnify and focus the sun’s rays (8) into the internal components. The internal components of the housing will comprise of a reflective (smooth or rough surface) and/or insulated sock (2) which will keep heat in (insulated) and reflect the suns now focused rays (8) (due to the lens/series of lenses) into a suspended (via a stand or series of thin cables) (5) solar collectors) (photovoltaic and/or liquid tube system) (3). The solar collectors) (3) will absorb the suns kinetic energy and transfer it into heat energy and/or electric energy.

For this (i) heat energy: the heat will be transferred to a liquid in a tube (6) and will be circulated in with a liquid in a tank (e.g. a water tank) via a pump (9) located in between the insulated and/or reflective sock (2) and the exterior housing (4). This liquid in the tube (6) will route around the exterior of the insulated and/or reflective sock (2) several times to avail of the extra heat being generated from the suns focused rays onto the reflective surface of the sock.

For this (ii) electric energy an electric cable (6) will be added and linked up with the photovoltaic cell(s) and connected in with the mains electrics/building/battery, via an outlet (9). A thermal shield may be incorporated behind the window/lens(es) area (1) to keep heat in at night or when not in use {it will be automated by a night sensor, and the energy needed will come off of the electricity produced by the photovoltaic cells suspended in the centre and/or manually by a extended leaver beside the window/lens(es)}. A service access (7) will be enabled via a zip (or other closing device) if a flexible thermo membrane insulated and/or reflective sock (2) is used, or by flap panel if a solid thermo membrane insulated and/or reflective sock (2) is used.

Claims (5)

Claims

1. A solar power/heat collector system comprising: a fixed external housing (4) incorporating a window cut out of the pitched housing section, the window holding a lens or series of lenses (1) to 5 magnify and focus the suns rays, the lenses being sealed with a flashing to seal it from the elements; the housing (4) also containing a service access (7) such as a zip or flap panel to obtain access to internal components; an insulated and/or reflective membrane sock (2) to absorb heat and reflect the suns rays to a suspended solar collector (3), the solar collector io being photovoltaic cells and/or a heat absorbent liquid tube system; the membrane sock being a rigid, smooth surface, highly focused reflective sock or being a flexible, rough surface, scattered reflective sock; an adjustable stand (5) to support the reflective membrane sock; a heat transfer tube wherein generated heat is transferred to a liquid in 15 the tube, circulated several times around the exterior of the sock (2) to avail of all heat generated and delivered to a water tank via a pump located in the housing (4); an electrical cable wherein generated power is transferred from the photovoltaic ceils to the mains and/or batteries via an outlet located in the 20 housing.

2. A solar power/heat collector system as claimed in claim 1 further optionally containing a closable thermal shield incorporated behind the window cut out area to retain heat at night or when not in use.

3. A solar power/heat collector system as claimed in claim 2 wherein the external housing may be removed if the collector system is inserted in the attic space of a dwelling.

4. A solar power/heat collector system as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.

5. A method of generating power and/or heat using the system as disclosed in 5 preceding claims.