Solar Collector with Hydrophilic Photocatalytic Coated Protective Pane

• US 20080264411A1
• Filed: 04/26/2007
• Published: 10/30/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: JPS Intellectual Property, LLC
• Original Assignee: JPS Intellectual Property, LLC
• Inventors: Beranek, Gerald D.
• Application Number:
  US11/740,707
• Publication Number:
  US 20080264411A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 126/710
• CPC Class Codes: C03C 17/2456 Coating containing TiO2
• CPC Class Codes: C03C 2217/212 TiO2
• CPC Class Codes: C03C 2217/71 Photocatalytic coatings
• CPC Class Codes: C03C 2217/75 Hydrophilic and oleophilic coatings
• CPC Class Codes: C03C 2218/156 by magnetron sputtering
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 40/20 Cleaning; Removing snow
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 80/52 characterised by the material for preventing heat loss F24S80/56
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/40 Solar thermal energy, e.g. solar towers

Abstract

A solar collector which is illuminated by the sun through a glass panel wherein the glass panel is constructed of glass without low-e coatings with a first surface coating of a magnetron sputtered vapor deposition coating consisting primarily of titanium dioxide. The titanium dioxide achieves a hydrophilic photocatalytic surface to produce a solar collector which is self-cleaning for increased solar energy transmittance with less cleaning cost.

Claims

1. A solar collector comprising:

a box having a means for collecting and removing useful solar energy from the box, and an opening in the box arranged to receive solar radiation; and

a glass pane without a low-E coating with a pre-installation solar energy transmittance of greater than 85% and having an outer surface coated with a photoactive, photocatalytic titanium dioxide coating of less than 100 angstroms in thickness applied by Magnetron Sputter Vapor Deposition, the titanium dioxide coating of the type which when exposed to ultraviolet light activates the outer surface to a hydrophilicity to the extent of having a water droplet contact angle of 0-25°

, and to be photocatalytic to degrade organic matter in contact with the outer surface, the glass pane covering the opening in the box.

2. The solar collector of claim 1 wherein the means for removing solar energy from the box comprises collecting tubes containing a fluid.

3. The solar collector of claim 1 wherein the means for removing solar energy from the box comprises an array of solar cells.

4. The solar collector of claim 1 wherein the titanium dioxide coating is such that when activated by ultraviolet light the surface achieves a water droplet contact angle of less than 20°

.

5. The solar collector of claim 1 wherein the glass pane solar energy transmittance is greater than 88%.

6. The solar collector of claim 1 wherein the glass pane solar energy transmittance is greater than 89%.

7. The solar collector of claim 1 wherein the glass pane transmittance of visible light is greater than 89%.

8. The solar collector of claim 1 wherein the glass pane is translucent tempered glass.

9. The solar collector of claim 1 wherein the glass pane is constructed of low iron glass of less than 0.1% iron oxide computed on Fe₂0₃.

10. A photovoltaic or thermal solar collector comprising:

an enclosure;

a solar cell or a thermal collecting tube arrangement within the enclosure; and

a protective glass cover pane overlying the enclosure, the cover pane having a Magnetron Sputter Vapor Deposition coating with a primary element of TiO₂ less than 100 angstroms in thickness which is photocatalytic and super hydrophilic, the cover pane having a transmittance of greater than 85 percent.