Self pumped solar energy collection system
First Claim
1. A passive, two stroke heating system, comprising a reservoir for storing a working fluid primarily in the liquid state, a vaporizer positioned gravitationally below said reservoir and connected to receive liquid working fluid from said reservoir and to vaporize said fluid on application of heat energy thereto, a vessel for containing a mass of liquid to be heated, a condenser within said vessel for heating said liquid mass by condensation of working fluid vapor therein, a conduit in unrestricted fluid communication with said condenser and carrying working fluid thereto from said vaporizer during a first stroke occurring when external energy is being applied to said vaporizer at a rate sufficient to vaporize fluid therein, a sump positioned for no more than limited thermal contact with said liquid mass and connected to exchange working fluid with said condenser;
- said vaporizer, said reservoir, said conduit, said condenser, and said sump being hermetically sealed and in unrestricted fluid communication with each other whereby said sump accumulates substantially all the working fluid of said reservoir substantially in liquid form during said first stroke and returns said fluid in liquid form to said reservoir during a second return stroke when the vaporizer loses a sufficient amount of heat to condense the vapor therein.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention relates to a cyclic method and single pipe system for collecting and transferring heat energy from a periodic heat source to a thermal storage reservoir and preventing the back flow of such heat energy. The system is responsive to the temperature of the thermal storage reservoir and the availability of the heat source without reliance upon other external energy inputs or controls such as valves, pumps, floats, sensors, or electronic circuitry. During the heat collection stroke of the cycle an evaporator containing a volatile liquid generates a flow of vapor to a remote heat exchanger where the vapor gives up its latent heat of vaporization to the thermal storage reservoir thereby condensing. Condensate flows from the heat exchanger to an insulated pressure sustaining sump that efficiently accepts pulsatile fluid delivery. During periods of heat source unavailability, heat loss from the evaporator to its surroundings condenses the vapor therein, reducing evaporator pressure and allowing vapor pressure in the sump to return the sump liquid through the heat exchanger to the evaporator, this return stroke completing the cycle. The sealed single pipe system employs no moving parts and is applicable to any periodic or intermittent source of heat such as solar insolation.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. A passive, two stroke heating system, comprising a reservoir for storing a working fluid primarily in the liquid state, a vaporizer positioned gravitationally below said reservoir and connected to receive liquid working fluid from said reservoir and to vaporize said fluid on application of heat energy thereto, a vessel for containing a mass of liquid to be heated, a condenser within said vessel for heating said liquid mass by condensation of working fluid vapor therein, a conduit in unrestricted fluid communication with said condenser and carrying working fluid thereto from said vaporizer during a first stroke occurring when external energy is being applied to said vaporizer at a rate sufficient to vaporize fluid therein, a sump positioned for no more than limited thermal contact with said liquid mass and connected to exchange working fluid with said condenser;
- said vaporizer, said reservoir, said conduit, said condenser, and said sump being hermetically sealed and in unrestricted fluid communication with each other whereby said sump accumulates substantially all the working fluid of said reservoir substantially in liquid form during said first stroke and returns said fluid in liquid form to said reservoir during a second return stroke when the vaporizer loses a sufficient amount of heat to condense the vapor therein.
- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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10. A passive, two-stroke heating system, comprising a collector, including a plurality of tubes connected in parallel with each other;
- a first reservoir in fluid communication with said collector tubes to receive fluid therefrom and discharge it thereto;
a condenser;
a first conduit interconnecting said reservoir and said condenser;
a second reservoir in heat-exchange relation with said condenser for receiving a secondary fluid to be heated therein;
a sump separate from said condenser;
a second conduit interconnecting said condenser and said sump;
said collector tubes, first reservoir, condenser, sump, and first, and second conduits being hermetically sealed to each other and charged with a working fluid that alternately vaporizes and condenses during operation, the working fluid being vaporized in said collector and transported to said sump via said condenser during a first, transfer stroke when said collector is receiving energy from its environment and being returned from said sump to said reservoir and collector tubes during a second return stroke when said collector is transferring heat to its environment.
- a first reservoir in fluid communication with said collector tubes to receive fluid therefrom and discharge it thereto;
Specification