Localized solar collectors
US10234172B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 3, 2016 |
| Grant date | Mar 19, 2019 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 3, 2036 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T428/249969
- WIPO fieldThermal processes and apparatus
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A localized heating structure includes a spectrally-selective solar absorber, that absorbs incident solar radiation and reflects at wavelengths longer than 2 μm, with an underlying heat-spreading layer having a thermal conductivity equal to or greater than 50 W/(mK), a thermally insulating layer, adjacent to the spectrally-selective solar absorber, having a thermal conductivity of less than 0.1 W/(mK), one or more evaporation openings through the spectrally-selective solar absorber and the thermally insulating layer, and an evaporation wick, disposed in one or more of the evaporation openings in the thermally insulating layer, that contacts liquid and allows the liquid to be transported from a location beneath the thermally insulating layer through to the spectrally-selective solar absorber in order to generate vapor from the liquid. The thermally insulating layer is configured to have a density less than the liquid so that the localized heating structure is able to float on the liquid.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.