AUTOMATIC HYDRAULIC MOTION SYSTEM OF ELEMENTS OF A COMPACT SOLAR COLLECTOR

Abstract

The present invention relates to an automatic motion system by dilatation of a fluid, said system acting on elements of a compact solar collector with integrated storage tank, said solar collector having least a face exposed to the solar radiation and at least another face not facing the solar radiation, said solar collector comprising a plurality of primary tubes, for containing at least one primary heat carrier element adapted to the storage of thermal energy, and an external collector element arranged movable with respect to each primary conduit, adapted to overlap, at least partially, during its motion, in each primary conduit.

Claims

1. An automatic motion system by dilation of a primary heat carrier fluid for acting on elements of a compact solar collector with an integrated storage tank for a fluid to be heated: said compact solar collector with the integrated storage tank comprising a plurality of primary conduits for containing the primary heat carrier fluid adapted to the storage of thermal energy, and an external collector element arranged movably with respect to each primary conduit; each external collector element is a vacuum tube within which is arranged a respective primary conduit in which the fluid to be heated flows, and each external collector element is configured to rotate on itself, with respect to the respective primary conduit and to at least partially overlap each primary conduit during its motion; each external collector element has at least a first collecting face configured to collect solar radiation, and at least a second shielding face suitably made opaque to solar radiation; the automatic motion system includes automatic drive and transmission mechanisms comprising at least one hydraulic cylinder with a piston on which is at least one return spring configured to act on the piston, a hydraulic cylinder pressure intake, at least one toothed rack, and toothed gears carried by the external collector elements, whereby said automatic drive and transmission mechanisms are configured to move said external collector elements from the first face of a collecting position automatically as a function of a pressure of the primary heat carrier fluid increasing beyond a set technical volume to actuate, via the primary heat carrier fluid pressure to the intake, the piston in the hydraulic cylinder to move the rack to engage the gears to the second face of a shielding position, and the spring acts on the piston to move the rack to engage the gears to return the external collector elements to the first face of the collecting position as a function of the pressure of the primary heat carrier fluid decreasing below a set technical volume, whereby the compact solar collector is automatically protected from damage by excessive solar radiation using dynamic shielding, and the motion system automatically operates by an intrinsic ability to self-regulate with no external control and no external power source other than solar energy.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein transmission of motion is realized by gears having different dimensions.

3. The system according to claim 2, wherein the gears comprise driven toothed wheels and drive gear wheels, and the rack acts on said drive gear wheels but not on said driven toothed wheels.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the rack acts simultaneously on all the gears.

5. The system according to claim 4 wherein the gears do not engage each other.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein said shielding portion of each external collector element is suitably made opaque to solar radiation by opaque adhesives or films.

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein said drive and transmission mechanisms are configured to move said external collector elements between a collecting position and a shielding position, and vice versa, as a function of at least one primary heat carrier element temperature.

8. The system according to claim 1, wherein each collector element is configured to rotate on itself, 180° with respect to the respective primary conduit.

9. The system according to claim 7, wherein transmission of motion is realized by gears having different dimensions.

10. The system according to claim 9, wherein the gears comprise driven toothed wheels and drive gear wheels, and the rack acts on said drive gear wheels but not on said driven toothed wheels.

11. The system according to claim 7, wherein the rack acts simultaneously on all the gears.

12. The system according to claim 11, wherein the gears do not engage each other.

13. The system according to claim 7, where said shielding position of each external collector element is suitably made opaque to solar radiation by opaque adhesives or films.

14. The system according to claim 7, wherein each collector element is configured to rotate on itself, 180° with respect to the respective primary conduit.

15. The system according to claim 1, wherein geometry of the drive and transmission mechanisms is configured to allow rotation of the required collectors by at least one driving wheel having an undersized diameter, and rotation of the collectors is obtained with a short rack and minimum stroke of the piston, thereby reducing the weight and size required for the hydraulic cylinder and for the spring to act on the hydraulic cylinder.

16. The system according to claim 7, wherein geometry of the drive and transmission mechanisms is configured to obtain rotation of the required collectors by at least one driving wheel having an undersized diameter, and rotation of the collectors is obtained with a short rack and minimum stroke of the piston, thereby reducing the weight and size required for the hydraulic cylinder and for the spring to act on the hydraulic cylinder.

17. The system according to claim 1, wherein the hydraulic cylinder pressure intake is connected to the cylinder, and includes a fluid pressure line attached to the intake through which the fluid pressure within said primary conduits is transmitted.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0036] The present invention will now be described for illustration, but not for the purpose of limitation, with particular reference to the figures of the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0037] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the motion system according to the present invention;

[0038] FIG. 2 is a side view of the system of FIG. 1;

[0039] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the motion system according to the invention;

[0040] FIG. 4 is a side view of the system of FIG. 3;

[0041] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of yet another embodiment of the motion system according to the invention;

[0042] FIG. 6 is a side view of the system of FIG. 5;

[0043] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a further embodiment of the motion system according to the invention; and

[0044] FIG. 8 is a side view of the system of FIG. 7.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0045] In a solar collector, the shielding system has the function of blocking solar radiation and not allowing its penetration inside the collector to the tube portion with selective coating, and thus, contributes to the heating of the primary fluid.

[0046] In FIGS. 1 to 8, the system according to the present invention is shown applied to a solar collector, in which the shielding system is formed by the same glass tubes that also act as collectors.

[0047] However, the same system can also be provided on solar collectors provided with a different protection system, such as rotating laminae, which cover a single tube 1 for a 180° arc.

[0048] In the embodiment shown in the figures, for example, films are applied on each collector tube, such films being opaque to the solar radiation initially directed on the opposite side to the sun's rays. When the system temperature rises, the pressure inside the primary fluid begins to increase. At such point, the automatic shielding system engages. By means of rack and toothed wheels, the linear motion of the piston is converted into a rotary motion, allowing the collector tubes to expose the shielding part. At this point, the solar collector begins to self-regulate. A set pressure increase will correspond to the advancement of the piston and its exposure by the collectors of the opaque surface. When the pressure decreases due to a decrease in the solar collector temperature, for example due to a user's energy withdrawal or to a decrease in solar irradiation, the piston will correspondingly retract so as to bring the system into collector mode, i.e., with the shielding part in the starting position.

[0049] Referring particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2, a first embodiment of the system according to the invention includes the glass collector tube 1, the structure 2, the hydraulic cylinder 3, the rack 4, the driven toothed wheels 5, the hydraulic cylinder pressure intake 6, the drive gear wheels 7, and the integrated storage tank 9. The hydraulic cylinder may include a hydraulic cylinder pressure intake connected to the cylinder, and a fluid pressure line attached to the intake through which the fluid pressure within said primary conduits is transmitted.

[0050] In this specific embodiment, the hydraulic cylinder 3 acts on two driving wheels 7, which, with the adjacent gears, transfer the rotary motion to the whole conduit system 1. The driving wheels 7 have a greater gear width so as to allow the rack 4 to engage without interfering with the teeth of the wheels 5.

[0051] In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, respectively, the driving wheels 7 have a lower diameter than that of the previous embodiment. In this way, with the same stroke of the hydraulic cylinder 3, it is possible to make the tube system 1 realizing a larger rotation.

[0052] In the embodiment of FIGS. 5 and 6, the rack 4 acts on all the toothed wheels 5 simultaneously. Wheels 5 do not engage each other, allowing the system according to the invention to be operated using a lesser force for its motion, since the friction component introduced by mutual interaction between the wheels has been eliminated.

[0053] In the embodiment in FIGS. 7 and 8, besides eliminating the friction component due to mutual interaction between the teeth of the wheels 5 by using smaller diameter driving wheels, it is possible to obtain the desired rotation of the tube system 1 using a lower stroke for cylinder 3. Therefore, a shorter length of the rack 4 and, consequently, a greater compactness of the whole system according to the present invention, may be provided.

[0054] On the piston rod, there is provided a return spring 8. This embodiment, for its adjustment, requires the optimization of various variables, such as the features of the return spring 8, fluid volume which, by expanding, activates the cylinder 3, characteristics of hydraulic cylinder 3, nature and dimensions of the transmission of the motion means 4, 5, 6, 7, etc.

[0055] In particular, the characteristics of the spring 8 in terms of length, useful stroke and elastic constant, must allow for the counter-force required to make the movement reversible. The spring 8 will then be dimensioned to ensure, with a preload choice, the required force.

[0056] The characteristics of the hydraulic cylinder 3 allow it to deliver the required force for movement and, at the same time, ensure the fluid expansion volume so as not to reach pressures that are too high.

[0057] The geometry of the motion transmitting means 4, 5, 6, 7 also is configured to allow the optimization of shielding degree. Particularly, the specific choice of this geometry allows for the rotation of the required shield with the minimum stroke of the piston by reducing the cost, weight and size of the hydraulic cylinder.

[0058] The balance created between these different features allows for a dynamic shielding of the solar collector.

[0059] Particularly, when the temperature within the primary fluid grows, the system begins to move and partially block incoming solar radiation as long as the power provided by the sun is exactly the same as that dissipated from the system in terms of thermal dispersions.

[0060] In this invention, maximum efficiency of the system is always ensured and at the same time, the integrity of the system is maintained as the high temperatures are limited.

[0061] Further, the use of adhesive shielding elements helps to avoid problems that can be caused by the wind. Additionally, positioning shields independently rotating with respect to the glass tubes may lead to instability or resonance phenomena that would put the tube's integrity at risk.

[0062] Preferred embodiments have been described, and variants of the present invention have been suggested, but it is to be understood that those skilled in the art will be able to make modifications and changes without departing from the scope as defined by the enclosed claims.