CA1172532A - Sinusoidal multi-tube strip collector - Google Patents
Sinusoidal multi-tube strip collectorInfo
- Publication number
- CA1172532A CA1172532A CA000376742A CA376742A CA1172532A CA 1172532 A CA1172532 A CA 1172532A CA 000376742 A CA000376742 A CA 000376742A CA 376742 A CA376742 A CA 376742A CA 1172532 A CA1172532 A CA 1172532A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- strip
- tubes
- enclosure
- flow
- webs
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
Links
Classifications
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
- Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
- Y02E10/00—Energy generation through renewable energy sources
- Y02E10/40—Solar thermal energy, e.g. solar towers
- Y02E10/44—Heat exchange systems
Landscapes
- Steam Or Hot-Water Central Heating Systems (AREA)
- Photovoltaic Devices (AREA)
Abstract
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
A solar collector in which an elastomeric multiple tube mat with counterflow in adjacent tubes is disposed in a sinusoidal configuration on a base surrounded by a frame spanned by a translucent panel.
A solar collector in which an elastomeric multiple tube mat with counterflow in adjacent tubes is disposed in a sinusoidal configuration on a base surrounded by a frame spanned by a translucent panel.
Description
3 17;~532 SOLAR COLLECTOR
This invention concerns solar collectors.
In United States Patent No. 4,176,654 an improved solar collector heat exchange element is described consisting of a tube mat or strip of elastomeric material such as EPDM (ethylene propylene diene monomer or terpolymer). A given tube strip of the type described therein includes a plurality of tubes which are equally spaced parallel to one another. Each adjoining pair of tubes is connected by a web which is easily severed lengthwise along tear lines to permit the tubes to be separated. In use, such a tube strip is affixed to a base surface and the opposite ends of the tubes are separated from the adjoining webs for connection to appropriate manifold headers which circulate a heat exchange fluid through the tubes. The patent describes assemblies wherein such tube stripsare disposed within a solar collector formed by a rigid frame across which a translucent panel extends.
It is the principal purpose of the present invention to extend the concept of the apparatus described in United States Patent No. 4,176,654 to relatively small pre-fabricated solar collector modules with heat ~17253~
This invention concerns solar collectors.
In United States Patent No. 4,176,654 an improved solar collector heat exchange element is described consisting of a tube mat or strip of elastomeric material such as EPDM (ethylene propylene diene monomer or terpolymer). A given tube strip of the type described therein includes a plurality of tubes which are equally spaced parallel to one another. Each adjoining pair of tubes is connected by a web which is easily severed lengthwise along tear lines to permit the tubes to be separated. In use, such a tube strip is affixed to a base surface and the opposite ends of the tubes are separated from the adjoining webs for connection to appropriate manifold headers which circulate a heat exchange fluid through the tubes. The patent describes assemblies wherein such tube stripsare disposed within a solar collector formed by a rigid frame across which a translucent panel extends.
It is the principal purpose of the present invention to extend the concept of the apparatus described in United States Patent No. 4,176,654 to relatively small pre-fabricated solar collector modules with heat ~17253~
2.
exchanger fluid flow being in opposite directions in adjoining tubes and with a minimum of plumbing connections. A solar collector made in accordance with the present invention can achieve even temperatures by counterflow with excellent thermal efficiency.
According to the present invention, there is provided a solar collector comprising an enclosure formed between a base and a translucent panel, an elongated flexible strip comprising a plurality of uninterrupted and integral tubes with webs between the tubes disposed on the base, the strip being disposed in a sinusoidal arrangement on the base with extended sections of the strip paired alongside one another and joined by connecting sections, the connecting sections being free of the webs between the tubes, in-flow and out-flow headers extending through and within the enclosure, opposite end portions of each tube being free of the webs with adjoining tubes and connected to the in-flow and out-flow headers alternately so that heat exchange fluid therein flows in opposite directions in adjoining tubes.
By the foregoing constructions a sinusoidal counterflow of heating exchange fluid is provided through the tubes of the strip with the number of connections between the tubes and the headers kept to a minimum. The assembly is particularly adapted to be made in elongated rectangular form with the headers extending therethrough across oneend of the frame and the parallel tube strip sections arranged lengthwise within the enclosures.
~L17'~53Z
The invention will be further apparent from the following description with reference to the several figures of the accompanying drawingswhich show, by way of example only, one form of solar collector embodying the invention.
Of the drawings:-Fig. 1 is a plan view of the solar collector;
Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary section of thecollector taken along the line 2-2 of Fig. l;
and Fig. 3 is an enlarged transverse section of the tube mat of the collectorof Fig. 1.
Referring first to Figs. 1 and 2, it will be seen that a frame 10 is formed by four pairs of straight lengths of aluminium extrusion with each side having the same cross-section. As illustrated, particularly in Fig. 2, the frame 10 is configured to receive the edges of a base 11 and a lower aluminium cover sheet 12, a frame rim 13 is affixed to the upper edge of the frame to receive therebetween a translucent panel 14 spanning the frame. Gaskets 15 seal the joints between the panel 14 and frame members. The base 11 may be a baked and outgassed isocyanurate insulation boardapproximately one inch (2.54 cm) thick with aluminium foil faces and the translucent panel 14 may be tempered glass glazing. The frame 10 includes opposite sides 15 and 16 and ends 17 and 18. In one form of the assembly, the entire frame has a width of two feet (approximately 0.6 m) and length of eight feet (approximately 2.4 m).
:~17~53Z
4.
Arranged side-by-side at one end of the assembly is a pair of three-quarter inch (approximately 2 cm) manifold headers 19 and 20 which may be of copper or plastic. These headers 19 and 20 extend through the sides 15 and 16 of the frame 10 somewhat above the surface of the base 11. The header 19 carries the in-flow heat exchanger fluid and the header 20 carries the out-flow fluid.
A tube strip 21 of the form described in detail in the afore-mentioned U.S. patent is located within the enclosure defined by the frame 10, base 11 and transluc-ent panel 14. The typical strip 21 shown in Fig. 3 includes a plurality of tubes 22 which are equally spaced and parallel to one another. The tubes in a given strip are connected alternately to the in-flow and out-flow headers so that the heat exchange fluid in adjoining tubes is carried in opposite directions, i.e. in a counterflow fashion. Peak temperatures on the surface of the collector are therefore kept to a minimum so that re-radiation of energy is limited.
Each tube 22 has a nominal outside diameter of 0.338 inch (approximately 0.85 cm) and a nominal inside diameter of 0.203 inch (approximatley 0.5 cm). The underside of the tube strip 21 has a plurality bf deflectable projections 23 which define a plurality or inwardly diverging recesses 24. In the assembly shown there are six of the tubes 22 and three of the recesses 24. Each adjoining pair of tubes 22 is connected by a web 25 which is easily severed lengthwise along tear line 25A to permit the tubes 22 to be separated. The tube strip 21 may be affixed to the base by a layer of mastic 26 which penetrates the recesses 24 to grip the strip 21 in a releasable fashion without reliance upon a ~'72S3~
5.
chemical bond.
As shown in Fig. 1, the opposite end portions of all of the tubes 22 are free of the webs 25 and are connected to the respective headers 19 and 20. An odd numbered plurality of intermediate strip sections 27, in this case five, are free of the webs 25 with the tubes 22 remaining uninterrupted and integral. The tube strip 21 is disposed in the assembly in a sinusoidal configuration with portions of the strip between the lQ sections 27 arranged parallel and alongside one another lengthwise within the enclosure. It is therefore necessary to provide a strip which is many times longer than the elongated collector, in this case more than six times as long or over forty-eight feet (approximately 14.6 m) in length.
It is apparent that the heat exchange fluid enters through the in-flow header 19 and then passes through the tubes 22 of the strip 21 to the out-flow header 20 along an extended sinusoidal counter-flow path. Plumbing connections between the tube strip 21 and headers l9 and 20 occur only at the remote ends of the strip 21 and yet virtually the entire surface of the two foot by eight foot tapproximately 0.6 m by 2.4 m) panel is utlised for heat exchange purposes.
It will be appreciated that it is not intended to limit the invention to the above example only, many variations, such as might readily occur to one skilled in the art, being possible without departing from the scope thereof, as defined in the appended claims.
exchanger fluid flow being in opposite directions in adjoining tubes and with a minimum of plumbing connections. A solar collector made in accordance with the present invention can achieve even temperatures by counterflow with excellent thermal efficiency.
According to the present invention, there is provided a solar collector comprising an enclosure formed between a base and a translucent panel, an elongated flexible strip comprising a plurality of uninterrupted and integral tubes with webs between the tubes disposed on the base, the strip being disposed in a sinusoidal arrangement on the base with extended sections of the strip paired alongside one another and joined by connecting sections, the connecting sections being free of the webs between the tubes, in-flow and out-flow headers extending through and within the enclosure, opposite end portions of each tube being free of the webs with adjoining tubes and connected to the in-flow and out-flow headers alternately so that heat exchange fluid therein flows in opposite directions in adjoining tubes.
By the foregoing constructions a sinusoidal counterflow of heating exchange fluid is provided through the tubes of the strip with the number of connections between the tubes and the headers kept to a minimum. The assembly is particularly adapted to be made in elongated rectangular form with the headers extending therethrough across oneend of the frame and the parallel tube strip sections arranged lengthwise within the enclosures.
~L17'~53Z
The invention will be further apparent from the following description with reference to the several figures of the accompanying drawingswhich show, by way of example only, one form of solar collector embodying the invention.
Of the drawings:-Fig. 1 is a plan view of the solar collector;
Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary section of thecollector taken along the line 2-2 of Fig. l;
and Fig. 3 is an enlarged transverse section of the tube mat of the collectorof Fig. 1.
Referring first to Figs. 1 and 2, it will be seen that a frame 10 is formed by four pairs of straight lengths of aluminium extrusion with each side having the same cross-section. As illustrated, particularly in Fig. 2, the frame 10 is configured to receive the edges of a base 11 and a lower aluminium cover sheet 12, a frame rim 13 is affixed to the upper edge of the frame to receive therebetween a translucent panel 14 spanning the frame. Gaskets 15 seal the joints between the panel 14 and frame members. The base 11 may be a baked and outgassed isocyanurate insulation boardapproximately one inch (2.54 cm) thick with aluminium foil faces and the translucent panel 14 may be tempered glass glazing. The frame 10 includes opposite sides 15 and 16 and ends 17 and 18. In one form of the assembly, the entire frame has a width of two feet (approximately 0.6 m) and length of eight feet (approximately 2.4 m).
:~17~53Z
4.
Arranged side-by-side at one end of the assembly is a pair of three-quarter inch (approximately 2 cm) manifold headers 19 and 20 which may be of copper or plastic. These headers 19 and 20 extend through the sides 15 and 16 of the frame 10 somewhat above the surface of the base 11. The header 19 carries the in-flow heat exchanger fluid and the header 20 carries the out-flow fluid.
A tube strip 21 of the form described in detail in the afore-mentioned U.S. patent is located within the enclosure defined by the frame 10, base 11 and transluc-ent panel 14. The typical strip 21 shown in Fig. 3 includes a plurality of tubes 22 which are equally spaced and parallel to one another. The tubes in a given strip are connected alternately to the in-flow and out-flow headers so that the heat exchange fluid in adjoining tubes is carried in opposite directions, i.e. in a counterflow fashion. Peak temperatures on the surface of the collector are therefore kept to a minimum so that re-radiation of energy is limited.
Each tube 22 has a nominal outside diameter of 0.338 inch (approximately 0.85 cm) and a nominal inside diameter of 0.203 inch (approximatley 0.5 cm). The underside of the tube strip 21 has a plurality bf deflectable projections 23 which define a plurality or inwardly diverging recesses 24. In the assembly shown there are six of the tubes 22 and three of the recesses 24. Each adjoining pair of tubes 22 is connected by a web 25 which is easily severed lengthwise along tear line 25A to permit the tubes 22 to be separated. The tube strip 21 may be affixed to the base by a layer of mastic 26 which penetrates the recesses 24 to grip the strip 21 in a releasable fashion without reliance upon a ~'72S3~
5.
chemical bond.
As shown in Fig. 1, the opposite end portions of all of the tubes 22 are free of the webs 25 and are connected to the respective headers 19 and 20. An odd numbered plurality of intermediate strip sections 27, in this case five, are free of the webs 25 with the tubes 22 remaining uninterrupted and integral. The tube strip 21 is disposed in the assembly in a sinusoidal configuration with portions of the strip between the lQ sections 27 arranged parallel and alongside one another lengthwise within the enclosure. It is therefore necessary to provide a strip which is many times longer than the elongated collector, in this case more than six times as long or over forty-eight feet (approximately 14.6 m) in length.
It is apparent that the heat exchange fluid enters through the in-flow header 19 and then passes through the tubes 22 of the strip 21 to the out-flow header 20 along an extended sinusoidal counter-flow path. Plumbing connections between the tube strip 21 and headers l9 and 20 occur only at the remote ends of the strip 21 and yet virtually the entire surface of the two foot by eight foot tapproximately 0.6 m by 2.4 m) panel is utlised for heat exchange purposes.
It will be appreciated that it is not intended to limit the invention to the above example only, many variations, such as might readily occur to one skilled in the art, being possible without departing from the scope thereof, as defined in the appended claims.
Claims (5)
1. A solar collector having an enclosure formed between a base and a translucent panel, and comprising (a) an elongated flexible strip comprising a plurality of uninterrupted and integral tubes with webs between the tubes, (b) said strip being disposed in a sinusoidal arrangement on said base with extended sections of the strip paired alongside one another and joined by connecting sections, (c) said connecting sections of the strip being free of webs between the tubes, (d) in-flow and out-flow headers extending through and within the enclosure, (e) opposite end portions of each tube being free of the webs with adjoining tubes connected to the in-flow and out-flow headers alternately so that heat exchange fluid therein flows in opposite directions in adjoining tubes.
2. A solar collector according to claim 1 wherein a frame surrounds the base and translucent panel and the headers extend through the frame.
3. A solar collector according to claim 1 wherein the enclosure is elongated, the extended strip sections being arranged lengthwise therewithin with the connecting sections at opposite ends of the enclosure, and the headers being disposed across one end of the enclosure.
4. A solar collector according to claim 3 wherein the tube strip is divided by an odd number of web-free connecting sections into an even number of extended 7.
sections, and the enclosure length is more than twice its width.
sections, and the enclosure length is more than twice its width.
5. A solar collector having an enclosure formed by a rectangular metal frame having a length more than twice its width, the frame surrounding a base with a transluc-ent panel spanning the frame over and spaced from the base and comprising (a) an elongated elastomeric strip comprising at least four uninterrupted and integral tubes with sever-able webs between the tubes, (b) said strip being disposed in a sinusoidal arrangement on and affixed to said base with an even number of extended sections of the strip paired parallel to and alongside one another lengthwise in the enclosure and joined by an odd number of connecting sections at the ends of the enclosure, (c) said connecting sections of the strip being free of webs between the tubes, (d) in-flow and out-flow headers extending through the frame and within the enclosure at one end thereof over the tube strip, (e) opposite end portions of each tube being free of the webs with adjoining tubes connected to the in-flow and out-flow headers alternately so that heat exchange fluid therein flows in opposite directions in adjoining tubes.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US17276180A | 1980-07-28 | 1980-07-28 | |
| US172,761 | 1980-07-28 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1172532A true CA1172532A (en) | 1984-08-14 |
Family
ID=22629124
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000376742A Expired CA1172532A (en) | 1980-07-28 | 1981-05-01 | Sinusoidal multi-tube strip collector |
Country Status (4)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| JP (1) | JPS5743166A (en) |
| KR (1) | KR830006639A (en) |
| CA (1) | CA1172532A (en) |
| IL (1) | IL62767A (en) |
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB2445158A (en) * | 2006-12-23 | 2008-07-02 | Peter Martin Broatch | Solar collector comprising a flexible elongate web with fluid conduits |
Families Citing this family (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JP6028444B2 (en) * | 2012-08-02 | 2016-11-16 | 三菱樹脂株式会社 | Solar collector |
-
1981
- 1981-04-30 IL IL62767A patent/IL62767A/en unknown
- 1981-05-01 CA CA000376742A patent/CA1172532A/en not_active Expired
- 1981-05-07 KR KR1019810001591A patent/KR830006639A/en unknown
- 1981-06-26 JP JP56099529A patent/JPS5743166A/en active Pending
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB2445158A (en) * | 2006-12-23 | 2008-07-02 | Peter Martin Broatch | Solar collector comprising a flexible elongate web with fluid conduits |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| JPS5743166A (en) | 1982-03-11 |
| IL62767A0 (en) | 1981-06-29 |
| IL62767A (en) | 1985-01-31 |
| KR830006639A (en) | 1983-09-28 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| MKEX | Expiry |