摘要 |
A collector core (104) for a solar water-heating-system (100) includes a plurality of heat-absorbing pipes (108) each of which surrounds a cooler-water return-pipe (116). The heating-pipes (108) may connect directly to an insulated hot-water storage-tank (104) from which cooler water descends through the return-pipes (116) into the heating-pipes (108). Upon reaching the end of the return-pipes (116), the cooler water flows outward into the space between the surrounding heating-pipes (108) and the inner return-pipes (116). Upon warming, water between the two pipes (108, 116) rises upward back to the hot-water storage-tank (104) thus completing the thermosyphon flow cycle. Preferably, the inner return-pipe (116) is made of polyvinyl chloride ("PVC"), polybutelene ("PB"), or other compressible material which permits collector core (106) operation both in freezing and non-freezing environments. Alternatively, the collector core (106) may be added to an existing solar water-heating panel (102') to improve its operation.
|