Solar energy collector, and water heater and heating device with a heat pump containing the said collector

Claim 2

A water heater, comprising a heat exchanger having a first compartment through which water to be heated is passed, and a second compartment through which a hot gaseous fluid is passed; means defining a circuit for the circulation of the fluid through said second compartment; and, in said circuit upstream of the said heat exchanger, a solar energy collector comprising at least three plastic sheets joined together so as to delimit a tube having inlet and outlet means for the circulation of the gaseous heat transfer fluid, and an insulation chamber on said tube, and wherein at least that sheet which constitutes an external wall of said chamber is permeable to solar radiation and further comprising means for absorbing solar energy arranged to contact the gaseous fluid circulated through said tube, means limiting the mean height of said tube, means communicating said insulation chamber with said tube for the circulation of gaseous fluid therebetween and means for fixing said collector to a support surface.

Claim 3

A water heater according to claim 1, wherein said circuit for the circulation of the fluid is a closed circuit.

Claim 4

In a solar energy collector for heating a gaseous fluid, said collector comprising at least three plastic sheets joined together so as to delimit a tube and an insulation chamber adjacent said tube, said insulation chamber defined by a sheet which constitutes an external wall thereof and one of said sheets of said tube, wherein at least said sheet which constitutes an external wall of said chamber is permeable to solar radiation and wherein said tube includes inlet and outlet means for the circulation of a gaseous heat transfer fluid, the improvement comprising: means for absorbing solar energy arranged to contact the gaseous fluid circulated through said tube which also serves as means limiting the mean height of said tube, said means comprising a thin plate which includes means defining a longitudinal bend, the profile of which is approximately N-shaped; means communicating said insulation chamber with said tube for the circulation of gaseous fluid therebetween, said means comprising at least one opening in said one of said sheets of said tube; and means for fixing the said collector to a support surface.

Claim 5

In a solar energy collector for heating a gaseous fluid, said collector comprising at least three plastic sheets joined together so as to delimit a tube and an insulation chamber adjacent said tube, said insulation chamber defined by a sheet which constitutes an external wall thereof and one of said sheets of said tube, wherein at least said sheet which constitutes an external wall of said chamber is permeable to solar radiation and wherein said tube includes inlet and outlet means for the circulation of a gaseous heat transfer fluid, the improvement comprising: means for absorbing solar energy arranged to contact the gaseous fluid circulated through said tube which also serves as means limiting the mean height of said tube, said means comprising a thin plate which includes means defining a longitudinal bend, the profile of which is approximately N-shaped; means communicating said insulation chamber with said tube for the circulation of gaseous fluid therebetween, said means comprising at least one opening in said one of said sheets of said tube; and means for fixing the said collector to a support surface.

Claim 6

A solar energy collector according to claim 3, wherein, when inflated, said tube has a value for the ratio of the mean height of the said tube to its width which is less than 0.20.

Claim 7

A solar energy collector according to claim 3, wherein the means for absorbing solar energy comprises one of the plastic sheets delimiting said tube, said sheet being dark in colour.

Claim 8

A solar energy collector according to claim 3, and further including an insulating cushion in contact with the external face of the plastic sheet which, in use, is not exposed to the sun.

Claim 9

A heating device including a heat pump to absorb the thermal energy of the surrounding environment, a heat exchanger having a first compartment connected to the heat pump and a second compartment in heat exchange relation with said first compartment, means introducing air to said second compartment of the exchanger, and means effective to pass a heat-exchange fluid through said first compartment of the heat exchanger and through said heat pump, wherein said means introducing air to the said second compartment of said exchanger includes a solar energy collector comprising at least three plastic sheets joined together so as to delimit a tube having inlet and outlet means for the circulation of the air heat transfer fluid, and an insulation chamber on said tube, and wherein at least that sheet which constitutes an external wall of said chamber is permeable to solar radiation and further comprising means for absorbing solar energy arranged to contact the gaseous fluid circulated through said tube, means limiting the mean height of said tube, means communicating said insulation chamber with said tube for the circulation of gaseous fluid therebetween, and means for fixing said collector to a support surface.

Claim 10

A heating device including a heat pump to absorb the thermal energy of the surrounding environment, a heat exchanger having a first compartment connected to the heat pump and a second compartment in heat exchange relation with said first compartment, means introducing air to said second compartment of the exchanger, and means effective to pass a heat-exchange fluid through said first compartment of the heat exchanger and through said heat pump, wherein said means introducing air to the said second compartment of said exchanger includes a solar energy collector comprising at least three plastic sheets joined together so as to delimit a tube having inlet and outlet means for the circulation of the air heat transfer fluid, and an insulation chamber on said tube, and wherein at least that sheet which constitutes an external wall of said chamber is permeable to solar radiation and further comprising means for absorbing solar energy arranged to contact the gaseous fluid circulated through said tube, means limiting the mean height of said tube, means communicating said insulation chamber with said tube for the circulation of gaseous fluid therebetween, and means for fixing said collector to a support surface.

Claim 11

A heating device according to claim 7, wherein said means for introducing air to said second compartment of the heat exchanger comprises a closed circuit including said solar energy collector.

Claim 12

In a solar energy collector for heating a gaseous fluid, said collector comprising at least three plastic sheets joined together so as to delimit a tube and an insulation chamber adjacent said tube, said insulation chamber defined by a sheet which constitutes an external wall thereof and one of said sheets of said tube, wherein at least said sheet which constitutes an external wall of said chamber is permeable to solar radiation and wherein said tube includes inlet and outlet means for the circulation of a gaseous heat transfer fluid, the improvement comprising: means for absorbing solar energy arranged to contact the gaseous fluid circulated through said tube which also serves as means limiting the mean height of said tube, said means comprising a thin plate which includes means defining a longitudinal bend, the profile of which is in zig-zag form; means communicating said insulation chamber with said tube for the circulation of gaseous fluid therebetween, said means comprising at least one opening in said one of said sheets of said tube; and means for fixing the said collector to a support surface.

Claim 13

In a solar energy collector for heating a gaseous fluid, said collector comprising at least three plastic sheets joined together so as to delimit a tube and an insulation chamber adjacent said tube, said insulation chamber defined by a sheet which constitutes an external wall thereof and one of said sheets of said tube, wherein at least said sheet which constitutes an external wall of said chamber is permeable to solar radiation and wherein said tube includes inlet and outlet means for the circulation of a gaseous heat transfer fluid, the improvement comprising: means for absorbing solar energy arranged to contact the gaseous fluid circulated through said tube which also serves as means limiting the mean height of said tube, said means comprising a thin plate which includes means defining a longitudinal bend, the profile of which is in zig-zag form; means communicating said insulation chamber with said tube for the circulation of gaseous fluid therebetween, said means comprising at least one opening in said one of said sheets of said tube; and means for fixing the said collector to a support surface.

Claim 14

A solar energy collector according to claim 9, wherein, when inflated, said tube has a value for the ratio of the mean height of the said tube to its width which is less than 0.20.

Claim 15

A solar energy collector according to claim 9, wherein the means for absorbing solar energy comprises one of the plastic sheets delimiting said tube, said sheet being dark in color.

Claim 16

A solar energy collector according to claim 9, and further including an insulating cushion in contact with the external face of the plastic sheet which, in use, is not exposed to the sun.

Claim 17

In a solar energy collector for heating a gaseous fluid, said collector comprising at least three plastic sheets joined together so as to delimit a tube and an insulation chamber adjacent said tube, said insulation chamber defined by a sheet which constitutes an external wall thereof and one of said sheets of said tube, wherein at least said sheet which constitutes an external wall of said chamber is permeable to solar radiation and wherein said tube includes inlet and outlet means for the circulation of a gaseous heat transfer fluid, the improvement comprising: means for absorbing solar energy arranged to contact the gaseous fluid circulated through said tube; means limiting the mean height of said tube; means communicating said insulation chamber with said tube for the circulation of gaseous fluid therebetween, said means comprising at least one opening in said one of said sheets of said tube; and means for fixing the said collector to a support surface; and wherein the means limiting the mean height of the tube comprises spacers which are placed inside said tube and arranged perpendicular to the direction of flow of gaseous fluid therein and approximately parallel to the plastic sheets which delimit the tube and wherein said means for absorbing solar energy comprises at least one assembly comprising a dark-colored plastic sheet joined to a spacer, said dark-colored plastic sheet being arranged to float in the gaseous fluid inflating said tube.

Claim 18

In a solar energy collector for heating a gaseous fluid, said collector comprising at least three plastic sheets joined together so as to delimit a tube and an insulation chamber adjacent said tube, said insulation chamber defined by a sheet which constitutes an external wall thereof and one of said sheets of said tube, wherein at least said sheet which constitutes an external wall of said chamber is permeable to solar radiation and wherein said tube includes inlet and outlet means for the circulation of a gaseous heat transfer fluid, the improvement comprising: means for absorbing solar energy arranged to contact the gaseous fluid circulated through said tube; means limiting the mean height of said tube; means communicating said insulation chamber with said tube for the circulation of gaseous fluid therebetween, said means comprising at least one opening in said one of said sheets of said tube; and means for fixing the said collector to a support surface; and wherein the means limiting the mean height of the tube comprises spacers which are placed inside said tube and arranged perpendicular to the direction of flow of gaseous fluid therein and approximately parallel to the plastic sheets which delimit the tube and wherein said means for absorbing solar energy comprises at least one assembly comprising a dark-colored plastic sheet joined to a spacer, said dark-colored plastic sheet being arranged to float in the gaseous fluid inflating said tube.

Claim 19

A solar energy collector according to claim 13, wherein, when inflated, said tube has a value for the ratio of the mean height of the said tube to its width which is less than 0.20.

Claim 20

A solar energy collector according to claim 13, and further including an insulating cushion in contact with the external face of the plastic sheet which, in use, is not exposed to the sun.