Solar Energy Collection Device for Tiled Roofs, and a Method for Mounting the Same
The device part of the embodiment over the tiles (14) with wide openings(15) which mainly involves, openings (15) in which are houses both irregular bodies (1-13), of transparent glass, hermetically closed and vacuum filled, which establish surface continuity through the upper face with the rest of the tile (14) and in whose interior are established parabolic cylinder reflectors (2-3) which conduct solar radiation to a concentration funnel (5) which defines a semi-cylindrical channel and adapting to the heat transfer tube (6), which rests over a support cradle (7) which in turn is pressed against aforementioned tube (6) by a bellows lifting device (16), also keeping the support cradle (7) and irregular bodies (1) fixed using anchor elements (8). Thus simple mounting of the collection devices is achieved by a simple pressure coupling system, achieving close contact with the heat transfer tubes which remain hidden and protected below the tiles.
The present invention relates to a solar energy collection device, which makes a beneficial change to the tiles of an existing roof or by making a roof that comprises them, either curved or mixed, in such a way that said tiles, besides fulfilling their classic function as covering elements against the effects of the wind and weather, particularly against rainwater, act as solar energy collection devices to heat a thermal transmission fluid.
The purpose of the invention is to achieve a high performance energy installation that does not alter the aesthetic configuration of the roof on which it is incorporated, both in relation to the actual means of collection and particularly the means of energy transmission.
The invention also concerns the particularly suitable mounting procedure of the different elements that take part in the installation of this heat transfer system under the tiles, completely protecting this latter.
The invention, therefore, is situated in the industrial setting of manufacturing devices and equipment for solar energy collection at a domestic level or similar and, as a result, associated to the mechanical or artisan tile manufacture industry.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONAs is currently known and to collect solar energy at a domestic level, solar panels placed on sloping roofs are generally used. These panels incorporate a metal frame by which they are fixed to the roof, usually raised, with visible and uncovered liquid circulation tubes, sometimes even including the hot water cylinder, therefore it is necessary to make holes in the tiles and the rest of the roof to be able to connect the aforementioned tubing with the interior circuit.
This brings with it very considerable damage to the aesthetics of the architectural assembly over which the thermal solar panels are mounted, particularly when, as often happens, the surface and the panel colour and its visible accessories have absolutely nothing to do with the characteristics of the existing roof, particularly when it is a roof based on curved or mixed tiles, so common particularly in areas where solar radiation is abundant as well those situated below latitude 50° north.
To this aesthetic problem also has to be added the problems of corrosion that occur in the elements of these types of panels in the open air when the installations are situated near a marine environment.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTIONThe invention fully satisfactorily resolves the previously explained problem, and from this it converts a traditional roof composed of curved or mixed conventional tiles into a similar and aesthetic configured surface, but which incorporates a device composed of different solar energy collection modules.
Thus, the device comprises the following basic elements:
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- A four sided irregular body with a parabolic cylinder able to be attached to the vacuum filled receiver tiles in their interior space.
- A means of returning and concentrating the solar radiation.
- A heat exchanger adapted to the lower length of the energy collection device.
- A heat transfer fluid channelling tube that allows it to be installed without connection components below the tiles.
- A support cradle which facilitates the hermetic anchor of the heat exchanger to the heat transfer tube achieving optimum thermal use.
Additionally and depending on the type of roof that it is intended to adapt, it will alternatively contain one of the following elements:
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- A parabolic cylinder reflector assembly in a lower position and a parabolic cylinder assembly in an upper position that returns the radiation in a cone concentrator.
- Or a parabolic cylinder reflector assembly in a lower position and an absorbent concentrator in the shape of an corrugated fin, together with the parabolic cylinder in an upper position.
For this each tile is fitted with an opening or window in its curved sector in which a collection device itself is attached, comprising a body which establishes upper surface continuity with the external face of the tile and which occupies the centre of the same. Inside the aforementioned transparent body two parabolic reflectors in symmetrical positions are situated on the lower end of its wall. Opposite these and centrally located on the focal line also includes a radiation return parabolic cylinder reflector over some concentrator parabolic cylinder laminates connected to the heat exchanger that hermetically receives the heat transfer tube which is situated below all the tiles of an alignment.
A support cradle of the same length as the body of each device is positioned below the aforementioned tube, with the purpose of positioning and hermetically sealing the aforementioned tube. This cradle positioned over the bellows lifting device allows in the first place to fasten the transparent body by means of spring clips attached to the aforementioned body and which are built in to the side plug holes of the cradle and which in a second advantageous function, ensure the hermetic and heat sealing of the heat transfer tube to the heat exchanger.
The bellows lifting device provided with its positioning slots or the means (special tool) of aligning and freeing the leaf spring, in its variation they allow, by downward manual pressure applied on the irregular transparent body, this to be connected to the support cradle hermetically sealing the heat transfer tube. This installation procedure similarly offers the greater advantage of achieving a solid assembly between the three elements that make up the tile, the irregular transparent body and the heat transfer tube, being able in this way to adequately support the thermal expansions of the roof in its assembly.
The irregular transparent body is provided with a connexion for a heat sensor which transmits the recorded temperatures to the device that generally controls the heat exchanger and the hot water distribution system.
In accordance with an alternative embodiment of the invention, the irregular and closed body instead of being integrated in the tile is independent of this latter, similarly poking through the opening of the aforementioned tile, which makes it unnecessary to make a perfect adjustment over this latter, having been anticipated that to maintain the water tightness of the roof the tile opening is closed with a transparent dome, physically independent of aforementioned closed body.
It has also been anticipated that the tube for transporting the heat transfer fluid passes through the inside part of the aforementioned hermetic body, improving its arrangement.
In this alternative embodiment, from the ends of the closed body emerge pairs of support tracks for fixing the elastic clips through which the fixing of the body with the interior components to the support cradle is carried out and the fixing to the wooden battens or concrete base over which the tile sits.
It is also possible to substitute the aforementioned reflectors, for a shaped lamina covered with a selective coating for absorbing heat, soldered to the corresponding heat exchanger, in which the heat transfer tube is built in lengthwise, enclosed within the transfer chamber, and aligned and hermetically sealed at its ends with the cradle.
Lastly, it has also been foreseen that the closed body rests on the corresponding cradle supported by a sheet adapted to its lower cylindrical half, based on a reflecting and isolating compound to return the rays to the absorbent sheets and in fact to return and retain the heat for its maximum use.
To complete the description that is now being made and with the purpose of helping to better understand the characteristics of the invention, in accordance with a preferred practical embodiment example of the same, is attached as an integral part of said description, a set of figures in which for illustrative purposes but not limited to it, the following has been represented:
FIG. 1.—Shows a cross-sectional detail of the body or solar energy collection module destined to be integrated into a tile, which takes part in the device of the invention.
FIG. 2.—Shows, also according to a cross-sectional schematic representation, a pair of mixed tiles, duly fastened together, to one of which appears opposite the corresponding body or solar collection module, while the other appears duly mounted over the aforementioned module.
FIG. 3.—Shows a detail in side elevation and in a lengthwise section of the mounted assembly represented in
FIG. 4.—Shows a side elevation view and in a lengthwise section of an assembly similar to that in
FIG. 8,—Shows a schematic representation plan view and cross-section of the special tool or the means that are an integral part of the procedure for fixing the irregular transparent body to the support cradle.
FIG. 9.—Shows a schematic detail in plan view of several tiles positioned with reference to
FIG. 10.—Shows, a representation similar to that of
FIG. 11.—Shows, according to a representation similar to that of
FIG. 12.—Shows a perspective blow-up view of the glass tube that passes through the collector with the heat exchanger and the support cradle and alignment, of the previous figure.
FIG. 13.—Shows the assembly of
FIG. 14.—Shows a side elevation view of the assembly represented in
FIG. 15.—Shows another side elevation view of the assembly of
FIGS. 16 and 17.—Show representations similar to those of
FIG. 18.—Shows on a sloped roof another view in a side elevation of a series of collectors of the assembly in
FIG. 19.—Shows, finally, a detail of two types of tiles to which this alternative embodiment of the invention is applicable.
On looking at the figures described and in particular
Anchored on both sided of the lower faces of the irregular body (1) are situated spring clips (8) which are positioned to be easily and simply fastened or fixed by pressure into the plug holes foreseen for this purpose in a support cradle (7).
This support cradle (7) serves to position and hermetically fix a heat transfer tube (6) against an existing semi-cylindrical hole in the heat exchanger (5), relying for this purpose on the support cradle (7) with a cavity (11) also semi-cylindrical, which completes that which has just been mentioned, to tightly hold the heat transfer tube (6). The cradle support (7) is also provided with plug holes (10) on its side edges for the spring clips (8) fixed to the body (1), and lengthwise grooves on its base (12) to adjust a bellows lifting device (16) destined to be situated below the tiles (14) and which ensures that the heat transfer tube (6) remains perfectly fitted in its cavity (11).
In
When it is a mixed tile, as in the case of
The device shown in a longitudinal section, as is represented in
A way of carrying out the procedure appears in
In the alternative embodiment of the device shown in
In
The parabolic cylindrical geometrical figures of the sides of the irregular body (now 23B) are shown in the longitudinal section in
Putting into operation uses a special mechanical positioning means or tool (36), as shown in
In accordance with the structure described any expert in the art can adapt the positioning device for the working of the invention depending on the type of roof surface support, and depending on the existing tile, or to install the device model which will be used for this embodiment. Also, it has to be understood that the invention is not limited to the embodiment described and there many advantageous adaptations that can be added to these latter ones without being outside the limits of the present invention.
For example, it can be adapted to the configuration and geometric form of the device and reverse the illustrated internal and external elements to which they are connected, to make a device that incorporates a combination of two or more support tiles or fix in as series of support tiles adapting the shape and the length of the device of the invention, without being outside the limits of the invention.
As explained previously, an alternative embodiment of the device appears in
The hermetic body (101) in its lower parabolic cylindrical side is covered by a laminate (110) based on a compound, including a radiation reflector to return the rays and an isolating felt to prevent heat losses, this assembly being supported and aligned on a support cradle (111), this latter seated on a cross-section (113) with levelling, aligning and support functions of the hermetic tube (101).
The fixing of these elements is carried out using a pair of supports (114) which protrude from the ends of the hermetic body (101) and over which it is destined to support a spring clip (115) with elastic binding, configured in a “U” shape (116),to be fitted into the lateral grooves of the support cradle (111), and with fixing bolts (117) that, along with the screws (118), to enable to regulate or adjust the height of the assembly, as is particularly observed in
As is also inferred from looking at
In accordance with the alternative embodiment of
As explained previously, in this embodiment and apart from the modifications just mentioned, it keeps the same structure as in the embodiment of
Claims
1. A solar energy collection device applicable to existing or by making tiled roofs, characterised because starting from a wide opening (15-102), made in tiles, whether it is mixed, flat-curved tiles (14-103), or it is curved tiles (37), materialises in an irregular body hole (1-23-101), closed hermetically, of transparent, tinted or smoked glass and vacuum filled, reliable and dimensionally adequate to be tightly fastened to the opening (15-102) of the tile, aforementioned body being complemented with a heat transfer tube (6-29-109), with a heat exchanger (5-28-105) coated with a selective absorbent, and which receives heat from reflectors or other means of heat capture (2-24-104-104′), this assembly being able to be fastened to a support cradle (7-32-111), destined to rest on the wooden battens or concrete base which constitute the base for the tile to sit.
2. A solar energy collection device able to be fastened to tiled roofs, according to the claim 1, characterised because the means of energy capture are parabolic cylinder reflectors (2-24) which in conjunction with a parabolic cylinder (3) situated on a focal line, act on a funnel element made up of two opposite parabolic cylinder sheets (4) that ensure the concentration parameter, the heat exchanger (5-28) being situated below aforementioned funnel (4), with a semi-cylindrical configuration, coated with a selective absorbent and which ensures the hermetic closing of the heat transfer tube (6-29), situated outside the body hole (1-23), a body which contains on its base some spring clips (8-31) for fixing to the support cradle (7-32), which is placed over an adapted aligning lifting device (16) destined to apply the necessary pressure to hermetically assemble the assembly (20), to thus as a contact for a thermal probe (9-30).
3. A solar energy collection device able to be fastened to tiled roofs, according to claim 1, characterised because it also incorporates a corrugated fin (25), with a parabolic-cylindrical configuration, coated with a selective absorbent, fixed by soldering to a concentrator tube (26) which incorporates a heat transfer material, as well as connectors (27) fastened to the aforementioned concentrator tube (26) and which ensures the transfer of thermal energy to the heat exchanger (28).
4. A solar energy collection device able to be fastened to tiled roofs, according to claim 1, characterised because the support cradle (7) is made of a solid and suitable material to ensure the thermal isolation of the heat transfer tube (6-29), and includes plug holes on the sides (10) to receive spring clips (8-31) and a cavity (11) to enclose the heat transfer tube (6-29), as well as lower longitudinal grooves (12) to be positioned with the bellows lifting device (16).
5. A solar energy collection device able to be fastened to tiled roofs, according to claim 1, characterised because it incorporates a support cradle (32) provided with lock plates (35), which turn around an axis (33) to be placed in a resting position in a cavity (34) of aforementioned support cradle (32).
6. A solar energy collection device able to be fastened to tiled roofs, according to claim 1, characterised because the hermetically closed and transparent body (101-101′), which is vacuum filled and adopts a preferably elliptical section, is physically independent from the tile (103), while the opening (102) of the tile is closed watertight through a transparent dome (119-123) conveniently fixed to the same and also physically independent from the water tight body (101-101′).
7. A solar energy collection device able to be fastened to tiled roofs, according to claim 6, characterised because the interior of the watertight body (101-101′), instead of parabolic cylinder reflectors, or as a complement to the same, a shaped lamina (104-104′) covered with a selective coating for absorbing heat is situated, with which is supports a heat exchanger (105-105′) for heat transfer to the tube (109) through which the heat transfer fluid circulates.
8. A solar energy collection device able to be fastened to tiled roofs, according to claim 6, characterised because inside the hermetic body (101) a glass tube (106-106′) crosses from one end to the other in which the heat exchanger (105-105′) is supported lengthwise to enclose the heat transfer fluid circulation tube (109), locked and sealed at its ends by means of a cradle (108).
9. A solar energy collection device able to be fastened to tiled roofs, according to claim 6, characterised because the heat exchanger (105′) in the internal space of the hermetic and vacuum filled tube (101) is fixed lengthwise in the hole of the glass tube (106-106′), housing the heat transfer tube (109) positioned and sealed at its ends by means of a cradle (108).
10. A solar energy collection device able to be fastened to tiled roofs, according to claim 6, characterised because the watertight body (101-101′) is provided with a sheet (110) based on a reflecting and heat isolating compound in its lower half.
11. A solar energy collection device able to be fastened to tiled roofs, according to claim 6, characterised because the cradle (120) is fastened as a support to the glass tube (106-106′) which passes through the hermetic body (101-101′).
12. A solar energy collection device able to be fastened to tiled roofs, according to claim 6, characterised because the cradle (111) over which in turn rests the watertight body (101-101′), supports a support shape (113-121) acting as a means of aligning and adjusting the hermetic body (101) which in turn supports it over wood battens or a concrete base (112) which is the seating for the tile (103).
13. A solar energy collection device able to be fastened to tiled roofs, according to claim 6, characterised because from the ends of the watertight body (101-101′) pairs of support tracks (114) emerge at mid-level for the respective spring clips (115) in an inverted “U” configuration, whose middle section rests over the aforementioned supports and whose side sections have nuts (117) and bolts (118) at their ends to regulate the height of the device, to fit the support cradle to the hermetic body.
14. A procedure for mounting the device of claim 1, characterised because over the roof (17-39) or any other support surface of the roof, after the aligned positioning of the tiles (14-37), the special means or tool (36) or bellows lifting device (16) is introduced below these and in accordance with the opening or window (15) thus positioning and aligning the heat transfer tube (6-29) and the support cradles (7-32), thus ensuring the resistance to manual pressure applied over the dome of the collection device (1 -23) thus locking the spring clips (8-31) on the plug holes (10) of the support cradle (7-32) and thus configuring the closely fastened devices (20-41) after having retracted or withdrawn the special means (16-36).
Type: Application
Filed: Dec 19, 2006
Publication Date: Dec 18, 2008
Inventors: Roland Gianasso (Muchamiel), Carlos Ramirez Carreras (Muchamiel)
Application Number: 12/158,419
International Classification: E04D 13/18 (20060101); F24J 2/12 (20060101);