Radiation collector

Abstract: A solar panel (Figure 7) comprises an extruded plastics matrix (20) comprising a plurality of side-by-side compartments each of which provides an actual fluid-flow channel without the need for providing separate metal pipework. Each compartment may include a filler (62) to define a fluid-flow channel between the upper surface of the filler and the lower surface of a membrane (28) of the matrix. The provision of the filler (62) is optional and the cross section of each compartment may be optimised to the fluid-flow channel size requirements. At least part of a surface of each fluid-flow channel has a covering comprising a solar radiation absorber; for example, the absorber may comprise a channel-shaped foil (72) which exhibits high absorbence of solar energy together with low emittance of infra-red radiation.

Description: This invention relates to a solar panel of the type which particularly but not exclusively may be utilised for the heating of water for domestic or industrial purposes. Solar panels which collect and utilise the energy present in solar radiation are well known. A typical known construction of solar panel comprises an array of cylindrical cross section relatively thick-walled pipes in thermal contact with a plate of heat conducting material which is coated with a radiation absorbing medium. Solar radiation incident upon such a plate is absorbed thereby resulting in an increase in its temperature and of the pipes in contact therewith. Water or other fluid flowing through the pipes is thereby heated and may be utilised either directly or indirectly for a variety of purposes. It is known to improve the efficiency of such a solar panel by reducing the transfer back to the environment of absorbed heat energy by providing one or more cover plates over the absorber plate. Such a cover plate may be constructed of a material which is characterised by having a high transmission factor for incident solar radiation and a low transmission factor for heat radiated from the absorber plate. It is also known to reduce the emission of heat radiation from such an absorber plate of a solar panel by the application to its surface of a selective coating which exhibits high absorption for radiation having a short wavelength typically of less than some 3 microns and which exhibits relatively low emission for radiation having longer wavelengths. Furthermore, it is well known that efficiency can be improved by reducing or eliminating heat losses from the rear and side surfaces of such solar panels by the provision of thermal insulation of conventional form. A typical solar panel of the type known in the prior art is illustrated in Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings. Typical dimensions for such a solar panel in which the pipes and the absorber plate are formed from copper may be as follows:- internal diameter of pipe 10.0mm wall thickness of pipe 1.2mm spacing between centre axes of adjacent pipes 18 20.00mm thickness of absorber plate 0.5mm Such known solar panels as described above can suffer from a number of disadvantages is that the cost of the absorber plate is relatively high particularly when such a plate is coated with a radiation absorbing medium. A further disadvantage is that the heat exchange surface in contact with the fluid flowing through the pipes is relatively small in comparison with the total absorbing surface of the absorber plate. For example, a section of solar panel having a total absorbing area of 30,000 cm 2 may only have a total heat exchange surface with the fluid of 5,662 cm 2 . A still further disadvantage is that the relatively high mass of the metal pipes and of the absorber plate results in the solar panel being of significant weight which can adversely influence the ease of installation of the panel and its location. Such a relatively high mass also represents an undesirable thermal dead load which leads to an extended warm-up time of the solar panel. By way of example, a section of panel having a total absorbing area of 30,000 cm 2 as mentioned above may contain approximately 20kg of copper in the pipes and associated absorber plate. It has also been proposed to make lighter structures using a matrix of a plastics material to define side-by-side fluid flow conduits. For example, US 4898153 shows a panel comprising a double skinned sheet of polycarbonate with rib members separating the skins and defining flow conduits. US 4271823 shows a panel made from co-extruded thermoplastics material, likewise defining flow conduits. GB 1516262 shows an assembly comprising an array of double walled tubes, each of which includes an innermost tube which conveys fluid and an outermost tube of transparent plastics material spaced from the innermost tube so as to provide thermal insulation whilst allowing solar radiation to penetrate to the innermost tube. It is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved solar panel which will overcome certain of the disadvantages associated with known solar panels. In accordance with the invention there is provided a solar panel for the collection and utilisation of energy present in solar radiation comprising an array of side-by-side conduits through which a fluid to be heated by solar radiation may flow; a fluid inlet to which one end of each said conduit is connected; and a fluid outlet to which the other end of each said conduit is connected whereby fluid may flow from said inlet through said conduits to said outlet characterised in that each said conduit comprises a thin walled tubular member partially surrounded by a reflector, each said tubular member having a surface at least part of which comprises a solar radiation absorber and each said tubular member and its associated reflector being disposed in a respective one of a plurality of side-by-side hollow compartments formed in a plastics matrix. The plastics material of the matrix preferably exhibits high transmission properties for primary solar radiation and low transmission properties for secondary heat radiation. Such a matrix conveniently comprises an extrusion of a polycarbonate material. Said matrix conveniently comprises top and bottom membranes and webs interconnecting said membranes, said compartments being defined between opposed surfaces of adjacent webs and opposed surfaces of the top and bottom membranes. Preferably the outer surface, i.e. that surface which is exposed to primary solar radiation, of the top membrane of the matrix is covered by ultra-violet blocking material which may be in the form of a co-extruded lamina or may be otherwise provided. Each said tubular member conveniently extends form end-to end of a said compartment of the matrix and is connected at each of its ends to a respective said fluid inlet and fluid outlet, each said reflector also extending fro end-to-end of a respective said compartment. A solar panel constructed in accordance with the invention may include a fluid which has enhanced radiation absorbing properties for supplementing the effect of said radiation absorbing surface of each fluid-flow conduit. Other features of the invention will become apparent from the following description given herein solely by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:- Figure 1 is a diagrammatic side elevation of a solar panel of a typical known prior art construction; Figure 2 is a part cut-away top plan view of a solar panel constructed in accordance with the invention; Figure 3 is a transverse cross-section view on the line III-III of the solar panel of Figure 2; Figure 4 is an end elevation to an enlarged scale of part of one of the reflector elements of the panel of Figures 2 and 3; Figure 5 is a spectral transmission graph of polycarbonate sheet as used in the construction of the panel of Figures 2 to 4. Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings illustrates a solar panel of a typical known prior art construction. Such a panel comprises a plurality of metal, usually copper, relatively thick-walled pipes 10 typically of 1.2mm wall thickness arranged in a parallel side-by-side array with the upper surfaces of each pipe in contact with the undersurface of a metal, usually copper, absorber plate 12. The upper surface of the absorber plate may be provided with a selective coating exhibiting high absorption characteristics for radiation having a short wavelength and relatively low emission characteristics for radiation having longer wavelengths. Such a prior art solar panel is also typically provided with one or more cover plates 14 over the absorber plate 12, the or each cover plate 14 being formed from a material characterised by having a high transmission factor for incoming incident solar radiation and a low transmission factor for outgoing emitted heat radiation. As illustrated in Figure 1, the assembly of cover plates 14, absorber plate 12 and fluid pipes 10 is mounted on a collector box 16 filled with a thermally insulating material. A solar panel constructed as shown in Figure 1 is heavy since at least the absorber plate 12 and the pipes 10 are all made of metal. Furthermore, the pipes containing the fluid to be heated by solar radiation are not exposed directly to such radiation, the fluid flowing within the pipes being heated primarily by conduction from the absorber plate 12. A solar panel constructed in accordance with the present invention is illustrated in Figures 2 to 4. Referring firstly to Figures 2 and 3, there is shown a solar panel of substantially rectangular plan form comprising an array of parallel side-by-side fluid-flow conduits in the form of thin-walled hollow pipes 18 located in an extruded plastics matrix 20 providing a plurality of parallel side-by-side compartments 20. As is best seen with reference to Figure 3, the matrix 20 comprises a top membrane 22, a bottom membrane 24 and plurality of interconnecting webs 26 thereby to define a plurality of side-by-side compartments 30. In the embodiment illustrated in Figures 2 and 3 seven such side-by-side compartments 30 a -30 g are shown by way of example. An intermediate membrane 28 is extruded integral with the matrix whereby each of the said compartments 30 is divided into an upper and lower sub-compartment 31 and 32 respectively although the formation of such sub-compartments by the provision of an intermediate membrane 28 is not essential. The outer surface of the top membrane 22 is preferably covered by an ultra-violet blocker (not illustrated) which is conveniently in the form of a covering lamina co-extruded with the remainder of the matrix. The matrix 20 is formed as an extrusion from a polycarbonate material which exhibits the type of spectral transmission characteristics as shown in the graph of Figure 5. Such a polycarbonate material combines high strength with high transmission properties for primary solar radiation and a low transmission properties for secondary heat radiation. As illustrated in Figures 2 and 3, five thin-walled fluid-flow pipes 18 are provided in the five central compartments 30 b -30 f , the two outermost said compartments 30 a ,30 g being filled with a thermally insulating material 44. In the embodiment of Figures 2 and 3 each of the pipes 18, which are conveniently formed of copper, is located within and extends from end-to-end of an associated lower sub-compartment 32. A reflector 34 is mounted in each of the five central compartments 30 b -30 f so as partially to surround each pipe 18 whereby incident solar radiation falling upon the top membrane 22 of the matrix will impinge directly upon the upper surfaces of each pipe 18 and also be reflected onto its lower surfaces. Part of one of the reflectors 34 is shown in more detail in Figure 4 from which it will be seen that in each of the lower sub-compartments 32 there is provided a lower reflector part of generally parabolic cross-section comprising a generally flat 36 of which a width approximately the diameter of the associated pipe 18 and curved sides 38. Generally flat upper reflector parts 40 are located adjacent the opposed side walls of each upper sub-compartment 31. The lower reflector part 36-38 is supported within the lower sub-compartment 32 by means of appropriately shaped formers (not shown) located below the reflector whilst each pipe 18 is supported relative to the reflector by longitudinally spaced apart formers 42 located above the lower reflector part 36-38. It will be appreciated that the transmission characteristics of the membranes 22 and 28 of the matrix 20 enable solar radiation to be transmitted therethrough whereby, as is illustrated in Figure 4, both the upper and lower reflector parts enable the radiation to impinge on the lower surfaces of the pipe 18 as indicated by the arrows At least a part of the exterior surface of each pipe 18 comprises a solar radiation absorbing material. Such a material may simply comprise a black matt paint on the exterior surface of each pipe although it is preferred to utilise a coating in the form of a foil which exhibits high absorbence of solar energy together with low emittance of infra-red radiation. Such a foil which also has a high resistance to humidity and thermal degradation may be of the type distributed under the trade name MAXORB by the Inco Group of companies. Each of the pipes 18 and its associated reflector 34 extend from end-to-end of each associated compartment with all of the ends of the pipes at one end of the panel being connected to a fluid inlet header 46 and all of the of the pipes at the other end of the panel being connected to a fluid outlet header 48 as may be clearly seen from Figure 2. Thus a fluid which is to be heated, which may typically be water, may be introduced into the fluid inlet header 46 to flow through all of the pipes 18 and out of the panel by means of the fluid outlet header 48. The plastics matrix 20 together with its pipes 18, reflectors 34 and headers 46,48 is conveniently mounted in a weatherproof thermally insulating housing as may be particularly clearly seen from Figure 3. The housing conveniently comprises a plastics extrusion having a base 50 and opposed inwardly directed flanges 52 on which the plastics matrix 20 may be located. Retaining flanges 54 secured to the housing retain the matrix 20 in place. Conveniently a heat reflecting metallic foil is wrapped around the external side edges of the matrix and underneath it so as to rest upon the flanges 52 of the housing. The remainder of the housing is packed with thermally insulating material 58 and may include exterior supporting pads 60 or lugs or the like enabling mounting of the panel in a suitable position. It will be appreciated that such a solar panel constructed as described with reference to Figures 2 to 4 will be extremely light in weight compared with the type of solar panel described with reference to Figure 1. Also, such a solar panel is capable of receiving incident solar radiation directly upon its fluid-flow conduits unlike the panel of Figure 1 which relies upon incident radiation being absorbed by the absorber plate for conduction to the fluid-flow pipes. Typically dimensions for a solar panel of the type illustrated in Figures 2 and 3 may be as follows:- internal diameter of each pipe 18 5.24mm wall thickness of each pipe 18 0.56mm spacing between centre axes of adjacent pipes 18 20.00mm A nominal three square metre section of solar panel constructed as illustrated in Figures 2 and 3 with the above dimensions will exhibit the following characteristics:- total absorbing area 29,571cm 2 fluid contact area 24,364cm 2 total weight of copper pipes 13.53kg From these figures it will be observed that for a given area the solar panel of the invention has essentially the same absorber surface area as that of a prior art panel of the type illustrated in Figure 1 but has more than four times the fluid contact surface than that of the Figure 1 type of panel. Since the rate of heat transfer to the fluid is proportional to the area of the contact surface it will be appreciated that the rate at which heat is gained by the fluid will be substantially greater in the case of a panel manufactured in accordance with the invention than is the case with a panel of the prior type. It will also be appreciated that the weight of metal in the panel of the invention is substantially less than that of the prior art type of panel. In use, one or more solar panels in accordance with the invention would be installed in an unshaded situation and tilted so as to receive the maximum flux of direct solar radiation during the summer months and orientated so that its fluid-flow pipes 18 run more or less east to west. Each panel would be in communication by means of suitable conduits with a water circulation and storage system of conventional design. Water or other liquid to be heated would be introduced into each panel for such a system via said conduits, air being removed at the commencement of working by conventional venting means. The liquid in the system would be circulated one or more times through each solar panel of the invention by means of a pump or under the influence of convection and would thereby be heated by the transfer of solar energy collected by the absorbing surface of the pipes 18. If convection is used, the system would preferably be configured so that each panel is located below the hot water storage vessel, each panel being tilted so that the water in the heating conduits flows upwards at a gradient of some 10 to 15 degrees from the horizontal. When a panel in accordance with the invention is installed in the configuration hereinbefore described the reflecting surfaces of the reflectors 34 provide a wide angle of acceptance and ensure a high utilisation of available solar radiation throughout daylight hours as is indicated in Figure 4. Moreover, because of the short reflection paths involved, small imperfections in the reflective surfaces of the reflectors 34 have little or no effect upon the efficiency of radiation collection. In this regard, solar panels constructed in accordance with the invention are clearly distinguishable from those types of conventional arrays of solar collectors having reflectors usually of parabolic shape and having apertures of the order of 10cm or more. Such arrays are used in general to generate temperatures in excess of 100°C for industrial purposes. They commonly employ sophisticated evacuated radiation absorption devices and require a high degree of precision in their manufacture. This necessity arises because of the critical influence of the configuration of the reflector surface upon efficiency due to the long reflection paths and relatively small target areas involved. These factors lead to high cost, high weight and a tendency for performance to diminish with time as components age. In contrast, panels made according to the present invention are intended primarily for use in applications where the temperature of the working liquid is less than 100°C and are characterised by their low cost, light weight and freedom from deterioration due to ageing. The cost and weight of solar panels are two important factors which determine the economics of solar heating systems, the latter being significant because of its influence upon installation costs. The collector design and method of energy collection hereinbefore disclosed permit efficient utilisation of solar energy for the production of heated water or other fluids in a wide range of applications by the employment of collectors in the forms of solar panels which are especially characterised by their low cost and light weight. When used for the production of hot water, a panel of the form hereinbefore described is installed in an unshaded situation with its active surface tilted so as to receive the maximum flux of direct solar radiation during the summer months; the preferred orientation being with the headers parallel to the ground and the direction of liquid flow within the panel being from the bottom header to the top one. Said panel is in communication by means of conduits with a water circulation and storage system of conventional design which may operate under the influence of natural convection or be driven by a pump. It will be understood that the invention hereinbefore described is not restricted to application in circumstances where the working fluid is water. Other liquids of aqueous solutions having lower freezing points and higher boiling points can sometimes be employed with advantage as is well known in the art relating to conventional solar panels. In the present case there also exists the possibility of using a fluid which absorbs radiation relative strongly. Such a fluid can be produced by the addition of appropriate dyes or finely divided pigments to an aqueous medium. A fluid of this form may be used to supplement the absorption effected by the surfaces lining the flow paths as hereinbefore described.

Claims: A solar panel for the collection and utilisation of energy present in solar radiation comprising an array of side-by-side conduits (18) through which a fluid to be heated by solar radiation may flow; a fluid inlet (46) to which one end of each said conduit is connected; and a fluid outlet (48) to which the other end of each said conduit is connected whereby fluid may flow from said inlet through said conduits to said outlet characterised in that each said conduit comprises a thin walled tubular member (18) partially surrounded by a reflector (34), each said tubular member (18) having a surface at least part of which comprises a solar radiation absorber and each said tubular member (18) and its associated reflector (34) being disposed in a respective one of a plurality of side-by-side hollow compartments (30 b -30 f ) formed in a plastics matrix (20). A solar panel as claimed in claim 1 further characterised in that the plastics material of the matrix (20) exhibits high transmission properties for primary solar radiation and low transmission properties for secondary heat radiation. A solar panel as claimed in either of claims 1 or 2 further characterised in that said plastics matrix (20) comprises an extrusion. A solar panel as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 further characterised in that said plastics matrix (20) comprises an extrusion of a polycarbonate material. A solar panel as claimed in either one of claims 3 or 4 further characterised in that an ultra-violet blocking lamina is co-extruded with the matrix (20) or otherwise provided to cover an outer surface thereof. A solar panel as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5 further characterised in that said matrix (20) comprises top and bottom membranes (22, 24) and webs (26) interconnecting said membranes, said compartments (30 b -30 f ) being defined between opposed surfaces of adjacent webs (26) and opposed surfaces of the top and bottom membranes (22,24). A solar panel as claimed in any one of the preceding claims further characterised in that each said tubular member (18) extends from end to end of the respective compartment (30 b -30 f ) of the matrix (20) and is connected at each of its ends to a respective said fluid inlet (46) and fluid outlet (48), each said reflector (34) also extending from end to end of the respective compartment (30 b -30 f ).

Inventors: STARNES PETER EDWARD, STARNES, PETER EDWARD
Applicants: COLLINS STARNES ASS, COLLINS STARNES ASSOCIATES LIMITED
Application year: 1993
Main classification: F24J2
IPC codes: F24J2