Patent ID: 7398779
Filing Date: 2008-07-15
Classification: F24S,Y02B,Y02E

Abstract:
1. A solar heater, comprising: a substantially planar collector including a plurality of heat exchanger channels that are positioned next to one another in a parallel relationship; a pair of headers, each header having a diameter that is substantially larger than the diameters of the heat exchanger channels of the collector, a first one of the headers being fluidly coupled and rigidly joined to a top end of the collector, a second one of the headers being fluidly coupled and rigidly joined to a bottom end of the collector such that the pair of headers are substantially coplanar with the collector; and at least one storage tank that has a diameter that is substantially larger than the diameters of the heat exchanger channels of the collector, the at least one storage tank being fluidly coupled and rigidly joined to each of the headers and extending between the headers such that the at least one storage tank is substantially coplanar with the collector and the pair of headers and such that the pair of headers and the at least one storage tank form a rigid frame for supporting the collector, and wherein the solar heater is configured such that when the solar heater is operated in a first operating mode a working fluid follows a circulation path that sequentially flows (i) through the heat exchanger channels from the bottom end of the collector upwards to the top end of the collector and into the first header, (ii) through the first header to the top end of the at least one storage tank, (iii) from the top end of the at least one storage tank to the bottom end of the at least one storage tank and into the second header, and (iv) through the second header back into the heat exchanger channels at the bottom end of the collector.