Ser. No. 15/426,010 with a filing date of Feb. 6, 2017.
Not applicable.
Not applicable.
This invention relates to solar energy panels and tanks for thermal transfer. The invention is shaped to allow coupling with a roof decking or a solar energy panel and is shaped by a coupling side being pitched downward and away from the tanks top surface, the top surface being opposite of the base side, and a heat exchanger connection side being tilted approximately perpendicular to the coupling side as to have the heat exchanger connections being similarly pitched downward and away from the tanks top surface, while containing a liquid to perform thermal transfer. The pitch of a roof decking or a solar energy panel is typically written in the form of rise/run.
A thermal syphoning tank is placed at a higher elevation than a heat exchanger element to generate the effect of thermal syphoning. A standard thermal syphoning tank is typically placed on top of a roof to collect solar radiation. This type of tank is typically cylindrical and placed exterior of the roof decking, which can add stress to an existing roof and may not be esthetically pleasing.
A heat exchanger element is typically tilted toward the equator to collect solar heat using a liquid to transfer heat to a tank. This stored heat is typically utilized by passing water through a coiled pipe in the tank, as a closed system, to allow water in the coiled pipe to absorb heat from the heated liquid in the tank, and provide heated water to showers or sinks. This type of system only heats a volume of water that passes through the coil and therefore requires a secondary tank to heat and store a larger volume or quantity. Additionally, heat can be lost during transfer to a second tank.
A photovoltaic panel, or PV solar panel, utilizes photovoltaic cells to produce electricity from received light. This type of solar panel is mounted to receive solar energy and will receive solar thermal energy as well. This solar thermal energy decreases the PV solar panel's energy production, therefore, the hotter the panel, the less energy efficient it becomes. The PV solar panel could produce more energy by being cooled.
The invention can be integrated into a roof of a building or a vehicle as to collect and store thermal energy. This invention improves how a thermal syphon tank is attached and integrated with a building, by having a shape to allow interior attachment and coupling with a roof having a pitch.
Coupling the heat exchanger with a liquid cooled photovoltaic solar panel or a solar focusing panel, and further coupling with a roof's decking, will produce a sleek heat exchanger element to extract heat. Lenses applied to a heat exchanger element having pipes, can focus energy on the pipes to improve thermal collection from the sun. Additionally, the invention may extract thermal energy from photovoltaic cells to improve electrical production efficiency.
A frame is a support structure used to raise the tank above the heat exchanger and used to configure and install the invention into an existing roof structure, while possibly improving both the existing structure's load-bearing capacity and it's resistance to earthquakes.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20190376695 A1 | Dec 2019 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 15426010 | Feb 2017 | US |
Child | 16443668 | US |