DE20118859U1 - Device for heating water using solar energy - Google Patents

Description

Rein hardt Söllner Gan ahl

PATENT ATTORNEYS

Patent Attorneys Reinhardt Söllner Ganahl ■ P.O. Box 12 26 ■ 0-85542 Kirchheim b. Munich

15/11/2001 German utility model
Wang, Fu-Sheng
DE-3476

HOT WATER PREPARATION DEVICE
USING SOLAR ENERGY

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the invention

This invention relates to a solar water heating device. More particularly, it relates to a solar water heating device which is constituted by at least one composite pipe. And it has the advantages and functions of excellent heat storage effect, easy installation and flexible storage capacity.

2. Description of the state of the art

Referring to Fig. 1, this is a perspective view of a conventional solar water heating device. It essentially comprises a collecting tank 91 and a hot pipe section 92. The hot pipe section 92 is covered by a transparent glass 921. There are several

European Patent and Hausen 5b P.O. Box 12 26

Trademark Attorneys D-85551 Kirchheim b. Munich D-85542 Kirchheim b. Munich

Dipl.-Ing. Markus Reinhardt, Pajrrjen® .Tel +4C (88) 9048 00 81

Dipl.-Ing. Udo Söllner j ; ;... · :e-JnaiC inftJgpatrrTf&i.coBi* *..* '... _f i _# J«x+4&(8&) 9*(?480083 (G3)
Dipl.-Phys. Bernhard Garjahi: : .* Irjerrtt: wäw.patnien.ioml ·..*...* '.'J^x +49.(89) 93480084 (G4)

Patent Attorneys Reinhardt - Söllner - Ganahl DE-3476 Page -2-

heat absorbing tubes 922 and a plurality of connecting tubes 923. Therefore, when the sunlight irradiates the warm tube portion 92, the water in the heat absorbing tubes 922 is heated. Finally, the heated water flows into the collecting tank 91 to prevent heat loss.
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However, in order to prevent any heat loss from the collecting tank 91, the collecting tank 91 has an insulating cover layer and an electric heater (not shown). Since the collecting tank 91 is large, the adiabatic effect of such an adiabatic cover layer is quite limited. When the water temperature in the collecting tank 91 drops to a certain level, the electric heater is turned on (but it consumes electricity significantly). That is, the heat loss from the collecting tank 91 is still a serious problem.

In addition, the size of the traditional solar water heating device is huge. The user must have enough space to install it. In addition, the pipe connection is complicated. In addition, it cannot easily and flexibly expand its storage capacity.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The main object of this invention is to provide a solar water heating device which includes at least one composite pipe with a hollow water storage, an absorbing layer, a vacuum layer and an outer transparent glass layer. Thus, it has an excellent heat storage effect.

The other object of this invention is to provide a device for heating water using solar energy which is easy to install.

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Another object of this invention is to provide a device for heating water using solar energy, the storage capacity of which can be flexibly expanded.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional device for

Hot water preparation using solar energy. 10

Fig. 2 shows the first preferred embodiment of this invention.

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a selected portion of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 shows the second preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view showing an actual installation state.
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Fig. 6 shows the third preferred embodiment of this invention.

Fig. 7 shows the fourth preferred embodiment of this present invention.
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Fig. 8 is a perspective view showing another actual installation state.

Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view of a modified hollow water storage tank. 30

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Patent Attorneys Reinhardt - Söllner - Ganahl

DE-3476

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to Figs. 2 and 3, the first preferred embodiment of this invention, a solar water heating apparatus, can be seen. This invention comprises at least one composite pipe 10. Each composite pipe 10 has an upper end 10A and a lower end 10B. And each composite pipe 10 comprises:

(a) A hollow metal water tank 11, which is preferably made of stainless steel and shaped like a hollow tube, in which there is an inner water storage space 111 for storing water. The volume of the inner water storage space 111 should be at least larger than the average volume when a person takes a shower or a bath

15 takes.

(b) An absorbent layer 12 disposed on an outer periphery of the hollow water reservoir 11.

(c) A vacuum layer 13 which is approximately in a vacuum state.

(d) An outer transparent glass layer 14 for enclosing the vacuum layer 13 like an insulating state.

Therein, a cold water channel 15 and a hot water channel 16 are arranged at the upper end 10A of the composite pipe 10. The cold water channel 15 serves to guide cold water into the hollow water tank 11 and to go to a predetermined position near a lower part of the hollow water tank 11. The hot water channel 16 serves to guide hot water from a position near an upper part of the hollow water tank 11 to leave the hollow water tank.

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Patent Attorneys Reinhardt - Söllner - Ganahl

DE-3476

Therefore, when the composite pipe 10 of this invention is installed in a place exposed to the sun, the sunlight passes through the outer transparent glass layer 14 and then the vacuum layer 13. Finally, it reaches the absorbing layer 12. As a result, it heats up the temperature of the water stored in the hollow water tank 11. Due to the excellent insulating effect of the vacuum layer 13, the water tank 11 not only has the storage function, but also has the functions of heat absorption as well as heat storage.

Since it is not necessary to direct the heated water to a conventional collecting tank, neither the huge collecting tank nor the complicated heating device are needed. In this way, the invention saves more space and has a simple structure.

Of course, as shown in Fig. 4, this is the second preferred embodiment of this invention, in which an electric heater 20 and a temperature controller 21 may be additionally arranged at the lower end 10B of the composite pipe 10. The temperature controller 21 is used to detect the water temperature and control the electric heater 20. For example, when it is a rainy day or night, these elements can heat the water inside the hollow water storage 11.

In addition, both the first and second preferred embodiments are constructed by a single composite pipe 10. In actual installation, this composite pipe 10 may be vertically fixed to a wall facing south as shown in Fig. 5. Or it may be fixed to a balcony or to a sloped roof facing south (neither of them shown) depending on the actual condition of the building.

Referring to Fig. 6, the third preferred embodiment of this invention is shown, which comprises four composite pipes 10 connected in series. The water discharged from the hot water channel 16 of a previous

Patent Attorneys Reinhardt - Söllner - Ganahl

DE-3476

the composite pipe 10 is introduced into the cold water channel 15 of a next composite pipe 10 to expand the total volume to be stored (or called storage capacity) and achieve the gradual heating effect. As shown in Fig. 6, these four composite pipes 10 are connected in sequence. The coldest water enters the leftmost cold water channel 15. The water is gradually heated and flows from the leftmost pipe 10 to the rightmost one. Therefore, the temperature is gradually increased. In practical use, the hot water is supplied one by one. The hot water supply is more stable and the storage capacity is increased. It can also be easily and flexibly expanded to five, six or more composite pipes 10 depending only on the actual need.

Of course, as shown in Figs. 7 and 8, an electric heater 20 and a temperature controller 21 are arranged at the lower end 10B of each composite pipe 10. The temperature controller 21 is used to detect the water temperature and control the electric heater 20, especially on a rainy day or at night.

See Fig. 9. This is a cross-sectional view of a modified hollow water reservoir 11 in which the outer surfaces of the hollow water reservoir 11 and the absorbing layer 12 are both wave-like to increase the area for absorbing solar energy.

The advantages and functions of this invention can be summarized as follows:

[1] Excellent heat storage effect. Since the hollow water storage tank of this invention can store the heated water, it is not necessary to install a header tank. As a result, all the disadvantages caused by the conventional header tank are eliminated. In addition, there is a vacuum layer enclosing the hollow water storage tank. In this way, the insulation effect is excellent.

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[2] Easy to install. Whether the user wants to install a single or multiple composite pipes on a vertical wall or a sloped roof, the installation work is simple.
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[3] The storage capacity is flexible. The storage capacity of this invention can be flexibly expanded by adding more composite pipes and associated connecting pipes. As a result, it is very flexible.

In summary, a solar water heating device includes at least one composite pipe (10). Each composite pipe (10) has a hollow metal water tank (11), an absorbing layer (12), a vacuum layer (13), an outer transparent glass layer (14), a cold water channel (15), and a hot water channel (16). When the composite pipe (10) of this invention is installed in a place exposed to the sun, the sunlight passes through the outer transparent glass layer (14) and then the vacuum layer (13). Finally, it reaches the absorbing layer (12). In this way, it heats the temperature of the water stored in the hollow water tank (11). This invention can also be composed of several composite pipes (10), so that the hot water supply is more stable and the storage capacity is increased. This invention has the advantages and functions of excellent heat storage effect, easy installation, and flexible storage capacity.

With regard to features of the invention not explained in detail above, express reference is made to the claims and the drawings.

Claims (5)

1. A device for heating water using solar energy, comprising: at least one composite pipe ( 10 ), each composite pipe ( 10 ) having an upper end ( 10 A) and a lower end ( 10 B) and each composite pipe ( 10 ) having: a) a hollow metal water tank ( 11 ) having an internal water storage space ( 111 ) for storing water; b) an absorbent layer ( 12 ) arranged on an outer periphery of the hollow water reservoir ( 11 ); c) a vacuum layer ( 13 ) which is approximately in a vacuum state; and d) an outer transparent glass layer ( 14 ) for enclosing the vacuum layer ( 13 ) like an insulating state; wherein a cold water channel ( 15 ) and a hot water channel ( 16 ) are arranged at the upper end ( 10A ) of the composite pipe ( 10 ), the cold water channel ( 16 ) serves to guide cold water into the hollow water tank ( 11 ) and to reach a predetermined position near a lower part of the hollow water tank ( 11 ); the hot water channel ( 16 ) serves to guide hot water from a position near the upper end of the hollow water tank ( 11 ) to leave the hollow water tank ( 11 ). 2. A solar water heating device according to claim 1, wherein an electric heater ( 20 ) and a temperature controller ( 21 ) are arranged at the lower end ( 10B ) of the composite pipe ( 10 ), and the temperature controller ( 21 ) is used to detect the water temperature and control the electric heater ( 20 ). 3. A solar water heating device according to claim 1, wherein the solar water heating device comprises a plurality of composite pipes ( 10 ) connected in series, and water flowing out of the hot water channel ( 16 ) of a preceding composite pipe ( 10 ) is led into the cold water channel ( 15 ) of a next composite pipe ( 10 ) to expand the total volume to be stored and achieve the gradual heating effect. 4. A solar water heating device according to claim 3, wherein an electric heater ( 20 ) and a temperature controller ( 21 ) are arranged at the lower end ( 10B ) of each composite pipe ( 10 ), and the temperature controller ( 21 ) is used to detect the water temperature and control the electric heater ( 20 ). 5. A solar water heating device according to claim 1, wherein outer surfaces of the hollow water storage ( 11 ) and the absorbing layer ( 12 ) are both wave-like.