PORTABLE SOLAR PANEL FOR HEATING AIR
A solar heater comprises one or more portable panels for collecting heat from the sun and providing it to a space to be heated. The panels include collector plates within a double glazed frame. The collector plate is formed of black corrugated steel, and heats up quickly in the sun. A blower blows air into an input manifold and across the collector plate, perpendicular to the corrugations, and the heated air exits via an output manifold. A sensor controls when the blower operates.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to portable panels for heating forced air with solar radiation.
2. Description of the Related Art
Solar energy is very effective for heating living and working spaces. Passive solar heating, such as sun falling on a roof or window, will heat the space inside. But to effectively heat the inside space, at selected times, apparatus is required.
Active solar heating systems use electrical or mechanical equipment to increase the amount of usable solar heat provided to the space to be heated (generally called living space, although it includes garages and offices and the like). For example, fans might deliver heated air to the living space.
Photovoltaic array may also be used for heating, but converting sunlight into electricity and then back to heat is inefficient. However, the ability to store the energy in a battery is an advantage.
A need remains in the art for improved active solar heating panels for providing heat to a living space.
SUMMARYAn object of the present invention is to provide active solar heating panels for providing heat to a living space. Individual solar heating panels according to the present invention are generally portable, and are configurable into arrays.
Each solar panel includes a frame with a panel backing for retaining a collector sheet and glazing to allow the sun to reach the top surface of the collector. The collector sheet is generally parallel to the backing and the top layer, and spaced apart from each.
The frame includes side walls. An input side wall includes air holes for air to enter the panel, and an output side wall includes air holes for air to exit the panel. The collector plate bisects the input and output air holes such that air travels over both the top surface and the bottom surface of the collector plate.
As a feature, the collector plate may be textured to increase turbulent airflow. The collector plate is generally black and may comprise corrugated steel.
The glazing may include an acrylic glass (such as Plexiglas®) outer layer and a regular window glass inner layer (e.g. silicate glass). The acrylic glass protects the glass from the elements, while the window glass is cheaper and stands up to the high internal temperatures of the panel better. Alternatively, the outer layer could comprise safety glass or tempered glass or the like.
The frame may be composed of composite and include grooves for holding the collector sheet and glazing layers in place.
The solar panels are designed to be configured into arrays. Straight-through panels have air holes on opposing sides, while corner panels have air holes on adjacent sides.
Air is forced into air holes in an entrance panel on one side of the array, travels through each panel in turn, and exits through air holes in an exit panel.
Equipment for forcing air through the array may include a fan, input and output air manifolds, and tubing. A temperature sensor monitors air leaving a panel or array and provides data to a control unit, which controls the fan according to the data. Power to the fan might be provided via an electrical outlet, a battery, a photovoltaic cell, or the like.
The following reference numbers are used in the figures:
Corrugated sheet 110 is preferably generally centered with respect to air holes 104, so that air flows over and under sheet 110. The corrugations run perpendicular to the airflow to cause turbulent airflow and increase heat transfer.
In a preferred embodiment, each panel 100 is portable, i.e. compact and light enough to be carried and installed by a single person. For example, Panel 100 is two feet square and 3 inches thick. It weighs about 20 pounds. Frame 102 is formed of a light tough material such as the weatherproof composite used for decking. The frame is ¾ inch thick. Air holes 104 are 1¼ inch in diameter. Collector plate 110 is corrugated steel with 1¼ inch corrugations, and is painted black on the top surface (facing the glazing). Backing 112 is tempered masonite, ⅛ inch thick.
Panels 100 are tough and portable. Panels manufactured as described above have been tested to temperatures above real world conditions, intense rain and snow, and direct sunlight without failures. Panels dropped from heights of less than 6 feet generally have unharmed frames, though the window glass layer breaks around 25% of the time (the broken glass was contained within the panel structure in these cases).
Those skilled in the art will appreciate that panels 100, 140 may be connected in various combinations as heating requirements dictate and space allows. For example, several straight-through panels 100 may be connected in a row where a long narrow space is available. A heater may be formed of a single panel (see
The storage modules could be stacked in a basement, assembled outside along a wall, or even placed on the uneven ground under a mobile home.
Panel arrays may be mounted on any sunny wall or roof or on a rack. Panels may be arrayed around a window or along the skirting of a mobile home. Each array includes an input manifold 132, connected to blower 150, and an exit manifold 134 for providing heated air 160 to the space to be heated, for example via a flexible duct (not shown). Panels 100, 130 may be adjacent to each other as shown in
Blower 150 may be mounted in a box designed to insert into a window much like a standard window air conditioner. It could mount horizontally on the sill of a double or single hung window, or vertically in a slider. It could also be installed in an opening cut into the exterior wall if the user so desires. If the user wants to cut openings in the roof to run the ducts through, blower 150 could even be mounted on an interior wall anywhere in the building. Blower 150 might comprise a 120 volt squirrel cage model which plugs into any interior outlet. An optional 12 volt DC model is powered by a photovoltaic panel (not shown). This would allow use of the system anywhere in the world and when a power outage occurs as long as it is exposed to sunlight. The blower moves up to 250 CFM of air and is controlled by a variable speed switch. Sensor 172 near or within discharge manifold 134 of heater 100 prevents heated air 160 from entering the space to be heated when the temperature 174 in heater 100 is lower than the current temperature 176 of that space. In one embodiment, sensor 172 prevents fan 150 from running if the temperature of the air in heater 100 falls below 95° F. As a feature, a bypass switch may be provided so the owner can draw cooler air if desired.
It will be appreciated by one skilled in the art that there are many possible variations on these designs that fall within the scope of the present invention.
Claims
1. An active solar heating panel comprising:
- a frame having sides, a top, and a bottom;
- backing attached at the bottom of the frame;
- glazing attached at the top of the frame;
- air holes formed in two sides of the frame; and
- a collector sheet attached between the backing and the glazing, the collector sheet positioned to divide the air holes.
2. The panel of claim 1 wherein the collector sheet is textured to increase turbulent air flow.
3. The panel of claim 2 wherein the collector sheet is corrugated.
4. The panel of claim 3 wherein the collector sheet corrugations run generally perpendicular to airflow through the panel.
5. The panel of claim 1 wherein the glazing comprises an upper acrylic glass layer and a lower silicate glass layer.
6. The panel of claim 5 wherein the sides include grooves holding the collector sheet and the glazing in place.
7. An active solar array comprising:
- detachable solar panels including— a frame having sides, a top, and a bottom; backing attached at the bottom of the frame; glazing attached at the top of the frame; input air holes formed in one side of the frame and exit holes formed in another side of the frame; and a collector sheet attached between the backing and the glazing, the collector sheet positioned to divide the air holes, the collector sheet textured to increase turbulent airflow;
- wherein the input air holes of an input panel are positioned to form an input to the array, the exit air holes of an output panel are positioned to form an output to the array, and wherein the panels are arranged such that the exit air holes of each panel except the output panel are aligned to the input air holes of an adjacent panel.
8. The array of claim 7 further comprising a fan for providing input air to the input holes of the input panel.
9. The array of claim 8 further comprising a duct connected at the exit holes of the output panel for removing air from the array and providing it to a living space.
10. The array of claim 9 further comprising:
- a temperature monitor for measuring temperature near the exit holes of the output panel; and
- control circuitry for controlling the fan based upon the measured temperature near the exit holes of the output panel.
11. The array of claim 10 further comprising a living space thermometer for measuring the temperature within the living space and wherein the control circuitry further controls the fan based upon the temperature within the living space.
12. The array of claim 10 further comprising:
- a storage module containing material that stores heat;
- storage ducting to provide air from the exit holes of the output panel to the storage module; and
- a damper for selectively directing air to the storage module;
- wherein the control circuitry further controls the damper.
13. A method for providing heated air to a living space comprising the steps of:
- providing a first active solar panel including— a frame having sides, a top, and a bottom; backing attached at the bottom of the frame; glazing attached at the top of the frame; input air holes formed in one side of the frame and exit air holes formed in another side of the frame; and a collector sheet attached between the backing and the glazing, the collector sheet positioned to divide the air holes;
- positioning the panel such that the sun shines through the glazing onto the collector sheet;
- providing airflow into the input air holes to flow over and under the collector sheet and exit the exit air holes;
- supplying air flow from the output air holes to the living space;
- monitoring air temperature near the exit air holes; and
- controlling the air flow provided according to the monitored temperature.
14. The method of claim 14 further comprising the step of:
- connecting a second active solar panel to the first such that the exit air holes of the first connect to the input air holes of the second.
15. The method of claim 13 further comprising the step of:
- providing air from the exit holes to a living space.
16. The method of claim 15 further comprising the step of measuring the temperature within a living space and also controlling the air flow based upon the temperature within the living space.
17. The method of claim 16 further comprising the steps of selectively directing air flow from the exit holes to a storage module and storing heat within the storage module.
18. The method of claim 17 further comprising the step of directing air flow from the storage module to the living space.
19. The method of claim 13, further including the step of corrugating the collector sheet.
Type: Application
Filed: Apr 22, 2011
Publication Date: Nov 3, 2011
Inventor: Gary L. DuChateau (Loveland, CO)
Application Number: 13/092,613
International Classification: F24J 2/46 (20060101);