Solar-system yielding solar thermal energy management

Abstract

A Solar-SYSTEM using recycled Glass Jars and recycled Metal Cans is disclosed to construct and operate a Solar Energy Collector and Storage System. This Solar-SYSTEM captures and stores Solar Energy from the SUN, for immediate use, or the Solar Energy can be stored for use at a later time. The Solar Energy collected by this Solar-SYSTEM can be used to Heat Hot Water, provide Space Heating in Homes and Buildings, or for other uses as required. This Solar-SYSTEM can also be used to Distill Saltwater to Freshwater for purposes of Human Consumption or for Irrigation or for other uses.

1 . A solar collector and storage system comprising: 
 a solar collector defined by a plurality of glass jars, generally square and, or rectangular-shaped, with said glass being crystal clear, or nearly crystal clear glass, said glass jars which are all nearly identical in size and shape, whereby each jar, is arranged so that the glass jars are aligned with one another, and so that the glass jars are adjacent to each other, whereby said glass jar is flush with the adjacent glass jar; each said glass jar having at least one opening, or may have two openings, whereby each of the two openings are on opposite sides of said glass jar;    a solar absorber plate which maybe made of metal that can absorb solar energy, in which said solar absorber plate is installed within said glass jar by means of the glass jar opening or openings; whereby the multitude of said glass jars, each have a solar absorber plate installed within, whereby the multitude of solar absorber plates are nearly identical in size and shape;    a pipe attached to said solar absorber plate, which is in fluid communication with the multitude of said solar absorber plates, installed within the multitude of said glass jars;    a pump which is in fluid communication to said pipe, said pump—pumps water or other fluid through said pipe, which absorbs solar energy from said multitude of solar absorber plates which are installed inside a multitude of glass jars;    a heat storage tank which maybe insulated to prevent heat loss, which said heat storage tank is in fluid communication to said pump and said pipe, whereby solar energy absorbed inside said glass jars by said solar absorber plate, then solar energy is absorbed by said pipe and then solar energy is absorbed by said water or other fluid, then said heated fluid is then pumped and circulated, then said heated fluid is stored inside said heat storage tank, for later use for purposes of heating water, space heating, or for use in other applications;    a heat exchanger which is in fluid communication to said heat storage tank, whereby said heat exchanger can transfer stored solar heat energy from said heated fluid to another fluid or gas, for purposes of heating water, space heating or for other uses; or said heat exchanger can transfer Solar    Heat Energy directly from the heated fluid for immediate use as in Space Heating or for other immediate uses, by means of bypassing the Heat Storage Tank.    
   
   
       2 . Glass jars according to  claim 1 , said glass jars have an opening atop said glass jar for purposes of pouring: fluid, powder, or other forms of material from said glass jar, such said opening also has a cap, or other type of enclosure to secure said material inside said glass jar; whereby said cap or other enclosure, can be removed for purposes of emptying some of the contents inside glass jar, then said cap or other enclosure can then be re-installed to secure said glass jar and said contents inside, to be removed at a later time; 
 said pipe is looped by means of a jig or other device, so that said pipe can be attached to said solar absorber plate, then said looped pipe attached to said solar absorber plate are inserted through the opening atop said glass jar,    said glass jar cap or other enclosure is then modified in such a manner, that it can be re-installed onto said glass jar opening, allowing the looped pipe to enter and exit said glass jar in such a manner that said glass jar is nearly air tight, for purposes of performing as a solar collector, with said solar absorber plate and said looped pipe within said glass jar.    
   
   
       3 . Glass jars according to  claim 1 , said glass jars have an opening atop said glass jar for purposes of pouring: fluid, powder, or other forms of material from said glass jar, such said opening also has a cap, or other type of enclosure to secure said material inside said glass jar; whereby said cap or other enclosure, can be removed for purposes of emptying some of the contents inside glass jar, then said cap or other enclosure can then be re-installed to secure said glass jar and said contents inside, to be removed at a later time; 
 Said glass jars may have glass bottom which is similiar to glass jars common to the industry, then after the contents of said glass jar are removed, and said glass jar is being prepared to be converted to a Solar Collector, then a portion of said glass bottom of said glass jar is scored with an appropriate tool, then said portion bottom of said glass jar is removed with appropriate tools, then said glass jar has two opening, one atop said glass jar, and the second opening at the bottom of said glass jar, at which time said glass jar is prepared to have said absorber plate and said pipe installed inside said glass jar;    once said glass jar has a portion of bottom of said glass jar scored and the cut and then removed with appropriate tools, then said pipe which is attached to said absorber plate is fitted into one of the two openings of said glass jar, then said glass jar is fitted into an adjacent glass jar, whereby either the top of one glass jar fits into the opening on the bottom of the adjacent glass jar, then an application of a type of Sealant such as plastic adhesive or fine mix of brick mortar is used to bond the two adjacent glass jars together, thereby making for a nearly air tight bond between the glass jars, allowing said glass jars to perform as a solar collector.    
   
   
       4 . Glass jars according to  claim 1 , said glass jars have an opening atop said glass jar for purposes of pouring: fluid, powder, or other forms of material from said glass jar, such said opening also has a cap, or other type of enclosure to secure said material inside said glass jar; whereby said cap or other enclosure, can be removed for purposes of emptying some of the contents inside glass jar, then said cap or other enclosure can then be re-installed to secure said glass jar and said contents inside, to be removed at a later time; 
 Said glass jar may have an opening in the bottom of said glass jars which is secured by means of a plastic plug, whereby said plastic plug is removed only, after the glass jar is emptied of said materials, and is then prepared to be used as said solar collector.    once said glass jar has a plastic plug removed, then said pipe which is attached to said absorber plate is fitted into one of the two openings of said glass jar, then said glass jar is fitted into an adjacent glass jar, whereby either the top of one glass jar fits into the opening on the bottom of the adjacent glass jar, then an application of a type of Sealant such as plastic adhesive or fine mix of brick mortar is used to bond the two adjacent glass jars together, thereby making for a nearly air tight bond between the glass jars, allowing said glass jars to perform as a solar collector.    
   
   
       5 . Solar absorber plate according to  claim 1 , is made of metal, said solar absorber plate maybe made of flattened metal cans, by means of a metal press, whereby said recycled cans have been recycled into said solar absorber plates, said absorber plates maybe painted black in color to increase absorption of solar energy, whereby said pipe is secured to flattened can by means of metal press  
   
   
       6 . Solar absorber plate according to  claim 1 , maybe made of a sheet metal which is manfactured specifically in size and shape so to be fitted inside said glass jars, said absorber plate maybe nearly the full dimension in width and length, as the inside dimension of said glass jar, said absorber plate may have a groove stamped into the metal, so that said pipe can be fitted into the grove, and brackets attached with screws or other fasteners are used to secure said bracket tight to said pipe which is pressed tight to said absorber plate by means of said groove, stamped into said solar absorber plate.  
   
   
       7 . Pump according to  claim 1 , said pump maybe powered by an electric motor which is supplied by electric current, or said pump is powered by other primemover, whereby said pump—pumps the fluid which is in fluid communication inside said pipe which is secured to said aborber plates, whereby said fluid flows, and transfers solar heat energy from said absorber plates to said storage tank, or to said heat exchanger, and then said fluid returns to Solar Collector, where the cycle continually repeats.  
   
   
       8 . Heat Storage Tank according to  claim 1 , maybe made from a large plastic garbage container or other such container, said Lid to such garbage container may float atop said container, or said Lid maybe secured to said container by means of adhesives and other fasteners.  
   
   
       9 . Said Heat Storage Tank according to  claim 1 , may have one or more heat exchangers installed INSIDE said Heat Storage Tank for purposes of both transfering solar heat energy into said Heat Storage Tank, and a second Heat Exchanger located INSIDE said Heat Storage Tank to transfer stored solar heat energy from said Heat Storage Tank, to be used at a later time for heating Water, Space Heating, or for other uses.  
   
   
       10 . Said Heat Storage Tank according to  claim 8 , may have one or more heat exchangers installed OUTSIDE said Heat Storage Tank for purposes of both transfering solar heat energy into said Heat Storage Tank, and a second Heat Exchanger located OUTSIDE said Heat Storage Tank to transfer stored solar heat energy from said Heat Storage Tank, to be used at a later time for heating Water, Space Heating, or for other uses.  
   
   
       11 . The Electric Pump or Electric Pumps according to  claim 6 , maybe operated and controlled by means of: valves, switches, thermostats, timers and other devices, common to such usage in Solar Collector Systems, these devices used to operate and control flow of Water or Liquid between said Solar Collectors, said Heat StoargeTank, and said Heat Exchanger for use in heating Water, Space Heating or for other uses.  
   
   
       12 . Water of other Fluid according to  claim 1 , maybe replaced in said Solar Collector and Storage System by Air or other Gas or Gases, in such event, said Air or Gas would Circulate through said Heat Exchanger of said Storage Tank. Or said Air or Gas can be heated by the Solar Energy collected inside said Solar Collector, then said Heated Air or Gas can be circulated into a Room or Building for purpose of immediate Heating, or other usage.  
   
   
       13 . Air or Gas according to  Claim 11 , may be circulated by one or more Electric Blowers or Electric Fans, for the purposes of Circulation either in a closed system, or for purposes of transfering Solar Energy directly from the Solar Collector to a Room, Building for purposes of immediate Heating, or other usage.  
   
   
       14 . Electric Blowers or Electric Fans according to  claim 12  maybe operated and controlled by means of: valves, switches, thermostats, timers and other devices, common to such usage in Solar Collector Systems, these devices used to operate and control flow of Air or other Gases between said Solar Collectors, said Heat StoargeTank, and said Heat Exchanger for use in Space Heating or for other uses.  
   
   
       15 . Sealants, Cements, Fasteners and other Devices maybe used to secure Glass Jars to other Glass Jars, and or to make Glass Jars nearly air tight so to improve performance of Solar Collector System.  
   
   
       16 . Insulation of various kinds are to be used to insulate the underside of Solar Absorber Plates, Pipes and Tubing outside of Solar Collectors, Heat Exchangers outside of Heat Storage Tank, Heat Storage Tanks, and other Devices that need to be insulated for superior performance of said Solar Collector System and Storage.  
   
   
       17 . Glass Jar Cap or other Glass Jar Enclosure according to  claim 2 , whereby the Cap or other Enclosure has a hole cut, punched, drilled or otherwise made, whereby the Solar Absorber Plate and looped pipe or tubing can be inserted into said Glass Jar, then said Cap or Enclosure can be reinstalled or modified in such a manner, that the Glass Jar is nearly air-tight, with both pipe or tubing entering and exiting throught said Cap or other Enclosure.  
   
   
       18 . Second Emodiment of Invention maybe used as a Solar Still to Distill Seawater into Freshwater. Whereby, instead of a Metal Pipe; a Plastic, Clay or Cement Pipe, which maybe slotted or top third or more of the pipe removed, runs from one Glass Jar to the next. A small hole maybe cut or drilled into the bottom of each Glass jar. Thereby Seawater will evaporate in the Pipe, condense on the inside of the Glass Jar, then drain out thru the small hole on the bottom of the Jar, then flow into a second Pipe. Or Cement, Concrete or Clay maybe poured and cured inside each Glass Jar, at the proper level or height, so that the Distilled Water will flow out—thru the existing openings of the Glass Jar.  
   
   
       19 . Solar Collector according to  claim 1 , maybe of just one Glass Jar without restriction to the size of said Glass jar, or Solar Collector maybe of a multitude of Glass Jars which maybe connected by a manifold or manifolds, by means of Pipe, Tubing or other such Fluid Connections.  
   
   
       20 . A Metal Press to be used to flatten Metal Cans, whereby Tubing or Pipe can be inserted into the Metal Can before it is flattened, then only the Can is flattened, resulting in a minimum of distortion to the Tubing or Pipe.