WO2015044882A1

WO2015044882A1 - Device for stiffening and sealing a solar collector

Info

Publication number: WO2015044882A1
Application number: PCT/IB2014/064807
Authority: WO
Inventors: Vladimir CHIBIZOV CHIBIZOV; Pablo MATURANA BARAHONA; María Soledad GÓMEZ LORENZINI; Leonardo VEAS PÉREZ; Pavel CHIBIZOV CHIBIZOV
Original assignee: Pontificia Universidad Católica De Chile
Priority date: 2013-09-24
Filing date: 2014-09-24
Publication date: 2015-04-02
Also published as: CL2013002719A1; US20160238281A1; CN105705881A

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for stiffening and sealing a solar collector, providing protection against breakage and secure sealing of the connection area between an extruded flat plate solar absorber and fluid-inlet and -outlet collectors. The device comprises: a support profile for stiffening the extruded flat plate absorber and the fluid-inlet and -outlet collector, formed by open cylindrical modules together with two parallel plates; and a tray, made of plastic reinforced using fibreglass fabric, for sealing the connection between the extruded flat plate solar absorber and the fluid-inlet and -outlet collectors in such a way as to maintain said elements as a common or single-piece element.

Description

DEVICE FOR THE RIGIDITY AND HERMETIZED OF A RECEIVER

SOLAR

FIELD OF APPLICATION The present invention relates to solar collectors, in particular, to a device for the rigidity and tightness of a solar collector, which can be used for heating water in domestic systems, industrial processes and pool heating.

BACKGROUND As published by EUROBSERV'Er, May 2012, in the year 201 1 only in

Europe installed more than 39 million m ² of solar collectors, which allowed to obtain an annual thermal power exceeding 27 GWh. This power is comparable to that produced annually by an average nuclear power station. With regard to flat panels, within the total market volume, the use of solar collectors exceeds 84%.

A conventional solar collector comprises the following elements:

• Solar panel with black absorption layer;

• Heat transfer system from the absorption layer to the water, which must be heated; · Box where the solar panel is located;

• Transparent screen, usually of glass, that allows solar irradiation to the solar panel and thus create the greenhouse effect;

• Thermal insulation to prevent heat losses from the side of the collector directed towards the support housing. Solar panels are made of aluminum or copper plates. On the one hand the black absorption layer is arranged, while on the other hand there is a coil of copper tubes or a system of parallel copper tubes, which touch the solar panel in which they are connected with tubes, for the entry of water

i cold and supply hot water. The heat is transferred by thermal conductivity from the solar panel, to the water, so that the preferable material is copper. The collector comprises a thermal insulator such as fiberglass or foam material. The return time of investments is up to 15 years. The extruded plane solar collector is simpler to manufacture and its manufacturing implies a lower cost.

The materials for normal solar collectors are relatively expensive and manufacturing is difficult since they have a high weight, which also makes both assembly and maintenance complicated.

Document MX 201 100291 1 describes a double-sided thermal solar panel comprising a hermetic vacuum envelope which in turn has a first and second glass plate, a perimeter frame, defining the lateral surface of the envelope, where the solar panel It has at least a first heat absorber, a second heat absorber, a pipe entering and leaving the enclosure passing between the first and second heat absorber and a box-shaped element surrounding the pipe. Although this document addresses a technical problem similar to that of the invention, consisting of a modular construction system that is easy and quick to manufacture, the system that allows the plate to be sealed is composed of two glass plates that are attached to the solar panel by vacuum glass plates. The document does not reveal a device that allows isolation at the fluid inlet-outlet, nor does it correspond to a flat observer attached to a fluid inlet-outlet manifold. Document ES8205364 describes a process for the manufacture of a heat absorbing plate comprising a series of parallel tubes joined by bridges that start from each tube in opposite directions, and which consists in forming a series of parallel tubes in certain places of the panel , the tubes are hermetically connected at the edges of the connecting bridges located on either side of each tube as well as the tubes are hermetically joined at their ends with the collecting tubes that go on the two opposite edges of the absorption plate. The document describes a solar panel with a plurality of pipes located parallel to each other, which in turn are tightly connected to collecting tubes at their ends. The document indicates that the joints between the tubes and manifolds are hermetic, where each tube is inserted in the manifold and is joined by welding, therefore it does not show an external device that performs said sealing.

US4239035 describes a method of solar heating where a fluid is heated through a panel with lower and upper surfaces that define a series of channels through which the fluid passes. The solar panel has an input manifold, an output manifold, which are connected to the plate by means of a groove, which comprises a glued portion between said collectors and the plate. Although this document describes a solar panel, where their heads are joined to the panel by means of a slot, it does not have an external device that fulfills the sole function of sealing the union between said heads and the panel. In addition, the union between the heads and the panel is carried out by means of adhesive, which is not very efficient due to the degradation of said material and the problems that this type of union can experience over time, would reduce the efficiency of sealing.

Document US2009095282 contains a solar panel comprising two spaced parallel panels, where each panel has a front surface, a rear surface, and side sides. In the space between the panels there are several internal walls that define conduits for the circulation of fluid. The lateral ends of the solar panel are joined to tubular members with groove for joining with said panel. The document describes a solar panel, where the fluid inlet and outlet manifolds are made in the form of a slotted tube, to join the solar panel in this way. The sealing in the union between said collectors and the panel is carried out through the use of adhesive or glue in the area, which, as in the previous case, the sealing degrades over time and loses effectiveness in its function. TECHNICAL PROBLEM

There is a need for a device that increases the tightness and stiffness in a solar collector, to reduce the losses that occur at the junction between the fluid inlet and outlet heads and the heating plates.

TECHNICAL SOLUTION

To solve this problem, there is a device for the rigidity and sealing of a solar collector, which comprises a support profile for the rigidity of an extruded flat absorber and fluid inlet-outlet manifold, formed by open cylindrical modules with two parallel plates, and a tray, preferably of plastic reinforced with glass cloth, for sealing the connection of the extruded flat solar absorber and of the fluid inlet-outlet manifold so as to keep said elements as a common element. The proposed solution allows to increase the reliability of the solar thermal collector by increasing its sealing capacity and reducing the losses of the collector, simplifies the manufacturing process by being made up of easily assembled parts that make up a single system, which results in a decrease of manufacturing costs. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a device for rigidity and sealing according to an embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of a stiffening device without its reinforced plastic tray according to an embodiment of the invention. Figure 3 is a perspective view of the assembly device for rigidity and sealing of a solar collector. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention corresponds to a device for rigidity and sealing of a solar thermal collector. Said device comprises a support profile (1) for the rigidity and sealing of the connection of an extruded flat absorber (4) and fluid inlet-outlet manifolds (2), formed by open cylindrical modules with two parallel plates, and a tray (5), preferably of plastic reinforced with glass cloth, for sealing the connection of the extruded flat solar absorber and of the fluid inlet-outlet manifold so as to maintain said elements as a common element.

Figures 1 and 2 show a support profile (1) for the rigidity of an assembled unit of a flat solar absorber (4) and fluid inlet-outlet manifolds (2), where said support profile (1) is located formed by open cylindrical modules with two parallel plates. The support profile (1) allows the flat solar absorber (4) and the fluid inlet-outlet manifolds (2) to be joined in one piece. Two fluid collectors (2) are used in the solar thermal collector: a fluid inlet manifold and a fluid outlet manifold. The design of these collectors (2) is the same. Each collector includes a slot (3) or central recess from which the flat solar absorber (4) is projected.

Figure 3 shows the tray (5), preferably of reinforced plastic, which in the preferred embodiment of the invention includes an epoxy resin and a fiberglass cloth. The reinforced plastic ensures the sealing of the extruded thermal solar absorber (4) and the fluid collectors (2). Another function of the reinforced plastic tray (5) is the creation of the support unit of the extruded thermal solar absorber and of the fluid collectors.

The present invention is characterized by comprising the support profile (1) and the reinforced plastic tray (5) for the rigidity and sealing of the extruded flat solar absorber (4) and fluid inlet-outlet manifolds (2). The extruded flat solar collector is composed of the assembly of the thermal solar absorber (4), the fluid inlet manifold (2) intended for cold water entering the solar collector, and the fluid outlet manifold (2) destined to the client water outlet from the collector. The solar thermal absorber (4) is manufactured from an extruded flat panel in the form of a flat tube with multichannels. The fluid inlet-outlet manifolds (2) have a groove (3) along the manifold tube. The width of the groove (3) is equal to the thickness of the extruded plane panel (4) and the length of the groove (3) is equal to the width of the extruded plane panel (4). The extruded plane solar absorber (4) joins the respective fluid inlet-outlet manifolds (2) through the slot (3). Once the extruded plane solar absorber (4) is connected to the fluid inlet-outlet manifolds (2), the support profile (1) is installed and the sealing is carried out with the reinforced plastic tray (5): The two parallel plates of the support profile are laid with a layer of the epoxy resin and the glass cloth to increase the tightness of the extruded plane panel joint (4) and the fluid inlet-outlet manifolds (2).

In this way, the fluid inlet-outlet manifolds (2), the solar thermal absorber (4), the support profile (1) and the glass fiber reinforced plastic tray (5) form a single-assembly system. In this way, a monolithic piece can be obtained. The flat extruded solar collector is obtained without welding seams or glue.

APPLICATION EXAMPLES:

In a first embodiment of the invention, as can be seen in FIGS. 3, the extruded thermal solar collector comprises a fluid inlet manifold (2a), a fluid outlet manifold (2b), a thermal solar absorber (4), a support profile (1) and a reinforced plastic tray (5) with fiberglass cloth.

The solar thermal absorber (4) has a flat extruded polycarbonate tube with multichannels of equal thickness to the panel, preferably with a thickness of 8 mm, a width of 80 cm and 2m long. The fluid inlet-outlet manifolds (2) have an extruded polycarbonate tube with slot (3) of 80 cm long and the manifold tube (2), whose material is preferably polycarbonate, has a thickness of 3 mm, 50 mm in diameter and 90 cm long.

The extruded flat solar absorber (4) is connected to the fluid inlet - outlet manifolds (2) through the slot (3), whose width is 8 mm. The support profiles (1) of polycarbonate are installed on the fluid inlet manifold (2a) and on the fluid outlet manifold (2b), preferably 2 mm thick and with a profile width of 80 cm.

Then the support profile (1) is installed and the sealing is done with the reinforced plastic tray (5): a layer of the epoxy resin and a fiber cloth are placed on the two parallel plates of support profile (1) of glass. The reinforced plastic thickness of the epoxy resin and the fiberglass cloth is 4 to 6 mm.

In a second embodiment of the invention, the solar thermal absorber (4) has a polycarbonate extruded flat tube with multichannels, the thickness of the panel is 10 mm, the width 100 cm and the length 3 m. In addition, the solar thermal absorber (4) has a black acrylic paint covering. The fluid inlet-outlet manifolds (2) have an extruded PVC pipe with the groove (3) of 100 cm long and the pipes of the PVC manifolds (2) having a thickness of 2 mm, 50 mm in diameter and 1 10 cm long.

The extruded plane solar absorber (4) is connected to the fluid inlet - outlet manifolds (2) through the slot (3), whose width is 10 mm. The support profiles (1) of PVC 2 mm thick and the profile 100 cm wide are installed on the fluid inlet manifold (2a) and on the fluid outlet manifold (2b).

Then the support profile (1) is installed and the sealing is done with the reinforced plastic tray (5): on the two parallel plates of the profile of support is put a layer of epoxy resin and fiberglass cloth. The thickness of the reinforced plastic and the fiberglass cloth is 2 to 4 mm.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

(1) Support Profile

(2) Fluid inlet-outlet manifolds (with groove)

(2a) Inlet collector

(2b) Outlet Collector

(3) Slot

(4) Extruded flat absorber with multichannels

(5) Reinforced plastic tray.

Claims

one . Device for the rigidity and sealing of a solar collector that allows to protect the breakage and securely sealing the connection area of an extruded flat solar absorber and collectors of input-output of the CHARACTERIZED fluid because it comprises: a support profile for the rigidity of the extruded plane absorber and the fluid inlet-outlet manifold, formed by open cylindrical modules with two parallel plates; a plastic tray reinforced with fiberglass cloth for sealing the connection of the extruded flat solar absorber and the fluid inlet-outlet manifolds in such a way that it maintains said elements as a common or monobloc element.

2. Device for rigidity and sealing of a solar collector, according to claim 1, CHARACTERIZED because the inside diameter of the cylindrical profile modules for stiffness is equal to the outside diameter of the fluid inlet-outlet manifolds.

3. Device for rigidity and sealing of a Solar Collector, according to any of the preceding claims, CHARACTERIZED because the extruded flat solar absorber is made of polycarbonate and has a wall thickness of 300 to 800 mm.

4. Device for rigidity and sealing of a Solar Collector, according to any of claims 1 to 2, CHARACTERIZED because the extruded flat solar absorber has the same flat panel thickness of 8 to 15 mm, a length of 1, 75 to 3 , 0 m and a width of 50 to 100 cm.

5. Device for rigidity and sealing of a Solar Collector, according to claim 1, CHARACTERIZED because the plastic tray reinforced with glass cloth has a wall thickness of 2 to 6 mm.

6. Device for rigidity and sealing of a Solar Collector, according to claim 1, CHARACTERIZED because the inlet-outlet manifold of the extruded fluid is made of polycarbonate or PVC and has a pipe thickness of 2 to 3 mm.