Solar heat collecting apparatus

A solar heat collecting apparatus wherein a heat-absorbing plate for absorbing the solar radiation is installed in a vacuum vessel, the solar heat accumulated in the heat-absorbing plate is transmitted to a working medium in a pipe connected to the heat-absorbing plate, an upper surface layer for passing the solar radiation irradiated on the heat-absorbing plate therethrough and reflecting the infrared radiation emerging from the heat-absorbing plate is formed on the upper surface of the heat-absorbing plate, a lower surface layer for reflecting the infrared radiation emerging from the heat-absorbing plate is formed on the lower surface of the heat-absorbing plate, a space-diving film is formed between the lower surface of the heat-absorbing plate and the bottom surface of the vacuum vessel, a reflection layer is formed on the bottom surface of the vacuum vessel, a film for passing the solar radiation and reflecting the infrared radiation is provided between the upper surface of the heat-absorbing plate and the upper wall of the vacuum vessel, and the upper wall of the vacuum vessel is formed of a plurality of transparent curved segments.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
The present invention relates to a solar heat collecting apparatus, and 
more particularly to an apparatus for collecting solar heat to produce a 
high-temperature medium. 
2. Description of the Related Art 
Solar heat collecting apparatuses are widely used as, for example, water 
heaters. In an ordinary solar heat collecting apparatus, a heat-absorbing 
member absorbs solar radiant energy and produces heat. An example 
heat-absorbing member would be a flat heat-absorbing plate. Commonly a 
pipe for conducting a medium is attached to such heat-absorbing plates, 
and the collected solar heat is then transmitted to the medium such as 
water in the pipe. In this way, high-temperature water can be produced. 
However, in conventional apparatuses provided with such a heat-absorbing 
plate, heat is also transferred from the heat-absorbing plate to the 
ambient air by thermal conduction. As the air flows convectively, a great 
heat loss can occur through thermal conduction. A large amount of infrared 
radiation is emitted from the heat-absorbing plate to the surroundings, 
which results in additional considerable heat loss. Because of such heat 
losses, such as thermal conduction and heat radiation, in conventional 
apparatuses, it has been difficult to obtain water at higher than about 
100.degree. C. 
Heat absorption and heat loss of the heat-absorbing plate will be discussed 
in more detail. 
The heat loss by infrared radiation from the heat-absorbing plate becomes 
greater as the temperature of the heat-absorbing plate rises. For a 
typical 1 m.sup.2 heat-absorbing plate with an emissivity of 0.9 at 
150.degree. C. and a gray radiator with an emissivity of 0.9 at 30.degree. 
C. provided surrounding the heat-absorbing plate, the energy radiated from 
the heat-absorbing plate to the gray radiator amounts to as much as 1 
kW/m.sup.2 on only one surface of the heat-absorbing plate, and therefore 
a total radiation loss from both surfaces of the above-mentioned 
heat-absorbing plate is no less than 2 kW/m.sup.2. On the other hand, the 
solar radiant energy absorbed by the above-mentioned heat-absorbing plate 
can be estimated at about 800 kW/m.sup.2. With all of these figures taken 
into account, it is not possible to produce water with a temperature more 
than about 80-90.degree. C. 
As is obvious from the foregoing, in such conventional apparatuses, it has 
been difficult to decrease heat loss by effectively suppressing the heat 
radiation and thermal conduction from the heat-absorbing plate. It is 
desired that the utilization ratio of solar heat should be improved. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
An object of the present invention is to reduce heat loss by decreasing 
both the heat radiation and thermal conduction from the heat-absorbing 
plate in the solar heat collection apparatus. 
Another object of the present invention is to produce a high-temperature 
medium (preferably, 100-200.degree. C.) by solar heat. 
To achieve the above objects, the solar heat collecting apparatus according 
to the present invention comprises: 
a vacuum vessel; 
a heat-absorbing member for absorbing solar heat, arranged within the 
vacuum vessel so that it is separated from the walls of the vacuum vessel 
and so that its upper surface may be irradiated by solar radiation; 
a medium transport pipe, connected to the heat-absorbing member, for 
transporting a medium to which the solar heat is transmitted from the 
heat-absorbing member; and 
a lower surface layer, formed on the underside of the heat-absorbing 
member, for reflecting infrared radiation which would emerge from the 
heat-absorbing member. 
According to the above-mentioned structure, first, because the 
heat-absorbing member (a heat-absorbing plate, for example) is located 
within a vacuum vessel, thermal conduction from the heat-absorbing member 
to the ambience (air, for example) is suppressed, so that heat loss by 
thermal conduction is reduced notably. Second, the lower surface layer is 
formed on the lower surface of the heat-absorbing member, the infrared 
radiation which would be emitted from the lower surface of the 
heat-absorbing member is reflected by the lower surface layer and confined 
in the heat-absorbing member, so that heat loss by infrared radiation is 
reduced. Therefore, both thermal conduction and heat radiation are 
decreased and thus the utilization ratio of the solar heat can be 
improved. Consequently, the temperature of the medium can be made higher 
than in the conventional apparatus. 
Preferably, an upper surface layer, which permits the solar radiation to 
pass through and reflects the infrared radiation from the heat-absorbing 
member, is formed on the upper surface of the heat-absorbing member. 
This upper surface layer serves as a selective transmission layer (or a 
selective absorption layer). In other words, the solar radiation passes 
through the upper surface layer (or the solar radiation is absorbed by the 
upper surface layer), but the emission of the infrared radiation from the 
heat-absorbing member is blocked effectively by the upper surface layer. 
When the infrared radiation from the upper surface of the heat-absorbing 
member is suppressed in addition to the suppression of the infrared 
radiation from the lower surface of the heat-absorbing member, the heat 
loss by heat radiation can be further reduced by a factor of two. 
It may also be preferable for at least one insulating film (preferably, a 
metal film) to be formed between the lower surface of the heat-absorbing 
member and the bottom surface of the vacuum vessel in such a way that the 
insulating film is parallel with those surfaces. When an insulating film 
(preferably, a metal film) is provided in a direction at right angles with 
the direction of the flow of heat, the heat can be effectively insulated 
in terms of both thermal conduction and heat radiation. 
It may further be preferable that a bottom surface layer, which reflects 
the infrared radiation emerging from the lower surface of the 
heat-absorbing member, be formed on the bottom surface of the vacuum 
vessel. According to this structure, some infrared radiation that have 
passed through the lower surface layer are reflected back to the 
heat-absorbing member by the bottom surface layer. 
It may also be preferable for a selective transmission film, which permits 
the solar radiation to pass and reflects the infrared radiation emerging 
from the heat-absorbing member, to be formed between the upper surface of 
the heat-absorbing member and the upper wall of the vacuum vessel. This 
selective transmission film acts as a supplementary means of or on behalf 
of the above-mentioned selective transmission layer. 
A regulating member may also be provided to guide to the heat-absorbing 
member the infrared radiation moving around the end portion of the 
heat-absorbing member from the lower surface to the upper surface of the 
heat-absorbing member. 
The gap between the regulating member and heat-absorbing member is made as 
small as possible in order to reduce the heat loss from infrared (so 
called "cavity radiation").

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
FIGS. 1 and 2 show a preferred embodiment of the solar heat connecting 
apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 1 is a plan view of the 
apparatus when a window member 11 serving as an upper wall is removed, and 
FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line II of FIG. 1. 
In FIGS. 1 and 2, a solar heat connecting apparatus 10 comprises a vacuum 
vessel 13 generally shaped like a flat plate, a heat-collecting plate 14 
for absorbing solar heat mounted in the vacuum vessel, and a pipe 16 
tightly attached to the lower surface of the heat absorbing plate. The 
vacuum vessel 13, as shown in FIG. 2, includes a body 12 made of, for 
example, a metal and a window member 11 made of a transparent glass or 
plastic. The window member 11 is provided generally in parallel with a 
bottom wall 12B of the body 12. A heat-absorbing plate 14 is also mounted 
in parallel with the bottom wall 12B of the body 12. 
The heat-absorbing plate 14 is formed of a material that stores heat of 
converted solar irradiation to later provide that heat (in other words, 
formed of a solar heat absorbing material, such as a flat metal plate). 
The heat-absorbing plate 14 is supported at four corners by support 
members 18. For the support members 18, it is desirable to use a material 
having heat-resisting and heat-insulating properties. By supporting the 
heat-absorbing plate 14 only at the four corners, heat loss by thermal 
conduction can be reduced. The heat loss can be further reduced by using 
pipes for support member 18. 
The window member 11 is assembled from a plurality of segments described 
below. An upper periphery of the body 12 and a plurality of pipe columns 
20 support the window member 11. In the window member 11 are formed a 
plurality of holes 22 which allow the pipe columns 20 to pass through 
without contacting the walls of those holes. Because the pipe columns 20 
are not in contact with the heat-absorbing plate 14, the heat is prevented 
from being lost by thermal conduction from the columns 20, so that a 
plastic with a relatively low melting point can be used for the pipe 
columns 20. 
The body 12 is made up of a bottom wall 12B and four side walls 12C. A 
regulating member 12A is provided along the inside surface of the side 
walls 12C. The regulating member 12A covers the gap between the peripheral 
portion 14A of the heat-absorbing plate 14 and the side walls 12C. The 
infrared energy radiating from the bottom to the top of heat-absorbing 
plate 14, through the gap between the regulating member 12A and the 
peripheral portion 14A, causes considerable heat loss. To reduce this heat 
loss, the gap is made as small as possible, preferably about 1 mm. 
Furthermore, the regulating member 12A extends to cover the peripheral 
portion 14A. However, as shown in FIG. 1, the greater part of the 
heat-absorbing plate 14 is exposed when viewed from above. The exposed 
portion of the heat-absorbing plate 14 receives the solar radiation. The 
regulating member 12A reflects and guides the infrared radiation moving 
from the underside to the upper side of the heat-absorbing plate 14 to let 
the infrared radiation travel toward the heat-absorbing plate 14. 
The pipe 16, as shown in FIG. 1, is in a shape having bends located at a 
plurality of points on the lower surface of the heat-absorbing plate 14 
from an inlet 16A to an outlet 16B as shown in FIG. 1. This shape 
increases the area of contact between the pipe 16 and the heat-absorbing 
plate 14. Methods for further increasing the contact area will be 
described later with reference to FIGS. 9 and 10. 
A heat transport medium such as water flows in the pipe 16. The heat is 
transmitted through the pipe 16 from the heat-absorbing plate 14 to the 
water. By this arrangement, the water temperature can be raised gradually 
as the water flows through the route of the pipe 16. By the apparatus 
according to this embodiment, the heat loss can be reduced greatly by a 
reflection layer, for example, which will be described below in great 
detail. Consequently, the temperature of the heat-absorbing plate 14 can 
be raised to 150-200.degree. C., for example. In this case, the 
temperature of the pipe 16 is heated to a similar temperature. The water 
in the pipe 16, too, is heated to a very high temperature. Therefore, the 
pipe 16 is subjected to a steam pressure of several tens of atmospheres. 
The pipe 16 is made of a material which can withstand such a high 
pressure, such as a metal. 
In the present embodiment, a selective transmission layer (or absorbing 
film) 100 as the upper surface layer is formed at the upper surface 
(sunshine receiving surface) of the heat-absorbing plate 14. This 
selective transmission layer 100 is a thin film that transmits (or 
absorbs) the solar radiation (visible radiation), but reflects infrared 
radiation emerging from the heat-absorbing plate 14. A reflection layer (a 
reflection film) 102 as the lower surface layer is formed at the lower 
surface (non-light-receiving surface) of the heat-absorbing plate 14. The 
reflection layer 102 confines the infrared radiation from the 
heat-absorbing plate by reflecting them. The selective transmission layer 
100 has a wavelength dependency, but the reflection layer 102 may have a 
property that reflects all rays. The method of manufacturing this 
reflection layer 102 will be described in further detail below. 
In the present embodiment, a selective transmission film 104 is provided 
between the window member 11 and the selective transmission layer 100 of 
the heat-absorbing plate 14. The selective transmission film 104 has the 
same property as the selective transmission layer 100, in other words, it 
transmits the solar radiation and reflects the infrared radiation. A 
reflection layer 106 is formed on the bottom wall 12B facing the lower 
surface of the heat-absorbing plate 14. The reflection layer 106 has the 
same property as the above-mentioned reflection layer 102, more 
specifically, the reflection layer 106 reflects the infrared radiation. 
Incidentally, a reflection layer may be formed on the internal surfaces of 
the side walls 12C. 
In the present embodiment, two selective transmission means are formed on 
the upper surface of the heat-absorbing plate 14, and two reflection means 
are provided on the lower surface of the heat-absorbing plate 14. 
Therefore, the radiation of infrared radiation can be suppressed and heat 
loss can be reduced effectively. Because the infrared radiation moving 
around the peripheral portion 14A can be utilized effectively by the use 
of the regulating plate 12A, and also in this respect, the heat loss can 
be reduced. 
Preferably, the height of the vacuum vessel 13 is 100 mm, for example. The 
body 12 is made of a metal, for example, and its thickness is 1 mm, for 
example. The window member 11 has a thickness of 3 mm, for example. The 
window member 11 has a total area of 1-2 m.sup.2, for example. The 
heat-absorbing plate 14 has a thickness of 2 mm, for example. The pressure 
of the vacuum vessel 13 is 0.05 Pa, for example. The wall thickness of the 
pipe 16 is 0.3-0.4 mm, for example. Needless to say, those values may be 
varied according to the conditions, such as the use and the installation 
site of the apparatus. 
FIG. 3 shows the functions of the selective transmission layer 100, the 
reflection layer 102, the selective transmission film 104, and the 
reflection layer 106. The solar radiation 200 enters the vacuum vessel 
through the window member 11 and passes through the selective transmission 
film 104 and the selective transmission layer 100 before being absorbed by 
the heat-absorbing plate 14. The selective transmission layer 100 may have 
a function of absorbing the solar heat. By the absorption of the solar 
radiation, the heat-absorbing plate 14 emits heat, radiating infrared 
radiation 206 and 208. However, the infrared radiation 206 and 208 is 
effectively reflected by the selective transmission layer 100 and the 
reflection layer 102 and therefore are confined within the heat-absorbing 
plate 14. Even though infrared radiation 202 and 204 is released as part 
of the confined infrared radiation, the infrared radiation 202 and 204 is 
reflected by the selective transmission film 104 and the reflection film 
106, and sent back to the heat-absorbing plate 14. 
As has been described, a first feature of the present embodiment is that by 
installing the heat-absorbing plate 14 in a vacuum, the heat loss by 
thermal conduction can be decreased markedly. Also, because the infrared 
radiation radiated from the heat-absorbing plate 14 can be confined, the 
heat loss by thermal radiation can be decreased notably. Owing to those 
two measures, the efficiency of heat collection can be raised remarkably 
compared with that of conventional apparatuses. Therefore, according to 
the present embodiment, the heat-absorbing plate 14 can be raised to 
higher temperatures than in the conventional apparatus. 
A method of processing the lower surface of the heat-absorbing plate 14 
will next be described. 
As is clear from the foregoing, the heat-absorbing plate 14 is preferably 
formed as a metal plate. If the lower surface is polished to improve the 
reflectivity, the reflection efficiency of the infrared radiation can be 
raised. In other words, the amount of infrared radiation from the 
heat-absorbing plate 14 can be reduced. Therefore, the reflection layer 
102 may be formed by such a polishing process. 
A possible method to improve the reflection efficiency of the infrared 
radiation is to vapor-deposit a metal, such as gold, silver, copper, or 
aluminum, to the lower surface of the heat-absorbing plate 14. A 
metal-vapor-deposited film formed in a high vacuum has very high 
reflection efficiency, for example, it exhibits a reflectivity of about 
98% to infrared radiation with wavelengths of longer than 1 .mu.m. Among 
the above-mentioned metals, silver shows a reflectivity of 99%. Instead of 
vapor deposition, sputtering, chemical plating or the like may also be 
used. 
When it is difficult to perform vacuum deposition directly to the 
heat-absorbing plate 14, a method such as forming a metal layer on a 
plastic film by vapor deposition and attaching the composite film thus 
formed to the lower surface of the heat-absorbing plate 14 may be used. 
Such a composite film can be formed easily in a vacuum vessel while the 
film is wound, which is advantageous in terms of production cost. For such 
a film, in view of the ultimate temperature (200.degree. C. for example) 
of the heat-absorbing plate 14, it is preferable to use a heat-resistant 
film, such as polyimide film, or to use a metal foil such as aluminum 
foil. The above-mentioned reflection layer 106, too, is preferably formed 
by metal vapor deposition or by the attachment of a composite film as 
described above. 
FIG. 4 shows an example of a bushing 30 mounted to the vacuum vessel. The 
bushing 30 includes a main body and an annular projection 30B, and a hole 
30A passes through the whole bushing 30. A metal film 32 is formed on the 
internal surface of the hole 30A, and a metal film 34 is formed on the 
surface of the projection 30B which contacts the body. As shown in FIG. 5, 
the bushing 30 is fitted into a hole 36 formed in the side wall 12C, and 
also a pipe 16 is inserted into the hole 30A. The metal film 34 and the 
external surface of the body 12C are hermetically connected and also the 
pipe 16 and the metal film 32 of the hole 30A are hermetically connected 
by metal solder 40, 42, for example. By hermetic connection, the 
airtightness of the vacuum vessel 13 can be maintained. 
The window member 11 will next be described with reference to FIGS. 6 and 
7. Since the vacuum vessel 13 is evacuated to produce a vacuum, when the 
window member 11 has an area of 1-2 m.sup.2, the window member 11 is put 
under a total atmospheric pressure of as much as 10-20 tons. For this 
reason, when the window member is formed by a single glass pane, for 
example, the thickness inevitably becomes large. Problems then result such 
as that the size and cost of the apparatus increases, and solar radiation 
attenuates during the passage through the glass. Therefore, in the present 
invention, the window member 11 is formed as an assembly of a number of 
curved segments 44 and 46. Also, the window member 11 is supported by a 
plurality of columns 20. FIG. 6 shows hexagonal curved segments 44. FIG. 7 
shows square curved segments 46. In FIGS. 6 and 7, (A) indicates a 
perspective view of the segment, (B) indicates a top view of the segment, 
and (C) indicates a sectional view of the segment. Those segments are 
joined together, and the window member 11 is supported by the plurality of 
columns 20 at the joining borders or at other portions of the window 
member 11. Because of the window composition by a plurality of curved 
segments and the use of a plurality of columns 20, even if the window 
thickness is decreased, the window member 11 has a strength sufficient to 
withstand the atmospheric pressure. 
FIG. 8 shows a structure of another preferred embodiment of the present 
invention. In this embodiment, an insulating film 110 is added to the 
structure shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. More specifically, the insulating film 
110 made of a metal film, for example, is provided between and in parallel 
with the heat-absorbing plate 14 and the bottom wall 12B. This insulating 
film 110 is charged with suppressing both heat radiation and thermal 
conduction. To obtain greater effects, desirably, a plurality of 
insulating films are installed a certain distance apart from each other. 
In this case, in compliance with well-known superinsulation method, the 
distances among the component members are set preferably at less than the 
mean free path of gas molecules. 
FIGS. 9 and 10 illustrate yet another preferred embodiment of the present 
invention. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 9, those portions of the 
heat-absorbing plate 50 which are connected with the pipe are formed in a 
semi-cylindrical shape. In other words, the pipe is connected to the 
semi-cylindrical portions of the heat-absorbing plate 50. Also in this 
embodiment, the heat-absorbing plate 50 has formed thereon a selective 
transmission layer 100A and a reflection layer 102A as in the embodiment 
shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 10, those portions 
of the heat-absorbing plate 52 which are connected with the pipe are 
formed with a triangular cross section. In other words, a pipe 16C with a 
triangular cross section is connected to the triangular portions of the 
heat-absorbing plate 52. With this configuration as well, on the 
heat-absorbing plate 52 is formed a selective transmission layer 100B and 
a reflection layer 102B. According to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 9 and 
10, the area of contact between the pipe 16 and the heat-absorbing plate 
50 or 52 can be made larger to improve heat conduction. 
FIG. 11 shows a general configuration of a system according to the present 
invention. This system includes a plurality of solar heat collecting 
apparatuses 10 connected in series. Each solar heat collecting apparatus 
10 has a structure shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Water is supplied by a pump 57 
to the successive stages of the solar heat collecting apparatuses 10 
through an electromagnetic valve 54 for flow control. The respective solar 
heat collecting apparatuses 10 transmit the solar heat to water, and 
therefore the water temperature rises as it passes through each solar heat 
collecting apparatus 10. A temperature sensor 58 is installed on the 
output side of the final solar heat collecting apparatus 10. A controller 
60 controls the flow rate of water to keep the output temperature at a 
constant level according to a detected value of the temperature sensor 58. 
More specifically, the controller 60 controls the pump 57 or the 
electromagnetic valve 54 to adjust the flow rate of water flowing in the 
system. For example, even when the quantity of the solar radiation 
changes, if a flow rate is set which corresponds to receivable energy, the 
output temperature can be made constant. Even if the receivable energy is 
at a fixed level, when the input temperature of water supplied to the pump 
changes, the output temperature changes. Therefore, the flow rate may be 
adjusted according to changes in the input temperature. 
In the system shown in FIG. 11, the capacity to reflect the infrared 
radiation from the heat-collecting member back to the heat-collecting 
member is higher in the apparatuses at the later stages where water at 
relatively high temperatures flows than in the apparatuses at the earlier 
stages where water at relatively low temperatures flows. In other words, 
the quantity of heat radiated from each heat-absorbing plate increases 
non-linearly as the temperature of the heat-absorbing plate rises, and 
therefore by varying the performance among the heat collecting 
apparatuses, a rational and economical system can be constructed. To cite 
an example, in a system having five apparatuses connected in series, only 
a selective transmission layer 100 and a reflection layer 102 are provided 
in each of the earlier two apparatuses, and a selective transmission film 
104 and a reflection layer 106 are mounted together with the layers 100 
and 102 in each of the later three apparatuses. 
According to the above-described embodiments, a heat-absorbing plate is 
placed in a vacuum vessel, and the heat-absorbing plate and a plurality of 
columns are installed such that the heat-absorbing plate is not in contact 
with the columns, so that heat loss by thermal conduction can be reduced. 
Furthermore, the radiation of the infrared radiation from the 
heat-absorbing plate is suppressed, and the radiated infrared radiation 
are sent back to the heat-absorbing plate, with the result that the heat 
loss by heat radiation can be reduced. Therefore, the advantage of the 
present invention is that by raising the utilization ratio of energy, the 
water temperature can be elevated to higher temperatures than the 
conventional apparatuses. As the working medium, fluids other than water 
can be used.