Solar heat exchange panel

Heat-absorbing bars having a V-shape are placed parallel to one another in a spaced relationship over a reflective surface. Sunlight strikes the bars on their exposed surface and also off the reflective surface against the underside of the bars. Water tubes may also be used.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
A considerable number of solar heat exchange panels presently exist. In a 
solar heating system, the solar heat exchange panel, which is the heat 
collecting portion, is exposed to the sun to absorb heat from the rays of 
the sun. Air is circulated within the heat exchange panel to transfer the 
heat from the solar heat exchange panel to where the heat can be utilized. 
Frequently a liquid conduit is also mounted in the solar heat exchange 
panel to absorb heat which can also be used for various purposes as is the 
heated air. 
This invention relates to improvements in the structure of a solar heat 
exchange panel and in particular to a solar heat exchange panel of limited 
size to relationship to the amount of heat that it can absorb. Prior art 
relating to solar heat exchange panels is as follows: 
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Inventor Patent Number 
______________________________________ 
Moreau 201,439 
Awot 2,907,318 
Gallagher 4,011,856 
Taylor 4,016,861 
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SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention provides an improved solar heat exchange panel which 
efficiently transfers the collected energy by utilizing only a reduced 
space. The solar heat exchange panel is not only simple and inexpensive to 
construct but is reduced in size and weight while being capable of a long 
life and efficient operation. 
The novel features which are considered as characteristics of the invention 
are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The solar energy 
collector is located within an insulated enclosure with a metallic casing 
having a transparent top exposed to the sun with a reflective base below 
it. Suspended between the transparent top and the reflective base are a 
series of generally parallel V-shaped heat absorbing bars in a spaced 
relationship from one another. Directly under the space between the bars 
is an elongated convex surface, also reflective. Solar rays which pass 
between the bars impinge against the reflective surface and, in 
particular, the convex surface and are thereby radiated against the 
underside of the V-shaped heat collecting bars. A water tube may also be 
located in the bottom of the trough of the V-shaped bars. 
The invention itself, however, as to its construction and obvious 
advantages will be best understood from the following description of the 
specific embodiment when read with the accompanying drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
Although the description hereof is detailed and exact to enable those 
skilled in the art to practice the invention, the physical embodiments 
herein disclosed merely exemplify the invention which may be embodied in 
other specific structures. The scope of the invention is defined in the 
claims appended hereto. 
As best seen in FIG. 1, the solar heat exchange panel is encased within a 
box-like enclosure 11. Insulation 13 surrounds all but the top 15 of the 
solar heat exchange panel which is transparent, being made of either clear 
vinyl, plastic or glass. The outside of the insulation 13 is covered by a 
casing 16 preferably made of either metal or a hard plastic. The bottom 17 
lies substantially parallel to the top surface 15. The inner surface 18 of 
the bottom 17 faces the top surface 15 and is made out of a reflective 
material, as for example, a mirror or aluminum foil. A lower side 19 is 
provided with cold air inlets 21 in the form of oval-shaped openings. A 
lower conduit 23, which has a semi-circular shape extends along the lower 
side 19 and surrounds the cold air inlets 21 to introduce cold air to the 
enclosure 11. Cold air is supplied to the lower conduit 23 through an 
inlet tube 25 connected to the lower conduit 23. An upper side 27, which 
is parallel to the lower side 19, has outlets located through it, also in 
the form of oval-shaped openings, for the discharge of heated air. An 
upper conduit 31, which also has a semi-circular shape, extends along the 
upper side 27 and encloses the upper side 27 so that the heated air 
passing through outlets 29 in the upper side 27 enters the upper conduit 
and is then exited through an outlet tube 33. The two remaining surfaces 
of the enclosure are the ends 35, 37 which are generally parallel to one 
another and connect both the upper side 27, the lower side 19 and the 
bottom 17 and the top 15. 
The two ends 35, 37 have V-shaped notches 39 cut in them from adjacent the 
top 15 downwardly a substantial distance but not the entire distance 
toward the bottom 17. The top of the V-shaped notches 39 in the two ends 
35, 37 may be approximately, by way of example, two and a quarter inches 
across, and come to an apex 43 about four and half inches deep. The ends 
35, 37 may either be partially cut through with the V-shaped notches 39 or 
may be cut straight through and then have an enclosure barrier 45 placed 
over the ends 35, 37. The V-shaped notches 39 are spaced from one another 
adjacent the top 15 a distance substantially smaller than the top of a 
V-shaped notch 39 itself. By way of example, adjacent notches with a top 
distance of two and three quarter inches across would only have a distance 
of about three eighths of an inch between them adjacent the top 15. 
The V-shaped bars 49 for collecting heat are located within the V-shaped 
notches 39 below the top 15, approximately three-quarters of an inch, 
assuming the dimensions for each notch 39 and its relative spacing is as 
previously stated. This is also consistent with each V-shaped bar 49 
having a side measurement of four inches. The resulting space between the 
top 15 and the V-shaped bars provides a passageway for the travel of air 
being heated. Since the V-shaped bars 49 are recessed from the top 15 
about three-quarters of an inch within the V-shaped notches 39, the space 
between the tops of the V-shaped bars 49 is about three-quarters of an 
inch rather than three-eighths of an inch as exists at the top of the 
V-shaped notches in the example given. The V-shaped bars 49 are made of a 
heat absorbing material and are parallel to one another with the apex 51 
of the V-shaped bars directed toward the reflective bottom surface 18. In 
this way, the trough 53 of the V-shaped bars 49 is directed to the top 15 
so that the sunlight will strike the troughs 53 directly. The enclosure 11 
is sufficiently deeper than the V-shaped notches 39 so that a distance of 
approximately three-quarters of an inch assuming the earlier-mentioned 
dimensions is left below the apex 43 of the V-shaped bars 49 to provide 
for air circulation below the V-shaped bars 49. 
Directly below the open space between any two V-shaped bars 49 on the 
bottom reflective surface 18 are convex strips 57, also made of a 
reflective material. The V-shaped bars 49 are either black or another 
absorbent color, such as green on all four surfaces for high heat 
absorption on all sides, both top and bottom. Sunlight which does not 
impinge directly upon the troughs 53, passes between the V-shaped bars 49 
and is reflected back up by the convex strips 57 and the reflective 
surface 18 against the underside of the V-shaped bars 49. 
As best seen in FIG. 4, where heat absorption by a circulating liquid is 
also to be used, a tube 59 is placed in the bottom of the troughs 53 
formed by the V-shaped bars 49 and in physical contact with the V-shaped 
bars 49 so that heat conduction to the tube 59 will occur. In this way, 
the sunlight entering through the top 15 will strike the tube 59. A fluid, 
probably water or a mixture of water and an antifreeze, is circulated 
through the tube 59 to be heated. An inlet (not shown) is an extension of 
the tube 59 through either one of the ends 35, 37. An outlet 61 similar to 
the inlet (not shown) extends through the end 35. 
In use, the solar heat exchange panel is placed at an inclined position 
with the transparent top 15 directed toward the sun. The lower side 19 
would thereby be located below the upper side 27 so that air could pass 
through the enclosure 11 and rise, even by gravity if not by forced 
circulation, to the upper side 27 and out through the outlet tube 33. The 
rays of the sun, as indicated by arrows 65, as best seen in FIGS. 1 and 3, 
enter through the glass or transparent top 15 directly against the 
V-shaped bars 49 both directly and by reflection as further shown by the 
arrows 65. As can be readily seen, both sides, top and bottom of the 
V-shaped heat absorbing bars 49 are used. Assuming an enclosure 11 
approximately four feet by eight feet, with eight foot long V-shaped bars 
49 placed therein, fifteen to sixteen of the bars 49 would be possible, 
resulting in approximately a five to one increase in available surface for 
heat absorption over a panel utilizing only the top surface of its heat 
absorbing units. 
The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing 
from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The present 
embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all aspects as 
illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention being 
indicated by the appended claims rather than the foregoing description and 
all changes which come within the meaning of range of equivalency of the 
claims are therefore, intended to be embraced therein: