Advanced hybrid tank, Advanced PV cooling panel, Advanced thermal focusing panel

Abstract

The advanced hybrid tank is a multifunctional tank with a shape that makes for easy construction and assembly while maximizing the ability of thermal syphoning. This invention can store an inlet liquid and thermal energy from a thermal collector, for outlet usage in multiple applications. The tank typically has a coupling side and a thermal syphoning side which together allows for coupling with an advanced PV cooling panel, an advanced thermal focusing panel, or a roof structure.

Claims

1. I claim an advanced hybrid tank, an apparatus for containing a liquid and with the tank having a shape to both maximize thermal syphoning and allow coupling with a support structure and an upper covering, comprising; a tank shell to define a liquid type chamber; a base side; a thermal syphon side; a coupling side; an inlet and outlet connection or plurality of connections; with the thermal syphon side having an inlet connection or plurality of inlet connections; with the coupling side having a desired pitch between 10 degrees and 75 degree below horizontally level; with the thermal syphon side being approximately perpendicular to the coupling side; and consisting of glass, ceramic, plastic, metal, cast metal, a metal sheeting such as copper, or any combination thereof.

2. I claim an advanced PV cooling panel, an apparatus for thermal transfer with photovoltaic cells and coupling with a liquid tank, wherein the panel is assembled with a pipe or plurality of pipes embedded, with photovoltaic cells embedded or applied, and a method of making the advanced PV cooling panel, comprising; a panel; a pipe or plurality of pipes; a photovoltaic cell or plurality of photovoltaic cells; with said panel consisting of metal, plastic, glass, or any combination thereof; with said pipe or plurality of pipes aligned linearly and embedded with the panel; with said pipe or plurality of pipes consisting of metal, plastic, glass, or any combination thereof; and the method of producing the panel with plumbing and photovoltaic cells embedded, comprising; a pipe or plurality of pipes; a panel ply or plurality of panel plies; with said pipe or plurality of pipes being fused to a ply or plurality of plies; with said pipe or plurality of pipes having an inlet and outlet connection or plurality of connections; with photovoltaic cells as a ply or applied to the upper ply; and having electrical connections to said photovoltaic cells.

3. I claim an advanced thermal focusing panel, an apparatus for thermal transfer and coupling with a liquid tank, wherein the panel is assembled with a pipe or plurality of pipes embedded, with lens rods being embedded or applied, and a method of making said advanced thermal focusing panel, comprising; a panel; a pipe or plurality of pipes; a lens rod or plurality of lens rods; with said panel consisting of metal, plastic, glass, or any combination thereof; with said pipe or plurality of pipes aligned linearly and embedded with the panel; with said pipe or plurality of pipes consisting of metal, plastic, glass, or any combination thereof; with the lens rod or plurality of lens rods having a diameter to make a focal point on the upper surface of opaque type pipes; with the lens rod or plurality of lens rods having a diameter to make a focal point at the core of clear type pipes; with the lens rod or plurality of lens rods positioned above said pipe or plurality of pipes and fused to the panel; and the method of producing the panel with plumbing and lens rods embedded, comprising; a pipe or plurality of pipes; a lens rod or plurality of lens rods; a panel ply or plurality of panel plies; with said pipe or plurality of pipes being fused to a ply or plurality of plies; with said pipe or plurality of pipes having an inlet and outlet connection or plurality of connections; and with lens rods fused to an upper panel ply.

4. The advanced hybrid tank according to claim 1, wherein the tank is coupled with a support structure being a stand structure, further comprising; a stand structure to suspend the tank, comprising; a first plurality of support members; a second plurality of support members; a plurality of beam members; the first plurality of support members being spaced and having a pitch between 10 degrees below horizontally level and 75 degrees below horizontally level; the second plurality of support members being spaced and having a pitch between 10 degrees below horizontally level and 90 degrees below horizontally level; with the first plurality of support members and the second plurality of support members connected at opposite ends of the plurality of beam members and extending downward to connect with a base volume or built area; and a means of attachment for the tank being at the plurality of beam members.

5. The advanced hybrid tank according to claim 4, wherein the support structure is improved by coupling the stand structure and the tank with a roof structure having an upper covering, wherein the tank coupling side and the stand structure have a similar pitch to said roof structure of a base volume or built area, further comprising; a roof structure; an upper covering; the first plurality of support members being spaced and having a pitch similar to the corresponding members of said roof structure; the second plurality of support members being spaced and having a pitch similar to the corresponding members of said roof structure; with the tank's coupling side having a desired pitch similar to the first plurality of support members; and with the upper covering attached to the roof structure.

6. The advanced hybrid tank according to claim 5, wherein said stand structure is improved as a collar-tie-beam system which reinforces said roof structure, further comprising; the first and second plurality of support members being attached and sistering the corresponding roof structure's members; and with the plurality of beam members spaced parallel, spanning horizontally, and collar tying the upper ends of the first and second corresponding members of the roof structure.

7. The advanced hybrid tank according to claim 1, wherein said tank inlet or outlet connection or plurality of connections are improved, further comprising either; a switch connection; a sensor connection; a pressure relief connection; a steam distribution connection; a steam turbine connection; a pump connection; or a drain connection.

8. The advanced hybrid tank according to claim 4, wherein the advanced hybrid tank is coupled with an upper covering being the advanced PV cooling panel of claim 2, further comprising; an advanced PV cooling panel; with the advanced PV cooling panel attached to the upper surface of the first plurality of support members of said stand structure; and with the upper panel pipe connections being connected to the tank's thermal syphon inlet connections and the lower panel pipe connections being connected to any of the tank's outlet connections, as to be in fluid communication.

9. The advanced hybrid tank according to claim 4, wherein the advanced hybrid tank is coupled with an upper covering being the advanced thermal focusing panel of claim 3, further comprising; an advanced thermal focusing panel; with the advanced thermal focusing panel attached to the upper surface of the first plurality of support members of said stand structure; and with the upper panel pipe connections being connected to the tank's thermal syphon inlet connections and the lower panel pipe connections being connected to any of the tank's outlet connections, as to be in fluid communication.

10. The advanced hybrid tank according to claim 5, wherein the upper covering of said roof structure is improved by coupling the advanced PV cooling panel of claim 2 with the advanced hybrid tank, further comprising; an advanced PV cooling panel; with the advanced PV cooling panel attached to the upper surface of the first plurality of support members of said stand structure; with the upper panel pipe connections being connected to the tank's thermal syphon inlet connections and the lower panel pipe connections being connected to any of the tank's outlet connections, as to be in fluid communication; and with the advanced PV cooling panel being integrated and coupled with said upper covering.

11. The advanced hybrid tank according to claim 5, wherein the upper covering of said roof structure is improved by coupling the advanced thermal focusing panel of claim 3 with the advanced hybrid tank, further comprising; an advanced thermal focusing panel; with the advanced thermal focusing panel attached to the upper surface of the first plurality of support members of said stand structure; with the upper panel pipe connections being connected to the tank's thermal syphon inlet connections and the lower panel pipe connections being connected to any of the tank's outlet connections, as to be in fluid communication; and with the advanced thermal focusing panel being integrated and coupled with said upper covering.

12. The advanced PV cooling panel according to claim 2, wherein the panel is improved by coupling the advanced thermal focusing panel of claim 3 as an upper ply, as to increase thermal transfer while allowing light to reach said photovoltaic cells, further comprising; an advanced thermal focusing panel; with the advanced thermal focusing panel being a ply; with the advanced thermal focusing panel attached above the photovoltaic cell's ply of the advanced PV cooling panel; and with the upper panel pipe connections being connected to the tank's thermal syphon inlet connections and the lower panel pipe connections being connected to any of the tank's outlet connections, as to be in fluid communication.

13. The advanced hybrid tank according to claim 1, wherein said tank is constructed within a size range, further comprising; a width dimension; and with the tank having a width less than 24 inches.

14. The advanced hybrid tank according to claim 1, wherein said tank is constructed with copper sheeting and rivets, further comprising; a copper connection or plurality of copper connections; a plurality of copper type rivets; and made to contain a liquid by soldering rivet seams.

15. The advanced hybrid tank according to claim 1, wherein said tank is formed by welding copper sheeting.

16. The advanced hybrid tank according to claim 2, wherein the panel is assembled with said ply of photovoltaic cells being beneath said ply of plurality of pipes.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE MULTIPLE VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] FIG. 1 is a side view of the tank's general shape.

[0012] FIG. 2 is a side view of the tank on a stand.

[0013] FIG. 3 is a side view of a method of integrating the tank and supports into a roof structure.

[0014] FIG. 4 is a side view of the advanced PV cooling panel with embedded pipes and embedded PV cells.

[0015] FIG. 5 is a side view of the advanced thermal focusing panel with embedded pipes and embedded lenses.

[0016] FIG. 6 is a side view of combining the advanced PV cooling panel and the advanced thermal focusing panel.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0017] FIG. 1 shows the invention 1 with a base side 2 joining an adjacent side to create an obtuse angled corner 3. The obtuse angled corner 3 is followed by a right angled corner 4. The side between the obtuse angled corner 3 and the right angled corner 4 is shown to have an angled connection 5 to maximize thermal syphoning.

[0018] An angled connection 5 can be used as a liquid inlet connection. The base side 2 is shown with a connection 6 for liquid outlet, yet could instead be placed on any side at any height from the base side to half way up the tank. Additional inlet and outlet connections can be positioned on any of the tank's sides.

[0019] FIG. 2 shows the invention 1 with a support structure having a first plurality of support members 7 and a second plurality of support members 8 being attached to opposing ends of the plurality of beam members 9. The first plurality of support members 7 are pitched similar to the tank's coupling side 10.

[0020] FIG. 3 shows a method of coupling the tank with roof structure members. The first and second plurality of support members 7 and 8, are shown attached and sistering the rafter members 11, beneath an upper covering 21. The plurality of beam members 9 are shown to collar tie the rafter members 11.

[0021] FIG. 4 shows the advanced PV cooling panel 12 having pipes 14 as the bottom ply of the panel and photovoltaic cells 15 as the upper ply of the panel. Panel pipe connections 16 allow liquid flow and thermal communication with a tank. Panel electrical connections 17 allow photovoltaic electrical energy to be utilized in an electrical system.

[0022] FIG. 5 shows the advanced thermal focusing panel 13 having pipes 14 as the bottom ply of the panel and lens rods 18 as the upper ply of the panel. Panel pipe connections 16 allow liquid flow and thermal communication with a tank.

[0023] FIG. 6 shows a hybrid panel 20 with the advanced PV cooling panel and the advanced thermal focusing panel fused together with a ply 19 that can be considered a joining ply when fusing atop of a photovoltaic ply.