Stoves and furnaces – Solar heat collector – With means to convey fluent medium through collector
Patent
1991-04-01
1993-11-16
Jones, Larry
Stoves and furnaces
Solar heat collector
With means to convey fluent medium through collector
126643, 126652, 126704, 126714, F24J 302
Patent
active
052613909
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a system for heating by solar energy a fluid conveyed or contained in process equipment.
The term "process equipment" as described herein is understood to mean pipes, tanks, pumps and the like used in industry to convey or contain fluids. The invention is concerned principally, although by no means exclusively, with fluids which must be maintained at temperatures in excess of ambient. Such fluids include fuel oil, palm oil, and crude oil.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Conventional systems for heating fluids in process equipment are based on electric heating and steam heating. It is important that the heating equipment is of a high reliability since failure of the heating equipment would have significant adverse effects on the process equipment. As a consequence, invariably the initial purchase price and on-going maintenance costs of the conventional systems are high.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide an alternative to the above conventional systems.
According to the present invention there is provided a system for heating a fluid conveyed or contained in process equipment, the system comprising:
(a) thermal insulation covering the process equipment to minimise heat loss from the fluid; and
(b) a thermal concentrator/diode in heat transfer relationship with the fluid for transferring energy from solar radiation to the fluid thereby to heat the fluid and for minimising heat loss from the fluid.
It is preferred that the thermal insulation comprises, transparent insulation covering a section of the process equipment thereby to expose the section to solar radiation and to define the thermal concentrator/diode, and non-transparent thermal insulation covering the remainder of the process equipment.
It is preferred that the interface between the transparent and non-transparent insulation is inclined downwardly from the exposed section of the process equipment.
With such an arrangement, the thermal concentrator/diode further comprises an air gap at the interface between the transparent and non-transparent thermal insulation. In an alternative arrangement, the thermal concentrator/diode further comprises a partially evacuated stainless steel or the like plate with a volume of water or other fluid. In a further alternative arrangement, the thermal concentrator/diode further comprises a plate formed from polycarbonate or the like having passages therein, the plate extending outwardly from the exposed surface of the process equipment but terminating short of the exposed outer surfaces of the transparent and non-transparent thermal insulations.
It is preferred that the transparent insulation comprises plastic air cell insulating material or entrapped gases with low thermal conductivity.
Typically, the system further comprises a transparent weather shield over the exposed outer surface of the transparent insulation. Such a weather shield may be formed from U.V. stabilised polycarbonate.
Typically, the non-transparent thermal insulation is formed from polyurethane.
In an alternate arrangement it is preferred that the thermal insulation comprises non-transparent insulation at least substantially covering the process equipment, and the thermal concentrator/diode comprises a first part for absorbing energy from solar radiation and a second part in heat transfer relationship with the process equipment for transferring the energy to the fluid.
According to the present invention there is also provided a thermal concentrator/diode for heating a fluid conveyed or contained in process equipment having an cuter layer of insulation, said thermal concentrator/diode comprising a first part for absorbing energy from solar radiation and a second part coupled to the first part and adapted for location in heat transfer relationship with the process equipment to transfer the energy to the fluid.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The present invention is now described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which
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