Solar energy collector with hot water reserve - incorporates storage tanks allowing hot water transfer to large reservoir with supplementary heating, simplifying automatic control

摘要

A solar energy collector with a reserve of hot water incorporated, includes a horizontal cylindrical tank embedded in the insulation forming the structure carrying the appts. The finned tubes forming the surface exposed to the solar radiation come directly to the upper part of this tank. Pref. other cylindrical tanks, parallel to the one to which the insulation tubes come, are situated below and connected to one another by tubes. Hot and cold water mains connected to the upper part of the upper tank and to the lower part of the lower tank respectively have union at their ends for putting several collectors in series. Each insulation tube has independent fins connected to the tube by thermal cement. A main connecting the insulation tubes at their lower parts is connected to the lowest part of the tanks by a tube and a non-return valve. Problems associated with automatic regulation by thermosyphon are avoided. The simplified regulation of the storage tanks, and a pump, allow the hot water in the tanks to be transferred to a large storage reservoir situated at any level w.r.t. the collector. The additional energy to attain the desired temp. of use can be supplied in this large reservoir, which can be a standard electrical water storage heater.