Solar Heat Exchange Panel
A solar heat exchange panel that includes a lower plate and an upper plate that together define an interior volume containing a flowing heat transfer fluid. The upper plate includes a plurality of upward extensions and downward extensions that cover the top surface of the solar heat transfer panel and are configured to capture solar radiant energy. The lower plate plate includes a plurality of upwardly extending hollow lower plate extensions. The lower plate extensions are aligned with the bottom portions of each upward extension of the upper plate and almost touching. Each of the downward extensions form the upper plate extend down and are joined to the base of the lower plate. In operation, a heat transfer fluid introduced into an inlet on one end of the solar heat transfer panel passes through the defined interior volume and is intimately contacted with the solar heated surfaces extending down into the solar heat transfer panel from the upper plate. A substantially infrared transparent plate across the top surface of the solar heat transfer panel creates a top interior space that encloses a path of flowing air which is simultaneously heated along with the enclosed heat transfer fluid in the lower interior space.
1 . A solar heat exchange panel ( 10 ) comprising:
a. a lower plate ( 320 ) and an upper plate ( 310 ) that together define a lower interior volume containing a flowing heat transfer fluid;
b. said upper plate ( 310 ) comprising:
i. a plurality of upward dimples ( 50 ) and downward pockets ( 60 ) that cover a top surface of the solar heat transfer panel and are configured to capture solar radiant energy;
c. said lower plate ( 320 ) plate comprising:
i. a plurality of upwardly extending hollow lower plate extensions ( 330 );
d. wherein the lower plate extensions ( 330 ) are aligned with the center bottom portions of each dimple ( 50 ) of the upper plate and almost touching; and
e. wherein the downward pockets ( 60 ) from the upper plate ( 310 ) extend down and are joined to the base of the lower plate ( 320 ); and
f. wherein a substantially infrared transparent plate across the top surface of the solar heat transfer panel encloses a top interior space that provides a path of flowing air which is simultaneously heated along with the enclosed heat transfer fluid in the lower interior space.
2 . The solar heat exchange panel of claim 1 further comprising a sidewall structure ( 25 ) that surrounds said heat exchange panel and the top of said sidewall structure has a shelf structure ( 40 ) to accept the substantially infrared transparent plate that encloses the top interior space.
3 . The solar heat exchange panel of claim 2 wherein said sidewall structure has at least one valley ( 20 ) to allow the insertion of interconnecting air flow pipes ( 130 ) that connect adjacent solar heat exchange panels into a network.
4 . The solar heat exchange panel of claim 2 wherein said sidewall structure has inlet ( 30 ) and exit ( 35 ) pipes that are used to connect the heat transfer fluids from lower interior volumes to adjacent solar heat exchange panels into a network.
5 . The solar heat exchange panel of claim 1 wherein the deepest center portion of each dimple ( 50 ) on the upper plate is molded to the top of each extension ( 330 ) from lower plate ( 320 ).
6 . The solar heat exchange panel of claim 2 wherein at least one indentation ( 450 ) is present in the sidewall structure to break the flow patterns of heat transfer fluid in the lower interior volume.
7 . The solar heat exchange panel of claim 2 wherein an additional insulated box or panel is placed around the bottom base of the solar heat transfer panel.
8 . A solar heat exchange panel system in which a series of solar heat exchange panels as described in claim 4 are interconnected so that both the air in the top interior space and the heat transfer fluid in the lower interior space can flow from panel to panel.