Mini-channel tube solar collector

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10352590-B2
Application number	US-201615095865-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 11, 2016
Priority date	Jul 22, 2008
Publication date	Jul 16, 2019
Grant date	Jul 16, 2019

Abstract

A solar collector device is provided. The solar collector device includes an evacuated tube and a mini-channel tube mounted within the evacuated tube, the mini-channel tube comprising a first plurality of ports for inflow of a heat-transfer fluid and a second plurality of ports for outflow of the heat-transfer fluid to a heat exchange system. The mini-channel tube may have a hydraulic diameter in a range of approximately 3 millimeters to approximately 200 micrometers. The mini-channel tube may have a hydraulic diameter in a range of approximately 200 micrometers to approximately 10 micrometers.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A solar collector comprising:
an evacuated enclosure, which is at least partially transparent to solar radiation;
an input port for an inflow of a heat-transfer fluid;
an output port for an outflow of the heat transfer fluid;
an end cap comprising a mixing chamber; and
an absorber within the evacuated enclosure and extending between a distal end and a proximal end, comprising:
a plurality of inflow mini-channels each extending between a respective inflow end in fluid communication with the input port and a respective outflow end in fluid communication with the mixing chamber,
a plurality of outflow mini-channels each extending between a respective inflow end in fluid communication with the mixing chamber, and a respective outflow end in fluid communication with the output port, and
a hollow tube, the hollow tube comprising an outer wall and an inner wall, wherein the plurality of inflow mini-channels and the plurality of outflow mini-channels are within the hollow tube between the inner wall and the outer wall;

wherein the end cap receives the distal end of the absorber and comprises:
an outer cap in fluid-tight connection with the outside wall of the hollow tube, and
an inner plug in fluid-tight connection with the inside wall of the hollow tube; and

wherein the mixing chamber comprises a volume defined between the outer cap and the inner plug.

2. The solar collector of claim 1 , wherein:
the respective inflow ends of the plurality of inflow mini channels and the respective outflow ends of the plurality of outflow mini channels are located at the proximal end of the tube; and
the respective outflow ends of the plurality of inflow mini channels and the respective inflow ends of the plurality of outflow mini channels are located at the proximal end of the tube.

3. The solar collector of claim 1 , wherein the absorber comprises:
a first section comprising the plurality of inflow mini channels: and a
second section comprising the plurality of outflow mini-channels;
wherein the first and second sections do not contact each other; and
wherein the end cap comprises a first opening for receiving in fluid-tight connection a distal end of the first section, and a second opening for receiving in fluid-tight connection a distal end of the second section.

4. The solar collector of claim 3 , comprising a fluid input connection comprising:
an opening which receives the proximal end of the first section in fluid-tight connection; and
a passage in fluid communication with the input port and the respective inflow ends of the plurality of inflow mini channels, such that fluid input into the input port will flow through the passage into the inflow ends of the plurality of inflow mini channels.

5. The solar collector of claim 4 , comprising a fluid output connection comprising:
an opening which receives the proximal end of the second section in fluid-tight connection; and
a passage in fluid communication with the output port and the respective outflow ends of the plurality of outflow mini channels, such that fluid from the respective outflow ends will flow through the passage into the output port.

6. The solar collector of claim 4 wherein the fluid input connection and the fluid output connection are thermally isolated from each other.

7. The solar collector of claim 1 , wherein
the hollow tube is disposed about a longitudinal axis extending between the distal end to the proximal end,
the tube comprises a pair of longitudinal slits extending from the proximal end to a point proximal the distal end to define first and second prongs of the tube;
the plurality of inflow mini-channels extend along the first prong to the respective inflow ends of the plurality of inflow mini-channels located at a proximal end of the first prong, and
the plurality of outflow mini-channels extend along the second prong to the respective outflow ends of the plurality of outflow mini channels at a proximal end of the second prong.

8. The solar collector of claim 1 , wherein the tube is substantially cylindrical, and the outer cap and inner plug comprise nested hemispheres.

9. The solar collector of claim 1 , wherein the tube is substantially cylindrical the outer cap and inner plug each comprise nested cylinders.

10. The solar collector of claim 7 , comprising a fluid input connection comprising:
an opening for receiving in fluid-tight connection the proximal end of the first prong, said end comprising the respective inflow ends of the plurality of inflow mini channels; and
a passage in fluid communication with the input port and the respective inflow ends of the plurality of inflow mini channels, such that fluid input into the input port will flow through the passage into the respective inflow ends of the plurality of inflow mini channels.

11. The solar collector of claim 10 , comprising a fluid output connection comprising:
an opening for receiving in fluid-tight connection the proximal end of the second prong, said end comprising the respective outflow ends of the plurality of outflow mini channels; and
a passage in fluid communication with the output port and the respective outflow ends of the plurality of outflow mini channels, such that fluid from the respective outflow ends will flow through the passage into the output port.

12. The solar collector of claim 11 , wherein the fluid input connection comprises a substantially half cylindrical drum comprising a base surface and a curved radial surface, each surface extending between front and back end faces, wherein the input port is mounted the front end face, the opening for receiving the proximal end of the first prong us located on the back end face, and the passage in fluid communication with the input port and the respective inflow ends of the plurality of inflow mini channels is located within the drum.

13. The solar collector of claim 10 , wherein the fluid output connection comprises a substantially half cylindrical drum comprising a base surface and a curved radial surface, each extending between front and back end faces, wherein the input port is mounted to the front end face, the opening for receiving the proximal end of the first prong is located on the back end face, and the passage in fluid communication with the output port and the respective outflow ends of the plurality of inflow mini channels is located within the drum.

14. The solar collector of claim 13 , wherein the base surface of the fluid output connection is located proximal to and facing the base surface of the fluid input connection.

15. The solar collector of claim 14 , wherein the enclosure comprises a hollow tube having a curved inner surface, and wherein the curved radial surfaces of the fluid input and output connections proximal to and facing the inner surface of the enclosure.

16. The solar collector of claim 7 , further comprising one or more supports extending between the first and second prongs and located within one of the longitudinal slits distal the proximal end of the absorber.

17. The solar collector of claim 7 , further comprising one or more longitudinal slits extending from the distal end of the tube, wherein
the tube comprises another pair of longitudinal slits extending from the distal end to a point distal the proximal end to define third and fourth prongs of the tube, the
plurality of inflow mini-channels extend along the third prong to the respective outflow ends of the plurality of inflow mini-channels located at a distal end of the third prong, and
the plurality of outflow mini-channels extend alon

Assignees

• Univ California

Inventors

• Diaz Gerardo C
• Sharma Neeraj

Classifications

• Y10T29/49956

  Riveting · CPC title

• F24S10/75

  with enlarged surfaces, e.g. with protrusions or corrugations (collectors comprising porous material or permeable masses directly contacting the working fluids F24S10/80) · CPC title

• F24S10/502

  having conduits formed by paired plates and internal partition means · CPC title

• F24S80/30

  Arrangements for connecting the fluid circuits of solar collectors with each other or with other components, e.g. pipe connections; Fluid distributing means, e.g. headers · CPC title

• Y10T29/49826

  Assembling or joining · CPC title