| 摘要 |
A solar collector comprises a heat pipe 3 having a radiation absorber, such as a plate 10, and an elongate tube 37 for containing a heat transfer medium. The elongate tube has an evaporator section 38 in thermal contact with the radiation absorber and a condenser section 35 remote from the radiation absorber. The radiation absorber and the evaporator section of the elongate tube are enclosed within an evacuated radiation transparent enclosure 8, with the condenser section being located outside the transparent enclosure. The solar collector further comprises an end fitting 15 providing a fluid connection for connecting with a corresponding end fitting of an adjacent heat pipe to permit passage of fluid between the end fittings without requiring a separate manifold. The end fitting incorporates an opening 41 for reception of the condenser section of the heat pipe. Preferably, each end fitting is provided with a circumferential groove or recess for receiving an O-ring seal (21, fig.9) for sealingly engaging the fluid passages 18 of adjacent end fittings. In use, the end fittings are interconnected to provide fluid flow paths without the need for a manifold, where any number of solar collector tubes may be connected in this way. |
