Solar energy storage and utilization
First Claim
1. A system for storing and utilizing solar energy comprising:
- collector means for collecting solar energy and changing said solar energy to heat;
transmitting means for transmitting said heat from said collector means to a location below the surface of the ground;
distributing means comprising a closed loop piping system extending out from said location into the surrounding soil, and means for causing a heat transfer fluid to flow within said piping system, said distributing means positioned adjacent said transmitting means at said location and in efficient heat transfer relationship with said transmitting means, said distributing means extending through a volume of said ground for raising the temperature of said volume of ground thereby establishing a stored heat reservoir, said heat reservoir having a heat storage volume substantially greater than that formed by the transmitting means alone; and
control means including valve means in said distributing means, and heat exchange means in fluid flow connection with said valve means for controlling flow of said heat transfer fluid in said distributing means and thus permitting said distributing means to function as means for extracting heat from the ground.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system for storing and utilizing solar energy which includes the use of solar energy collectors attached to heat pipes for changing solar flux into heat energy and transmitting the heat energy into the earth below the surface of the ground. An expanding array of pipes, formed of heat conductive material, distributes the heat throughout a large, unconstrained volume of underground earth. The system provides for long-duration earth storage of the heat energy which can later be used for both space and hot water heating in homes, multiple-unit housing, commercial buildings, public buildings, etc.
A uni-directional heat pipe, characterized by having irreversible vapor flow, includes a pump arrangement for transferring working fluid from the condenser section to the evaporator section of the heat pipe.
42 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A system for storing and utilizing solar energy comprising:
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collector means for collecting solar energy and changing said solar energy to heat; transmitting means for transmitting said heat from said collector means to a location below the surface of the ground; distributing means comprising a closed loop piping system extending out from said location into the surrounding soil, and means for causing a heat transfer fluid to flow within said piping system, said distributing means positioned adjacent said transmitting means at said location and in efficient heat transfer relationship with said transmitting means, said distributing means extending through a volume of said ground for raising the temperature of said volume of ground thereby establishing a stored heat reservoir, said heat reservoir having a heat storage volume substantially greater than that formed by the transmitting means alone; and control means including valve means in said distributing means, and heat exchange means in fluid flow connection with said valve means for controlling flow of said heat transfer fluid in said distributing means and thus permitting said distributing means to function as means for extracting heat from the ground. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A system for storing and utilizing solar energy comprising:
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collector means for collecting solar energy and changing said solar energy to heat; transmitting means including a closed loop piping system for transmitting said heat from said collector means to a location below the surface of the ground; distributing means comprising a closed loop piping system extending out from said location into the surrounding soil, and means for causing a heat transfer fluid to flow within said piping system, said distributing means positioned adjacent said transmitting means at said location and in efficient heat transfer relationship with said transmitting means, said distributing means extending through a volume of said ground for raising the temperature of said volume of ground thereby establishing a stored heat reservoir, said heat reservoir having a heat storage volume substantially greater than that formed by the transmitting means alone; means for increasing the rate of heat transfer from said transmitting means to said distributing means above the rate of heat transfer of normal soil at said location; and control means including valve means in said distributing means, and heat exchange means in fluid flow connection with said valve means for controlling flow of said heat transfer fluid in said distributing means and thus permitting said distributing means to function as means for extracting heat from the ground. - View Dependent Claims (15)
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Specification