Solar panel for water-heater

• US 7,431,030 B2
• Filed: 03/05/2004
• Issued: 10/07/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ocv Intellectual Capital, Llc (Owens Corning)
• Original Assignee: Ocv Intellectual Capital, Llc (Owens Corning)
• Inventors: Nocera, Pierre-Jean
• Primary Examiner(s): Basichas; Alfred
• Application Number:
  US10/793,274
• Publication Number:
  US 20040255932A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,677 Days
• Field of Search: 126/643.O, 126/652.X, 126/668.X, 126/672.X, 126/663, 126/705, 126/706
• US Class Current: 126/643
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 10/501 having conduits of plastic material
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 10/504 having conduits formed by paired non-plane plates
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 80/30 Arrangements for connecting the fluid circuits of solar collectors with each other or with other components, e.g. pipe connections; Fluid distributing means, e.g. headers
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 80/457 made of plastics
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 80/60 Thermal insulation transparent coverings F24S80/50
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 10/20 Solar thermal
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/44 Heat exchange systems

Abstract

Solar panel for water-heater of the type comprising a heat exchanger made of moulded synthetic material, having a plurality of passages 7 in which a heat-exchanging fluid can circulate and a translucent cover sheet 17 attached to the exchanger with a clearance, characterized in that the heat exchanger constitutes the brace supporting the panel and consists of two identical half-shells 1a, 1b furnished with parallel longitudinal central projecting ribs 2a, 2b and one projecting edging rib 4a, 4b of greater dimension than a central rib, the two half-shells being bonded or heat sealed so that the central ribs define the abovementioned passages 7 and that the respective edging ribs 4a, 4b define a sealed hollow edging frame full of insulating air confined on the periphery of the exchanger.

Claims

1. A solar water-heating panel, comprising:

a heat exchanger of molded synthetic material, having a plurality of passages configured to circulate a heat-exchanging fluid, the passages being defined by parallel longitudinal central projecting ribs provided on two molded identical synthetic material half-shells, each of the two half shells including one projecting edging rib of greater dimension than the central projecting ribs, the two half-shells being bonded or heat sealed together at their respective central ribs to define passages and at their edge ribs to define a sealed hollow edging frame full of confined air on the periphery of the heat exchanger, wherein the two half-shells also include two transverse projecting ribs of the same dimension as the longitudinal rib and defining on two sides of the exchanger, two collector channels in communication with the ends of the passages; and

at least two attached conduits configured to provide an inlet and outlet for the heat-exchanging fluid, the conduits passing through the hollow edging frame while remaining sealed and emerging into the collector channels.

2. The solar panel according to claim 1, wherein each conduit is fitted with a threaded captive connector nut.

3. The solar panel according to claim 1, wherein a translucent cover sheet is bonded or heat sealed onto the hollow edging frame to define the upper face of the panel.

4. The solar panel according to claim 3, wherein an insulating material is placed on the lower face of the panel.

5. The solar water-heater of claim 3, further comprising one or more panels interconnected in series.

6. The solar panel according to claim 1, wherein an insulating material is placed on the lower face of the panel.

7. The solar panel according to claim 6, wherein the insulating material is delimited by the hollow edging frame and is of such thickness that it does not project substantially relative to the said edging frame.

8. The solar water-heater of claim 7, further comprising one or more panels interconnected in series.

9. The solar water-heater of claim 6, further comprising one or more panels interconnected in series.

10. The solar water-heater, according to claim 1, further comprising one or more panels interconnected in series.

11. The solar panel according to claim 1, wherein each half shell is formed from a synthetic material comprising commingled glass filaments.

12. A solar water-heating panel, comprising:

a heat exchanger of molded synthetic material, having a plurality of passages adapted for circulation of a heat-exchanging fluid the passages being defined by parallel longitudinal central projecting ribs provided on two molded identical synthetic material half-shells, each of the two half shells comprising one projecting edging rib of greater dimension than the central projecting ribs, the two half-shells being bonded or heat sealed together at their respective central ribs to define passages and at their edge ribs to define a sealed hollow edging frame full of confined air on the periphery of the heat exchanger, one or more panels being connected in series; and

at least two attached conduits configured to provide an inlet and outlet for the heat-exchanging fluid, the conduits passing through the hollow edging frame while remaining sealed and emerging into the collector channels,

wherein a translucent cover sheet is bonded or heat sealed onto the hollow edging frame to define the upper face of the panel, and wherein the cover sheet and panel define a clearance therebetween.