Noncircular Conduit Patents (Class 126/664)
  • Patent number: 11624564
    Abstract: A heat exchanger assembly (100), the heat exchanger assembly (100) comprising: a first heat exchanger (1), the first heat exchanger (1) comprising a first communicating header pipe (10), a first header pipe (12), and heat exchange tubes (9) arranged between the first communicating header pipe (10) and the first header pipe (12); and a second heat exchanger (2), the second heat exchanger (2) comprising a second communicating header pipe (20), a second header pipe (22), and heat exchange tubes (9) arranged between the second communicating header pipe (20) and the second header pipe (22), wherein the first communicating header pipe (10) is provided with a partition plate (30) and thus has a plurality of first communicating chambers (14) arranged in the axial direction of the first communicating header pipe (10), the second communicating header pipe (20) is provided with a partition plate (30) and thus has a plurality of second communicating chambers (24) arranged in the axial direction of the second communicatin
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: Danfoss Micro Channel Heat Exchanger (Jiaxing) Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Lingjie Zhang, Junfeng Jin, Xiangxun Lu, Pierre Olivier Pelletier
  • Patent number: 11421947
    Abstract: A laminated header includes: a first passage plate having a flat-plate shape in which a first passage is formed; a second passage plate having a flat-plate shape in which a plurality of second passages are formed; a third passage plate having a flat-plate shape in which a plurality of third passages are formed; a first branch passage plate having a flat-plate shape in which an upstream side branch passage is formed, the upstream side branch passage branching the first passage into the plurality of second passages; and a second branch passage plate having a flat-plate shape in which a downstream side branch passage is formed, the downstream side branch passage branching one of the plurality of second passages into the plurality of third passages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Shigeyoshi Matsui, Shinya Higashiiue, Takehiro Hayashi
  • Patent number: 11029101
    Abstract: A header for a header tank of a heat exchanger comprises a header wall defining a tube receiving portion having a plurality of longitudinally spaced tube openings formed therethrough. The tube receiving portion includes a planar portion and an adjacent offset portion. The planar portion is disposed on a first plane and the offset portion has a variable distance from the first plane as the offset portion extends away from the planar portion with respect to a longitudinal direction of the header.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: HANON SYSTEMS
    Inventors: Richard Armsden, Tom Kelham
  • Patent number: 10648678
    Abstract: A building-integrated solar energy system is disclosed that comprises an evacuated closed-loop conduit network circulating a working fluid through a solar thermal collector and at least one heat usage device, wherein the effective entirety of the surfaces of the closed-loop conduit network are in contact with the working fluid such that phase change occurs whenever heat energy is added by the solar thermal collector or removed by a heat usage device. The working fluid is adiabatically isolated and contained in a low pressure environment within the closed-loop conduit network. The full surface contact and low-pressure isolation of the working fluid dramatically reduces temperature differentials and energy losses, allowing for highly efficient and cost-effective heat collection and distribution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: TENKIV, INC.
    Inventors: Zachary Juhasz, William Juhasz
  • Patent number: 10469028
    Abstract: Solar thermal units and methods of operating solar thermal units for the conversion of solar insolation to thermal energy are provided. In some examples, solar thermal units have an inlet, and a split flow of heat absorbing fluid to either side of the solar thermal unit, along a first fluid flow path and a second fluid flow path. Optionally, one or more photovoltaic panels can be provided as part of the solar thermal unit, which may convert solar insolation to electric power that may be used by a system connected to the solar thermal unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: Zero Mass Water, Inc.
    Inventors: Cody Friesen, Michael Robinson, Grant Friesen, Heath Lorzel, Justin Zachary Bessant
  • Patent number: 9222701
    Abstract: A solar receiver for a thermal power plant including a plurality of absorber modules, each absorber module including at least one face configured to be illuminated by a solar flux, wherein the modules are arranged side by side forming a paving. Each absorber module further includes its own fluid circuit in which a fluid to be heated by the solar flux can flow, the fluid circuits of the absorber modules being connected to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignees: Commissariat á l'énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives, CENTRE NATIONAL DE LA RECHERCHE SCIENTIFIQUE
    Inventors: Franck Pra, Raphaël Couturier, Alain Ferriere, Patrice Tochon
  • Patent number: 9016271
    Abstract: This invention relates to a device that comprises at least one collection unit (11), equipped with a collection tube (21) placed on supports (23), which is formed by an inner absorber tube (31) shaped as a continuous tube and an outer envelope tube (33). The collection unit (11) also comprises reflectors (15) that direct the radiation toward the collection tube (21). Moreover, the device comprises means (41, 43) designed to maintain the collection tube (21) space between the absorber tube (31) and the envelope tube (33) at a pressure of between 5·10?1-5·10?2 mbar. The main advantages of the invention include the reduction in the breaking of glass due to the lower stresses to fatigue, an increase in the effective collection surface (97%-99%) and active management of the vacuum, which makes it possible to monitor the evolution thereof at all times.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Aries Ingenieria Y Sistemas, S.A.
    Inventors: Marco Antonio Carrascosa Peréz, Manuel Julián Luna Sánchez, Abel Garcia-Miján Gómez, Fernando Rueda Jimenez
  • Publication number: 20150068514
    Abstract: A solar radiation panel that has inlet and outlet collectors and a series of conduits that run from the inlet collector to the outlet collector. A working fluid that is heated by solar radiation flows inside the conduits. The panel is a single piece and includes an upper layer, at least one intermediate layer, and a lower layer. The upper layer receives the solar radiation. The at least one intermediate layer is located under the upper layer, and contains the conduits through which the working fluid flows. The lower layer is located under the intermediate layer, and the working fluid inlet and outlet collectors are coupled in said lower layer. The working fluid that is heated in the panel subsequently proceeds to a combustion engine that produces electricity by means of an alternator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2012
    Publication date: March 12, 2015
    Inventors: Carlos Galdon Cabrera, Carlos Nunez Gonzalez
  • Publication number: 20140338657
    Abstract: The “FLAT TERMO-SOLAR COLLECTOR AND MANUFACTURING PROCESS”, subject of this patent, represents a radical paradigm shift, both in the manufacturing process—whose steps were minimized and subject to any degree of automation—and regarding the shape design of the solar energy gathering tubes and tightness of the metal housing that houses the collecting element. The solar energy gathering tubes in accordance with this patent are manufactured with copper and have reduced costs—as the materials, shapes and manufacturing process—due to three innovative embodiments: 1. The reducing the thickness of the copper plates to only 0.10 to 0.15 millimeters, which reduces the cost of materials and the final weight of the assembly; 2. The molding of the gathering tubes by its stamping in these thin plates, which provide structural stability to the thin plates, thereby balancing the brittleness of their low thickness with increased resistance conferred by stamping; 3.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Publication date: November 20, 2014
    Inventor: Othon Espindola Marciel Filhno
  • Patent number: 8869790
    Abstract: A flat evacuated-tube solar collector includes two parallel collecting tubes, a plurality of parallel evacuated tubes perpendicularly installed between two collecting tubes. Each evacuated tube includes two distal tube sections and a middle section situated between the two distal tube sections, and the middle section is in a flat shape, and has a cross-sectional area greater than that of the distal tube sections. The flat evacuated tubes substitute the conventional fins soldered onto a flat panel solar collector to receive sunlight, while the characteristic of two distal ends of the evacuated tube having a smaller cross-section than the middle section maintains an appropriate spacing between the collecting tube and a connecting point of the evacuated tube to assure the structural strength of the collecting tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Kunshan Jue-Chung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Dah-Chyi Kuo, Hung-Ping Hsieh, Xue-Hai Wang, Ling Long
  • Patent number: 8726899
    Abstract: Provided is a solar light concentrating system which realizes suppression of power generation costs by applying a receiver 2 that is capable of suppressing a manufacturing cost to a low level, facilitating recovery work when a failure occurs, and quickly recovering a heating medium circulating inside in case of an emergency. The receiver 2 is formed by three-dimensionally combining multiple modules 20. At least a part of the modules is a trapezoid-shaped module 20B. The trapezoid-shaped module includes an upper header 21B, a lower header 22B being shorter than the upper header, and multiple heat receiving tubes 23 which connect the two headers. The heat receiving tubes are formed by successively altering their cross-sectional shapes in away that makes each heat receiving tube shaped like a wedge that becomes narrower from its top toward its bottom in a front view, and like a wedge that becomes wider from its top toward its bottom in a side view.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Tokyo Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Yutaka Tamaura, Hiroshi Hasuike
  • Patent number: 8662073
    Abstract: A solar absorber module is described. The module has a housing with a longitudinal axis with a first tapered housing section with a first, free end, and a second end with a reduced cross-sectional area compared to the first end, and with a second housing section adjoining the second end of the first housing section with a substantially constant cross-section over its length. The module also has a ceramic solar absorber element accommodated in the first end of the first housing section with a first surface that can be oriented toward the solar radiation with an axis of symmetry, and a second surface lying across from the first surface, wherein the solar absorber element has a large number of substantially straight channels connecting the first surface to the second surface. The solar absorber module is accommodated in the first end of the first housing section such that the axis of symmetry of the first surface is inclined relative to the longitudinal axis of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Saint-Gobain Industriekeramik
    Inventor: Udo Hack
  • Publication number: 20130233303
    Abstract: A thermal receiver includes a heat absorption body and a support body. The heat absorption body includes at least one honeycomb unit having a plurality of flow paths arranged for circulation of a heat medium. The heat absorption body includes silicon carbide. A surface of the at least one honeycomb unit to which solar light is radiated is subjected to a roughening treatment or a coating treatment. The support body accommodates and supports the heat absorption body and allows circulation of the heat medium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2013
    Publication date: September 12, 2013
    Applicant: IBIDEN CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kazutaka MAJIMA, Masataka KATO
  • Publication number: 20130233302
    Abstract: A heat collection receiver includes a heat absorption body and a support body. The heat absorption body includes at least one honeycomb unit in which a plurality of flow paths through which a heat medium passes are provided in parallel with each other. The at least one honeycomb unit includes porous silicon carbide and silicon that fills pores in the porous silicon carbide. A surface region of the at least one honeycomb unit includes a porous layer which includes pores in a predetermined depth from the surface. The surface region is irradiated with solar light. The pores of the porous layer are not filled with the silicon. The support body accommodates and supports the heat absorption body and the heat medium flows through the support body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2013
    Publication date: September 12, 2013
    Applicant: IBIDEN CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kazutaka MAJIMA, Masataka KATO
  • Publication number: 20130220309
    Abstract: A thermal receiver includes a heat absorption body and a support body. The heat absorption body is made of at least one honeycomb unit having a plurality of flow paths arranged for circulation of a heat medium. The support body supports the heat absorption body and allows circulation of the heat medium. The heat absorption body includes silicon carbide and is supported at a position away from an inner surface of the support body by a predetermined distance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2013
    Publication date: August 29, 2013
    Applicant: IBIDEN CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Ibiden Co., Ltd.
  • Patent number: 8517007
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an energy supplying device intended to be used for energy collecting, energy transfer and energy release, but also for cooling and storing of energy, said energy supplying device (1) consists of at least three elongated profiles (3), which comprise a number of walls (2?, 2?) delimiting in the same elongated cavities (2), produced by extruding in a direction of extrusion (4) by aid of a tool, said cavities (2) provide space for a medium (5) such as gas or liquid to circulate or to be stored in said cavities (2) or a hose or a tube (9) located in these.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Inventor: Leif Anders Jilkén
  • Publication number: 20130213389
    Abstract: The invention concerns a solar collector board formed as a layered construction. The board comprises at least a first and a second platelike body being congruent or close to congruent, and arranged mutually parallel or close to parallel with a mutual distance, the first platelike body being, at its surface facing the second platelike body, provided with absorbing properties, and the second platelike body being transparent or opaque and made of at least one low emission material, and wherein a seal is arranged in between the first and the second platelike body at their respective side edges to assure said mutual distance and at the same time to provide a fluid tight space between the first and the second platelike body, the space between the first and the second platelike body being adapted for circulation of a fluid, and the layered construction being further provided with at least one inlet and at least one outlet for the circulating fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2011
    Publication date: August 22, 2013
    Inventor: Hans-Christian Francke
  • Patent number: 8397711
    Abstract: A solar collector has a polygonal top panel forming a top face and having at least three edges, a similarly polygonal bottom panel forming a bottom face directed away from the top face and fitted congruently to the top panel to form a flow passage extending between the faces, and at least four connectors projecting from at least three of the edges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Global Plastic, S.A.
    Inventors: Robert Jung, Javier Otano, Jürgen Weigel, Michael Schröder
  • Publication number: 20130025586
    Abstract: A solar absorber module is described. The module has a housing with a longitudinal axis with a first tapered housing section with a first, free end, and a second end with a reduced cross-sectional area compared to the first end, and with a second housing section adjoining the second end of the first housing section with a substantially constant cross-section over its length. The module also has a ceramic solar absorber element accommodated in the first end of the first housing section with a first surface that can be oriented toward the solar radiation with an axis of symmetry, and a second surface lying across from the first surface, wherein the solar absorber element has a large number of substantially straight channels connecting the first surface to the second surface. The solar absorber module is accommodated in the first end of the first housing section such that the axis of symmetry of the first surface is inclined relative to the longitudinal axis of the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2012
    Publication date: January 31, 2013
    Applicant: Saint-Gobain Industriekeramik Rodental GMBH
    Inventor: Saint-Gobain Industriekeramik Rodental GMBH
  • Patent number: 8347877
    Abstract: A solar energy collecting system and method suitable for hot water generation using solar energy. The system includes multiport tubes between inlet and outlet manifolds. The tubes are formed of a metallic material, each tube has oppositely-disposed first and second flat surfaces between lateral edges thereof, longitudinally-opposed first and second ends, and multiple fluid channels between the first and second ends that are in fluidic parallel to each other. The inlet and outlet manifolds are coupled to the first and second ends of the tubes so that chambers within the inlet and outlet manifolds are fluidically connected to the fluid channels of the multiport tubes. During operation of the system, a fluid flowing through the fluid channels of the tubes is heated by direct solar radiation impinging the first flat surfaces of the tubes and optionally by reflected solar radiation impinging the second flat surfaces of the tubes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Mill Masters, Inc.
    Inventors: Yoram Leon Shabtay, William E. Panthofer
  • Patent number: 8302595
    Abstract: A solar absorber module is described. The module has a housing with a longitudinal axis with a first tapered housing section with a first, free end, and a second end with a reduced cross-sectional area compared to the first end, and with a second housing section adjoining the second end of the first housing section with a substantially constant cross-section over its length. The module also has a ceramic solar absorber element accommodated in the first end of the first housing section with a first surface that can be oriented toward the solar radiation with an axis of symmetry, and a second surface lying across from the first surface, wherein the solar absorber element has a large number of substantially straight channels connecting the first surface to the second surface. The solar absorber module is accommodated in the first end of the first housing section such that the axis of symmetry of the first surface is inclined relative to the longitudinal axis of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Saint-Gobain Indusriekeramik Rodental GmbH
    Inventor: Udo Hack
  • Publication number: 20120227731
    Abstract: Provided is a solar light concentrating system which realizes suppression of power generation costs by applying a receiver 2 that is capable of suppressing a manufacturing cost to a low level, facilitating recovery work when a failure occurs, and quickly recovering a heating medium circulating inside in case of an emergency. The receiver 2 is formed by three-dimensionally combining multiple modules 20. At least a part of the modules is a trapezoid-shaped module 20B. The trapezoid-shaped module includes an upper header 21B, a lower header 22B being shorter than the upper header, and multiple heat receiving tubes 23 which connect the two headers. The heat receiving tubes are formed by successively altering their cross-sectional shapes in away that makes each heat receiving tube shaped like a wedge that becomes narrower from its top toward its bottom in a front view, and like a wedge that becomes wider from its top toward its bottom in a side view.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2010
    Publication date: September 13, 2012
    Applicant: Tokyo Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Yutaka Tamaura, Hiroshi Hasuike
  • Publication number: 20110290236
    Abstract: A solar absorber module is described. The module has a housing with a longitudinal axis with a first tapered housing section with a first, free end, and a second end with a reduced cross-sectional area compared to the first end, and with a second housing section adjoining the second end of the first housing section with a substantially constant cross-section over its length. The module also has a ceramic solar absorber element accommodated in the first end of the first housing section with a first surface that can be oriented toward the solar radiation with an axis of symmetry, and a second surface lying across from the first surface, wherein the solar absorber element has a large number of substantially straight channels connecting the first surface to the second surface. The solar absorber module is accommodated in the first end of the first housing section such that the axis of symmetry of the first surface is inclined relative to the longitudinal axis of the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2010
    Publication date: December 1, 2011
    Inventor: Udo Hack
  • Publication number: 20100300431
    Abstract: This invention relates to a device that comprises at least one collection unit (11), equipped with a collection tube (21) placed on supports (23), which is formed by an inner absorber tube (31) shaped as a continuous tube and an outer envelope tube (33). The collection unit (11) also comprises reflectors (15) that direct the radiation toward the collection tube (21). Moreover, the device comprises means (41, 43) designed to maintain the collection tube (21) space between the absorber tube (31) and the envelope tube (33) at a pressure of between 5·10?1-5·10?2 mbar. The main advantages of the invention include the reduction in the breaking of glass due to the lower stresses to fatigue, an increase in the effective collection surface (97%-98%) and active management of the vacuum, which makes it possible to monitor the evolution thereof at all times.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2009
    Publication date: December 2, 2010
    Inventors: Marco Antonio Carrascosa Pérez, Manuel Julián Luna Sánchez, Abel García-Miján Gómez, Fernando Rueda Jiménez
  • Patent number: 7810489
    Abstract: A solar air conditioner includes an inlet assembly (20), an outlet assembly (30), a solar collector assembly (10), and a plurality of connecting assemblies (14) connecting the solar collectors, and the inlet and the outlet assemblies together. The solar collector assembly includes a plurality of solar collectors (12). Each of the solar collectors has a bottom plate (124), a heat-absorbing unit (123) mounted on the bottom plate, and a transparent panel (121) positioned on the heat-absorbing unit. The heat-absorbing unit divides an inner space of the solar collector into an upper heat-storage cavity (125) and a lower heat-absorbing cavity (125). The inlet and outlet assemblies seal two ends of the upper heat-storage cavity and communicate with two ends of the lower heat-absorbing cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignees: Fu Zhun Precision Industry (Shen Zhen) Co., Ltd., Foxconn Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tay-Jian Liu, Xin-Jian Xiao
  • Publication number: 20090133687
    Abstract: A solar air conditioning device includes an inlet assembly, an outlet assembly, a plurality of solar collectors, and a plurality of connecting assemblies connecting the solar collectors together. Each solar collector has a transparent panel and a heat-absorbing set located below the transparent panel. The heat-absorbing set includes a plurality of heat-absorbing units clasped together and divides an inner space of the solar collector into an upper heat-storage cavity and a lower heat-absorbing cavity. Each connecting assembly includes a plurality of connecting units connecting the adjacent solar collectors together and communicating with the heat absorbing cavities of the adjacent solar collectors. Two supporting surfaces are formed at two opposite ends of each connecting unit for supporting adjacent transparent panels thereon. The inlet and outlet assemblies seal two ends of the heat-storage cavity and communicate with two ends of the heat-absorbing cavity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2008
    Publication date: May 28, 2009
    Applicants: FU ZHUN PRECISION INDUSTRY (SHEN ZHEN) CO., LTD., FOXCONN TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: TAY-JIAN LIU, XIN-JIAN XIAO
  • Patent number: 7063126
    Abstract: A roofing panel (13) incorporating a heat exchange assembly is described, the roofing panel including: an internal fluid passageway (51) formed between a pair of spaced substantially parallel internal sheets (16, 17) for the passage therethrough of a fluid; respective external passageways (52, 53) formed between each internal sheet and a respective external sheet (21, 20) spaced from and substantially parallel to a respective internal sheet, and spacing ribs (18, 22, 24) between the sheets and forming with the sheets a plurality of fluid conduits (19) within the fluid passageway and a plurality of external conduits (23, 25) within the external passageways; wherein the panel is sealed at the sides thereof by the spacing ribs and is open at the ends thereof to provide access to the conduits which extend from one end of the panel to the other end thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2006
    Inventor: Geoffrey R Morris
  • Patent number: 6913015
    Abstract: The subject of the invention is modular system for utilization of solar energy for heating of sanitary water, which is composed from individual modules, each of which comprises a prefabricated, upper-outflow transparent (diaphanous), translucent or non-transparent element (1), one or several intermediate transparent (diaphanous), translucent or non-transparent element(s) (2), and a lower-inflow transparent (diaphanous), translucent or non-transparent element (3). Their mutual connection by means of junctions (4a, 4b) enables flow of nontransparent media from one element to the other while absorbing solar energy. Several modules can be mutually and in parallel connected to the modular system replacing the existing roofing tiles. The choice of an appropriate color for the nontransparent media makes the system compatible and consistent with the look of surrounding existing roof tiles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2005
    Inventor: Aljosa Pajk
  • Patent number: 6787116
    Abstract: An overmolding insert includes a base having at least one opening in a first surface, the opening communicating with a second surface opposite the first surface, at least one hollow projection extending from the first surface, the hollow projection having a first opening communicating with the opening of the first surface and a second opening located at a terminal portion of the hollow projection, the insert further having two opposed side walls, each side wall being joined to the first surface, two opposed end walls being joined to an opposite end of the first surface and extending from one side wall to the other side wall. The side walls, the end walls, and the first surface define a partially closed space, with the terminal portion of the hollow projection extending beyond the partially closed space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2004
    Assignee: Aquatherm Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles G Williams, John F. Messerschmidt, J. David Sizelove
  • Patent number: 6604521
    Abstract: An improved solar collector pipe that directly conveys fluid to be heated and collects and transfers solar energy efficiently and directly to the internal fluid, thereby maximizing both the amount of energy transmitted to the internal fluid and the peak temperature attainable by that fluid. The solar collector pipe includes a transparent portion for admitting solar energy into the solar collector pipe. Internal to the solar collector pipe is an absorbing portion for absorbing solar energy. A conduit portion is also included and comprises a reflecting surface thereon for reflecting solar energy received through the transparent portion onto the absorbing portion. The transparent portion, the conduit portion, and the absorbing portion together define at least one fluid passageway for conveying the fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2003
    Inventors: Travis Smith, Manu Ghela
  • Patent number: 6446625
    Abstract: A solar energy collection system that can be retrofitted into pavement covered lots, such as macadam covered parking lots has a pump and heat exchanger, and a conduit buried below the pavement surface that contains a heat transfer fluid such as water. The conduit has a hollow unitary, one piece casing with an oval cross section and an internal divider that divides the interior of said casing into two passageways having substantially the same cross sectional area. Heat conducting fins preferably made of copper are mounted on the casing and extend coaxially outwardly in opposite directions therefrom along the major oval axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2002
    Assignee: Advance Technologies Limited
    Inventor: Paul D. Tinari
  • Patent number: 6024086
    Abstract: A flexible solar absorbing means, which can be one or more extruded or molded plastic or rubber oval tubes which may or may not be connected to each other at the edges by a small webbing; communicating with a rounding connection adapter means communicating with a distribution and collecting header means which can be connected as separate parts or molded as a unit; communicating with the remainder of the solar systems, mounting, piping, pumping, control and storage means as well as frame and glazing means where appropriate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2000
    Inventor: Albert Clark Rich