ALL-POLYMER FLAT PLATE HEATING SOLAR PANEL WITH INTEGRATED CONTROLLER

摘要

A flat plate heating solar panel comprised of polymer materials that can withstand relatively high temperatures. The polymer materials utilized in the panel have similar thermal expansion characteristics so that different components can by connected to each other without excessive stresses and damage during temperature changes, and with major components capable of being fabricated by molding processes, including extrusion and injection molding. An expansion joint or slot is provided in the enclosure frame to allow relative movement between the header connector and the frame in order to minimize stresses when large temperature differences exist between the absorber/header and the frame, and the slot design also provides a vent to relieve excessive air pressures inside the panel at high temperatures. An electronic controller with wireless capability, powered by a small photovoltaic solar cell with energy storage by a supercapacitor or an ultracapacitor, is integrated with the panel to operate a pump to circulate a heat transfer fluid through the panel when heating capability exists and when heat is needed to increase the temperature of the substance to be heated by the panel.

主权项

1. A flat plate solar collector comprising:
a polymer absorber having a surface, wherein said absorber is configured to absorb solar radiation incident to said absorber surface and to allow fluid flow through the absorber; two polymer manifolds comprising at least one flow passage at each end of the absorber, wherein said polymer manifolds are connected to said polymer absorber such that said manifold flow passage is in contact with or proximate to said polymer absorber such that said polymer manifold and said absorber are configured such that heat from said polymer absorber is transferred to said outlet manifold via a heat exchange fluid within said manifolds, wherein said manifolds at one end comprise an inflow port and said manifolds on other end comprises an outflow port, wherein said manifolds are connected to an outflow and an inflow for circulation of a heat transfer fluid into said manifolds via said inflow port through said manifold flow passage and out said manifold outflow port, wherein said polymer absorber and said polymer manifolds comprise polymer materials having equivalent thermal expansion characteristics; and a pump, wherein said pump is configured to circulate fluid through said manifolds from said inflow port on one end to said outflow port of the second manifold at the other end.