Solar heater

The invention is a solar heater which may function as a humidifier and which has a reflector that is constructed to provide a window, and external thermal insulation. The window has a cover that is positioned to transmit solar radiation to the reflector. The top portion of the reflector has an opening, and a container is removably positioned in the opening. The reflector has a geometry that reflects a high percentage of solar energy to the container, which has a surface with high absorptance. The container has a removable lid for confining heat within the container for certain functions, such as boiling water or drying clothes. When used as a humidifier, the container is filled with water and the lid is removed.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
This invention relates to a solar heater that will heat water, food, etc. 
and dry clothes. Prior to the present invention, an economical and 
practical solar device to provide these functions has not existed. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
This invention relates to a solar heater that utilizes solar energy coming 
through a building window or outdoor solar energy. The solar heater has a 
reflector that is constructed to provide a window, and external thermal 
insulation. The window has a cover that is positioned to transmit solar 
radiation to the reflector. The top portion of the reflector has an 
opening, and a container is removably positioned in the opening. Optimum 
radii and angles for the reflector has been determined to reflect maximum 
solar energy to the container, which has an external surface with high 
absorptance. When used as a humidifier, the container is filled with water 
and its lid is removed. 
An object of the invention is to heat water for making hot beverages, for 
washing, etc., and for humidification. Another object is to heat and warm 
foods. Another object is to dry and warm clothes. Other objects are to 
minimize energy and apparatus costs. Another object is to provide a means 
of heating water, food, etc. when electricity and other energy sources are 
not available.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
Referring more specifically to the drawings, the solar heater is broadly 
indicated at 10, and includes a reflector broadly indicated at 12 that is 
constructed to provide an opening or window 13 that has a cover 16 
positioned to transmit solar radiation to the reflector 12. The solar 
radiation may be coming through a building window W, or it may be outdoor 
solar radiation. The reflector has a top wall 12A with an opening 16 and a 
container 11 is positioned in the opening 16 with a lip 14 of the 
container resting on the upper surface of the top wall 12A of the 
reflector 12. 
According to the Pacific Regional Solar Heating Handbook, 2d Edition, 
prepared for ERDA, San Francisco Operations Office by Los Alamos 
Scientific Laboratory, Solar Energy Group, University of California, Los 
Alamos, N.M. 87545, the occurrence of solar altitude angles above 
75.degree. in the United States is a very small portion of the total. Roof 
overhangs frequently shade the sun at solar altitude angles above 
75.degree.. Due to the interference of trees, buildings, etc., and due to 
the reduced intensity of solar energy at low solar altitude angles, the 
usefulness of solar altitude angles below 15.degree. is very limited. 
Therefore, for purposes of this invention, only angles of the sun from 
15.degree. to 75.degree. above the horizon will be considered. 
Based partly upon the collector tilt data described in the Pacific Regional 
Solar Heating Handbook, and considering the latitudes of the geographic 
and population centers of the United States, a desirable tilt angle above 
the horizontal for the window 13 and window cover 15 is approximately 
47.degree., which is indicated at 23 in FIG. 3. 
A solar energy ray having a solar altitude angle of 75.degree. and 
indicated at 18 in FIG. 3, through the top of window cover 15, impinges on 
the reflector 12, and is reflected to the bottom surface of container 11, 
which has high absorptance. Solar energy ray 20, which has a solar 
altitude angle of 75.degree., is transmitted through the bottom of window 
cover 15, impinges on the reflector 12, and is reflected to the top wall 
12A of reflector 12 from where it is reflected to the front container 11, 
which has high absorptance. Similarly, all frontal solar energy rays 
having 75.degree. angularity between solar energy ray 18 and solar energy 
ray 20 are reflected from reflector 12 to container 11 where a high 
percentage of the solar energy is absorbed by the container 11 and the 
energy is transferred to the water or other material that is in the 
container. 
Still referring to FIG. 3, a solar energy ray 24 having a solar altitude 
angle of 15.degree. passes through the bottom of window cover 15, impinges 
on the reflector 12, and is re-reflected along the curved inner surface 19 
of reflector 12 to the back surface of container 11, which has high 
absorptance. Similarly, all solar energy rays having solar altitude angles 
of 15.degree. through 75.degree. are reflected to the container 11 from 
reflector 12. 
This efficient shape of the reflector 12 for reflecting the solar energy 
rays to the container 10 is accomplished primarily by radii 29 and 31 and 
by angle 32. Back corner radius 29 preferably has a center 33 
approximately at the bottom back corner of container 11. Radius 29 is 
approximately equal to the distance from the center 33 to the bottom of 
lip 14. The front corner radius 31 preferably has a center 34 
approximately at the bottom front corner of container 11. Front corner 
radius 31 is preferably determined by center 34 and the tangent point 30, 
which is level with the bottom of container 10 and determined by back 
corner radius 29. 
Under near optimum conditions, water in container 11 will boil. When used 
as a humidifier with thermally insulated lid 21 removed, under near 
optimum conditions the water level in container 11 will be reduced up to 
approximately 4 millimeters per hour by vaporization of the water. 
If the center 34 of radius 31 is below or to the right of the preferred 
location as illustrated in FIG. 3, solar energy rays coming between that 
new center and the preferred center 34 will be reflected away from 
container 11 and lost. If the center of radius 29 is below or to the left 
of the preferred location as illustrated in FIG. 1, solar energy rays 
coming between the new center and the preferred center 33 will be 
reflected away from container 11 and lost. If the centers of radii 29 and 
31 are moved into the area of container 11, the size of the reflector and 
window will be reduced, thus reducing the heat input and reducing 
temperatures of the container. If radii 29 and 31 are reduced, the window 
area and heat input are decreased, thus decreasing temperatures of 
container 11. If radii 29 and 31 are increased, some solar energy rays 
would be lost. 
The preferred angularity of bottom reflector 12B is 15.degree., which 
angularity is indicated at 32 in FIG. 3. All frontal solar energy rays 
with solar altitudes from 15.degree. to 75 .degree. that impinge on the 
15.degree. bottom reflector 12B are reflected to container 11. Bottom 
reflector angles above 20.degree. and below 10.degree. result in some loss 
of solar energy rays in the solar heater of FIG. 2. 
There can be significant changes in the reflector 12 of the preferred 
configuration of FIG. 2 without resulting in great reduction in ability to 
heat container 10. The preferred configuration of the reflector 12 is 
illustrated in FIG. 3 and substantially duplicated in FIG. 4 by a series 
of angled surfaces indicated by dashed lines 35 that approach 
configuration 12 and have only slightly less efficiency than configuration 
12. Configuration 36 (FIG. 4) is based on the front corner radius 31 being 
reduced by half. This results in approximately 40% reduction in heat 
input, but this is adequate for significant use of the device. 
Configuration 37 is based on the front corner radius 31 being doubled. 
This results in some loss of solar energy rays, particularly those that 
are reflected from surface 38. Configuration 39, which approaches 
configuration 37, is constructed of a series of angled surfaces. The 
angled surfaces 40 and 41, at the top end of configuration 39, more 
closely approach the FIG. 3 shape and thereby minimize the loss of solar 
energy rays. The most useful range of configurations for reflector 12 are 
those bounded by the front corner radius having a range of half to double 
the FIG. 3 configuration, preferably but not exclusively, in combination 
with the 15.degree. bottom reflector angle. 
The thermal insulation can be omitted as suggested in FIG. 4 if only modest 
increase in temperature of the container is required. 
The tilt angle of window 42 and window cover 43 in the solar heater of 
FIGS. 2A and 5 is 90.degree.. The thermal insulation 44 and thermally 
insulating container lid 45 may extend approximately 1/4 to 1 inch (0.635 
centimeters to 2.5 centimeters) beyond the window cover 43. Similarly, as 
indicated by the top view, FIG. 6, the thermal insulation 57 and 58 may 
extend approximately 1/4 inch to 1 inch beyond the window cover 43. This 
permits these thermally insulating surfaces to be positioned against the 
building window W, as illustrated in FIG. 5, which results in reduced heat 
losses through the window cover 43. The solar heater of FIG. 5 also has 
the advantage that it does not extend as far from the building window W as 
the solar heater of FIGS. 2 and 3, thus taking up less space. 
Food 47 is shown in container 11 of FIG. 5 to illustrate that the solar 
heater may be used to heat, warm, defrost, and, in some cases, to cook 
food. When used as a humidifier, the container is filled with water, and 
the lid 45 is preferably placed in a vertical position 45' against the 
window as illustrated by the dotted lines. The lid in the vertical 
position 45' prevents condensation on the window. 
Other things being equal, the 90.degree. tilt angle in FIG. 5 is not as 
effective for increasing temperatures of container 11 as the 47.degree. 
tilt angle of FIGS. 2 and 3. However, in addition to the advantages 
previously listed the embodiment of FIG. 5 will reflect solar energy rays 
with a somewhat broader range of solar altitude angles to the container 
11. Reflector 49 in FIG. 5 is similar to reflector 12 in FIGS. 2 and 3, 
except the angularly extending bottom reflector wall is eliminated. 
Consequently a horizontally extending solar energy ray 51 impinges on 
reflector 49 (FIG. 5) and is re-reflected to the back of container 11. 
An article of clothing is shown in container 11 in FIG. 6 to illustrate 
that the solar heater 10 may also be used for drying and warming clothes. 
FIG. 5 also illustrates a reflector that includes side reflectors 60 and 
61 in addition to curved reflector 49. The side reflectors 60 and 61 are 
preferably attached to the curved reflector 49 by means of tabs and slots. 
The tabs 63 are preferably small extensions of the curved reflector 49 
that are inserted into slots 62 in the side reflectors and then bent as 
illustrated in FIG. 7. Preferably the tabs and slots are spaced every few 
inches at the juncture of the side reflectors 60 and 61. Alternatively, 
the tabs may be in the side reflectors and the slots in the curved 
reflector. 
The preferred angularity of side reflectors 60 and 61 is 30.degree. as 
indicated at 64 in FIG. 6. As illustrated, frontal solar energy rays 65 
and 66 are reflected to container 11, and solar energy rays 67 and 68, 
which are 25.degree. from the frontal position, are reflected to container 
11. 
If the side reflector angle 64 is increased to 45.degree., the frontal and 
a portion of the 25.degree. from frontal solar energy rays would be lost 
from positions 65 and 67. If the side reflector angle 64 is decreased to 
15.degree., a portion of the container would be shaded if the solar energy 
rays were directed at 25.degree. from the frontal position. Also, with the 
side reflector angle decreased to 15.degree., there would be a reduction 
in the area of window 42 and a resulting reduction in heat input. Thus, a 
preferred tolerance for the side reflector angle 64 is plus or minus 
15.degree. from the preferred 30.degree. side reflector angle. 
FIG. 8 illustrates an alternative in which there are two window covers 69 
and 70 that are preferably positioned approximately 1/4 to 1 inch (0.635 
to 2.5 centimeters) apart. The two window covers decrease heat losses. The 
preferred material for the window covers is 0.004 inch (0.01016 
centimeters) thick polyvinyl fluoride film, which is recommended in NASA 
Technical Memorandum TM X-3294 entitled "An Inexpensive Economical Solar 
Heating System for Homes" published by National Aeronautics and Space 
Administration, Washington, D.C. Preferably the window covers 69 and 70 
are mounted on reflector 12 by means of clear polycarbonate mounting 
strips 71 and aluminum rivets 72 or by screws. The clean polycarbonate 
transmits solar radiation and has adequate strength and heat resistance. 
The window cover 15 in FIG. 3 preferably is mounted on the reflector 12 by 
polyester adhesive tape 73 at the bottom and sides and by polycarbonate 
spacer 74 at the top with epoxy adhesive, rivets, or screws. 
FIG. 9 illustrates a container 75 that is in the form of a teakettle. 
Container 75 may be substituted for container 11 and container lid 21 as a 
means of more convenitnely transporting heated liquids. Preferably the 
teakettle would have thermal insulation 76 at the top and a lip 77 that 
would provide support for the teakettle on the top portion of the 
reflector 78. The lip 77 may be formed as part of the insulation 76, as 
illustrated, or it may be formed as part of the metallic portion 81 of the 
teakettle. The insulation 76 may be formed as an integral part of handle 
79 as illustrated, or the insulation may be separately formed. If the 
insulation 76 is separately formed, it preferably is made of rigid 
urethane foam. If the handle 79, insulation 76 and lip 77 are formed as 
one part, it preferably is made of phenolic. The insulation 80 is 
preferably made of rigid urethane foam. The metal portion 81 of the 
container is preferably made of copper or aluminum. 
The external sides 82 and bottom 83 of the teakettle 75 and the external 
sides and bottom of the container 11 in FIGS. 1-6 are preferably coated 
with flat black alkyd paint or other material that will provide high 
absorptance. The container 11 is preferably made of aluminum or copper. 
The thermal insulation 44 is preferably formed of rigid urethane foam, 
which has low thermal conductivity and sufficient strength to provide the 
supporting structure and base for the other parts of the solar heater as 
illustrated in FIGS. 1--3, 5 and 6. Insulation thicknesses of 1 to 3 
inches (2.54 to 7.62 centimeters) are generally preferred. The container 
lid is preferably made of rigid urethane foam so that it will provide both 
lid and thermal insulation functions. The lid may also be made of metal, 
preferably aluminum, or various plastics, preferably nylon, with a 
covering of efficient thermal insulation, preferably rigid foam urethane. 
The reflectors in all embodiments are preferably made of aluminum alloy 
number 1100 or other material with high reflectivity. 
In the drawings and specification there has been set forth a preferred 
embodiment of the invention and although specific terms are employed, they 
are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of 
limitation, the scope of the invention being defined in the claims.