Solar collectors with evacuated receiver and nonimaging external reflectors

Abstract

A solar collector with external reflector. A solar collector includes a glass housing having a heat pipe disposed within the housing and a light reflector disposed external to the housing.

1 . A solar collector, comprising:
 a housing for the solar collector, the housing comprised of a glass tube;   a heat pipe disposed within the housing wherein the heat pipe further is coupled to contoured heat transfer fins wherein the heat pipe is sandwiched between at least two of the heat transfer fins; and   a light reflector externally disposed relative to the housing.   
     
     
         2 . The solar collector as defined in  claim 1  wherein the heat transfer fins are molded to maximize contact with both the heat pipe and the inside surface of the glass tube. 
     
     
         3 . The solar collector as defined in  claim 1  wherein the heat pipe and the fins are disposed in a flow-through heat transfer manifold. 
     
     
         4 . The solar collector as defined in  claim 1  wherein the light reflector comprises an external compound parabolic concentrator (XCPC). 
     
     
         5 . The solar collector as defined in  claim 1  wherein the housing comprises an all glass dewar-type tube. 
     
     
         6 . The solar collector as defined in  claim 1  wherein the heat pipe includes a hollow center with a vacuum. 
     
     
         7 . The solar collector as defined in  claim 1  wherein the heat transfer fins substantially encompass the heat pipe. 
     
     
         8 . The solar collector as defined in  claim 1  wherein the heat pipe comprises a copper pipe. 
     
     
         9 . The solar collector as defined in  claim 1  wherein the heat transfer fins comprise aluminum. 
     
     
         10 . The solar collector as defined in  claim 1  wherein the light reflector comprises a nonimaging reflector. 
     
     
         11 . The solar collector as defined in  claim 1  wherein the housing comprises an evacuated glass tube. 
     
     
         12 . A method of making a solar collector, comprising the steps of:
 providing a housing for the solar collector;   positioning a heat pipe inside the housing wherein the solar collector further includes contoured heat transfer fins substantially surrounding the heat pipe;   evacuating the housing; and   positioning a light reflector to illuminate the heat pipe.   
     
     
         13 . The method as defined in  claim 12  wherein the heat pipe comprises a hollow copper tube. 
     
     
         14 . The method as defined in  claim 12  wherein the light reflector is disposed at least one of internal to the housing and external to the housing. 
     
     
         15 . The method as defined in  claim 14  wherein the light reflector comprises a non-imaging reflector. 
     
     
         16 . The method as defined in  claim 15  wherein the non-imaging reflector comprises an XCPC light reflector. 
     
     
         17 . The method as defined in  claim 12  wherein the heat transfer fins are shaped to maximize contact with both the heat pipe and an internal surface of the housing. 
     
     
         18 . The method as defined in  claim 12  wherein the heat transfer fins are comprised of aluminum. 
     
     
         19 . The method as defined in  claim 12  wherein the solar collector further includes a flow-through heat exchanger manifold. 
     
     
         20 . The method as defined in  claim 12  wherein the solar collector is not moved, thereby performing as a stationary solar collector having a reliable performance upper limit.