US20080283045A1 - Flexible solar power collector - Google Patents
Flexible solar power collector Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20080283045A1 US20080283045A1 US11/802,099 US80209907A US2008283045A1 US 20080283045 A1 US20080283045 A1 US 20080283045A1 US 80209907 A US80209907 A US 80209907A US 2008283045 A1 US2008283045 A1 US 2008283045A1
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- flexible
- outer tube
- solar power
- transparent outer
- power collector
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
Links
- XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N water Substances O XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims abstract description 31
- 238000007789 sealing Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 23
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 claims description 6
- 229920002379 silicone rubber Polymers 0.000 claims description 3
- 239000011521 glass Substances 0.000 description 3
- 238000009434 installation Methods 0.000 description 3
- 238000005265 energy consumption Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000010438 heat treatment Methods 0.000 description 2
- 239000002184 metal Substances 0.000 description 2
- 238000004378 air conditioning Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000006243 chemical reaction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000008236 heating water Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000003780 insertion Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000037431 insertion Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000012986 modification Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000001131 transforming effect Effects 0.000 description 1
Images
Classifications
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
- H02S—GENERATION OF ELECTRIC POWER BY CONVERSION OF INFRARED RADIATION, VISIBLE LIGHT OR ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT, e.g. USING PHOTOVOLTAIC [PV] MODULES
- H02S40/00—Components or accessories in combination with PV modules, not provided for in groups H02S10/00 - H02S30/00
- H02S40/40—Thermal components
- H02S40/44—Means to utilise heat energy, e.g. hybrid systems producing warm water and electricity at the same time
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
- F24S—SOLAR HEAT COLLECTORS; SOLAR HEAT SYSTEMS
- F24S10/00—Solar heat collectors using working fluids
- F24S10/40—Solar heat collectors using working fluids in absorbing elements surrounded by transparent enclosures, e.g. evacuated solar collectors
- F24S10/45—Solar heat collectors using working fluids in absorbing elements surrounded by transparent enclosures, e.g. evacuated solar collectors the enclosure being cylindrical
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
- F24S—SOLAR HEAT COLLECTORS; SOLAR HEAT SYSTEMS
- F24S20/00—Solar heat collectors specially adapted for particular uses or environments
- F24S20/50—Rollable or foldable solar heat collector modules
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
- F24S—SOLAR HEAT COLLECTORS; SOLAR HEAT SYSTEMS
- F24S40/00—Safety or protection arrangements of solar heat collectors; Preventing malfunction of solar heat collectors
- F24S40/50—Preventing overheating or overpressure
- F24S40/53—Preventing overheating or overpressure by venting solar heat collector enclosures
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
- F24S—SOLAR HEAT COLLECTORS; SOLAR HEAT SYSTEMS
- F24S80/00—Details, accessories or component parts of solar heat collectors not provided for in groups F24S10/00-F24S70/00
- F24S80/70—Sealing means
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
- Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
- Y02E10/00—Energy generation through renewable energy sources
- Y02E10/40—Solar thermal energy, e.g. solar towers
- Y02E10/44—Heat exchange systems
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
- Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
- Y02E10/00—Energy generation through renewable energy sources
- Y02E10/50—Photovoltaic [PV] energy
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
- Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
- Y02E10/00—Energy generation through renewable energy sources
- Y02E10/60—Thermal-PV hybrids
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Sustainable Development (AREA)
- Sustainable Energy (AREA)
- Thermal Sciences (AREA)
- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Photovoltaic Devices (AREA)
Abstract
A flexible solar power collector includes a flexible transparent outer tube, a flexible black inner tube inserted through the flexible transparent outer tube for guiding water to a water heater, sealing devices that seal the two ends of the flexible transparent outer tube to define a greenhouse within the flexible transparent outer tube around the flexible black inner tube, a flexible photoelectric converter fastened to the bottom side of the flexible transparent outer tube to convert solar energy into electric energy, and a flexible electrothermal converter connected to the flexible photoelectric converter to transform electric energy into thermal energy.
Description
- The present invention relates to a solar power collector and more particularly, to a flexible solar power collector, which comprises a greenhouse made up of a black inner tube, a transparent outer tube and sealing devices, and flexibly curved to fit the contour of the installation location on a building.
- A regular
solar water heater 10, as shown inFIG. 1 , generally comprises awater tank 11, aglass panel 12, and a plurality of heat-exchange tubes 13. Thewater tank 11 is a metal container, having aheat insulating bottom 111, asupport 112 disposed at one side for supporting thewater tank 11 in a tilted position, awater intake pipe 113 connected to one side thereof, and a water outlet pipe 114 extending from the other side thereof. Theglass panel 12 is attached to the top of thewater tank 11. The heat-exchange tubes 13 are metal tubes mounted inside thewater tank 11. Thewater tank 11, theglass panel 12 and the heat-exchange tubes 13 form ahard greenhouse 14. - The aforesaid prior art design has numerous drawbacks as outlined hereinafter. (1) The
solar water heater 10 is large in size, taking up much installation space. This drawback limits the application of thesolar water heater 10. Therefore, thesolar water heater 10 of this design can only be installed on the roof of a building where it is directly heated by the sunlight. (2) Thesolar water heater 10 produces the effect of agreenhouse 14 to lower the temperature of the roof of the building. However, due to limitations to the design and cost, the installedsolar water heater 10 can not cover all the surfaces around the building, and the temperature inside the building will unavoidably rise continuously. Therefore, the use of thesolar water heater 10 does not offer the additional value of helping lower the temperature around the building. (3) Using the heat-exchange tubes 13 can only generate a limited amount of heat energy, i.e., thesolar water heater 10 can not convert solar energy into heat efficiently within a limited time. - Therefore, it is desirable to provide a solar photoelectric concentrator that eliminates the aforesaid drawbacks.
- The present invention has been accomplished under the circumstances in view. It is one object of the present invention to provide a flexible solar power collector, which comprises a greenhouse made up of a black inner tube, a transparent outer tube and sealing devices, so that it is flexibly curved to fit the contour of the building for free installation.
- It is another object of the present invention to provide a flexible solar power collector, which is comprised of a flexible solar power collector tube made up of a black inner tube, a transparent outer tube and sealing devices that are easy and inexpensive to manufacture.
- It is still another object of the present invention to provide a flexible solar power collector, which is comprised of a flexible solar power collector tube made up of a black inner tube, a transparent outer tube and sealing devices and, which collects solar energy and stores the collected solar energy efficiently, so as to lower the surrounding temperature of the building on which it is installed.
- It is another object of the present invention to provide a flexible solar power collector, which comprises a flexible solar power collector tube made up of a black inner tube, a transparent outer tube, and sealing devices, a flexible photoelectric converter for converting solar energy into electric energy, and a flexible electrothermal converter for transforming electric energy into thermal energy for heating water to a desired temperature level efficiently to reduce the heating time and energy consumption.
-
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a solar power collector according to the prior art. -
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the present invention. -
FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the present invention, showing the sealing device made of silicon rubber. -
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the present invention, showing the sealing device formed of a gasket ring. -
FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the present invention, showing the sealing device formed of a gasket ring. -
FIG. 6 shows one embodiment of the present invention. -
FIG. 7 shows another embodiment of the present invention. -
FIG. 8 is a sectional view of the present invention, showing the sealing device made of a thermoexpansion material. -
FIG. 9 is a sectional view of an alternative form of the present invention. -
FIG. 10 is a sectional view of another alternative form of the present invention. - Referring to
FIGS. 2 and 3 , a solarpower collector tube 20 comprised of aninner tube 21 and anouter tube 22 is shown. Theinner tube 21 is of a flexible black tube. Theouter tube 22 is of a flexible transparent tube. The outer diameter of theinner tube 21 is smaller than the inner diameter of theouter tube 22 so that theinner tube 21 is insertable into theouter tube 22. Theinner tube 21 has one end terminating in awater inlet 211 and the other end terminating in awater outlet 212. After insertion of theinner tube 21 through theouter tube 22, the two distal ends of theouter tube 22 are respectively sealed with a sealing device 23. Thus, theinner tube 21, theouter tube 22 and the sealing device 23 constitute agreenhouse 24. The sealing device 23 can be a silicon rubber 231 (seeFIG. 3 ) or a gasket ring 232 (seeFIGS. 4 and 5 ). Further, a flexiblephotoelectric converter 25 is secured to the bottom side of theouter tube 22 and extending in a horizontal direction. A flexibleelectrothermal converter 26 extends spirally around theinner tube 21 inside thegreenhouse 24 in a horizontal direction. The flexiblephotoelectric converter 25 and the flexibleelectrothermal converter 26 are connected to each other, forming an energy conversion loop. - In use, the running water enters the
water inlet 211 into theinner tube 21. When sunlight is cast on theouter tube 22 and theinner tube 21, the black color of theinner tube 21 with good heat absorbing characteristic absorbs the solar energy from sunlight efficiently, enabling the absorbed solar energy to be accumulated in thegreenhouse 24 to heat the water flowing through theinner tube 21. At the same time, the flexiblephotoelectric converter 25 transforms the solar energy of sunlight into electric energy, which is transmitted to the flexibleelectrothermal converter 26 and converted by the flexible electrothermal converter into thermal energy to heat the water again. Thus, the water heater to which thewater outlet 212 of theinner tube 21 is connected can heat water to a desired temperature level efficiently, i.e., the water heater saves much energy consumption when heating up water to a desired temperature level. Further, because the solarpower collector tube 20 is flexible, it can be installed at any place of a building to that the sunlight is directly shed, and freely curved to fit the contour of the building (seeFIGS. 6 and 7 ). Because the solarpower collector tube 20 collects solar energy and stores collected solar energy, it lowers the surrounding temperature of a building, thereby reducing the burden of the air conditioning system of the building. -
FIG. 8 shows an alternative form of the present invention. According to this embodiment, thegreenhouse 24 is an active greenhouse, i.e., the sealing device 23 at each end of theouter tube 22 is made of a thermoexpansion material 233 having open spaces. When the temperature inside thegreenhouse 24 is lower than the outside temperature, the open spaces in the thermoexpansion material 233 are opened up for allowing external hot air to enter thegreenhouse 24. On the contrary, when the inside temperature of thegreenhouse 24 is higher than the outside temperature, the thermoexpansion material 233 shut off the open spaces to prohibit leakage of internal thermal energy. -
FIG. 9 shows another alternative form of the present invention. According to this embodiment, multiple sealing devices 23 are secured to theouter tube 22 and spaced from one another along the length of theouter tube 22 to divide thegreenhouse 24 into multiple blocks. Further, the sealing devices 23 can be respectively made of a gasket ring 232 or thermoexpansion material 233 (seeFIG. 10 ). Therefore, when one block of thegreenhouse 24 is broken, the other blocks of thegreenhouse 24 still function well without influence. - A prototype of flexible solar power collector has been constructed with the features of
FIGS. 2˜10 . The flexible solar power collector functions smoothly to provide all of the features disclosed earlier. - Although particular embodiments of the invention have been described in details for purposes of illustration, various modifications and enhancements may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited except as by the appended claims.
Claims (9)
1. A flexible solar power collector comprising:
a flexible transparent outer tube;
a flexible black inner tube inserted through said flexible transparent outer tube, said flexible black inner tube having a water inlet and a water outlet, and
sealing means secured to said flexible transparent outer tube around said flexible black inner tube to seal said flexible transparent outer tube and to define a greenhouse within said flexible transparent outer tube around said flexible black inner tube.
2. The flexible solar power collector as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said sealing means is silicon rubber.
3. The flexible solar power collector as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said sealing means is comprised of two gasket rings respectively fixed to the two distal ends of said flexible transparent outer tube around said flexible black inner tube.
4. The flexible solar power collector as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said sealing means is comprised of a plurality of sealing devices secured to said flexible transparent outer tube around said flexible black inner tube and spaced from one another along the length of said flexible transparent outer tube to divide said greenhouse into multiple blocks.
5. The flexible solar power collector as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said sealing means is formed of a thermoexpansion material.
6. The flexible solar power collector as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said sealing means seals the two distal ends of said flexible transparent outer tube.
7. The flexible solar power collector as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising a flexible photoelectric converter adapted to convert solar energy into electric energy, and a flexible electrothermal converter electrically connected to said flexible photoelectric converter and adapted to convert electric energy into heat energy.
8. The flexible solar power collector as claimed in claim 7 , wherein said flexible photoelectric converter is secured to a bottom side of said flexible transparent outer tube and extending in a horizontal direction.
9. The flexible solar power collector as claimed in claim 7 , wherein said flexible electrothermal converter is spirally arranged around said flexible black inner tube an extending in a horizontal direction.
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US11/802,099 US20080283045A1 (en) | 2007-05-18 | 2007-05-18 | Flexible solar power collector |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US11/802,099 US20080283045A1 (en) | 2007-05-18 | 2007-05-18 | Flexible solar power collector |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US20080283045A1 true US20080283045A1 (en) | 2008-11-20 |
Family
ID=40026260
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US11/802,099 Abandoned US20080283045A1 (en) | 2007-05-18 | 2007-05-18 | Flexible solar power collector |
Country Status (1)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US20080283045A1 (en) |
Cited By (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20100108054A1 (en) * | 2008-11-06 | 2010-05-06 | Ekhoff Donald L | Optically efficient and thermally protected solar heating apparatus and method |
Citations (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3976508A (en) * | 1974-11-01 | 1976-08-24 | Mobil Tyco Solar Energy Corporation | Tubular solar cell devices |
US4238247A (en) * | 1979-11-05 | 1980-12-09 | Owens-Illinois, Inc. | Structure for conversion of solar radiation to electricity and heat |
US4292956A (en) * | 1980-05-19 | 1981-10-06 | Insolar Inc. | Corrugated panel solar collector |
US4334120A (en) * | 1979-03-20 | 1982-06-08 | Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd. | Sunlight-into-energy conversion apparatus |
US4458673A (en) * | 1982-09-29 | 1984-07-10 | Benjamin Gary L | Solar air heater |
US20020185168A1 (en) * | 2001-06-11 | 2002-12-12 | Hunt Robert Daniel | Thermoelectric vaporizer for the efficient generation of electricity thermoelectrically and for the simultaneous vaporization of a cryogen |
-
2007
- 2007-05-18 US US11/802,099 patent/US20080283045A1/en not_active Abandoned
Patent Citations (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3976508A (en) * | 1974-11-01 | 1976-08-24 | Mobil Tyco Solar Energy Corporation | Tubular solar cell devices |
US4334120A (en) * | 1979-03-20 | 1982-06-08 | Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd. | Sunlight-into-energy conversion apparatus |
US4238247A (en) * | 1979-11-05 | 1980-12-09 | Owens-Illinois, Inc. | Structure for conversion of solar radiation to electricity and heat |
US4292956A (en) * | 1980-05-19 | 1981-10-06 | Insolar Inc. | Corrugated panel solar collector |
US4458673A (en) * | 1982-09-29 | 1984-07-10 | Benjamin Gary L | Solar air heater |
US20020185168A1 (en) * | 2001-06-11 | 2002-12-12 | Hunt Robert Daniel | Thermoelectric vaporizer for the efficient generation of electricity thermoelectrically and for the simultaneous vaporization of a cryogen |
Cited By (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20100108054A1 (en) * | 2008-11-06 | 2010-05-06 | Ekhoff Donald L | Optically efficient and thermally protected solar heating apparatus and method |
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Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
STCB | Information on status: application discontinuation |
Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION |