Patent ID: 8161965
Filing Date: 2012-04-24
Classification: C03C,F24S,Y02E,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A vacuum solar thermal panel comprising: a vacuum envelope defining a sealed volume, able to withstand the atmospheric pressure when evacuated; at least one heat absorber being disposed inside the vacuum envelope; a pipe entering and exiting the envelope and being in contact with the heat absorber, wherein said vacuum envelope includes a first plate made of glass, a peripheral wall element disposed substantially at the periphery of the first plate, and a metallic peripheral belt joining the peripheral wall element to the first plate, wherein said metallic peripheral belt is joined to the first plate by a vacuum tight bulk glass-metal seal, which includes glass material, said vacuum tight glass-metal seal being obtained by fusion and subsequent solidification of said glass material such that the glass material adheres to two opposite surfaces of the metallic peripheral belt, wherein said vacuum solar thermal panel includes an inner support element and a connecting portion connecting the inner support element to the peripheral wall element, said inner support element being in contact with said first plate and providing support such that the first plate is supported by the inner support element.