Patent US5555863A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4397303A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Heat exchanger for concentrating solar collectors and method for making the heat exchanger
Assignee: Contech Engineered Solutions LLC
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Filing: 1981-02-09
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Granted: 1983-08-09
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Expires: 2001-02-09
Abstract
Abstract A heat exchanger assembly for use with concentrating solar collectors of the type employing an elongated conduit for transporting a heat exchange fluid, the heat exchanger being positioned within an opening in the upper surface of the conduit and operating to transfer heat to the heat exchange fluid. The heat exchanger includes a plurality of stacked heat conducting heat exchanger plates having grooves oriented to form flow passage extending in the direction of fluid flow. The heat exchanger includes an alignment feature to insure proper alignment of the flow passages with the direction of heat exchange fluid flow. The grooved heat exchange plates may be fabricated by stamping from a sheet of heat conducting material to facilitate manufacturing of the heat exchanger. In another embodiment, the plates are positioned normal to the fluid flow direction with openings in the plates serving to form flow channels. The heat exchanger is usuable with collectors employing either photovoltaic cells or a solar radiation absorbing flat plate collector.
Inventors
- 👤 Richard A. Stultz
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 23:22
CPC Classifications
H; H10; H10F; H10F77/00; H10F77/40; H10F77/42; H10F77/488; F; F24; F24S; F24S10/00; F24S10/50; F24S10/502; F24S20/00; F24S20/20; F24S23/00; F24S23/30; H02; H02S; H02S40/00; H02S40/40; H02S40/44; H10F77/60; H10F77/63; H10F77/68; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E10/00; Y02E10/40; Y02E10/44; Y02E10/50; Y02E10/52; Y02E10/60; Y10; Y10S; Y10S126/00; Y10S126/907; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/49; Y10T29/4935; Y10T29/49355; Y10T29/49826
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 42
Claim 1
Independent Claim
120 words
An assembly for collecting solar energy comprising: conduit means for transporting a heat exchange fluid, said conduit means including an opening in the upper surface thereof; heat exchanger means positioned within said opening and extending into said conduit means comprising a plurality of stacked heat conducting heat exchanger plates having means oriented to form flow passages extending in the direction of fluid flow, said orienting means including means for aligning said plates with each other to assure that said flow passages extend in the direction of fluid flow; and means for converting solar radiation to heat energy positioned on said heat exchanger means, said heat exchanger means operating to transfer heat from said converting means to the heat exchange fluid.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
120 words
An assembly for collecting solar energy comprising: conduit means for transporting a heat exchange fluid, said conduit means including an opening in the upper surface thereof; heat exchanger means positioned within said opening and extending into said conduit means comprising a plurality of stacked heat conducting heat exchanger plates having means oriented to form flow passages extending in the direction of fluid flow, said orienting means including means for aligning said plates with each other to assure that said flow passages extend in the direction of fluid flow; and means for converting solar radiation to heat energy positioned on said heat exchanger means, said heat exchanger means operating to transfer heat from said converting means to the heat exchange fluid.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
The solar energy collecting assembly according to claim 1 wherein said flow passage forming means comprises a plurality of spaced grooves formed in the surface of said plates.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
41 words
The solar energy collecting assembly according to claim 2 including a pair of upwardly and outwardly sloping side walls forming a trough-like concentrating collector housing overlying and extending parallel to said conduit means, said converting means being positioned between said walls.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
The solar energy collecting assembly according to claim 3 including means for pivoting said assembly for tracking the sun to optimize the amount of solar radiation impinging on said converting means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
The solar energy collecting assembly according to claim 2 wherein each of said heat exchanger plates includes a plurality of spaced parallel grooves on one surface only.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
The solar energy collecting assembly according to claim 5 wherein said plates are stacked such that said grooves of adjacent plates are non-adjacent.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
The solar energy collecting assembly according to claim 2 wherein said plates are positioned longitudinally in stacked overlying relationship within said conduit.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
28 words
The solar energy collecting assembly according to claim 7 wherein said flow passage forming means comprises a plurality of spaced grooves formed on the surface of said plates.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
The solar energy collecting assembly according to claim 8 wherein said converting means comprises photovoltaic cell means for converting solar radiation to electrical energy.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
40 words
The solar energy collecting assembly according to claim 8 wherein said converting means comprises a heat conducting plate-like member positioned in heat transfer relationship with said stacked plates, the upper surface of said member including a solar radiation absorbing coating.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
32 words
The solar energy collecting assembly according to claim 1 including a plurality of said heat exchanger means and converting means mounted in separate ones of said openings spaced along said conduit means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
30 words
The solar energy collecting assembly according to claim 1 including means within said conduit means for forcing substantially all of the heat exchange fluid to pass through said flow passages.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
25 words
The solar energy collecting assembly according to claim 1 wherein said alignment means comprises means for aligning said heat exchanger means within said conduit means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
24 words
The solar energy collecting assembly according to claim 1 wherein said converting means comprises photovoltaic cell means for converting solar radiation to electrical energy.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
40 words
The solar energy collecting assembly according to claim 1 wherein said converting means comprises a heat conducting plate-like member positioned in heat transfer relationship with said stacked plates, the upper surface of said member including a solar radiation absorbing coating.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
126 words
The solar energy collecting assembly according to claim 2 wherein said heat exchanger means comprises: a heat conducting plate-like upper segment having an upper surface forming said converting means and wherein said orienting means includes keying means associated with the lower surface of said upper segment and means associated with said heat exchanger plates for mating with said keying means to prevent relative rotation between said plates and said upper segment and to orient said grooves to extend in the direction of fluid flow; and a lower segment having an upper surface configured to support the lowermost one of said heat exchanger plates, means for preventing relative rotation between said upper segment and said lower segment, and means for aligning said lower segment within said conduit.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
45 words
The solar energy collecting assembly according to claim 16 wherein said keying means comprises a shaped rod-like member depending from said upper segment, and said mating means comprises an aperture in said heat exchanger plate of a shape configured to cooperate with said rod-like member.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
43 words
The solar energy collecting assembly according to claim 17 wherein said means for preventing relative rotation between said upper and lower segments comprises a bore in the upper surface of said lower segment of a shape configured to cooperate with said rod-like member.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
53 words
The solar energy collecting assembly according to claim 18 wherein said means for aligning said lower segment within said conduit comprises a pair of tab members extending inwardly from the side walls of said conduit means and grooves in the outer edges of said lower segment configured to mate with said tab members.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
46 words
The solar energy collecting assembly according to claim 19 wherein said tab members and said lower segment are configured to block fluid flow through the lower portion of said conduit means for forcing substantially all of the heat exchange fluid to pass through said flow passages.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
24 words
The solar energy collecting assembly according to claim 16 wherein said converting means comprises photovoltaic cell means for converting solar radiation to electrical energy.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
25 words
The solar energy collecting assembly according to claim 16 wherein the upper surface of said upper segment is provided with a solar radiation absorbing coating.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
16 words
The solar energy collecting assembly according to claim 16 wherein said plates are of circular shape.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
16 words
The solar radiation collecting assembly according to claim 14 wherein said plates are of square shape.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
22 words
The solar energy collecting assembly according to claim 1 wherein said plates are positioned substantially normal to the direction of fluid flow.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
25 words
The solar energy collecting assembly according to claim 25 wherein said flow passage forming means comprises a plurality of spaced openings extending through said plates.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
26 words
The solar energy collecting assembly according to claim 26 including means associated with the inner surfaces of said conduit for maintaining said plates in spaced relationship.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
24 words
The solar energy collecting assembly according to claim 27 wherein said converting means comprises photovoltaic cell means for converting solar radiation to electrical energy.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
40 words
The solar energy collecting assembly according to claim 27 wherein said converting means comprises a heat conducting plate-like member positioned in heat transfer relationship with said stacked plates, the upper surface of said member including a solar radiation absorbing coating.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
19 words
The solar energy collecting assembly acording to claim 1 including a liquid heat exchange fluid within said conduit means.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
162 words
In an assembly for collecting solar energy having conduit means containing an opening in the upper surface for transporting a heat exchange fluid, heat exchanger means positioned within said opening and extending into said conduit means, and means for converting solar radiation to heat energy positioned on the heat exchanger means, the heat exchanger means operating to transfer heat from the converting means to the heat exchange fluid, a method for making the heat exchanger comprising: providing a plurality of heat conducting plates having means for forming a plurality of flow passages; stacking said plates in adjacent relationship and orienting said plates with respect to each other and said conduit such that said flow passage forming means form flow passageways extending generally in the direction of fluid flow within the conduit to permit flow of the heat exchange fluid therethrough when said stacked plates are mounted within the conduit means opening; and providing means for mounting said heat exchanger within said opening.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
162 words
In an assembly for collecting solar energy having conduit means containing an opening in the upper surface for transporting a heat exchange fluid, heat exchanger means positioned within said opening and extending into said conduit means, and means for converting solar radiation to heat energy positioned on the heat exchanger means, the heat exchanger means operating to transfer heat from the converting means to the heat exchange fluid, a method for making the heat exchanger comprising: providing a plurality of heat conducting plates having means for forming a plurality of flow passages; stacking said plates in adjacent relationship and orienting said plates with respect to each other and said conduit such that said flow passage forming means form flow passageways extending generally in the direction of fluid flow within the conduit to permit flow of the heat exchange fluid therethrough when said stacked plates are mounted within the conduit means opening; and providing means for mounting said heat exchanger within said opening.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method according to claim 31 wherein said plates are formed by stamping from a sheet of heat conducting material.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method according to claim 31 including providing said plates with said flow passage forming means comprising a plurality of spaced grooves.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method according to claim 33 wherein said grooves are formed by stamping.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method according to claim 33 wherein said grooves are formed in spaced parallel relationship on one surface only of said plates.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method according to claim 33 including the step of orienting said plates such that said grooves of adjacent plates are non-adjacent.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method according to claim 33 including the step of arranging said plates such that they extend longitudinally within said conduit.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method according to claim 33 including the step of providing a plurality of spaced openings and mounting means, and positioning stacked plates within each of said openings.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method according to claim 31 including providing said plates with said flow passage means comprising a plurality of spaced apertures.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method according to claim 39 wherein said plates are stacked in non-contiguous relationship.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1986-08-08 | 1987-02-07 | 1987-08-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1990-08-08 | 1991-02-07 | 1991-08-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1994-08-08 | 1995-02-07 | 1995-08-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |