Solar energy collector

• US 4,026,268 A
• Filed: 09/29/1975
• Issued: 05/31/1977
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/1975
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Dow, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Dow, Inc.
• Inventors: Bartos, Donald M., Currin, Cedric G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sprague, Kenneth W.
• Application Number:
  US05/617,551
• Time in Patent Office: 610 Days
• Field of Search: 237/1 A, 126/270, 126/271
• US Class Current: 126/626
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 10/503 having conduits formed by paired plates, only one of which is plane
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 10/73 the tubular conduits being of plastic material
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/44 Heat exchange systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 126/908 Particular chemical
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24711 Plural corrugated components
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24727 with planar component

Abstract

A solar energy collector is made up of a first flat flexible sheet preferably of silicone, and a first sinuous sheet also preferably of silicone, sealingly adhered to the first sheet along a plurality of spaced parallel lines to provide a series of substantially parallel ducts which carry a liquid heat transfer medium. Either the first flat sheet or first sinuous sheet incorporates solar energy absorbent material. A backing member which may include a sheet of reflective foil and a layer of foam insulation is adhered to the opposite side of the first sinuous sheet to form a plurality of substantially parallel air channels under the ducts. Desirably, a solar window which includes a second sinuous sheet with a second flat sheet adhered to the upper amplitudes thereof is adhered to the first flat sheet along the lower amplitudes to space the second flat sheet from the first flat sheet thereby providing a multiplicity of insulative air channels.

Claims

1. A solar energy collector comprising

a first flat flexible sheet of pigmented silicone material,

a first sinuous sheet of glass fiber reinforced silicone material sealingly adhered to said first flat sheet along a plurality of spaced substantially parallel lines to provide therewith a series of substantially parallel ducts to carry a liquid heat transfer medium,

a liquid heat transfer medium in said ducts for carrying heat away from said collector to a place of utilization,

a flexible backing member adhered to the bottoms of said ducts thereby forming a plurality of substantially parallel air channels under said ducts, said backing member including a sheet of reflective foil for reflecting radiation toward the ducts and a layer of foam insulation below the foil;

and

a solar energy transmitting thermally insulating window adhered to said first flat sheet, said window comprising

a second sinuous sheet of solar energy transmitting material adhered to the upper surface of said first flat sheet at a plurality of spaced points and

a second flat sheet of solar energy transmitting material adhered at a plurality of points to said second sinuous sheet to completely cover the other elements of the collector.

2. A solar energy collector as defined in claim 1 wherein said second sinuous sheet and said second flat sheet are both of clear silicone material.

3. A solar energy collector comprising

a first flat flexible sheet,

a first sinuous sheet sealingly adhered to said first sheet along a plurality of spaced substantially parallel lines to provide therewith a series of substantially parallel ducts to carry a liquid heat transfer medium,

solar energy absorbing material incorporated in one of said first sheets,

a liquid heat transfer medium in said ducts for carrying heat away from said collector to a place of utilization,

a flexible backing member adhered to the bottoms of said ducts thereby forming a plurality of substantially parallel air channels under said ducts, and

a solar energy transmitting thermally insulating window, said window comprising

a second sinuous sheet of solar energy transmitting material adhered to the upper surface of said first flat sheet at a plurality of spaced points and

a second flat sheet of solar energy transmitting material adhered at a plurality of points to said second sinuous sheet to completely cover the other elements of the collector.

4. A solar energy collector as defined in claim 3 wherein said second sinuous sheet and said second flat sheet are both of clear silicone material.