Localized solar collectors

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9459024-B2
Application number	US-201414479307-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 6, 2014
Priority date	Sep 6, 2013
Publication date	Oct 4, 2016
Grant date	Oct 4, 2016

Abstract

A localized heating structure, and method of forming same, for use in solar systems includes a thermally insulating layer having interconnected pores, a density of less than about 3000 kg/m 3 , and a hydrophilic surface, and an expanded carbon structure adjacent to the thermally insulating layer. The expanded carbon structure has a porosity of greater than about 80% and a hydrophilic surface.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A localized heating structure for use in solar systems, the structure comprising:
a thermally insulating layer having interconnected pores, a density of less than about 3000 kg/m 3 , and a hydrophilic surface;
an expanded carbon structure adjacent to the thermally insulating layer, the expanded carbon structure having a porosity of greater than about 80% and a hydrophilic surface; and
an aerogel layer adjacent to the expanded carbon structure so that the expanded carbon structure is between the aerogel layer and the thermally insulating layer.

2. The localized heating structure of claim 1 , wherein the expanded carbon structure is an expanded graphite layer.

3. The localized heating structure of claim 1 , wherein the thermally insulating layer has a thermal conductivity of less than about 10 W/(mK).

4. The localized heating structure of claim 1 , wherein the thermally insulating layer comprises carbon foam.

5. The localized heating structure of claim 1 , wherein the thermally insulating layer comprises a silica aerogel.

6. The localized heating structure of claim 1 , wherein the thermally insulating layer has a thickness of less than about 20 cm.

7. The localized heating structure of claim 1 , wherein the pores of the thermally insulating layer have an average diameter of about 300-600 μm.

8. The localized heating structure of claim 1 , wherein the expanded carbon structure has a thickness of less than about 10 cm.

9. The localized heating structure of claim 1 , wherein the aerogel layer comprises a silica aerogel and the thermally insulating layer comprises a silica aerogel.

10. A method of heating fluid for use in solar systems, the method comprising:
providing the localized heating structure of claim 1 ; and
providing an expanded carbon structure adjacent to the thermally insulating layer, the placing the localized heating structure on the fluid so that the thermally insulating layer is adjacent to the fluid.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the expanded carbon structure is an expanded graphite layer.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the thermally insulating layer has a thermal conductivity of less than about 10 W/(mK).

13. The method of claim 10 , wherein the thermally insulating layer comprises carbon foam or a silica aerogel.

14. The method of claim 10 , wherein the thermally insulating layer has a thickness of less than about 20 cm.

15. The method of claim 10 , wherein the pores of the thermally insulating layer have an average diameter of about 300-600 μm.

16. The method of claim 10 , wherein the expanded carbon structure has a thickness of less than about 10 cm.

17. The method of claim 10 , wherein the aerogel layer comprises a silica aerogel and the thermally insulating layer comprises a silica aerogel.

Assignees

• Massachusetts Inst Technology

Inventors

• Ghasemi Hadi
• Marconnet Amy Marie
• Chen Gang
• Ni George Wei

Classifications

• Y10T428/249969

  Of silicon-containing material [e.g., glass, etc.] · CPC title

• C08J2383/02

  Polysilicates · CPC title

• F24S90/00

  Solar heat systems not otherwise provided for · CPC title

• Y10T428/249967

  Inorganic matrix in void-containing component · CPC title

• F24S80/56

  characterised by means for preventing heat loss · CPC title