SOLAR FURNACE

A solar furnace includes an outer insulation chamber and an inner reaction chamber disposed inside the outer insulation chamber. The outer insulation chamber has an outer solar window which is in alignment with an inner solar window of the inner reaction chamber. The outer insulation chamber includes a multi-layered air-circulating tunnel. Each layer of the air-circulating tunnel has a solar window to form a multi-solar window opening. Within each solar window opening, there is a hot air curtain or hot flame curtain to cover the opening. When the concentrated solar beams pass through each solar window opening, photon beam reacts with the hot air curtain or hot flame curtain, and will further increase the temperature of hot air particles in the multi-layered air-circulating tunnel. An oil boiler is thermally connected to the inner reaction chamber. The oil boiler includes incoming and outgoing pipes disposed in a middle air-circulating tunnel to absorb the heat energy from the hot air curtain. Oil flowing through the oil boiler can be heated by heat energy produced in the inner reaction chamber when concentrated solar beams reflected from a solar dish enter the inner reaction chamber through the outer and inner solar windows. The solar furnace further includes a plurality of channels mounted within the inner reaction chamber for reflecting solar beams and heat absorption, and a plurality of tanks thermally connecting to the plurality of channels, whereby fluid flowing through the plurality of tanks is heated by heat energy absorbed by the plurality of channels.

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Description
FIELD OF PATENT APPLICATION

The present patent application relates to a solar furnace.

BACKGROUND

Solar furnaces are known in the art to produce electrical energy from solar energy. Solar energy from the sun has been recognized for many years and many attempts have been made at utilizing this energy and converting it into useful energy. Solar energy has been successfully converted into electrical energy with solar batteries. Similarly, solar energy has been converted into heating systems such as solar furnaces and the like. Conventional solar furnaces, however, have been typified by extremely large solar energy collecting plates covering large areas of building structure to be heated with the solar furnaces and large storage chambers where the heat is stored after having been transferred from the solar energy collector by a fluid medium. The heat in the storage chamber is then circulated through the building structure by a separate fluid flow mechanism.

These conventional solar furnaces are complicated in structure, expensive, and difficult to install. They have proven to be very inefficient in that there is excessive heat loss when transferring the solar heat from the collector to the storage chamber. Furthermore, these solar furnaces have not been capable of being easily installed in existing building structures and have not been so constructed to cooperate as an auxiliary heating unit to the conventional heating systems commonly found in building structures. Also, the absorptivity of solar energy of the conventional solar furnaces is not quite efficient.

There is a need to produce an improved solar furnace that is relatively simple in structure, less expensive, and more efficient in energy absorptivity.

The above description of the background is provided to aid in understanding a solar furnace, but is not admitted to describe or constitute pertinent prior art to the solar furnace disclosed in the present application.

SUMMARY

A solar furnace is provided. In one aspect, the solar furnace includes an outer insulation chamber, an inner reaction chamber and a boiler. The outer insulation chamber includes a first solar window. The inner reaction chamber is disposed inside the outer insulation chamber and includes a second solar window in alignment with the first solar window. The boiler is disposed in the outer insulation chamber and thermally connected to the inner reaction chamber. Fluid flowing through the boiler is heated by heat energy produced in the inner reaction chamber when concentrated solar beams reflected from a solar dish enter the inner reaction chamber through the first and second solar windows.

In another aspect, the solar furnace includes an insulation chamber, a plurality of boilers and a fan system. The insulation chamber includes a center and an off-centered window. The plurality of boilers is disposed substantially on the entire inner surface of the insulation chamber and defines a middle reaction cavity. The fan system is in the middle reaction cavity for producing a hot air curtain or hot flame curtain therein. The fluid flowing through the plurality of boilers is heated by heat energy produced in the middle reaction cavity when concentrated solar beams reflected from a solar dish enter the middle reaction cavity through the off-centered window, and strike the hot air curtain or hot flame curtain in a direction generally tangent to bending solar beams formed as solar beams refract due to change in refraction index, such that hot air particles in the hot air curtain or hot flame curtain continuously react with photons of the bending solar beams.

In yet another aspect, the solar furnace includes an outer chamber, an inner chamber and a boiler system. The outer chamber includes a window. The inner chamber is formed inside the outer chamber. The boiler system is in thermal communication with the inner chamber. Fluid flowing through the boiler system is heated by heat energy produced in the inner chamber when concentrated solar beams reflected from a solar dish enter the inner chamber through the window.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Specific embodiments of the solar furnace disclosed in the present application will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of a solar furnace system according to an embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 2(a) is an illustrative diagram showing the cross section of a solar furnace according to an embodiment disclosed in the present application;

FIG. 2(b) is an illustrative diagram of a multi-layered air-circulating tunnel according to an embodiment disclosed in the present application;

FIG. 2(c) is a side view showing bundles of incoming coiled copper pipes;

FIG. 2(d) is a top plan view of a disc of a flow diverging member according to an embodiment disclosed in the present application;

FIG. 2(e) is a perspective view of a section of a coiled copper pipe with two flow diverging members;

FIG. 2(f) is an illustrative diagram showing the cross section of a solar furnace according to another embodiment disclosed in the present application;

FIG. 2(g) is an illustrative diagram showing the cross section of a solar furnace according to a further embodiment disclosed in the present application;

FIG. 2(h) is an illustrative perspective view of the solar furnace of FIG. 2(g);

FIG. 3 is a detailed, enlarged view of an inner reaction chamber of the solar furnace;

FIGS. 4(a) to 4(d) are exploded views of the channels and oil tanks of the inner reaction chamber shown in FIG. 3;

FIGS. 5(a) and 5(b) are fragmentary views of the channels and oil tanks;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged cross sectional view of the channels and oil tanks;

FIG. 7 is a top view of the channels and oil tanks;

FIG. 8 is an illustrative diagram of the centrifugal fans and air circulation inside the solar furnace;

FIG. 9 is an illustrative diagram showing the side view of the solar furnace; and

FIG. 10 is an illustrative diagram showing the bottom view of the solar furnace.

 DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made in detail to a preferred embodiment of the solar furnace disclosed in the present application, examples of which are also provided in the following description. Exemplary embodiments of the solar furnace disclosed in the present application are described in detail, although it will be apparent to those skilled in the relevant art that some features that are not particularly important to an understanding of the solar furnace may not be shown for the sake of clarity.

Furthermore, it should be understood that the solar furnace disclosed in the present application is not limited to the precise embodiments described below and that various changes and modifications thereof may be effected by one skilled in the art without departing from the spirit or scope of the appended claims. For example, elements and/or features of different illustrative embodiments may be combined with each other and/or substituted for each other within the scope of this disclosure and appended claims.

For illustration purposes, the terms “upper”, “lower”, “left”, “right”, “vertical”, “horizontal”, “top”, and “bottom” appeared hereinafter relate to the solar furnace as it is oriented in the drawings. It is understood that the solar furnace may assume various positions, except where expressly specified to the contrary. Furthermore, it is understood that the specific devices shown in the drawings, and described in the following description, are simply exemplary embodiments of the solar furnace. Hence, specific dimensions and other physical characteristics related to the embodiments disclosed hereinafter are not to be considered as limiting.

It should be noted that throughout the specification and claims herein, when one element is the to be “connected” or “coupled” to another, this does not necessarily mean that one element is fastened, secured, or otherwise attached to another element. Instead, the term “connected” or “coupled” means that one element is either connected directly or indirectly to another element or is in mechanical or electrical communication with another element.

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of a solar furnace system according to an embodiment of the present application. The solar furnace system includes a solar furnace 1 and a mirrored solar dish 26. The solar dish 26 serves to reflect, concentrate and direct solar beams 16 to the solar furnace 1.

FIG. 2(a) is an illustrative diagram showing the cross section of the solar furnace 1 according to an embodiment disclosed in the present application. The solar furnace 1 may include an outer insulation chamber 2 having an outer solar window 31, and an inner reaction chamber 3 having an inner solar window 11 in alignment with the outer solar window 31. The inner reaction chamber 3 is disposed inside the outer insulation chamber 2.

The outer insulation chamber 2 may include one or more insulating layers. According to the illustrated embodiment, the outer insulation chamber 2 has an outer shell, an inner shell, and a vacuum enclosure between the outer and inner shells. The outer insulation chamber 2 may be made of ceramic or any other highly insulating material. The outer insulation chamber 2 may also be provided with a metal wall at the outer surface thereof for protection purposes.

The inner reaction chamber 3 defines a chamber 28 in which radiation or photon reaction takes place. The inner reaction chamber 3 may have an inner wall made of steel, or iron, or any other highly conductive material. The inner reaction chamber 3 may be provided with an outer wall made of ceramic. When concentrated solar beams 16 enter the inner reaction chamber 3, photons react with light-reflecting and heat-absorbing channels 47 to produce heat energy, details of which will be described in FIG. 4a. The inner reaction chamber 3 can be fastened at a fixed position relative to the outer insulation chamber 2 by any conventional fastening means such as steel angles 19, as illustrated in FIG. 8.

The solar furnace 1 may include an oil boiler 4 located inside the outer insulation chamber 2 and thermally connected to the inner reaction chamber 3. Oil flowing through the oil boiler 4 is heated up by heat energy produced in the inner reaction chamber 3 when the concentrated solar beams 16 reflected from the solar dish 26 enter the inner reaction chamber 3 through the outer and inner solar windows 31, 11.

According to the illustrated embodiment, the oil boiler 4 is located at an upper portion inside the outer insulation chamber 2 and the inner reaction chamber 3 is located at a lower portion inside the outer insulation chamber 2 near the outer solar window 31. The oil boiler 4 may be made of any suitable highly conductive material. It is understood by one skilled in the art that oil may be substituted by any other suitable fluid medium.

An incoming oil pipe 6 and an outgoing oil pipe 5 are disposed in a middle air-circulating tunnel 8 defined by the outer and inner chambers 2, 3 and the oil boiler 4.

An external coiled portion 34 of the incoming oil pipe 6 coated with black nickel oxide or black chrome is disposed outside the outer insulation chamber 2 and coils around the outer solar window 31 to directly absorb heat from solar beams not entering the inner reaction chamber 3 through the outer solar window 31. Hot air, represented by arrows 35, generated from the external coiled portion 34 of the incoming oil pipe 6 can pass through the outer solar window 31 and can be drawn into the middle air-circulating tunnel 8. At the same time, the hot air represented by arrow 35 reacts with the concentrated photon beam 16 to further increase the hot air temperature. The incoming oil pipe 6 then enters the solar furnace 1 from the outer solar window 31, extends along and bends around a substantial portion of the middle air-circulating tunnel 8, connects to incoming oil pipes 74, and finally terminates at the oil boiler 4. The incoming oil pipe 6 serves to deliver oil to the oil boiler 4, whereas the incoming oil pipes 74 serve to deliver oil to associated oil tanks 73, details of which will be described later.

The outgoing oil pipe 5 starts at the oil boiler 4, joins by outgoing oil pipes 76, and exits the solar furnace 1 through the outer solar window 31. The outgoing oil pipe 5 and outgoing oil pipes 76 serve to carry heated oil from the oil boiler 4 and the oil tanks 73 respectively to an external heat exchange (not shown) of a typical binary vapor cycle system. The incoming and outgoing oil pipes 6, 5 may be made of copper or any other suitable material.

The solar furnace 1 may include at least one internal centrifugal fan 9, 30 in the middle air-circulating tunnel 8 for circulating hot air 10 therein. The number of internal centrifugal fans required depends on the size of the solar furnace 1. For a small solar furnace, one internal centrifugal fan may be sufficient. For a large solar furnace, two or more internal centrifugal fans may be needed.

According to the illustrative embodiment, there are two internal centrifugal fans 9, 30. The first internal centrifugal fan 9 is provided at the lower left side of the middle air-circulating tunnel 8 near the outer and inner solar windows 31, 11. The second internal centrifugal fan 30 is provided at the lower right side of the middle air-circulating tunnel 8 near the outer and inner solar windows 31, 11. The two internal centrifugal fans 9, 30 can be driven by motors 20 located outside the outer insulation chamber 2, as illustrated in FIG. 8. The solar furnace 1 may be provided with a solar panel 15 for supplying solar energy to activate the motors 20.

The middle air-circulating tunnel 8 may be provided with an air-converging nozzle 29. The air-converging nozzle 29 may be formed by a steel angle attached to an inner surface of the middle air-circulating tunnel 8 near the outer and inner solar windows 31, 11. The air-converging nozzle 29 is provided in the middle air-circulating tunnel 8 for driving hot air 10 along the middle air-circulating tunnel 8 without escaping through the outer and inner solar windows 31, 11, and drawing hot air into the middle air-circulating tunnel 8 through the outer and inner solar windows 31, 11, as shown by arrows 12, 13 and 35.

The internal centrifugal fans 9, 30 and the air-converging nozzle 29 connect spread water supply, and also serve to decompose water molecules and drive hot air or hot flame 10 along the middle air-circulating tunnel 8 to create a hot air curtain or a hot flame curtain between the outer and inner solar windows 31, 11 for preventing loss of heat energy from the inner reaction chamber 3 to the outside of the outer insulation chamber 2 through the inner and outer solar windows 11, 31 for further increasing the temperature of hot air when reacted with concentrated solar beam 16. The hot air curtain or the hot flame curtain forms a non-reflecting and different density medium of the atmospheric air.

A larger solar furnace may include an air pipe 14 for directing a portion of the hot air 18 from the middle air-circulating tunnel 8, out of the outer insulation chamber 2, through openings 33 of annular trunking 32 where it is drawn back into the middle air-circulating tunnel 8 through the outer solar window 31. At the same time, the hot air 18 reacts with the concentrated beam 16 to further increase the temperature of hot air. This can prevent external air from entering the middle air-circulating tunnel 8 when sunlight is dimming.

The solar furnace 1 may further include a wind damper 17. The wind damper 17 may be fixed at the bottom of the outer insulation chamber 2 where the outer and inner solar windows 31, 11 are located. The wind damper 17 may be formed of vertical stands and steel angles. The wind damper 17 serves to reduce the impact of wind and prevent wind from blowing into the inner reaction chamber 3 through the outer and inner solar windows 31, 11.

The solar furnace 1 may include a temperature sensor 24 coupled to the oil pipe 6 outside the solar furnace 1 to measure temperature, and a temperature controller 25 to adjust and maintain the temperature at a pre-set temperature.

The temperature sensor 24 senses the temperature and sends signal that is proportional to the temperature controller 25. The temperature controller 25 then compares the actual temperature of the oil pipe 6 to a pre-set temperature. If a difference exists between the actual temperature and the pre-set temperature, the controller 25 will send a control signal to a temperature control valve 23 which is coupled to the oil pipe 6 to control the flow rate of oil and the temperature of solar furnace 1.

FIG. 2(b) shows the middle air-circulating tunnel 8 coiling up continuously starting from the center to form a circuitous loop route. The continuous circuitous loop route of the middle air-circulating tunnel 8 forms a multi-layered middle air-circulating tunnel 8. As a result, the multi-layered middle air-circulating tunnel 8 creates multi-layer window openings 109 in alignment with the outer and inner windows 31, 11 to react with photon beam 16.

This configuration also shows hot air 10 being driven continuously to the next round by the centrifugal fans 9 which are fixed at the two opposite corners of each layer of the multi-layered middle air-circulating tunnel 8. The nozzles 29 connect spread water supply and stack up in each layer to create multi-layer hot air curtains or hot flame curtains 108 to increase the thickness of non-reflecting medium of hot air curtain particles 108, and finally to increase hot air particles 10 reacting with concentrated photon beam 16 to further increase the temperature of hot air 10 and to further absorb heat energy by the coiled incoming copper pipe 6.

For the continuous loop, the hot air particles react with the photon beam 16. The hot air particles 114 circulate from the inner chamber 3 to the outer middle air-circulating tunnel 8 near the inner window 11 and, by suction, enter the outgoing opening entrance 110 of the copper pipe 112 through the side wall of insulation chamber 77 and to the center of the multi-layered middle air-circulating tunnel 8, and enter the incoming beginning opening 111 to start the first loop of circulation of hot air 113, that absorbs the heat energy from photon beam 16 at each consequence window openings 109 till to the outermost layer of the multi-layered middle air-circulating tunnel 8 near the inner window opening 11. Finally, the hot air 10 of the last round combines with hot air 10 of the inner chamber 3 and re-enters the outgoing opening entrance 110 by suction force of the centrifugal fan 9, and continuously repeating loop from first round to last round. The copper pipe 112 fixing is illustrated in FIG. 8.

The left hand side of the last bottom layer of the multi-layered middle air-circulating tunnel 8 near the outer window opening 31 has enlarged opening 115 to receive a thicker air curtain 108. Due to air resistance perpendicular to the convergent nozzle 29, the pressure flow will drop. The longer length of air curtain 108 of last round will be split divergence.

The reaction effect depends on how much concentration of hot air particles from the nozzle reacts with the photon, and the thickness of the concentration hot air particles the concentrated light beam 16 reacts with the hot air at the first window which is drawn from the trunking to the air-circulation tunnel.

FIGS. 2(c) to 2(e) show small diameter incoming coiled copper pipes 7 fastened together by stainless steel wires 27, without a gap for hot air 10 to pass through between upper and lower coiled copper pipes 7.

The incoming coiled copper pipes 7 have a plurality of flow diverging members formed along and within the pipes. Each flow diverging member including a copper disc 100 and a flared nozzle 102. The disc 100 is disposed perpendicular to the direction of flow and has a central opening 103 and a plurality of peripheral openings 101. The flared nozzle 102 is connected to the disc 100 at a central downstream side thereof such that the nozzle opening is in registration with the central opening 103, whereby air flows partially straight through the central opening 103 and the nozzle opening and partially through the plurality of peripheral openings 101 and diverges radially and substantially perpendicular towards inner surfaces of the pipes 7 so as to increase absorption of heat energy.

FIG. 2(f) shows a cross sectional view of a solar furnace according to another embodiment disclosed in the present application.

The solar furnace includes an insulation chamber 2 having a center 124 and an off-centered window 95. A plurality of boilers 123 may be disposed substantially on the entire inner surface of the insulation chamber 2. According to the illustrated embodiment, the insulation chamber 2 may have a generally rectangular cross section, and the plurality of boilers 123 may be arranged side-by-side in a rectangular configuration. It can be seen from FIG. 2(f) that there are twenty-four boilers 123 arranged on and around the inner surface of the insulation chamber 2 leaving an opening which is in alignment with the off-centered window 95. The plurality of boilers 123 defines a middle reaction cavity 3 inside the insulation chamber 2.

A fan system 9, 122 may be provided in the middle reaction cavity 3 for the generation of a hot air curtain or hot flame curtain inside the middle reaction cavity 3.

According to an embodiment illustrated in the present application, the fan system includes a central fan 122 located at the center 124 for the generation of a generally circular hot air curtain or hot flame curtain 121 in the middle reaction cavity 3. The central fan 122 can be a centrifugal fan or any other suitable fan for the generation of the generally circular hot air curtain or hot flame curtain 121.

In addition to the central fan 122, a plurality of peripheral centrifugal fans 9 may be provided around the central fan 122 in the middle reaction cavity 3 to facilitate the formation of the generally circular hot air curtain or hot flame curtain 121 in the middle reaction cavity 3. Each of the plurality of peripheral centrifugal fans 9 may be provided with an air nozzle 29 connecting with spread water supply for decomposing water molecules and generating a hot air curtain or hot flame curtain 108 flowing in a direction generally tangent to the generally circular hot air curtain or hot flame curtain 121.

In operation, fluid flows through the plurality of boilers 123 can be heated by heat energy produced in the middle reaction cavity 3 when concentrated solar beams 16 reflected from a solar dish enter the middle reaction cavity 3 through the off-centered window 95, and strike the hot air curtain or hot flame curtain 121 in a direction generally tangent to bending solar beams 120 bending into circular solar beams. The circular solar beams are formed when concentrated solar beams 16 enter the middle reaction cavity 3, refract and bend due to change in refraction index. As a result, the hot air particles in the hot air curtain or hot flame curtain 121 continuously react with photons of the bending solar beams 120. Photon energy further increases the temperature of hot air in the middle reaction cavity 3.

FIG. 2(g) shows a cross sectional view of a solar furnace according to a further embodiment disclosed in the present application, and FIG. 2(h) is a perspective view of the solar furnace of FIG. 2(g).

According to the illustrated embodiment, the insulation chamber 2 is generally cylindrical in shape, and the plurality of boilers 123 is arranged side by-side in a circle except for an opening which is in alignment with the off-centered window 95.

Similarly, a fan system is provided in the middle reaction cavity 3. According to the illustrated embodiment, the fan system may include a plurality of radial centrifugal fans 9 which may extend radially at one side of the middle reaction cavity 3. The plurality of radial centrifugal fans 9 with an air nozzle connecting with a spread water supply is adapted to blow hot air or hot flame from the one side to an opposite side across the middle reaction cavity 3 thereby forming a plurality of radial hot air curtains or hot flame curtain 108′ in the middle reaction chamber 3.

In operation, fluid flows through the plurality of boilers 123 can be heated by heat energy produced in the middle reaction cavity 3 when concentrated solar beams 16 reflected from a solar dish enter the middle reaction cavity 3 through the off-centered window 95, strike one of the plurality of radial hot air curtains or hot flame curtain 108′, refract and bend, and strike an adjacent one of the plurality of radial hot air curtains or hot flame curtains 108 until generally circular solar beams 120 are formed in the middle reaction chamber 3. This again renders hot air particles in the radial hot air curtains or hot flame curtains or hot flame curtain 108′ continuously react with photons of the bending solar beams 120 thereby further increasing the temperature of hot air in the middle reaction cavity 3.

Similar to the previous embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2(a), fans 9 and 122 can be driven by a motor located outside the insulation chamber 2. The solar furnace may be provided with a solar panel for supplying solar energy to activate the motor. The plurality of boilers 123 may include incoming and outgoing pipes for delivering fluid in and out of the plurality of boilers 123. A temperature sensor can be coupled to the incoming pipe to measure temperature, and a temperature controller can be employed to adjust and maintain the temperature at a pre-set temperature. Furthermore, a valve may be coupled to the temperature controller to control the flow rate of the fluid. Similarly, the fluid may comprise oil, the insulation chamber 2 may be made of ceramic, the plurality of boilers 123 may be made of a conductive material, and the incoming and outgoing pipes may be made of copper.

Although it has been shown in the application that the insulation chamber 2 of the solar furnace is rectangular box-shaped or cylindrical in shape, it is understood that the insulation chamber 3 can be in any other appropriate shapes such as polygonal.

It has been shown in the illustrated embodiments that the boiler(s) of the solar furnace of the present application can be connected to an inner surface of the outer chamber, or an outer surface of the inner chamber. However, it is understood by one skilled in the art that the boiler(s) of the solar furnace can be disposed in other suitable positions so long as the boiler(s) can be thermally coupled to the reaction chamber to effectively absorb the heat produced therefrom.

The fan system of the solar furnace disclosed in the various embodiments in the application is used to generate continuously flowing or circulating hot air curtain or hot flame curtain in the solar furnace so that photons of solar beams can continuously react with the hot air curtain or hot flame curtain, thereby further increasing the temperature of hot air in the reaction chamber. Although it has been shown that the fans can be located between the outer and inner chambers near the window, or in the center or side of the reaction chamber, it is understood by one skilled in the art that the fans may be in any different locations and different arrangements.

FIG. 3 shows the inner reaction chamber 3 being divided into two symmetrical portions, namely a left portion 41 and a right portion 42. Solar beams 16 reflected from solar dish 26 pass through the frontage 36 at different angles and enter the inner reaction chamber 3 through different compartments. According to the illustrated embodiment, the inner reaction chamber 3 is divided into a first compartment 90, a second compartment 91, a third compartment 92, and a fourth compartment 93.

The fourth compartment 93, being the outermost compartment, generally stacks over and encompasses the third compartment 92. The third compartment 92 also stacks over and compasses the second compartment 91. Finally, the second compartment 91 stacks over and encompasses the first compartment 90, which is the innermost compartment.

Each compartment 90, 91, 92, 93 is defined by a plurality of oil tanks 73 in fluid communication with each other. The plurality of oil tanks 73 overlays and thermally connects to the top of each compartment 90, 91, 92, 93. The oil tanks 73 may be in any appropriate shape. According to the illustrated embodiment, the oil tanks 73 are rectangular in shape.

Each of the four compartments 90, 91, 92, 93 captures reflected solar beams 16 entering the inner reaction chamber 3 at different angles. Each of the four compartments 90, 91, 92, 93 has two symmetrical multi-layer light-reflecting and heat-absorbing channels mounted at the left and right portions 41, 42 respectively. At the left portion 41 of the inner reaction chamber 3, there are four glasses 37, 38, 39, 40 covering the four entrances of the four compartments 90, 91, 92, 93 and facing four different directions respectively. At the right portion 42 of the inner reaction chamber 3, there are also four glasses 37, 38, 39, 40 covering the four groups of opening ends of the four compartments 90, 91, 92, 93 opening at the outer solar window 31 at four different directions respectively. The left and right portions 41, 42 of the compartments 90, 91, 92, 93 are symmetrical to each other about a central plane of the inner reaction chamber 3.

The glasses 37, 38, 39, 40 may be made of material having high temperature resistance and good thermal transmission. For example, the glasses 37, 38, 39, 40 may be made of crystal glass.

FIG. 4(a) shows a first plurality of oil tanks 73 defining the first compartment 90 having therein a first plurality of channels 47 with first opening ends. The first opening ends are adapted to capture vertical solar beams 16 directly reflecting from the mirrored solar dish 26. As used herein, the term “vertical solar beams” means solar beams that pass perpendicularly through the outer solar window 31. The vertical solar beams 16 pass the frontage 36 and enter the first compartment 90 through a first slanted glass 37 that covers the first compartment 90. After the solar beams 16 pass through the first slanted glass 37 of the first compartment 90, the solar beams 16 strike the surfaces of the reflective glasses 43, 44 which are fixedly supported by stainless steel angles 45 defining a light-reflecting tunnel 46. Finally, all the solar beams reflecting from reflective glasses 43, 44 enter the multi-layer light-reflecting and heat-absorbing channels 47 through first opening ends thereof and towards the rolled-up spiral ends.

FIG. 4(b) shows a second plurality of oil tanks 73 defining the second compartment 91 substantially encompassing the first compartment 90 and having a second plurality of channels 47 with second opening ends disposed adjacent to the first slanted glass 37. The second opening ends are adapted to capture angled solar beams 50 directly reflecting from the solar dish 26. As used herein, the term “angled solar beams” means solar beams that pass through the outer solar window 31 at an angle. The angled solar beams 50 pass through the frontage 36 and enter the second compartment 91 through a second glass 38 that covers the second compartment 91. The second glass 38 is oriented adjacent and at an angle to the first slanted glass 37. Solar beams 51 reflected from the first slanted glass 37 are also captured by the second opening ends of the second plurality of channels 47 of the second compartment 91.

The second compartment 91 is most suitable for capturing angled solar beams 50 and reflected solar beams 51. The structure of the spiral multi-layer light-reflecting and heat-absorbing channels 47 within the second compartment 91 is the same as that of the first compartment 90 except that the opening ends of the multi-layer light-reflecting and heat-absorbing channels 47 in the second compartment 91 abut against the second glass 38.

FIG. 4(c) shows a third plurality of oil tanks 73 defining the third compartment 92 substantially encompassing the second compartment 91 and having a third plurality of channels 47 with third opening ends disposed adjacent to the second opening ends. The third opening ends are adapted to capture solar beams 52, 53 reflected from the second glass 38 through a third glass 39 covering the third compartment 92. The third glass 39 is oriented adjacent and at an angle to the second glass 38.

The third compartment 92 is most suitable for capturing reflected solar beams 52 and 53. The structure of the spiral multi-layer light-reflecting and heat-absorbing channels 47 within the third compartment 92 is the same as that of the second compartment 91.

FIG. 4(d) shows a fourth plurality of oil tanks 73 defining the fourth compartment 93 substantially encompassing the third compartment 92 and having a fourth plurality of channels 47 with fourth opening ends disposed adjacent to the third opening ends. The fourth opening ends are adapted to capture solar beams 55, 56 reflected from the second and third glasses 38, 39 through a fourth glass 40 covering the fourth compartment 93. The fourth glass 40 is oriented adjacent and at an angle to the third glass 39.

The fourth compartment 93 is most suitable for capturing reflected solar beams 54, 55 and 56. The structure of the multi-layer light-reflecting and heat-absorbing channels 47 within the fourth compartment 93 is almost the same as that of the third compartment 92 except that the spiral multi-layer light-reflecting and heat-absorbing channels 47 extend continuously from glass 40 at the left hand side to glass 40 at the right hand side without any rolled up spiral ends as found in the other compartments 90, 91, 92.

If a solar furnace is larger, it absorbs more solar energy. To absorb more energy, one may increase the number of layers of the multi-layer, light-reflecting and heat-absorbing channels 47. The most suitable construction may be an increase in the length of the light-reflecting and heat-absorbing channels 47, which will result in an increase in the number of light reflections in the channels 47 so as to distribute more light to the light-reflecting and heat-absorbing channels 47 and increase heat absorption.

FIGS. 5(a) and 5(b) show a typical portion of the spiral multi-layer, light-reflecting and heat-absorbing channels 47 and oil tanks 73. The spiral multi-layer, light-reflecting and heat-absorbing channels 47 may be made of highly conductive metal sheet 60 and folded into a polygonal shape. The channels 47 are parallel and spaced apart from each other at a certain distance. Brackets 61 can be fixed to the metal sheet 60. The glass 62 may be fixed to the outer side of a pair of brackets 61 leaving a space between the metal sheet 60 and the glass 62.

A layer of silver 63 with protective coating of silica alumina for covering the silver 63 and protecting it from oxidation, or any metal coated with a material having high absorptivity and less emissivity (such as black nickel oxide or black chrome), may be provided in the space between the metal sheet 60 and the glass 62. The glass 62 stacks on top of the silver layer 63, which is in direct contact with the highly conductive metal sheet 60 for transfer heat energy.

I-beam 64 may be fixed perpendicular to the surface of the metal sheet 60. The I-beam 64 may be fixed with a layer of silver with protective coating of silica alumina. The function of the I-beam 64 is to form the light-reflecting tunnel 46 between two metal sheets 60, and to support, reflect solar beams in the tunnel 46, absorb and conduct heat energy to the upper and lower metal sheets 60, and in turn to the oil tanks 73.

Reinforcing I-beam 65 may be fixed on the surface of metal sheet 60 to prevent the metal sheet 60 from bending and to support the weight of the multi-layer light-reflecting heat-absorbing channels 47. The two opposite ends of the I-beam 65 are fastened to the inner surfaces of the inner chamber 3. The I-beam 65 is provided with openings 57 to allow solar beams 16 and 50 to pass through.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged cross sectional view of the plurality of channels 47 in each compartment. It shows vertical and angled solar beams 16, 50 reflected from solar dish 26 enter the multi-layer light-reflecting heat-absorbing channels 47 of the compartment 91. Radiation flux of the solar beams 16, 50 strikes on a surface of the reflective glass 62. Part of it is absorbed by glass 62 as shown by reference numeral 66, and part of it is reflected from glass 62 as shown by reference numeral 67. A small part of it is the internal total reflection of reflective glass 62 as shown by reference numeral 68.

The remaining part of the solar beams 16, 50, if any, is transmitted, as shown by reference numeral 69, and strikes upon the surface of the layer of silver 63. Part of it is absorbed by the layer of silver 63, as shown by reference numeral 70, and part of it is reflected from the stainless steel sheet 63 as shown by reference numeral 71.

All of the reflection 72, including reflections 67, 68 and 71, strikes upon the opposite reflective glass 62. The sequence of heat absorption 66, 70 and light reflection 67, 68 and 71 continuous until the solar energy of the solar beams 16, 50 diminish at the end of tunnel 46 of the multi-layer light-reflecting heat-absorbing channels 47. The reflected solar beams 16 may be fully absorbed by the multi-layer light-reflecting heat-absorbing channels 47.

FIG. 7 shows long rectangular oil tanks 73 overlaying on top of the spiral multi-layer light-reflecting heat-absorbing channels 47 of each compartment. The relationship between the oil tanks 73 and the channels 47 is also illustrated in FIGS. 4(a)-4(d), 5(a) and 5(b). Copper incoming oil pipe 74 connects to one end of the oil tank 73 at the left portion of the compartment, and the other end of the oil tank 73 is connected to the adjacent oil tank by oil pipes 75. This continues until connection to the last oil tank 73 at the right portion of the compartment, where it is connected to the outgoing oil pipe 76.

This oil tank arrangement can make the oil generate heat evenly throughout all the oil tanks by pumping oil from left to right in one direction as shown by reference numeral 78. The oil tanks 73 are in direct contact with and thermally connected to the spiral multi-layer light-reflecting heat-absorbing channels 47.

For insulation purposes and for the ease of installation of the oil pipe 74, 75, and 76, the two opposite ends of the inner chamber 3 are provided with insulation chambers 77 with a space to facilitate detachment and connection of the incoming oil pipe 74 to the incoming oil pipe 6 inside the middle air circulation tunnel 8 as well as to facilitate detachment and connection of the outgoing oil pipe 76 to the outgoing oil pipe 5 inside the middle air circulation tunnel 8.

FIG. 8 is an illustrative diagram of the centrifugal fans 9, 30 and circulation of hot air 10 in the middle air-circulating tunnel 8 of the solar furnace 1. Although it has been shown that the outer and inner chambers 2, 3 are generally box-shaped with rectangular sides, it is understood by one skilled in the art that the outer and inner chambers 2, 3 may be of any other appropriate shape.

It can be seen that the incoming oil pipes 74 run from the middle air-circulating tunnel 8 where the incoming oil pipe 6 is located, through side wall of insulation chambers 77 and into the inner reaction chamber 3. Similarly, outgoing oil pipes 76 run from the inner reaction chamber 3 through side wall of insulation chambers 77 at the opposite side, and into the middle air-circulating tunnel 8 where the outgoing oil pipe 5 is located.

FIG. 9 is an illustrative diagram showing the side view of the solar furnace 1. It can be seen that the external motor 20 of the internal centrifugal fan 9, 30 is located on an outer surface at one side of the outer insulation chamber 2. One end of shaft 22 passing through bearing 21 is located on an outer surface at the opposite side of the outer insulation chamber 2. This arrangement can avoid the influence of high temperature on the motor 20, bearing 21 and shaft 22.

The motor 20 of the centrifugal fan 9, 30 can be activated by power supply from the solar panel 15. The power supply from the solar panel 15 can be monitored by the temperature sensor 24 to control the power supply and the speed of motor 20 of centrifugal fan 9, 30 in order to avoid heat loss of the solar furnace 1 by the inactivity of the solar panel 15 due to lack of sufficient sunlight.

FIG. 10 is an illustrative diagram showing the bottom view of the solar furnace 1. It can be seen that the outer and inner solar windows 31, 11 are circular in shape and the external coiled portion 34 of the incoming oil pipe 6 coils around the outer solar window 31 underneath the outer insulation chamber 2.

According to the illustrated embodiment, there are two air pipes 14 employed to direct hot air 18 through the openings 33 of the annular trunking 32 where it is drawn back into the middle air-circulating tunnel 8 through the outer solar window 31. The number of air pipes 14 may vary depending on the size of the solar furnace 1.

The ends of the incoming and outgoing oil pipes 6, 5 extend from one side of the solar furnace 1 where the incoming oil pipe 6 is connected to the valve 23, the temperature sensor 24, and the temperature controller 25, and the outgoing oil pipe 5 is connected to an external heat exchange apparatus.

While the solar furnace disclosed in the present application has been shown and described with particular references to a number of preferred embodiments thereof, it should be noted that various other changes or modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A solar furnace comprising:

an outer insulation chamber comprising a first solar window;
an inner reaction chamber being disposed inside the outer insulation chamber and comprising a second solar window in alignment with the first solar window; and
a boiler disposed in the outer insulation chamber and thermally connected to the inner reaction chamber, wherein fluid flowing through the boiler is heated by heat energy produced in the inner reaction chamber when concentrated solar beams reflected from a solar dish enter the inner reaction chamber through the first and second solar windows.

2. The solar furnace as claimed in claim 1, wherein the boiler comprises incoming and outgoing pipes for delivering fluid in and out of the boiler, and the incoming and outgoing pipes are disposed in a middle air-circulating tunnel defined by the outer and inner chambers and the boiler.

3. The solar furnace as claimed in claim 1, wherein the outer insulation chamber comprises an outer shell, an inner shell, and a vacuum enclosure between the outer and inner shells.

4. The solar furnace as claimed in claim 2, further comprising at least one centrifugal fan in the middle air-circulating tunnel for circulating hot air therein.

5. The solar furnace as claimed in claim 4, wherein the at least one centrifugal fan is driven by a motor located outside the outer insulation chamber.

6. The solar furnace as claimed in claim 5, further comprising a solar panel for supplying solar energy to activate the motor.

7. The solar furnace as claimed in claim 2, wherein the middle air-circulating tunnel is provided with an air-converging nozzle connecting with a spread water supply and disposing near the first and second solar windows for driving hot air or hot flame in the middle air-circulating tunnel and forming a hot air curtain or hot flame curtain between the first and second solar windows.

8. The solar furnace as claimed in claim 2, further comprising an air pipe for directing a portion of hot air from the middle air-circulating tunnel, out of the outer insulation chamber, and through openings of an annular trunking where it is drawn back into the middle air-circulating tunnel by a centrifugal fan through the first solar window.

9. The solar furnace as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a wind damper fixed at a side of the outer insulation chamber where the first and second solar windows are located.

10. The solar furnace as claimed in claim 2, further comprising a temperature sensor coupled to the incoming pipe to measure temperature, and a temperature controller to adjust and maintain the temperature at a pre-set temperature.

11. The solar furnace as claimed in claim 10, further comprising a valve coupled to the temperature controller to control the flow rate of the fluid.

12. The solar furnace as claimed in claim 2, wherein a portion of the incoming pipe is disposed outside the outer insulation chamber around the first solar window to directly absorb heat from solar beams not passing through the first solar window, and a portion of hot air particles generated from the incoming pipe after absorption of heat from photon beams is drawn back into the middle air-circulating tunnel by a centrifugal fan.

13. The solar furnace as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fluid comprises oil.

14. The solar furnace as claimed in claim 1, wherein the outer insulation chamber is made of ceramic.

15. The solar furnace as claimed in claim 1, wherein the outer insulation chamber is provided with a metal wall on an outer surface thereof.

16. The solar furnace as claimed in claim 1, wherein the inner reaction chamber has an outer wall made of ceramic and an inner wall made of steel or iron.

17. The solar furnace as claimed in claim 1, wherein the boiler is made of a conductive material.

18. The solar furnace as claimed in claim 2, wherein the incoming and outgoing pipes are made of copper.

19. The solar furnace as claimed in claim 1, wherein the outer and inner chambers are generally box-shaped, and the first and second solar windows are circular in shape.

20. The solar furnace as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a plurality of channels mounted within the inner reaction chamber for continuously reflecting solar beams between side walls of each channel and absorbing solar energy, and a plurality of tanks thermally connecting to the plurality of channels, wherein fluid flowing through the plurality of tanks is heated by heat energy absorbed by the plurality of channels.

21. The solar furnace as claimed in claim 20, comprising a first plurality of channels with first opening ends covered by a first glass for capturing vertical solar beams directly reflecting from the solar dish, the first glass being made of crystal glass.

22. The solar furnace as claimed in claim 21, comprising a second plurality of channels with second opening ends covered by a second glass adjacent and at an angle to the first glass for capturing solar beams reflecting therefrom as well as angled solar beams directly reflecting from the solar dish, the second glass being made of crystal glass.

23. The solar furnace as claimed in claim 22, comprising a third plurality of channels with third opening ends covered by a third glass adjacent and at an angle to the second glass for capturing solar beams reflecting therefrom, the third glass being made of crystal glass.

24. The solar furnace as claimed in claim 23, comprising a fourth plurality of channels with fourth opening ends covered by a fourth glass adjacent and at an angle to the third glass for receiving solar beams reflecting therefrom, the fourth glass being made of crystal glass.

25. The solar furnace as claimed in claim 20, wherein the plurality of channels is divided into two symmetrical portions, each portion comprising a plurality of opening ends opening at the second solar window for capturing solar beams.

26. The solar furnace as claimed in claim 20, wherein the plurality of tanks define a compartment in which the plurality of channels is mounted, the plurality of tanks is arranged from left to right and is in fluid communication with each other by copper pipes, and oil flows from oil tank at the left to oil tank at the right in one direction by an oil pump.

27. The solar furnace as claimed in claim 26, comprising a plurality of compartments with an outer compartment encompassing an inner compartment.

28. The solar furnace as claimed in claim 20, wherein the channels are parallel and internal side walls are spaced apart from each other at a distance in the form of stacked-up multi-layered channels.

29. The solar furnace as claimed in claim 20, wherein at least a portion of the plurality of channels is rolled up into a generally polygonal shape.

30. The solar furnace as claimed in claim 20, further comprising an incoming pipe and an outgoing pipe for delivering fluid in and out of the plurality of tanks in each compartment, and insulation chambers being fixed at two opposite ends of the inner chamber, wherein the incoming pipes passing through a side wall of the insulation chamber are joined by an incoming pipe of the boiler, and the outgoing pipes passing through a side wall of the insulation chamber are joined by an outgoing pipe of the boiler.

31. The solar furnace as claimed in claim 30, wherein the incoming and outgoing pipes of the boiler and the plurality of tanks are made of copper.

32. The solar furnace as claimed in claim 20, wherein the plurality of channels is made of metal alloy.

33. The solar furnace as claimed in claim 32, wherein inner surfaces of the plurality of channels are coated with a coating material having high absorptivity and low emissivity of solar energy.

34. The solar furnace as claimed in claim 33, wherein the coating material comprises black nickel oxide or black chrome.

35. The solar furnace as claimed in claim 20, wherein the fluid comprises oil.

36. The solar furnace as claimed in claim 2, wherein the incoming pipes are in the form of coiled pipes fastened together by stainless steel wires.

37. The solar furnace as claimed in claim 2, wherein the incoming pipes comprise a plurality of flow diverging members formed along and within the incoming pipes, each flow diverging member including a disc and a flared nozzle, the disc being disposed perpendicular to the direction of flow and comprising a central opening and a plurality of peripheral openings, the flared nozzle being connected to the disc at a central downstream side thereof such that the nozzle opening is in registration with the central opening, and wherein air flows partially straight through the central opening and the nozzle opening and partially through the plurality of peripheral openings and diverges radially and substantially perpendicular towards inner surfaces of the coiled pipes, thereby increasing heat energy absorption.

38. The solar furnace as claimed in claim 7, comprising layers of middle air-circulating tunnels.

39. The solar furnace as claimed in claim 7, wherein the middle air-circulating tunnel coils up to form a multi-layered air-circulating tunnel with an inner opening connected to an outer opening by a pipe to form a continuous flow path.

40. The solar furnace as claimed in claim 39, wherein each layer of the multi-layered air-circulating tunnel has a window, and the windows of the multi-layered air-circulating tunnel are in registration with the first and second solar windows.

41. The solar furnace as claimed in claim 39, wherein each layer of the multi-layered air-circulating tunnel is provided with an air-converging nozzle connecting with a spread water supply and disposing near the first and second solar windows for driving hot air or hot flame in the multi-layered air-circulating tunnel and forming a multi-layered hot air curtain or hot flame curtain between the first and second solar windows.

42. The solar furnace as claimed in claim 41, wherein hot air in the multi-layered air-circulating tunnel contains atmospheric air particles of different densities, and the multi-layered hot air curtain or hot flame curtain form a non-reflective medium adapted to react with concentrated photon beams reflected from the solar dish.

43. The solar furnace as claimed in claim 42, wherein the hot atmospheric air particles circulate from the inner reaction chamber through the copper pipe and to a center of the multi-layered air-circulating tunnel where it starts a first loop of circulation, wherein the multi-layered hot air curtain or hot flame curtain absorbs heat energy generated from the reaction of photon beams at each window and the hot air particles until an outermost layer of air-circulating tunnel near the second solar window where circulation restarts.

44. The solar furnace as claimed in claim 43, further comprising at least one centrifugal fan provided at each layer of the multi-layered air-circulating tunnel.

45. The solar furnace as claimed in claim 39, wherein an outermost layer of the multi-layered air-circulating tunnel near the first solar window has an enlarged opening to receive a thicker air curtain.

46. The solar furnace as claimed in claim 8, wherein hot air particles drawn back into the middle air-circulating tunnel through the openings of the annular trunking and through the first solar window react with the concentrated photon beams to increase the temperature of the hot air particles.

47. The solar furnace as claimed in claim 10, further comprising a motor electrically connecting to the temperature controller to control the speed of centrifugal fans provided in the middle air-circulating tunnel.

48. The solar furnace as claimed in claim 12, wherein a portion of the hot air particle reacts with photon beams to increase the temperature of the hot air particles.

49. The solar furnace as claimed in claim 32, further comprising brackets fixed to inner surfaces of the plurality of channels, a crystal glass being fixed to outer layers of a pair of the brackets between a space between the metal alloy channel and the crystal glass, and a layer of silver with transparent coating being provided in the space to protect the channel from oxidation.

50. The solar furnace as claimed in claim 32, further comprising reinforcing I-beam fixed to an internal surface of each channel to prevent the metal alloy channel from bending and to support the weight of the channel.

51. The solar furnace as claimed in claim 50, further comprising reinforcing I-beam made of metal alloy and provided with a layer of silver with transparent coating to protect it from oxidation, the reinforcing I-beam being provided with an opening to allow solar beams to pass therethrough.

52. A solar furnace comprising:

an insulation chamber comprising a center and an off-centered window;
a plurality of boilers disposed substantially on the entire inner surface of the insulation chamber, and defining a middle reaction cavity; and
a fan system in the middle reaction cavity for producing a hot air curtain or hot flame curtain therein; wherein fluid flowing through the plurality of boilers is heated by heat energy produced in the middle reaction cavity when concentrated solar beams reflected from a solar dish enter the middle reaction cavity through the off-centered window, and strike the hot air curtain or hot flame curtain in a direction generally tangent to bending solar beams formed as solar beams refract due to change in refraction index, such that hot air particles in the hot air curtain or hot flame curtain continuously react with photons of the bending solar beams.

53. The solar furnace as claimed in claim 52, wherein the fan system comprises a central fan located at the center for the formation of a generally circular hot air curtain or hot flame curtain in the middle reaction cavity, and the bending solar beams bend into circles in the middle reaction cavity.

54. The solar furnace as claimed in claim 53, further comprising a plurality of peripheral centrifugal fans oriented around the central fan in the middle reaction cavity to facilitate the formation of the generally circular hot air curtain or hot flame curtain.

55. The solar furnace as claimed in claim 54, wherein each of the plurality of peripheral centrifugal fans is provided with an air nozzle connecting with a spread water supply for the formation of a hot air curtain or hot flame curtain flowing in a direction generally tangent to the generally circular hot air curtain or hot flame curtain.

56. The solar furnace as claimed in claim 53, wherein the central fan is a centrifugal fan.

57. The solar furnace as claimed in claim 52, wherein the fan system comprises a plurality of radial centrifugal fans extending radially at one side of the middle reaction cavity, and the plurality of radial centrifugal fans with an air nozzle connecting with a spread water supply is adapted to blow hot air or hot flame from the one side to an opposite side across the middle reaction cavity thereby forming a plurality of radial hot air curtains or hot flame curtains, and wherein the concentrated solar beams strike one of the plurality of radial hot air curtains or hot flame curtains, refract and bend, and strike an adjacent one of the plurality of radial hot air curtains or hot flame curtains until bending into circles in the middle reaction chamber.

58. The solar furnace as claimed in claim 52, wherein the insulation chamber has a generally rectangular cross section, and the plurality of boilers is arranged side-by-side in a rectangular configuration except for an opening which is in alignment with the off-centered window.

59. The solar furnace as claimed in claim 52, wherein the insulation chamber is generally cylindrical in shape, and the plurality of boilers is arranged side by-side in a circle except for an opening which is in alignment with the off-centered window.

60. The solar furnace as claimed in claim 52, wherein the fan system is driven by a motor located outside the insulation chamber.

61. The solar furnace as claimed in claim 60, further comprising a solar panel for supplying solar energy to activate the motor.

62. The solar furnace as claimed in claim 52, wherein the plurality of boilers comprises incoming and outgoing pipes for delivering fluid in and out of the plurality of boilers.

63. The solar furnace as claimed in claim 62, further comprising a temperature sensor coupled to the incoming pipe to measure temperature, and a temperature controller to adjust and maintain the temperature at a pre-set temperature.

64. The solar furnace as claimed in claim 63, further comprising a valve coupled to the temperature controller to control the flow rate of the fluid.

65. The solar furnace as claimed in claim 52, wherein the fluid comprises oil.

66. The solar furnace as claimed in claim 52, wherein the insulation chamber is made of ceramic.

67. The solar furnace as claimed in claim 52, wherein the plurality of boilers is made of a conductive material.

68. The solar furnace as claimed in claim 62, wherein the incoming and outgoing pipes are made of copper.

69. A solar furnace comprising:

an outer chamber comprising a window;
an inner chamber formed inside the outer chamber; and
a boiler system in thermal communication with the inner chamber; wherein fluid flowing through the boiler system is heated by heat energy produced in the inner chamber when concentrated solar beams reflected from a solar dish enter the inner chamber through the window.

70. The solar furnace as claimed in claim 69, wherein the boiler system is connected to an inner surface of the outer chamber.

71. The solar furnace as claimed in claim 69, wherein the boiler system is connected to an outer surface of the inner chamber.

72. The solar furnace as claimed in claim 69, further comprising a fan system for producing a hot air curtain or hot flame curtain for reaction with photons of the solar beams.

73. The solar furnace as claimed in claim 72, wherein the fan system is located between the outer and inner chambers, and the hot air curtain or hot flame curtain is formed across the window.

74. The solar furnace as claimed in claim 72, wherein the fan system is located inside the inner chamber, and the hot air curtain or hot flame curtain is formed inside the inner chamber.

75. The solar furnace as claimed in claim 69, further comprising a plurality of channels mounted within the inner chamber for continuously reflecting the concentrated solar beams between side walls of each channel and absorbing solar energy, and a plurality of tanks thermally connecting to the plurality of channels, wherein fluid flowing through the plurality of tanks is heated by heat energy absorbed by the plurality of channels.

Patent History
Publication number: 20100154782
Type: Application
Filed: Dec 23, 2008
Publication Date: Jun 24, 2010
Inventor: Wai Man HON (Hong Kong)
Application Number: 12/342,125
Classifications
Current U.S. Class: Hot Air Furnace (126/616); Conduit Absorber Structure (126/651); Glass (126/712)
International Classification: F24J 2/42 (20060101); F24J 2/24 (20060101); F24J 2/50 (20060101);