Flux concentrating solar fluid heater

Claim 2

A solar energy collector comprising; (a) a plurality of elongated upwardly-open trough-shaped reflectors placed side by side and each having facing surfaces joined by a curved section, each of said reflectors being formed by selecting a rectangular flat flexible sheet which has a reflective surface, (b) a series of templates spaced along the said reflectors and having upwardly opening recesses the walls of which engage and shape the said reflectors when said sheets are pressed downwards into the said recesses whereby to each form an upwardly-open trough-shaped reflector having the said facing surfaces of parabolic form joined by the said curved section, the axis of the said parabolic surfaces being disposed about a medial axis of the trough but with the axes of the parabolic surfaces displaced outwardly from the said medial axis and inclined thereto to intersect outside of the said reflector on the reflector medial axis but beneath the said curved joining section, (c) locking members engaged on the said templates between the said recesses and engaging the edges of the said reflectors to retain them in the said recesses, (d) a frame supporting the said templates in spaced relationship, (e) means to support the said frame to allow it to be orientated about a horizontal axis positioned in line with the axis of the said elongated reflectors, and (f) a heat collector tube supported by the said frame and disposed at the focal area of each of the said reflectors and constructed to act as an absorber of heat focused on to it by the said reflectors.

Claim 3

A solar energy collector according to claim 1 wherein said locking members extend along a medial line of the templates and have longitudinal edges bent back to lie against the sides of the said members to form ridges which are positioned to be engaged by the longitudinal edges of the said reflectors.

Claim 4

A solar energy collector according to claim 1 wherein the said frame is a box frame comprising a floor and upstanding sides formed of fibreglass and has on the floor a series of spaced bearers bonded to the said fibreglass floor and to the said templates and arranged to support the said heat collector tube.

Claim 5

A solar energy collector according to claim 3 including screws engaged in the said bearers adjacent the lower centre of the said recesses, and by ties passed through apertures in the heads of the said screws and around the said heat collector tubes, said reflectors being apertured to allow the screws to project therethrough to support the said heat collector tubes at the focal area of the said reflectors.

Claim 6

A solar energy collector according to claim 1 or 2 wherein said heat collector tube has an inlet coincident with the said axis of the said frame and an outlet coincident with the said axis on the other side of the said frame whereby the said inlet and outlet portions of the tube form the orientation axis of the said frame, and in that the said tube is continuous and passes through each of the said reflectors.

Claim 7

A solar energy collector according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the displacement of axes of the parabolic sections of the reflector on each side of the medial plane of the said reflector, and the dimension of the heat collector tube, are such that solar rays entering the said reflector over an arc of up to 10° on each side of the said medial plane are directed on to the said heat collector tube, the said heat collector tube being elongated in the direction of the said medial plane.

Claim 8

A solar energy collector comprising: a plurality of elongated upwardly-open trough-shaped reflectors placed side by side and each having facing curved reflective surfaces joined by a curved central section disposed about a medial axis of the trough, the said reflectors having the said facing surfaces of parabolic form joined by the said curved section, the axis of the said parabolic surfaces being disposed about a medial axis of the trough but with the axes of the parabolic surfaces displaced outwardly from the said medial axis and inclined thereto to intersect outside of the said reflector on the reflector medial axis but beneath the said curved joining section, a series of templates spaced along the said reflectors and having upwardly opening recesses the walls of which engage and shape the said curved sections of the reflectors, locking member of "U" shape with outer downturned edges forming longitudinal ridges engaging on the said templates between the said recesses, said ridges engaging the edges of the said reflectors to retain them in the said recesses when forced downwards therein, a frame supporting the said templates in spaced relationship, and a heat collector tube supported by the said frame and disposed to extend through the focal area of each of the said reflectors and of elongated cross-section with the elongation extending on the said medial line of the said reflectors, said collector tube being carried by screwed support means on the said frame spaced at intervals and projecting freely through apertures in the said reflectors and having the said heat collector tube wire-tied thereto, whereby the height of the said tube is adjustable in relation to the focal area of the said reflectors and heat transfer to the said frame is minimised.

Claim 9

A solar energy collector comprising: a plurality of elongated upwardly-open trough-shaped reflectors placed side by side and each having facing curved reflective surfaces joined by a curved central section disposed about a medial axis of the trough, the said reflectors having the said facing surfaces of parabolic form joined by the said curved section, the axis of the said parabolic surfaces being disposed about a medial axis of the trough but with the axes of the parabolic surfaces displaced outwardly from the said medial axis and inclined thereto to intersect outside of the said reflector on the reflector medial axis but beneath the said curved joining section, a series of templates spaced along the said reflectors and having upwardly opening recesses the walls of which engage and shape the said curved sections of the reflectors, locking member of "U" shape with outer downturned edges forming longitudinal ridges engaging on the said templates between the said recesses, said ridges engaging the edges of the said reflectors to retain them in the said recesses when forced downwards therein, a frame supporting the said templates in spaced relationship, and a heat collector tube supported by the said frame and disposed to extend through the focal area of each of the said reflectors and of elongated cross-section with the elongation extending on the said medial line of the said reflectors, said collector tube being carried by screwed support means on the said frame spaced at intervals and projecting freely through apertures in the said reflectors and having the said heat collector tube wire-tied thereto, whereby the height of the said tube is adjustable in relation to the focal area of the said reflectors and heat transfer to the said frame is minimised.