Thermal Heating System
The system contains a plurality of elongated conduit. A height dimension of the elongated conduit is substantially less than a width dimension of the elongated conduit. A plurality of connecting elements is connected between the elongated conduits establishing a fluid path through the elongated conduit. A fluid is captured within the elongated conduit.
This application claims priority to copending U.S. Provisional Application entitled, “Thermal Solar Collector,” having Ser. No. 61/008,179, filed Dec. 18, 2007, which is entirely incorporated herein by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention is generally related to a thermal heating system and more particularly is related to a thermal heating system partly installed non-disruptively beneath traditional shingles of a roof.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONEnvironmental concerns and the depletion of non-renewable energy resources, particularly fossil fuels, have created an on-going need for viable alternative energy sources. Solar energy has long been considered an ideal alternative energy source. Using radiation from the sun to generate heat or other forms of energy is not harmful to the environment and provides a seemingly unlimited supply of energy. Further, any individual or business may use solar energy by installing solar panels on residential and non-residential buildings. The energy is available independent from any utility service provider. Various types of solar collector panels have been designed to maximize the efficient conversion of solar radiation for heating and other forms of energy.
Despite these advantages, however, the use of existing solar energy systems has been limited. Solar collection panels, typically used to collect and provide solar energy, are expensive and are often difficult to install. Further, incorporating solar energy into a building using current technology often requires significant structural changes to the building. Roofs need to be built out or significantly modified to support many thermal energy conversion systems. Many thermal energy conversion systems also diminish the aesthetic appeal of a roof. As a result of the expense, complexity of design, and appearance related to installation of solar collection panels, many individuals have opted to continue using conventional energy sources rather than solar energy.
Thus, a heretofore unaddressed need exists in the industry to address the aforementioned deficiencies and inadequacies.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONEmbodiments of the present invention provide a system and method for collecting thermal energy. Briefly described, in architecture, one embodiment of the system, among others, can be implemented as follows. The system contains a plurality of elongated conduit. A height dimension of the elongated conduit is substantially less than a width dimension of the elongated conduit. A plurality of connecting elements is connected between the elongated conduits establishing a fluid path through the elongated conduit. A fluid is captured within the elongated conduit.
The present invention can also be viewed as providing methods for collecting thermal energy. In this regard, one embodiment of such a method, among others, can be broadly summarized by the following steps: mounting a plurality of elongated conduit along a building structure, wherein a height dimension of the elongated conduit is substantially less than a width dimension of the elongated conduit; connecting the plurality of the elongated conduit to establish a fluid path through the elongated conduit; and pumping a fluid along the fluid path.
Other systems, methods, features, and advantages of the present invention will be or become apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the following drawings and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional systems, methods, features, and advantages be included within this description, be within the scope of the present invention, and be protected by the accompanying claims.
Many aspects of the invention can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present invention. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.
As can be seen in
As can be viewed in the various illustrations, the connection elements 14 may be arranged to connect with the elongated conduit 12 at an approximate right angle. Significant water flow directed at a side of the elongated conduit 12 may create focused wear on the elongated conduit 12 proximate to a connection point, dependent on the material used to form the elongated conduit 12.
FIG. S is an illustration of a portion of the cross-sectional side view of the thermal energy collection system 10 shown in
As shown in
As is shown by block 202, a plurality of elongated conduit 12 are mounted along a building structure, wherein a height dimension of the elongated conduit 12 is substantially less than a width dimension of the elongated conduit 12. The plurality of the elongated conduit 12 is connected to establish a fluid path through the elongated conduit 12 (block 204). A fluid is pumped along the fluid path (block 206).
The fluid may be used to collect heat by mounting the elongated conduit 12 in a place that will be heated, for instance, by solar energy. The fluid may also be used to heat an area by mounting the elongated conduit 12 in a place to distribute heat, such as within a floor. Mounting may be performed by mounting relatively flat straps about one side of the elongated conduit 12 and securing the flat straps 28 on either side of the elongated conduit 12 to a building structure. A connector nozzle 34 may be mounted at either end of an elongated conduit 12 at an angle approximately perpendicular to the elongated conduit 12 to feed fluid into and draw fluid from the elongated conduit 12.
It should be emphasized that the above-described embodiments of the present invention, particularly, any “preferred” embodiments, are merely possible examples of implementations, merely set forth for a clear understanding of the principles of the invention. Many variations and modifications may be made to the above-described embodiments of the invention without departing substantially from the spirit and principles of the invention. All such modifications and variations are intended to be included herein within the scope of this disclosure and the present invention and protected by the following claims.
Claims
1. A system for collecting thermal energy, the system comprising:
- a plurality of elongated conduit, wherein a height dimension of the elongated conduit is substantially less than a width dimension of the elongated conduit;
- a plurality of connecting elements between the elongated conduit establishing a fluid path through the elongated conduit; and
- a fluid captured within the elongated conduit.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein the height dimension of the elongated conduit is approximately less than 0.25 inches.
3. The system of claim 1, wherein the elongated conduit are mounted to a top of a structure approximately immediately beneath a plurality of shingles.
4. The system of claim 1, wherein the elongated conduit further comprises a pair of wings formed on opposite sides of the elongated conduit, thereby extending a width dimension of the elongated conduit.
5. The system of claim 1, further comprising:
- an opening formed in an underside of at least one of the elongated conduits; and
- a connector mounted to the elongated conduit at the opening, wherein the connector approximately forms a right angle with the elongated conduit.
6. The system of claim 5, further comprising a deflector plate formed at least partially within the elongated conduit proximate to the opening.
7. The system of claim 1, wherein the height dimension of the elongated conduit is approximately less than 0.2 inches and the width dimension is at least approximately 1 inch.
8. The system of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of approximately flat support straps mounted about the plurality of elongated conduit and connected to a building structure.
9. The system of claim 1, wherein the elongated conduit are mounted to a side of a structure approximately immediately behind a plurality of siding panels.
10. The system of claim 1, wherein the elongated conduit are mounted approximately immediately beneath a flooring structure.
11. A method of collecting thermal energy, said method comprising the steps of:
- mounting a plurality of elongated conduit along a building structure, wherein a height dimension of the elongated conduit is substantially less than a width dimension of the elongated conduit;
- connecting the plurality of the elongated conduit to establish a fluid path through the elongated conduit; and
- pumping a fluid along the fluid path.
12. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of mounting the plurality of elongated conduit along the building structure further comprises mounting the plurality of elongated conduit along the building structure with a plurality of approximately flat support straps.
13. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of mounting a plurality of shingles along one side of the elongated conduit.
14. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of mounting a plurality of vinyl siding panels along one side of the elongated conduit.
15. The method of claim 11, further comprising the steps of:
- collecting solar heat with a pair of thermally conductive wings formed along opposing sides of the elongated conduit; and
- thermally transferring the collected solar heat to the fluid.
16. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of mounting a fluid connector to the elongated conduit at an approximately perpendicular angle to the elongated conduit.
17. The method of claim 16, further comprising the step of mounting a fluid deflector within the elongated conduit proximate to the fluid connector.
18. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of mounting an underlayer between the building structure and the elongated conduit thereby protecting the elongated conduit from an abrasive exterior to the building structure.
Type: Application
Filed: Nov 25, 2008
Publication Date: Jun 18, 2009
Inventor: Mark W. Woodman (Nottingham, NH)
Application Number: 12/277,846
International Classification: E04D 13/18 (20060101); F24J 2/24 (20060101); F24J 2/00 (20060101);