Double layer solar heating-and-cooling thermosyphon system
A solar liquid-heating-and-cooling system ( 20 ) includes: 1. a hot-liquid storage-tank ( 22 ); 2. a hot-liquid manifold-tank ( 26 ); 3. a coaxial heating-and-cooling-tube ( 24 ) that connects downward from the hot-liquid storage-tank ( 22 ) to the hot-liquid manifold-tank ( 26 ); 4. a double layer heating-and-cooling collector-array-panel ( 32 ) located beneath the hot-liquid manifold-tank ( 26 ), the panel ( 32 ) including, connected to the hot-liquid manifold-tank ( 26 ): a. an upper layer of glazed heating-tubes ( 36 ); and b. a lower layer of unglazed cooling-tubes ( 56 ); 5. parabolic-trough mirror reflectors ( 64 ) that are located between the upper and lower layers of tubes ( 36, 56 ); 6. cold-liquid manifold-tank ( 92 ) located below the panel ( 32 ) connected to lower ends both of the glazed heating-tubes ( 36 ) and of the unglazed cooling-tubes ( 56 ); 7. a cold liquid storage tank ( 98 ); and 8. a coaxial heating-and-cooling-tube ( 96 ) that connects downward from the cold-liquid manifold-tank ( 92 ) to the cold liquid storage tank ( 98 ).
1. A double layer passive thermosyphon solar heating-and-cooling collector-array-panel ( 32 ) capable of simultaneous heating and cooling liquid flows, the collector-array-panel ( 32 ) being adapted for inclusion in a solar liquid-heating-and-cooling system ( 20 ) that also has:
a. a hot-liquid manifold-tank ( 26 ) located above the collector-array-panel ( 32 );
b. a cold-liquid manifold-tank ( 92 ) located below the collector-array-panel ( 32 );
c. at least one coaxial heating-and-cooling tube ( 24 ) connected directly to and communicating between the hot-liquid manifold-tank ( 26 ) and a hot-liquid storage-tank ( 22 ) located above the hot-liquid manifold-tank ( 26 ); and
d. at least one coaxial heating-and-cooling tube ( 96 ) connected directly to and communicating between the cold-liquid manifold-tank ( 92 ) and a cold liquid storage tank ( 98 ) that is located below the cold-liquid manifold-tank ( 92 );
the heating-and-cooling collector-array-panel ( 32 ) comprising:
a. an upper layer ( 34 ) of glazed heating-tubes ( 36 ) each of which has a solar absorptive surface ( 42 ), opposite ends of the glazed heating-tubes ( 36 ) being respectively adapted for connecting directly to and communicating directly with both the hot and the cold-liquid manifold-tanks ( 26 , 92 );
b. a lower layer ( 54 ) of unglazed cooling-tubes ( 56 ) each of which has a heat radiating surface ( 58 ), opposite ends of the unglazed cooling-tubes ( 56 ) also being respectively adapted for connecting directly to and communicating directly with both the hot and the cold-liquid manifold-tanks ( 26 , 92 ), the lower layer ( 54 ) of unglazed cooling-tubes ( 56 ) being located beneath the upper layer ( 34 ) of glazed heating-tubes ( 36 ) when the heating-and-cooling collector-array-panel ( 32 ) is inclined at an angle facing the sun; and
c. parabolic-trough mirror reflectors ( 64 ) that are located between the upper layer ( 34 ) of glazed heating-tubes ( 36 ) and the lower layer ( 54 ) of unglazed cooling-tubes ( 56 ),
whereby during day or night rising or sinking air flowing past the heated or cooled parabolic-trough mirror reflectors ( 64 ) and the glazed heating-tubes ( 36 ) is accelerated through the venturi like openings ( 68 ) of each parabolic-trough mirror reflector ( 64 ) for blowing around the unglazed cooling-tubes ( 56 ) thereby bettering cooling thereof.
2. The heating-and-cooling collector-array-panel ( 32 ) of claim 1 wherein at least one ( 1 ) of the unglazed cooling-tubes ( 56 ) includes at least two ( 2 ) trough-shaped, thermally-connected cooling fins ( 82 ), the cooling fins ( 82 ):
a. establishing a slot ( 84 ) through which air can flow; and
b. each cooling fin ( 82 ) being adapted for receiving liquid whereby evaporation of liquid from each cooling fin ( 82 ) further cools the unglazed cooling-tube ( 56 ).
3. The heating-and-cooling collector-array-panel ( 32 ) of claim 1 wherein the parabolic-trough mirror reflector ( 64 ) is hollow.
4. The heating-and-cooling collector-array-panel ( 32 ) of claim 1 wherein the glazed heating-tubes ( 36 ) of the upper layer ( 34 ) have a coaxial structure.
5. The heating-and-cooling collector-array-panel ( 32 ) of claim 1 wherein the unglazed cooling-tubes ( 56 ) of the lower layer ( 54 ) have a coaxial structure.
6. The heating-and-cooling collector-array-panel ( 32 ) of claim 1 wherein the glazed heating-tubes ( 36 ) of the upper layer ( 34 ) are corrugated.
7. The heating-and-cooling collector-array-panel ( 32 ) of claim 1 wherein the unglazed cooling-tubes ( 56 ) of the lower layer ( 54 ) are corrugated.
8. The heating-and-cooling collector-array-panel ( 32 ) of claim 1 wherein surfaces of cooling fins ( 82 ) of an installed collector-array-panel ( 32 ) that face an interior space of a building are coated with heat absorptive coating.
9. The heating-and-cooling collector-array-panel ( 32 ) of claim 1 further comprising drip troughs ( 148 ) that are:
a. located between the cooling fins ( 82 ) of an installed collector-array-panel ( 32 ) and an interior space of a building; and
b. adapted for catching condensate that drips from the cooling fins ( 82 ).
10. A solar liquid-heating-and-cooling system ( 20 ) comprising:
a. a hot-liquid storage-tank ( 22 );
b. a hot-liquid manifold-tank ( 26 ) located below the hot-liquid storage-tank ( 22 ) that is connected directly to and communicates directly with the hot-liquid storage-tank ( 22 ) via at least one coaxial heating-and-cooling tube ( 24 );
c. at least one double layer passive thermosyphon solar heating-and-cooling collector-array-panel ( 32 ) that includes:
i. an upper layer ( 34 ) of glazed heating-tubes ( 36 ) each of which has a solar absorptive surface ( 42 ) and an upper end ( 44 ) that connects directly to and communicates directly with the hot-liquid manifold-tank ( 26 );
ii. a lower layer ( 54 ) of unglazed cooling-tubes ( 56 ) each of which has a heat radiating surface ( 58 ) and an upper end ( 62 ) that connects directly to and communicates directly with the hot-liquid manifold-tank ( 26 ), the lower layer ( 54 ) of unglazed cooling-tubes ( 56 ) being located beneath the upper layer ( 34 ) of glazed heating-tubes ( 36 ) when the heating-and-cooling collector-array-panel ( 32 ) is inclined at an angle facing the sun; and
iii. parabolic-trough mirror reflectors ( 64 ) that are located between the upper layer ( 34 ) of glazed heating-tubes ( 36 ) and the lower layer ( 54 ) of unglazed cooling-tubes ( 56 );
d. a cold-liquid manifold-tank ( 92 ) located below the collector-array-panel ( 32 ) that connects directly to and communicates directly with lower ends both of the glazed heating-tubes ( 36 ) and of the unglazed cooling-tubes ( 56 );
e. at least one coaxial heating-and-cooling tube ( 96 ) connected directly to and communicating between the cold-liquid manifold-tank ( 92 ) and a cold liquid storage tank ( 98 ) that is located below the cold-liquid manifold-tank ( 92 ),
whereby during day or night rising or sinking air flowing past the heated or cooled parabolic-trough mirror reflectors ( 64 ) and the glazed heating-tubes ( 36 ) is accelerated through the venturi like openings ( 68 ) of each parabolic-trough mirror reflector ( 64 ) for blowing around the unglazed cooling-tubes ( 56 ) thereby bettering cooling thereof.
11. The solar liquid-heating-and-cooling system ( 20 ) of claim 10 wherein the hot-liquid storage-tank ( 22 ) includes an air pressure chamber ( 122 ) at the top thereof whereby the pressure of air within the air pressure chamber ( 122 ) increases due to heating thereof by hot liquid within the hot-liquid storage-tank ( 22 ) to thus pressurize the liquid within:
a. the hot-liquid storage-tank ( 22 );
b. the hot-liquid manifold-tank ( 26 );
c. the heating-and-cooling collector-array-panel ( 32 );
d. the cold-liquid manifold-tank ( 92 ); and
e. the cold liquid storage tank ( 98 ),
this pressurizing of the liquid causing liquid to be discharged around at least one of the unglazed cooling-tubes ( 56 ) of the heating-and-cooling collector-array-panel ( 32 ) whereby evaporation of the discharged liquid further cools the unglazed cooling-tube ( 56 ).
12. The solar liquid-heating-and-cooling system ( 20 ) of claim 11 wherein the hot-liquid manifold-tank ( 26 ) includes a pressure relief expansion valve ( 132 ) through which discharged liquid passes and expands into a spray for further cooling the unglazed cooling-tube ( 56 ).
13. The solar liquid-heating-and-cooling system ( 20 ) of claim 12 wherein the pressure relief expansion valve ( 132 ) is adjustable.
14. The solar liquid-heating-and-cooling system ( 20 ) of claim 10 wherein an inner return tube ( 106 ) included in the at least one coaxial heating-and-cooling tube ( 24 ) interconnecting the hot-liquid storage-tank ( 22 ) and the a hot-liquid manifold-tank ( 26 ) is perforated at a location selected from a group consisting of:
i. an end of the inner return tube ( 106 ); and
ii. along a length of the inner return tube ( 106 ) between the ends thereof.
15. The solar liquid-heating-and-cooling system ( 20 ) of claim 10 wherein an inner return tube ( 106 ) included in the at least one coaxial heating-and-cooling tube ( 96 ) interconnecting the cold-liquid manifold-tank ( 92 ) and the cold liquid storage tank ( 98 ) is perforated at a location selected from a group consisting of:
i. an end of the inner return tube ( 106 ); and
ii. along a length of the inner return tube ( 106 ) between the ends thereof.
16. The solar liquid-heating-and-cooling system ( 20 ) of claim 15 wherein at least one ( 1 ) of the unglazed cooling-tubes ( 56 ) includes at least two ( 2 ) trough-shaped, thermally-connected cooling fins ( 82 ), the cooling fins ( 82 ):
a. establishing a slot ( 84 ) through which air can flow; and
b. each cooling fin ( 82 ) being adapted for receiving discharged liquid whereby evaporation of liquid from each cooling fin ( 82 ) further cools the unglazed cooling-tube ( 56 ).
17. The solar liquid-heating-and-cooling system ( 20 ) of claim 10 wherein the parabolic-trough mirror reflector ( 64 ) is hollow.
18. The solar liquid-heating-and-cooling system ( 20 ) of claim 10 wherein the glazed heating-tubes ( 36 ) of the upper layer ( 34 ) have a coaxial structure.
19. The solar liquid-heating-and-cooling system ( 20 ) of claim 10 wherein the unglazed cooling-tubes ( 56 ) of the lower layer ( 54 ) have a coaxial structure.
20. The solar liquid-heating-and-cooling system ( 20 ) of claim 10 wherein the glazed heating-tubes ( 36 ) of the upper layer ( 34 ) are corrugated.
21. The solar liquid-heating-and-cooling system ( 20 ) of claim 10 wherein the unglazed cooling-tubes ( 56 ) of the lower layer ( 54 ) are corrugated.
22. The solar liquid-heating-and-cooling system ( 20 ) of claim 10 wherein surfaces of cooling fins ( 82 ) of an installed collector-array-panel ( 32 ) that face an interior space of a building are coated with heat absorptive coating.
23. The solar liquid-heating-and-cooling system ( 20 ) of claim 10 further comprising drip troughs ( 148 ) that are:
a. located between the cooling fins ( 82 ) of an installed collector-array-panel ( 32 ) and an interior space of a building; and
b. adapted for catching condensate that drips from the cooling fins ( 82 ).
24. The heating-and-cooling collector-array-panel ( 32 ) of any one of claims 1 and 10 wherein at least one unglazed cooling-tube ( 56 ) is located beneath at least one glazed heating-tube ( 36 ).
25. The heating-and-cooling collector-array-panel ( 32 ) of any one of claims 1 and 10 wherein at least one parabolic-trough mirror reflector ( 64 ) includes interior edges ( 66 ) that form a venturi like opening ( 68 ) that is located beneath one of the glazed heating-tubes ( 36 ).
26. The heating-and-cooling collector-array-panel ( 32 ) of claim 25 wherein at least one venturi like opening ( 68 ) is located over one of the unglazed cooling-tubes ( 56 ) with the parabolic-trough mirror reflectors ( 64 ) shading the unglazed cooling-tubes ( 56 ) located beneath the venturi like opening ( 68 ) therein.
27. The heating-and-cooling collector-array-panel ( 32 ) of any one of claims 1 , 2 , 5 , 7 , 10 , 16 , 19 and 21 wherein at least one of the unglazed cooling-tubes ( 56 ) is made of liquid permeable material thereby allowing liquid within the unglazed cooling-tube ( 56 ) to pass therethrough for evaporation into atmosphere around the unglazed cooling-tube ( 56 ) whereby evaporation of such liquid further cools the unglazed cooling-tube ( 56 ).
28. The heating-and-cooling collector-array-panel ( 32 ) of claim 27 wherein the liquid permeable material is selected from a group consisting of clay pipe, bamboo pipe, and a semipermeable membrane material.
29. The heating-and-cooling collector-array-panel ( 32 ) of claim 28 wherein material of the liquid permeable material is a semipermeable membrane material selected from the group consisting of Gore-Tex™, Sympatex™, Triple-Point Ceramic™, Omni-Tech and H2NO Storm HB.