WO2010092247A1

WO2010092247A1 - Solar heating

Info

Publication number: WO2010092247A1
Application number: PCT/FR2010/000090
Authority: WO
Inventors: Bertrand Le Gros
Original assignee: Wisenet Sarl
Priority date: 2009-02-10
Filing date: 2010-02-08
Publication date: 2010-08-19
Also published as: FR2942027A1; CN101799210A; CN101799210B; FR2942027B1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a solar heater (1), in particular intended for heating swimming pools. The solar heater (1) according to the invention includes at least one flexible, extensible spiral tube (2), completely or partially enclosed in a flexible shell (3).

Description

SOLAR HEATING

The present invention relates to a solar heating intended in particular for heating water pools. The

Solar heating according to the invention comprises at least one spiral hose, flexible and extensible encircled in whole or part in a flexible envelope.

It is common to heat water by circulating it in a circuit exposed to solar radiation. If this technique can be used for heating domestic hot water, it is particularly effective for heating swimming pool water. Indeed, swimming pools are usually used on days of strong sunshine.

In order to obtain the best possible yield, it is necessary to have a large area of exposure to solar radiation. Thus, the most common models of solar pool heating include a flat sheet in which circulates the water to be heated. These sheets, which can reach an area equivalent to two thirds of the surface of the pool, are particularly bulky. Indeed, they are monobloc and relatively rigid. The congestion problem is particularly significant in the case of swimming pool heaters which are only used for a few months a year and must be stored the rest of the time. In addition, the large volume of these products makes it difficult to present them in the shelves of businesses and their transportation from the place of production to the place of sale.

Another disadvantage related to this structure and that it is necessary to replace the entire ply if it is damaged (e.g. tearing, drilling ...).

The present invention solves the problems associated with solar heaters of the prior art. The present invention provides solar heating which all parts can be easily and quickly assembled, separated and / or replaced. In addition, the present invention provides solar heating whose size is greatly reduced either during use or during storage during periods when it is not used.

Thus, the present invention relates to solar heating for heating a heat transfer liquid comprising at least one pipe in which said heat transfer fluid can circulate remarkable in that said pipe is spiral, flexible and extensible and that it is enclosed in all or part in a flexible envelope. This heating works under the effect of the sun by the greenhouse effect applied to the air present in the flexible envelope. The energy is then communicated to the liquid (water) passing inside the spiral pipe.

In the context of the present invention, the term "heat-transfer liquid" refers to any liquid capable of storing calories and rendering them as a function of the temperature of the environment in which said liquid resides. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, said heat transfer liquid is water. In the context of the present invention, the term "spiral" means that at rest, the pipe, included in the solar heating, is over all or part of its length in the form of a solenoid. The diameter of said solenoid may vary between two points of the solenoid. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, said solenoid has a diameter of between 2 and 45 cm, even more preferably between 5 and 25 cm and quite preferably between 7 and 11 cm.

In the context of the present invention, the term "Flexible" means that the pipe according to the invention can be folded under the effect of a weak force (less than 20 N and preferably less than 10 N) and even when said pipe is assembled to the rest of the heating elements solar according to the invention.

In the context of the present invention, the term "expandable" means that under the effect of a first force of 25 N applied to one of the two ends of said spiral pipe and a second force of 25 N, in the opposite direction to the first force, applied to the other end of said spiral pipe, the solenoid deforms and the distance between the two ends of said pipe will increase by at least 100%.

According to a preferred embodiment, the spiral hose, flexible and extensible included in the solar heating according to the invention is not wrapped around a central core.

According to another preferred embodiment, the spiral hose, flexible and extensible included in the solar heating according to the invention is not enclosed in whole or part in a totally or partially rigid envelope. Unlike solar heaters of the prior art, the use of a flexible envelope reduces the volume before mounting solar heating according to the invention.

It is known to those skilled in the art solar heaters comprising non-extensible and / or non-flexible spiral hoses, this is particularly the case of solar heaters described in the application FR2385054A1, EP0095135B1, CA2150750AA. In this type of heating, unlike the solar heating of the invention, the spiral pipe is not extensible, because the different turns of the solenoid are integral with each other and / or because the solenoid is enclosed and / or secured to a solid structure. - AT -

The spiral hose, flexible and extensible included in the solar heating of the invention consists of a material selected from the group consisting of PE, HDPE, LDPE, PP, PP-R, PVC, EPDM , PU and EVA. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, said spiral hose, flexible and extensible is PE.

The flexible envelope optimizes the heating of the gas in the envelope. On the other hand, the envelope isolates the pipe from the direct effects of the wind. It also allows heat to be concentrated and temperatures rise faster (by the greenhouse effect).

This flexible envelope can enclose all or part of said pipe and preferably at least the entire portion of said pipe having the shape of a solenoid. According to an even more preferred embodiment of the invention, the two ends of said pipes are not enclosed in said flexible envelope.

Before assembly with solar heating according to the invention, the flexible envelope may be in the form of a cylinder open at both ends. According to a preferred embodiment, said flexible envelope, in the form of a tube, is associated over all or part of its length with a helical spring. "Associate" means that the inner and / or outer surface of said coil spring is covered by said flexible envelope. According to an even more preferred embodiment, said helical spring is fixed in at least two point points to said flexible envelope. According to a most preferred embodiment, said attachment points are located near the ends of said helical helix and said flexible envelope in the form of a tube.

The coil spring has the advantage of being compressed before installation of the sensor and thus occupy a small storage space. When setting Instead of solar heating according to the invention, it is totally or partially relaxed and automatically ensures the tension of the flexible envelope. This tension makes it possible to optimize the useful area of said flexible envelope and to maintain a volume of air inside said envelope.

Said coil spring can also allow the tensioning of said pipe when it is attached to said spring. According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, said flexible envelope is an inflatable structure having substantially the shape of a hollow cylinder. For the sake of clarity, it is specified that hollow cylinder means a cylinder comprising a longitudinal recess open to the two bases of said cylinder. The axis of said longitudinal recess may be coincident with the axis of said cylinder or may be eccentric with respect thereto. The longitudinal recess can receive one or more spiral pipes which is thus enclosed in said inflatable structure.

This flexible envelope may also be in the form of a bag. The openings of said flexible envelope may further comprise means for closing said flexible envelope around said pipe. These closure means may be in the form of a cord passing through a hem at the level of the opening. This hem is open on the outside in at least one point, which allows to get out both ends of said cord. The cord can thus be used to tighten the opening of the flexible envelope around the pipe. This closure means may also be an elastic zone extending over the circumference of said flexible envelope, said elastic zone having at rest a diameter equal to or less than that of the pipe. The color and the material constituting the flexible envelope of the solar heating according to the invention have an effect on the efficiency of the device. Thus, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the flexible envelope according to the invention will consist of a film of PE, PU, PP, EVA, PVC, EPDM, POLEYESTER, ELASTHANE, ACRYLIC, CHLOROFIB RES, POLYAMIDE. . This film may have a thickness of between 0.01 mm and 3 mm, and preferably between 0.05 mm and 0.15 mm. The film can be transparent, translucent or opaque, it can also be colored. According to a preferred embodiment, the film constituting the flexible envelope is black and opaque. According to another preferred embodiment, said flexible envelope comprises a translucent portion and a black or metallized portion. This type of envelope allows by placing the translucent portion above said spiral pipe and the black or metallized portion below said spiral pipe to increase the internal greenhouse effect and to focus the solar radiation on the walls of the spiral pipe. According to a preferred embodiment, the solar heating according to the invention further comprises an intake pipe comprising at least one opening to which is connected an end of said flexible and extensible spiral pipe and an outlet pipe comprising at least one opening to which is connected the other end of said spiral pipe, flexible and extensible.

According to a preferred embodiment, said intake duct is a duct closed at one end, further comprising at least one, and preferably several openings arranged radially with respect to the longitudinal axis of said duct. According to a preferred embodiment, said outlet pipe is a channel closed at one end, further comprising at least one, and preferably several openings arranged radially with respect to the longitudinal axis of said pipe. Thus, the coolant can enter the intake pipe via the open end of the pipe, reach the spiral pipe (s), flexible and expandable through the openings, join the outlet pipe and return to the storage location of the pipe. water heated via the open end of the pipe forming the outlet pipe.

In order to improve the efficiency of solar heating according to the invention, that may advantageously comprise several spiral pipes, flexible and extensible. Even more preferably, said spiral hoses, flexible and extensible are connected in parallel to the intake pipe and the outlet pipe. According to a most preferred embodiment, the solar heating according to the invention comprises from 4 to 8 spiral pipes, flexible and extensible.

In the case where the solar heating according to the invention comprises several spiral hoses, flexible and extensible, they can be enclosed individually or in groups in said flexible envelopes. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the spiral hoses, flexible and extensible, are individually enclosed wholly or partly in different flexible envelopes. In order to regulate the temperature of the heat transfer liquid at the outlet of the solar heating according to the invention, it is possible to modulate the flow rate of said liquid circulating in the spiral, flexible and extensible pipes. This can in particular be achieved by using a variable flow pump to power the solar heating according to the invention. It is also possible to regulate the flow rate of the water circulating in the spiral, flexible and extensible pipe or pipes by connecting the intake pipe and the outlet pipe via a conduit allowing the passage heat transfer liquid from the inlet pipe to the outlet pipe without passing through the spiral pipe, flexible and extensible. Advantageously, said pipe allowing the passage of the heat transfer liquid from the inlet pipe to the outlet pipe without passing through the spiral, flexible and extensible pipe or pipes further comprises a means for controlling the diameter of said pipe. This means can be a valve. Thus, it is possible to vary the amount of coolant circulating in the spiral or flexible pipes and expandable by varying the diameter of said pipe.

According to a preferred embodiment, at least one of the connections between said flexible and extensible spiral pipe and said intake pipe and / or said outlet pipe is made via a quick connection means.

In the context of the present invention, the "quick connect means" is a means for sealingly connecting and disconnecting said flexible and expandable spiral pipe to the intake pipe and / or the outlet pipe in a only gesture. These quick connection means are well known to those skilled in the art, especially in the field of gardening. These include connectors marketed by Gardena.

An embodiment of the present invention will be described hereinafter by way of nonlimiting example, with reference to the appended drawing. Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of an embodiment of a solar heating (1) according to the invention. Figure 2 is a side sectional view of an embodiment of a solar heating (1) according to the invention.

A filter pump propels the water from the pool into the solar heater (1). The pumps, usable with solar heating (1) according to the invention, can be of low power (2 m ³ / h instead of 4 m ³ / h) because the pipes (2) spiral, flexible and extensible have a larger section than most known systems.

The pipes (2) connecting the solar heating (1) to the pool are connected to the intake pipe (4) and the outlet pipe (6) via threaded adapters I ^{1 1} H NPT hence the appearance in double cones of these adapters. The intake pipe (4) and the outlet pipe (6) are of similar shape and comprise a male thread I ¹ 'H NPT on one side and a female thread I' H NPT on the other with 6 outlets (5, 7) for fast connections. The male / female threads on each manifold increase the size of the solar heater by adding inlet and outlet lines.

The intake pipe and the outlet pipe are connected via a pipe (8) comprising a valve (made of ABS, or PE or PVC). The quick-connect outlets are connected to six (2) spiral pipes (in PE, EVA or PU) each enclosed in a black plastic cover (3) (only one cover is shown).

When the demand for hot water is high, the valve is closed and the water circulates in the pipes (2) where it stores calories from solar radiation. When the ideal temperature is reached, the valve is partially or fully open so that all or part of the water flows directly from the intake pipe (4) to the outlet pipe (6) without passing through the pipes (2). spirals.

Claims

1. Solar heating (1) for heating a coolant comprising at least one pipe (2) in which said heat transfer fluid can circulate characterized in that said pipe (2) is spiral, flexible and extensible and that it is all or part of the enclosure in a flexible envelope (3).

2. solar heating according to claim 1 characterized in that it further comprises an intake pipe (4) comprising an opening (5) to which is connected an end of said pipe (2) and an outlet pipe (6). comprising an opening (7) to which is connected the other end of said pipe (2).

3. Solar heating according to one of claims 1 to 2 characterized in that it comprises several pipes (2) spiral, flexible and extensible.

4. solar heating according to claim 3 characterized in that said pipes (2) are individually enclosed wholly or partly in different flexible envelopes (3).

5. Solar heating according to one of claims 2 to 4 characterized in that said intake duct (4) opens into said outlet duct (6) via a pipe (8).

6. solar heating according to claim 5 characterized in that said pipe (8) further comprises a means for controlling the diameter of said pipe (8).

7. solar heating according to one of claims 1 to 6 characterized in that at least one of the connections between said pipe (2) and said intake pipe (4) and / or said outlet pipe (6) is realized via a fast connection means.

8. Solar heating according to one of claims 1 to 7 characterized in that said pipe (2) has an inner diameter of between 5mm and 19mm.

9. Solar heating according to one of claims 1 to 8 characterized in that said pipe (2) is made of PE, EVA or PU.

10. solar heating according to one of claims 1 to 9 -characterised in that said flexible envelope (3) consists of PE.