Solar energy collector with unbreakable glass cover - has composite transparent cover in sections preventing thermal stresses

摘要

The solar energy collector is designed to prevent fracture of the glass in the vacuum type collector. The lower part of the collector is made integrally as one unit. The upper cover plate is built up of several separate pieces. This composite plate is sealed by a plastics foil and clamped together. Alternatively the composite plate can be held together by cemented joints. The lower part is made from a metal such as aluminium and it forms a reflector. The composite arrangement prevents build up of thermal stresses in the transparent part of the solar energy vacuum collector.