Solar energy converter

Abstract

The disclosed invention relates to a solar energy collector in a conversion system. The collector is made from common glass tubing lengths of different diameters and comprises a first outer clear glass cylindrical tube having approximately a semi-cylinder surface portion mirror coated for reflection and a collector tube inside the first tube having an energy absorbing coating on its exterior surface. The tubes resemble over-sized test tubes in that one end is closed. The collector is held in place inside the outer tube by a spacer-support element snapped on the closed end of the collector. The open end of the outer tube is sealed to the wall of the collector, and the space is evacuated. An open-ended fluid handling tube of glass is inserted into the collector tube and has a spiral or helical baffle along its length to guide working fluid issuing into the collector near its closed end along the wall thereof and absorb collected heat. Several of the energy collectors are detachably connected into a manifold for circulation of working fluid (air or water or the like) into the handling tube and receive working fluid flowing from the collector tube. The manifold provides for collector tubes to depend on opposite sides as a module covering predetermined area of rooftop or like solar exposure. The working fluid carrying the energy is utilized in a heating or cooling system.