| 摘要 |
A solar collector comprises a heat pipe tube 3 having a radiation absorbing plate 12 for absorbing solar radiation and an elongate tube 13 for containing a heat transfer medium. The elongate tube has an evaporator section in thermal contact with the radiation absorbing plate and a condenser section (16, fig.1) remote from the radiation absorbing plate. The radiation absorbing plate and the evaporator section are enclosed within an evacuated transparent enclosure 10, where the condenser section is located outside the transparent enclosure. The solar collector further comprises an end fitting 17 for connecting with a corresponding end fitting of an adjacent heat pipe tube to permit passage of fluid between the end fittings without requiring a separate manifold. The end fitting comprises a thermal pocket 25 receiving the condenser section of the heat pipe, the thermal pocket being sealed against fluid ingress. The end fitting may be provided with a circumferential groove or recess for receiving an O-ring seal (22, fig.12). In use, the pocket is sealed against ingress of fluid flowing through the end fitting such that a solar collector heat pipe tube can be removed and replaced in an array without affecting the operation of other tubes. |
