Overheat protection mechanism for solar thermal collector
US9377216B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 8, 2012 |
| Grant date | Jun 28, 2016 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 24, 2032 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02E10/44
- WIPO fieldThermal processes and apparatus
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
An overheat protection device (OPD) is implemented independently of the circulating system of a solar thermal collector and isolated from the environment. The system facilitates operation of a solar thermal collector at elevated internal temperatures (versus reducing or ceasing operation above a critical temperature). OPD includes a heat pipe filled with at least two fluids. In a non-heat conducting state, a temperature at an evaporator portion of the heat pipe is below a transition temperature and the dual-fluid includes at least one fluid in a liquid state and at least one fluid in a gaseous state. When the temperature at the evaporator is above the pre-defined transition temperature the OPD undergoes an abrupt transition to a heat conducting state, whereby the dual-fluid transfers heat from the evaporator area to the condenser area, thus transitioning from a state of thermal isolation from an environment to one of strong thermal coupling.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.