Solar Thermal Lamps and Globes for Heating Water in a Water Tank

• US 20150096551A1
• Filed: 10/09/2013
• Published: 04/09/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ali A. Fakih
• Original Assignee: Ali A. Fakih
• Inventors: Fakih, Ali A.
• Granted Patent: US 9,400,121 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 126/600
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 10/40 in absorbing elements surrounded by transparent enclosures, e.g. evacuated solar collectors
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 10/95 having evaporator sections and condenser sections, e.g. heat pipes
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 20/20 Solar heat collectors for receiving concentrated solar energy, e.g. receivers for solar power plants
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 2023/833 dish-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 2030/134 in the form of gearings or rack-and-pinion transmissions
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 23/74 with trough-shaped or cylindro-parabolic reflective surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 30/425 Horizontal axis
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 30/455 Horizontal primary axis
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 50/20 for tracking
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 60/30 storing heat in liquids
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 10/20 Solar thermal
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/40 Solar thermal energy, e.g. solar towers
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/44 Heat exchange systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/47 Mountings or tracking
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 80/20 using renewable energy

Abstract

A solar thermal lamp used for heating water inside a tank. The thermal lamp includes a transparent glass bulb with a threaded male coupling for attaching to a female coupling in the tank. The lamp also includes a heat tube with an enlarged water heating condenser. The condenser is received inside the tank. The heat tube can include a copper coil, copper fins, a glass coil, a copper lamp, a glass lamp, and the like for receiving solar energy and conducting the heat to the heating condenser for heating the water inside the tank. Also, the invention can be in the form of a solar thermal globe. The solar globe is self-contained and includes a water tank. Another embodiment of the globe tracks with the daily movement of the sun and change with seasons.

Claims

1. A solar panel for heating water, the solar panel comprising:

a combination insulated water tank and solar heat reflector, the water tank and heat reflector adapted for mounting on a building roof, a building wall and similar structure, the water tank incorporated inside the heat reflector and adapted for storing water therein, the heat reflector having a concave portion therein;

a threaded female coupling, the threaded female coupling disposed in a side of the water tank and next to the concave portion of the heat reflector;

a transparent glass bulb;

a threaded male coupling, the threaded male coupling mounted on one end of the bulb;

the male coupling threadably attached to the female coupling, the male and female couplings provide for self-supporting the glass bulb on the combination water tank and the heat reflector; and

a heat tube mounted inside the glass bulb, the tube having an enlarged water heating condenser, the condenser filled with a fluid for heat transfer, the condenser extending outwardly from the male coupling and disposed inside the water tank, the tube having means for absorbing solar energy inside the bulb and connected to the condenser for heating the condenser, the concave portion of the heat reflector disposed around the back of and the sides of the glass bulb for reflecting solar heat onto the means for absorbing solar energy, the condenser adapted for heating the water in the water tank.

2. The panel as described in claim 1 wherein the means for absorbing solar energy is a copper coil, the copper coil is connected to a copper heating condenser.

3. The panel as described in claim 2 wherein the copper coil is coated with a solar absorbing material.

4. The panel as described in claim 1 wherein the means for absorbing solar energy is a glass coil, the glass coil coated with a solar absorbing material, the glass coil connected to a glass heating condenser.

5. The panel as described in claim 1 further including a vacuum tube in the glass bulb, the vacuum tube for drawing a vacuum therein and minimizing heat loss in the solar thermal lamp,

7. The panel as described in claim 1 further including a glass cover for receipt over the solar heat reflector.

8. The panel as described in claim 1 further including a fresnel lens for receipt over the solar heat reflector.

9. The panel as described in claim 1 further including a rotatable base attached to the combination water tank and solar heat reflector, the rotatable base for latitude correction of the solar thermal lamp.

10. The panel as described in claim 1 further including a plurality of transparent glass bulbs spaced apart and mounted along a length of the combination water tank and solar heat collector for absorbing increased amounts of solar energy and the heating of the water in the water tank.

6. The panel as described in claim I wherein the male coupling is a male twist-lock tread and the female coupling is a female twist-lock thread.

11. A solar panel for heating water, the solar panel comprising:

a combination insulated water tank and solar heat reflector, the water tank and heat reflector adapted for mounting on a building roof, a building wall and similar structure, the water tank incorporated inside the heat reflector and adapted for storing water therein, the heat reflector having a concave portion therein;

a threaded female coupling, the threaded female coupling disposed in a side of the water tank and next to the concave portion of the heat reflector;

a transparent glass bulb;

a threaded male coupling, the threaded male coupling mounted on one end of the bulb;

the male coupling threadably attached to the female coupling, the male and female couplings provide for self-supporting the glass bulb on the combination water tank and the heat reflector; and

a heat tube mounted inside the glass bulb, the heat tube having an enlarged copper heating condenser, the condenser filed with a fluid for heat transfer, the condenser extending outwardly from the male coupling and disposed inside the water tank, the heat tube having a copper coil, the copper coil, coated with a solar absorbing material, the copper coil connected to the copper heating condenser, the copper coil for absorbing solar energy inside the bulb and heating the condenser, the concave portion of the heat reflector disposed around the back of and the sides of the glass bulb for reflecting solar heat onto the copper coil, the copper heating condenser adapted for heating the water in the water tank.

12. The panel as described in claim 11 further including a glass cover for receipt over the solar heat reflector.

13. The panel as described in claim 11 further including a fresnel lens for receipt over the solar heat reflector.

14. The panel as described in claim 11 further including a rotatable base attached to the combination water tank and solar heat reflector, the rotatable base for latitude correction of the solar thermal lamp.

15. The panel as described in claim 11 further including a vacuum tube in the glass bulb, the vacuum tube for drawing a vacuum therein and minimizing heat loss in the solar thermal lamp.

16. The panel as described in claim 11 further including a plurality of transparent glass bulbs spaced apart and mounted along a length of the combination water tank and solar heat reflector for absorbing increased amounts of solar energy and the heating of the water in the water tank.

17. A solar panel for heating water, the solar panel comprising:

a combination insulated water tank and solar heat reflector, the combination water tank and heat reflector adapted for mounting on a building roof, a building wall and similar structure, the water tank incorporated inside the heat reflector and adapted for storing water therein, the heat reflector having a concave portion therein;

a threaded female coupling, the threaded female coupling disposed in a side of the water tank and next to the concave portion of the heat reflector;

a transparent glass bulb;

a threaded male coupling, the threaded male coupling mounted on one end of the bulb;

the male coupling threadably attached to the female coupling, the male and female couplings provide for self-supporting the glass bulb on the combination water tank and the heat reflector; and

a heat tube mounted inside the glass bulb, the heat tube having an enlarged glass heating condenser, the condenser filed with a fluid for heat transfer, the condenser extending outwardly from the male coupling and disposed inside the water tank, the heat tube having a glass coil, the glass coil coated with a solar absorbing material, the glass coil connected to the glass heating condenser, the glass coil for absorbing solar energy inside the bulb and heating the condenser, the concave portion of the heat reflector disposed around the back of and the sides of the glass bulb for reflecting solar heat onto the glass coil, the glass heating condenser adapted for heating the water in the water tank.

18. The panel as described in claim 17 further including a vacuum tube in the glass bulb, the vacuum tube for drawing a vacuum therein and minimizing heat loss in the solar thermal lamp.

19. The panel as described in claim 17 further including a rotatable base attached to the combination water tank and solar heat reflector, the rotatable base for latitude correction of the solar thermal lamp.

20. The panel as described in claim 17 further including a plurality of transparent glass bulbs spaced apart and mounted along a length of the combination water tank and solar heat reflector for absorbing increased solar energy and the heating of the water in the water tank.