Building-integrated solar thermal micro-channel absorber and method of manufacturing thereof

摘要

A device and method of its production for a micro-channel thermal absorber to be used as a solar thermal collector, heat collector, or heat dissipater, extruded or continuously cast in one piece or in modular segments from a metal, plastic, or glass and assembled into panels of different structures seamlessly integrated into the envelope of a building as covering layers or structural elements. The micro-channel thermal absorber comprises an active plate, a back plate adjacent to the active plate, and a plurality of micro-channel walls arranged substantially perpendicular to the active plate and the back plate to define a plurality of fluid transport micro-channels configured to allow fluid flow there-along, wherein the micro-channel walls constitute supporting elements between the active plate and the back plate to provide structure.

主权项

1. A solar-thermal collector assembly comprising:
at least one cover pane made of one or both of glass and plastic; a micro-channel absorber comprising:
a back plate;an active plate adjacent to the back plate;a solar radiation absorptive layer for converting solar energy into thermal energy, wherein the solar radiation absorptive layer continuously abuts the surface of the active plate that does not face the back plate;a plurality of channel walls integrally formed with the back plate and the active plate,
each of the channel walls extending between the back plate and the active plate to define a plurality of fluid transport channels formed in-between the active plate and the back plate, andeach of the channel walls defining a sidewall of two adjacent fluid transport channels;an inlet port and an outlet port each of which is coupled to the plurality of fluid transport channels, wherein each of the plurality of fluid transport channels is in fluid communication with at least one other of the plurality of fluid transport channels; andat least one interlocking fastener for modular assembly with another micro-channel absorber; a spacing member made of one or both of metal and plastic disposed between the cover pane and the active plate of the micro-channel absorber and arranged around the perimeter of the micro-channel absorber to form a space filled with gas between the cover pane and the micro-channel absorber; wherein the spacing member is covered by or filled with a desiccant material in contact with the gas in the space formed between the cover pane and the micro-channel absorber to remove moisture trapped in the space; and a sealing material in contact with the cover pane, the micro-channel absorber, and the spacing member to form an adhesive bond about an outer periphery of the micro-channel absorber and seal the space filled with gas, wherein solar energy passes through the cover pane, penetrates the solar radiation absorptive layer, and is converted into thermal energy that travels to fluid moving along the fluid transport channels to simultaneously heat the fluid and remove heat from the solar radiation absorptive layer.