Solar heated building

• US 3,949,732 A
• Filed: 06/10/1974
• Issued: 04/13/1976
• Est. Priority Date: 06/10/1974
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Robert G. Reines
• Original Assignee: Robert G. Reines
• Inventors: Reines, Robert G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sprague, Kenneth W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Yeung, James C.
• Application Number:
  US05/478,341
• Time in Patent Office: 673 Days
• Field of Search: 126/270, 126/271, 126/400, 237/1 A, 165/18, 52/82
• US Class Current: 126/597
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 10/50 the working fluids being conveyed between plates
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 10/505 having curved plate-like conduits, e.g. semi-spherical
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 90/00 Solar heat systems not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1924 using thermal energy, the availability of which is aleatory
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 10/20 Solar thermal
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/44 Heat exchange systems

Abstract

A solar heated building of generally hemispherical shape which supports on its surface solar heat collectors. The solar heat collectors are in the shape of spherical sectors and cover an arcuate area defined by the receipt of usable solar heat energy; consideration being given to the diurnal and seasonal positions of the sun. Heat collecting fluid is passed in thermal contact with the solar heat collectors and is in circulation with a heat storage reservoir. Air is passed in thermal contact with the solar heat collector to prevent overheating when the heat collecting fluid is cut off or to provide hot air when the heat storage reservoir is fully heated or when the solar heat collector is warmer than ambient but not hot enough to supply heat to the heat storage reservoir. The solar heat collectors are segregated by the heat collecting fluid circulation system piping into discrete arrays each covering about 15° of azimuth arc and each such array is controlled by one or more valves which admits or blocks heat collecting fluid flow. Each of the solar heat collector arrays and the heat reservoir is provided with a temperature sensor. A temperature comparison device compares the temperature of each of the solar collectors with the temperature of the heat reservoir to automatically open the valves to only such arrays as will supply heat to the heat reservoir. The air circulation system through the solar heat collectors is automatically activated for cooling when the solar heat collectors are not being used for heat storage. When air is passed through the solar heat panels, the heated air may be used to directly provide hot air for space conditioning or other purposes and thereby conserve the stored heat. The dual-mode capability of air-fluid operation enables the system to extract the maximum amount of solar energy for usable purposes.

Claims

1. A solar heated building comprising in combination:

a substantially hemispherical outer wall;

a plurality of adjacent frusto-sector shaped solar heat collectors supported on said outer wall and extending both in azimuth and in vertical spherical angle with directions of useful receipt of solar energy including diurnal and seasonable variations in such directions;

said solar heat collectors each having a solar heat collecting sheet;

means for circulating a heat transport fluid in thermal contact with the solar heat collecting sheet;

at least one transparent covering sheet supported in spaced covering relation over each solar heat collecting sheet;

said plurality of frusto-sector shaped heat collectors being separated into discrete arrays;

a heat transport fluid distributing manifold connected to the top end of each of the solar heat collecting sheets in each array;

a heat transport fluid collecting manifold connected to the bottom ends of all the solar heat collecting sheets;

a controllable valve connected in series with the input of each of the heat transport fluid distributing manifolds;

a heat transport fluid storage reservoir;

piping means connecting the heat transport fluid reservoir to a circulating pump;

piping means connecting the circulating pump to the controllable valves;

piping means connecting the storage reservoir to the heat transport fluid collecting manifold;

a temperature responsive device connected in thermal contact with at least one solar heat collecting sheet in each array;

a temperature responsive device connected in thermal contact with the heat storage reservoir; and

means responsive to a positive difference between the temperature of the solar heat collecting sheets and the temperature of the heat storage reservoir to open the controllable valves of all those arrays which are hot enough to contribute heat to the heat storage reservoir;

whereby the number of heat contributing arrays is a maximum when the temperature of the heat storage reservoir is depleted and tracking of the sun is automatic.

2. The solar heated building of claim 1, in which the building outer wall is a metal shell fabricated with vertical spherical sectors;

each of the sectors having a rectangular rib on each vertical edge shared with the adjacent vertical spherical sector;

means securing said vertical spherical sectors in adjacent relationship in a circumferential sliding joint to accommodate lateral expansion due to temperature changes;

an inner wall of heat insulating material affixed to the interior surface of the assembled metal shell.

3. The solar heated building of claim 2 in which a transparent cover is slidably supported on the vertical outstanding ribs of solar heat collecting vertical metal sectors;

means affixed to the underside of the transparent cover proximate the edge of the outstanding ribs to allow limited movement of the transparent sheet due to thermal expansion and contraction while maintaining the position of the transparent sheet as a whole in fixed relation with the ribs on the vertical metal sectors.

4. The solar heated building of claim 3 in which the transparent covers over adjacent solar heat collecting sheets overlap lateral edge portions of each other over the sector ribs, gaskets interposed between said transparent covers and the top surfaces of the vertical metal sector ribs;

means for substantially hermetically sealing the space between the upper and lower ends of the transparent covers and the vertical metal sectors between the rectangular outstanding ribs; and

means for impressing an inward radial pressure on the edge portions of the transparent sheets relative to the vertical metal sectors to substantially hermetically seal the edge portions of the transparent sheets to each other and to the top surfaces of the rectangular outstanding ribs of the vertical metal sectors.

5. The solar heated building of claim 4 in which the means for impressing an inward radial pressure on the edge portions of the transparent sheets is an arcuate pressure member bearing against the edge portions of the transparent sheets;

means for affixing the pressure member to the vertical metal sectors above and below the transparent sheets and means for applying a tensioning force to the arcuate pressure members whereby an inward radially directed pressure is applied to the transparent sheet edge portions.

6. The solar heated building of claim 5 in which an exit air duct is connected to the top of the solar heat collectors in each array above the heat transport fluid distributing manifold connection;

an inlet air duct connected to the bottom of each of the solar heat collectors below the heat transport fluid collecting manifold connection to admit the vertical passage of air through said inlet duct, the space between the transparent cover and the solar heat collecting sheet, and out through the exit air duct.

7. The solar heated building of claim 6 in which gating means is supported in one of the air ducts to close off the passage of air when heat transport liquid is being heated and to admit air in contact with the solar heat collecting sheet for cooling the solar heat collecting sheet and to supply heated air for utilization purposes.

8. The solar heated building of claim 7 in which motor means is connected to said gate, means responsive to excessive temperature of any solar heat collecting sheet in any array for energizing said motor means for opening said gate.

9. The solar heated building of claim 7 in which the gating means is a movable gate in an air duct connected to each heat collecting panel, motor means for moving said gate, means responsive to an off condition of a heat transport fluid valve and to a room temperature demand signal for energizing said motor means for opening said gate for supplying heated air for space heating purposes.

10. The solar heated building of claim 9 in which a humidity responsive device provides a signal for controllably opening the heat transport fluid valve while the gate is open, whereby the air is passed over the solar heat collecting plate in contact with moisture to provide heated humidified air for interior space heating.

11. The solar heated building of claim 7 in which a ventilating cap is supported on a top portion of the building and connected through a controllable valve with the interior of the building;

means responsive to oxygen content and contaminants in the air in the building for adjusting the opening in said controllable valve.

12. The solar heat building of claim 11 in which means responsive to the temperature in the building opens exterior air vents when the temperature is adequate, and opens the heated air duct into the interior of the building for supplying warm air when the interior temperature is lower than desired.

13. A solar heat collecting panel comprising a solar heat absorbing sheet having a front and a back side, a thick insulation blanket affixed directly on the back side, a transparent cover affixed in spaced relation to and over the solar heat absorbing sheet front side, controllable means for flowing a heat transport liquid in thermal contact with said solar heat absorbing sheet front side, controllable means for flowing air through the space between the solar heat absorbing sheet front side and the transparent cover and in thermal contact with the solar heat absorbing sheet front side means for selectively operating the controllable means for flowing a heat transport liquid and the controllable means for flowing air, whereby heat transport liquid along can be heated, or air alone can be heated for utilitarian purposes and to prevent overheating of the solar heat collecting panel, or warm air can be humidified by heat transport liquid.

14. In a dome shaped solar heated building having a dome shaped exterior wall, a plurality of frusto-sector shaped solar heat collecting panels comprising a solar heat collecting sheet and a spaced transparent cover, means for passing water over the solar heat collecting sheet in thermal contact therewith, air passage means for passing air in thermal contact with the solar heat collecting sheet between the solar heat collecting sheet and the transparent cover, means for opening and closing the air passage means, a common drain manifold connected to all the solar heat collecting panels and to a liquid heat storage reservoir for continuously maintaining the solar heat collecting panels in drained condition, means responsive to positive differential of temperature of the solar heat collecting sheets over the temperature of the heat storage reservoir for opening the means for passing water over the solar heat collecting sheets, means responsive to the absence of the positive differential of temperature of a solar heat collecting sheet over the temperature of the heat storage reservoir for closing the means for passing water over the solar heat collecting sheet, means responsive to the absence of the positive differential of temperature of the solar heat collecting sheet over the temperature of the heat storage reservoir and to a positive differential of temperature of the solar heat collecting sheet over the interior temperature of the building to open the means for passing air in thermal contact with the solar heat collecting sheet whereby the heat stored in the heat storage reservoir is conserved whenever heated air is available for space heating.

15. Solar heat conversion apparatus comprising a plurality of vertically inclined solar heat collectors supported in an azimuth arc, each of said solar heat collectors having a solar heat collecting sheet, valve means in series with a liquid source connected to admit liquid in thermal contact with each solar heat collecting sheet, a liquid heat storage reservoir, temperature sensing means in thermal contact with each of the solar heat collecting sheets and the liquid heat storage reservoir, means for comparing the temperature of the liquid heat storage reservoir, and for generating an electrical quantity in response to a positive differential of temperature of a solar heat collecting sheet over the temperature of the liquid heat reservoir, and means connecting such electrical quantity to the respective valve means to admit liquid to the respective solar heat collector.

16. A solar heat collector comprising a plurality of discrete solar heat collector panels supported to form a substantially arcuate wall, the convex side of which subtends an arc co-extensive, substantially with the path of the visable sun, a heat storage reservoir, said solar heat collector panels each having at least one solar heat collecting sheet, controllable valve means adapted to admit a heat transport fluid in thermal contact with each solar heat collector sheet and the heat storage reservoir;

individual temperature responsive means in thermal coupling with at least one solar heat collecting sheet in each panel and temperature responsive means in contact with the heat storage reservoir, means responsive to a positive differential of temperature between each solar heat collecting sheet and the reservoir to open said controllable valve means; and

duct means connected to all the solar heat collector panels and to the reservoir for transporting heated transport fluid from the heat collector panels to the heat storage reservoir.

17. A dual mode solar heat collector panel adapted to heat a heat transport liquid and air, comprising a solar heat collecting sheet, a substantial blanket of insulation directly adhered to the back of the heat collecting sheet, a transparent cover spacedly supported over and hermetically affixed to said solar heat collecting sheet on all edges thereof, controllable heat transport liquid inlet duct means penetrating said solar heat collecting sheet from the rear to the front thereof in a top portion thereof and adapted to admit a flow of heat transport liquid over said sheet, means for collecting heated transport liquid from proximate the bottom of said solar heat collecting sheet, controllable air duct means penetrating the solar heat collecting sheet above the heat transport liquid inlet duct means, air duct means connected to a lower portion of the solar heat collecting sheet adapted to admit unheated air into the space between the solar heat collecting sheet and the transparent cover, and, air duct valve switch means connected to the controllable air duct means to direct warmed air to a using device, or to dump the warmed air, if not needed, to the atmosphere to prevent excessive temperatures from damaging the solar heat collector panel, and whereby manipulation of the controllable heat transport inlet duct means and the controllable air duct means provides modes of operation which are:

heating liquid, humidifying warmed air and heat dispersal.