Solar Absorber
A solar absorber system includes a solar absorbing layer that receives and converts solar radiation to thermal energy. The solar absorber assembly includes an anisotropic material to more effectively move the absorbed energy to a fluid conduit for capture and storage.
1 . A heat absorber assembly comprising:
a solar absorber layer having a top major surface adapted to absorb solar radiation and a bottom major surface opposed from said top major surface;
a conduit positioned proximate to said bottom major surface and for receiving a fluid therethrough;
a heat spreader in contact with at least a portion of the bottom major surface of said solar absorber layer, said conduit being positioned between said solar absorber layer and said heat spreader; and
wherein said heat spreader is a thermally anisotropic material having an in-plane thermal conductivity of at least about 250 W/mK.
2 . The heat absorber assembly according to claim 1 wherein said thermally anisotropic material comprises a sheet of a compressed mass of exfoliated graphite particles.
3 . The heat absorber assembly according to claim 1 wherein said thermally anisotropic material comprises a sheet of graphitized polyimide.
4 . The heat absorber assembly according to claim 1 wherein said heat spreader is in contact with at least about 60 percent of the surface area of said bottom major surface of said heat absorber.
5 . The heat absorber assembly according to claim 1 wherein said heat spreader is in contact with at least about 80 percent of the surface area of said bottom major surface of said heat absorber.
6 . The heat absorber assembly according to claim 1 wherein said conduit includes a circumference and said heat spreader is in contact with at least about 30 percent of said conduit circumference.
7 . The heat absorber assembly according to claim 1 wherein said conduit includes a circumference and said heat spreader is in contact with at least about 50 percent of said conduit circumference.
8 . The heat absorber assembly according to claim 1 wherein said conduit includes a circumference and said heat spreader is in contact with at least about 75 percent of said conduit circumference.
9 . The heat absorber assembly according to claim 1 wherein said heat spreader has a thickness of less than about 2 mm.
10 . The heat absorber assembly according to claim 1 wherein said heat spreader has a thickness of less than about 1 mm.
11 . The heat absorber assembly according to claim 1 wherein said heat spreader has a thickness of less than about 0.1 mm.
12 . A heat absorber assembly comprising:
a solar absorber layer having a top major surface adapted to absorb solar radiation and a bottom major surface opposed from said top major surface;
a conduit in contact with said bottom major surface and for receiving a fluid therethrough; and
wherein said absorber is a thermally anisotropic material having an in-plane thermal conductivity of at least 250 W/mK.
13 . The heat absorber assembly according to claim 12 wherein said thermally anisotropic material comprises a sheet of a compressed mass of exfoliated graphite particles.
14 . The heat absorber assembly according to claim 12 wherein said thermally anisotropic material comprises a sheet of graphitized polyimide.
15 . The heat absorber assembly according to claim 13 wherein said solar absorber layer includes a center enveloping section and opposed outwardly extending sections.
16 . The heat absorber assembly according to claim 15 wherein said conduit has a circumference and said center enveloping section is in contact with at least about 30 percent of said circumference
17 . The heat absorber assembly according to claim 15 wherein said conduit has a circumference and said center enveloping section is in contact with at least about 50 percent of said circumference
18 . The heat absorber assembly according to claim 15 wherein said conduit has a circumference and said center enveloping section is in contact with at least about 75 percent of said circumference
19 . The heat absorber assembly according to claim 12 wherein a graphite powder is adhered to said top major surface of said solar absorber layer.
20 . The heat absorber assembly according to claim 19 wherein said graphite powder comprises d90% less than about 500 μm.
21 . The heat absorber assembly according to claim 19 wherein said graphite powder comprises d90% is less than about 200 μm.
22 . The heat absorber assembly according to claim 19 wherein said graphite powder comprises d90% is less than about 100 μm.