Patent ID: 7779829

Claim:
A solar collector manifold, comprising: a first manifold plate; a second manifold plate; a manifold inlet port; a manifold outlet port; and a solar collector tube connection port that defines an external opening into the manifold and is constructed and arranged to connect to a fluid tube of a solar collector tube; wherein the first manifold plate and the second manifold plate are joined together to enclose therebetween a network of fluid flow paths that comprises an inlet fluid flow path that conveys fluid from the manifold inlet port, an outlet fluid flow path that conveys fluid to the manifold outlet port, and a fluid exchange path that conveys fluid between the solar collector tube connection port and at least one of the inlet fluid flow path and the outlet fluid flow path; wherein the solar collector tube connection port comprises an insert that defines at least a portion of the fluid exchange path and additionally defines a counter-flow path.