Radiant energy collector panel and system

Abstract

A radiant energy collector panel comprises a plurality of outwardly facing open ended channels extending inwardly from the outer face of the panel for receiving radiant energy directed at the outer face of the panel wherein each channel includes an inwardly extending concave interface surface and an opposed inwardly extending convex interface surface. The opposed inwardly extending concave and convex interface surfaces provide increased areas exposed to the radiant energy, absorb and substantially reflect and amplify radiant energy of larger angle of incidence inwardly to the inner portion of the channel, substantially absorb radiant energy of smaller angle of incidence of the primary and reflected radiant energy, and reabsorb reradiated energy of lower spectral frequency therefrom, to provide a collector panel of relatively high efficiency. Various forms of such collector panels are disclosed. The radiant energy collector panel may be arranged inside an essentially slanted heat exchange passage and insulating space connected by upper and lower horizontal ducts to a substantially vertically arranged heat storage passage containing a heat storing medium. A heat transfer medium, such as air, gravity circulates through the passages and ducts absorbing heat from the collector panel in the heat exchanging passage and heating the heat storing medium in the heat storage passage.