Solar reflection panels
View Patent ↗A solar collector comprising a glass mirror, and a composite panel, wherein the back of the mirror is affixed to a front surface of the composite panel. The composite panel comprises a front sheet affixed to a surface of a core material, preferably a core material comprising a honeycomb structure, and a back sheet affixed to an opposite surface of the core material. The invention may further comprise a sealing strip, preferably comprising EPDM, positioned between the glass mirror and the front surface of the composite panel. The invention also is of methods of making such solar collectors.
1. A solar collector comprising:
a curved glass mirror comprising a single, continuous curved surface;
a curved front sheet comprising a single, continuous curved surface, wherein the curved front sheet has the same curvature as the curved glass mirror;
a core comprising a core material selected from the group consisting of a honeycomb structure, a foam selected from the group consisting of polystyrene, polyurethane, and polyvinyl chloride, and a cellulose based material; and
a back sheet having a thermal expansion coefficient similar to that of said front sheet;
wherein a back of said mirror is affixed to said front sheet; said front sheet is affixed to said core; and said core is affixed to said back sheet.
2. The solar collector of claim 1 further comprising a sealing strip positioned between said glass mirror and said front sheet.
3. The solar collector of claim 1 wherein said sealing strip comprises EPDM.
4. The solar collector of claim 1 wherein said glass mirror comprises a silvered backing.
5. The solar collector of claim 1 wherein said front sheet and back sheet comprise carbon steel.
6. The solar collector of claim 5 wherein said carbon steel front sheet and carbon steel back sheet comprise a gauge between approximately 24 and 28 gauge.
7. The solar collector of claim 1 wherein said core material comprises a honeycomb structure.
8. The solar collector of claim 7 wherein said honeycomb core material comprises aluminum.
9. The solar collector of claim 8 wherein said aluminum honeycomb core material comprises aluminum foil between approximately 0.015 and 0.002 inch foil.
10. The solar collector of claim 1 wherein said core material comprises a foam selected from the group consisting of polystyrene, polyurethane, and polyvinyl chloride.
11. The solar collector of claim 1 wherein said core material comprises a cellulose based material.