Patent · US Expired

Solar energy collection apparatus

US4091796A · kind A · utility

12Cited by
5References
16Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateAug 16, 1976
Grant dateMay 30, 1978
Priority date
Expiry dateAug 16, 1996

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY02E10/44
  • WIPO fieldThermal processes and apparatus
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

An evacuated, double wall, tubular solar energy collector having a concave, specular reflecting surface corresponding to a segment of a cylinder positioned at the opposite side of the collector tube from the sun. The reflector is detachably connected to the tube and the tube is engaged by raised spacing points on the reflector to provide the proper spaced relation between them and allow for water drainage along the reflector. Plural units of the collector tube and cylindrically-shaped reflector combination are supported along opposite sides of an elongated manifold for circulation of an energy absorbing media through them. This system improves the efficiency of total energy collection without tracking the sun or focusing the reflected radiation. The tubes are no more than three diameters apart and the cylindrical reflector has its focal line within the absorbing area of the collector tube. The radius of curvature of the reflector surface exceeds the radius of the tube and is defined as a function of the tube diameter and tube spacing.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.