Challenge
A solar flat collector is designed to absorb energy from the sun's electromagnetic radiation and transmit it to an energy-carrying fluid. To fulfil this purpose, it comprises a transparent cover, an absorbing layer, a hydraulic system to guide the heat transfer fluid, and rear insulation embedded in the collector casing. Evacuated thermal tube collectors have minimal heat loss, whereas state-of-the-art flat plate collectors lose a lot of heat. What would a new flat plate collector have to look like to lose a minimum of absorbed heat and be easily incorporated into common glass support structures?
Invention
The RES-Vacuum Flat Plate Collector uses a hydraulic structure located between two panels of vacuum-insulated glass in order to transfer the solar heat that has been absorbed to a pipe system featuring both a forward and a return flow.
Advantages
- Vacuum insulation for a flat plate collectors
- Compatibility with common glass support structures due to a low stack height
- High solar thermal yield
Applications
- Translucent solar thermal flat plate collector
- Solar thermal panel for backing up heating and cooling systems in buildings