Compound solar water heating and dehumidifying device

• US 5,894,836 A
• Filed: 04/20/1998
• Issued: 04/20/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
• Original Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
• Inventors: Lu, Shyi-Min, Wu, Wei-Yih
• Primary Examiner(s): Dority, Carroll B.
• Application Number:
  US09/062,730
• Time in Patent Office: 365 Days
• Field of Search: 126/617, 126/619, 126/631, 126/676
• US Class Current: 126/617
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 5/0046 using natural energy, e.g. solar energy, energy from the ground
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 10/80 comprising porous material or permeable masses directly contacting the working fluids for conveying liquefied working fluid from evaporator sections to condenser sections with capillary force F24S10/95
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 60/30 storing heat in liquids
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 90/10 using thermosiphonic circulation
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/44 Heat exchange systems

Abstract

A compound solar water heating and dehumidifying device including an adsorption bed disposed at a lower rim of a plate type heat collector of a solar water heating element for causing a heat collector element to absorb heat in the day-time and the adsorption bed to regenerate and accumulate heat. At night, the heat of adsorption and heat of condensation are released to the heat collector element to retard the drop of temperature of water in water channels that are in contact with the heat collector element. Therefore, dissipation of heat from the hot water in a water tank may be retarded and water moisture may be removed.

Claims

1. A compound solar water heating and dehumidifying device, comprising:

a solar heat collector element having a plurality of water channels;

a water tank having a water conduit transferring the hot water form said solar heat collector element to said water tank; and

an adsorption bed in the lower rim of said heat collector element for accumulating the solar energy in the day-time and releasing the energy for maintaining the water temperature in said water channels and retard the drop of temperature in said water tank.

2. A compound solar water heating and dehumidifying device as defined in claim 1, wherein said adsorption bed is spaced apart from a heat insulation element by an air channel which allows passage of air to contact said adsorption bed.

3. A compound solar water heating and dehumidifying device as defined in claim 2, wherein said air channel has an air inlet and an air outlet, and an air current impeller being installed at said air inlet of said air channel.

4. A compound solar water heating and dehumidifying device as defined in claim 3, wherein said air current impeller is a direct current fan driven by solar batteries.

5. A compound solar water heating and dehumidifying device as defined in claim 3, wherein said air inlet and said air outlet are respectively connected to the atmosphere.

6. A compound solar water heating and dehumidifying device as defined in claim 3, wherein said air inlet and said air outlet are respectively connected to a dry chamber.

7. A compound solar water heating and dehumidifying device as defined in claim 6, wherein said air inlet or said air outlet has an air gate installed at where it is connected to said dry chamber.

8. A compound solar water heating and dehumidifying device as defined in claim 2, wherein said solar heat collector element is constituted by an outer frame which envelops said heat collector element, said adsorption bed, said air channel, and said heat insulation element.

9. A compound solar water heating and dehumidifying device as defined in claim 8, wherein said adsorption bed and said heat insulation element are supported by a plurality of supported elements.

10. A compound solar water heating and dehumidifying device as defined in claim 1, wherein the lower rim of said heat collector element has grain-like adsorption agents adhered thereto to form said adsorption bed.

11. A compound solar water heating and dehumidifying device as defined in claim 10, wherein said adsorption agents of said adsorption bed are chemical adsorption agents.

12. A compound solar water heating and dehumidifying device as defined in claim 10, wherein said adsorption agents are silica gel.

13. A compound solar water heating and dehumidifying device as defined in claim 1, wherein said adsorption bed is constituted by honeycomb-shaped passages, the surfaces of which have adsorption agents.

14. A compound solar water heating and dehumidifying device as defined in claim 3, wherein said solar heat collector element is substantially inclined, and said air inlet of said air channel is located at a lower position.

15. A compound solar water heating and dehumidifying device as defined in claim 14, wherein said water channels are connected in series and are inter-communicative.

16. A compound solar water heating and dehumidifying device as defined in claim 15, wherein said water channels are distributed on said solar heat collector element and are in contact therewith.

17. A compound solar water heating and dehumidifying device as defined in claim 1, wherein said water tank is located above said solar heat collector element.

18. A compound solar heating and dehumidifying device, comprising:

a sealable dry chamber, having an interior defining a dry space, said dry chamber having an air entrance and an air exit; and

a solar water heater device which comprising;

a solar heat collector element having a plurality of water channels;

a water tank having a water conduit transferring the hot water from said solar heat collector element to said water tank; and

an adsorption bed in a lower rim of said heat collector element for accumulating the solar energy in the day-time and releasing the energy for maintaining the water temperature in said water channels and retard the drop of temperature in said water tank; and

an air channel defined by said adsorption bed and a heat insulation element and adapted to allow passage of air to contact said adsorption bed;

said air channel having an air inlet and an air outlet, said air inlet communicating with said air exit of said dry chamber, said air outlet communicating with said air entrance of said dry chamber.

19. A compound solar water heating and dehumidifying device as defined in claim 18, wherein said air inlet and said air outlet of said air channel are respectively provided with a three-way air gate whereby said air channel may be selectively controlled to communicate with the atmosphere or said dry chamber.

20. A compound solar water heating and dehumidifying device as defined in claim 18, wherein said dry chamber is internally provided with an auxiliary electric dehumidifier.