GB2269662A

GB2269662A - Solar heating system.

Info

Publication number: GB2269662A
Application number: GB9217346A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Shao-Chin Huang
Original assignee: ZO WU LINE Co
Current assignee: ZO WU LINE Co
Priority date: 1992-08-14
Filing date: 1992-08-14
Publication date: 1994-02-16
Also published as: GB9217346D0

Abstract

A solar heating system includes a flat-plate solar-collector unit to collect the radiant energy of the sun for heating a circulating flow of water delivered through a collector tube system, and a thermal-storage tank Fig 4 (not shown) to hold the water heated through the flat-plate solar-collector unit. The collector panel 14 of the flat-plate solar-collector unit is angle-adjustably fastened inside a housing 10 supported on a plurality of height-adjustable stands 13, Fig 3 (not shown). The thermal storage tank is insulated by an intermediate heat-insulating layer 24 and protected by an outer protective covering 25. The panel is held in pivoted positions by utilizing sets of locating holes 12 in each end of the frame. <IMAGE>

Description

SOLAR HEATING SYSTEM The present invention relates to a solar heating system which uses a collector panel to collect the radiant energy of the sun for heating a circulating flow of water permitting the heated flow of water to be stored in a thermal-storage tank.

Various solar power systems are known and widely in use for heating water. The known solar power systems which are used for heating water are generally comprised of a flat-plate solar-collector unit, which collects the radiant energy of the sun for heating a circulating flow of water delivered through a collector tube system, and a thermalstorage tank, which holds the water heated through the flatplate solar-collector unit. One disadvantage of these solar power systems is that the collector panel of the solar heating system is fixed at a predetermined angular position and can not be adjusted according to the incident angle of the light from the sun. Another disadvantage of these solar power systems is that the thermal-storage tank is assembled through the process of welding. Once the thermal storage tank is assembled, it cannot be detached or moved from place to place.

The present invention eliminates the aforesaid disadvantage. According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a solar heating system comprising a collector panel having an axis and mounting means for said collector panel, said mounting means comprising first and second frames adjacent respective ends of said panel axis, each said frame having a pivot for mounting said panel, whereby said panel is pivotally attached to said mounting means for rotation about said axis and further comprising maintenance means for selectively maintaining said panel in one of plural rotational orientations with respect to said mounting means.

Preferably said maintenance means comprises an arcuate locating plate at an end of said panel around said axis, said locating plate having plural holes therein, for cooperation with a locating hole in the respective frame.

In said solar heating system at least one frame may be height adjustable whereby one end of said axis of said collector panel may be selectively varied in height with respect to the other end of said axis.

Conveniently said solar heating system further comprises a solar heating system having a tank wall portion and at least one end portion, said end portion being releasably fastened to said wall portion.

Advantageously said end portion of said tank is secured to said tank wall portion by means of screws.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a solar heating system comprising a flatplate solar-collector unit to collect the radiant energy of the sun for heating a circulating flow of water delivered through a collector tube system, and a thermal-storage tank to hold the water heated through said flat-plate solarcollector unit, wherein said flat-plate solar-collector unit comprises a housing made in a rectangular shape supported on a plurality of height-adjustable stands, said housing having two symmetrical pivot holes on two opposite ends thereof and two sets of locating holes respectively arranged around said pivot holes, a pivot having two opposite ends respectively inserted in said pivot holes and revolvably suspended inside said housing, a collector panel supported on said pivot for collecting the radiant energy of the sun, said collector panel having two locating plates on two opposite ends, said locating plates having screw holes alternatively connected to said locating holes by screws permitting said collector panel to be adjustably located at the desired angular position, said heightadjustable stands being each comprised of an extension bar adjustably connected to a base frame by screws; said thermal-storage tank comprises an inner tank having two opposite ends opened, two covers respectively connected to the two open ends of said inner tank by screws and sealed by water seal rings, a heat-insulating layer covered around said inner tank, and a protective covering covered around said heat-insulating layer on the outside.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a flat-plate solar-collector unit according to the present invention; Fig. 2 are pictorial drawings showing that the collector panel can be adjusted to any of a variety of angles inside the rectangular housing; Fig. 3 are pictorial drawings showing that the height-adjustable stands can be respectively adjusted to the desired height to change the level and the angle of the rectangular housing; Fig. 4 is an exploded view of a thermal-storage tank according to the present invention; and Fig. 5 illustrates that two thermal-storage tank may be connected in series.

Referring to the various drawings attached herewith, a detailed description of the structural features of "Solar Heating System" of the present invention is as follows: Referring to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the present invention is generally comprised of a flat-plate solarcollector unit and a thermal-storage tank. The flatplate solar-collector unit according to the present invention is generally comprised of a housing 10 made in a rectangular shape supported on a plurality of height-adjustable stands 13, having two symmetrical pivot holes 11 on two opposite ends thereof and two sets of locating holes 12 respectively arranged around the pivot holes 11. A pivot 15 is inserted with its two opposite ends in the two opposite pivot holes 11 and revolvably suspended inside the housing 10. A collector panel 14 is supported on the pivot 15 to collect the radiant energy of the sun.The collector panel 14 has two locating plates 16 fastened to the two opposite ends thereof.

By threading screws through either two aligned locating holes 12 on each end of the housing 10 into two screw holes (not shown) on the each end of the collector panel 14, each end of the collector panel 14 is fastened to the housing 10 at the desired angle (see Fig. 2). The height-adjustable stands 13 are respectively fastened to the housing 10 at the four corners thereof by screws. Each height-adjustable stand 13 is comprised of an extension bar 18 connected to a base frame 17 by screws. The base frame 17 and the extension bar 18 have each a series of screw holes 19 aligned in longitudinal direction. By fastening different screw holes on the extension bar 18 to different screw holes on the base frame 17, the total height of each height-adjustable stands 13 is adjusted.

Referring to Fig. 4, a thermal-storage tank 20 according to the present invention is comprised of an inner tank 21 having two opposite ends covered by two covers 22 and sealed by water seal rings 23, a heat-insulating layer 24 covered around the inner tank 21, and a protective covering 25 covered around the heat-insulating layer 24.

Referring to Fig. 5, more thermal-storage tanks 20, 201 may be connected in series for collecting much amount of hot water processed through the flat-plate solar-collector unit. More flat-plate solar-collector units may also be simultaneously used for heating a circulating flow of water contained in a thermal-storage tank.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A solar heating system comprising a collector panel having an axis and mounting means for said collector panel, said mounting means comprising first and second frames adjacent respective ends of said panel axis, each said frame having a pivot for mounting said panel, whereby said panel is pivotally attached to said mounting means for rotation about said axis and further comprising maintenance means for selectively maintaining said panel in one of plural rotational orientations with respect to said mounting means.

2. A solar heating system according to claim 1 wherein said maintenance means comprises an arcuate locating plate at an end of said panel around said axis, said locating plate having plural holes therein, for cooperation with a locating hole in the respective frame.

3. A solar heating system according to claim 1 or 2 wherein at least one frame is height adjustable whereby one end of said axis of said collector panel may be selectively varied in height with respect to the other end of said axis.

4. A solar heating system according to any one of claims 1-3 further comprising a thermal-storage tank having a tank wall portion and at least one end portion, said end portion being releasably fastened to said wall portion.

5. A solar heating system according to claim 4 wherein said end portion of said tank is secured to said tank wall portion by means of screws.

6. A solar heating system comprising a flat-plate solarcollector unit to collect the radiant energy of the sun for heating a circulating flow of water delivered through a collector tube system, and a thermal-storage tank to hold the water heated through said flat-plate solar-collector unit, wherein said flat-plate solar-collector unit comprises a housing made in a rectangular shape supported on a plurality of height-adjustable stands, said housing having two symmetrical pivot holes on two opposite ends thereof and two sets of locating holes respectively arranged around said pivot holes, a pivot having two opposite ends respectively inserted in said pivot holes and revolvably suspended inside said housing, a collector panel supported on said pivot for collecting the radiant energy of the sun, said collector panel having two locating plates on two opposite ends, said locating plates having screw holes alternatively connected to said locating holes by screws permitting said collector panel to be adjustably located at the desired angular position, said heightadjustable stands being each comprised of an extension bar adjustably connected to a base frame by screws; said thermal-storage tank comprises an inner tank having two opposite ends opened, two covers respectively connected to the two open ends of said inner tank by screws and sealed by water seal rings, a heat-insulating layer covered around said inner tank, and a protective covering covered around said heat-insulating layer on the outside.

7. A solar heating system constructed and arranged substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated in Figures 1-5 of the accompanying drawings.