Solar energy collecting and storing system

Abstract

A solar energy collecting and storing system includes a solar energy collecting unit and a heat reservoir. By the thermal energy collector, solar light is absorbed and converted into thermal energy for heating a working fluid contained in the thermal energy collector. Multiple input/output control valves and multiple input/output joints are connected with the heat reservoir for controlling the working fluid to flow into or out of the heat reservoir. If the light exposure is insufficient, the input control valve is closed and the heat reservoir is maintained in a thermally isolated state. For utilizing the thermal energy, the output control valve is opened and thus the thermal energy contained in the working fluid is transferred to the thermal energy application device through the thermal energy output piping line.

1 . A solar energy collecting and storing system comprising:
 a solar energy collecting unit disposed at an environment with light exposure, and comprising a thermal energy collector and a thermal energy collector temperature sensor, wherein solar light is absorbed and converted into thermal energy by said thermal energy collector for heating a working fluid contained in said thermal energy collector, and a first temperature of said working fluid contained in said thermal energy collector is detected by said thermal energy collector temperature sensor so as to discriminate whether said light exposure is sufficient;   a heat reservoir comprising a receptacle and a heat reservoir temperature sensor, wherein said working fluid is contained in said receptacle to store thermal energy, and a second temperature of said working fluid contained in said receptacle of said heat reservoir is detected by said heat reservoir temperature sensor so as to discriminate whether said thermal energy is high or low;   a thermal energy input piping line interconnected between said thermal energy collector and said heat reservoir for providing a first circulating path of said working fluid between said thermal energy collector and said heat reservoir;   at least a thermal energy input pump arranged in the thermal energy input piping line for transporting said working fluid at a higher temperature from said thermal energy collector to said heat reservoir, and transporting said working fluid at a lower temperature from said heat reservoir to said thermal energy collector;   a thermal energy application device;   a thermal energy output piping line interconnected between said heat reservoir and said thermal energy application device for providing a second circulating path of said working fluid between said heat reservoir and said thermal energy application device;   at least a thermal energy output pump arranged in the thermal energy output piping line for transporting said working fluid at a higher temperature from said heat reservoir to said thermal energy application device, and transporting said working fluid at a lower temperature from said thermal energy application device to said heat reservoir; and   a controller connected with said thermal energy collector temperature sensor, said heat reservoir temperature sensor, said thermal energy input pump and said thermal energy output pump, wherein said thermal energy input pump and said thermal energy output pump are selectively enabled or disabled under control of said controller according to a first temperature detected by said thermal energy collector temperature sensor and a second temperature detected by said heat reservoir temperature sensor, thereby controlling said first circulating path and said second circulating path.   
   
   
       2 . The solar energy collecting and storing system according to  claim 1  wherein said thermal energy application device comprises:
 a thermal energy-based power generator for converting thermal energy into electrical energy; and/or   an indoor heating device for heating an indoor environment.   
   
   
       3 . The solar energy collecting and storing system according to  claim 1  wherein said heat reservoir further comprises:
 multiple thermal energy input control valves connected with said thermal energy input piping line and said controller; and   multiple thermal energy output control valves connected with said thermal energy output piping line and said controller,   wherein said thermal energy input control valves and said thermal energy output control valves are selectively opened or closed under control of said controller according to said first temperature and said second temperature.   
   
   
       4 . The solar energy collecting and storing system according to  claim 3  wherein said heat reservoir further comprises:
 an outer case;   an inner case enclosing said receptacle and spaced from said outer case by an insulating gap, wherein said insulating gap is in a vacuum or filled with an insulating material;   multiple thermal energy input joints communicating with said receptacle of said inner case and said thermal energy input control valves; and   multiple thermal energy output joints communicating with said receptacle of said inner case and said thermal energy output control valves.   
   
   
       5 . The solar energy collecting and storing system according to  claim 4  wherein said thermal energy application device has a first end connected with said thermal energy collector and a second end connected with said heat reservoir through said thermal energy input piping line, so that said working fluid transfers thermal energy to said thermal energy application device through both of said thermal energy input piping line and said thermal energy output piping line. 
   
   
       6 . The solar energy collecting and storing system according to  claim 4  wherein according to said first temperature and said second temperature and under control of said controller, said thermal energy output control valves and said thermal energy input control valves are selectively opened or closed, and said thermal energy input pump and said thermal energy output pump are selectively enabled or disabled, thereby automatically collect or store thermal energy. 
   
   
       7 . The solar energy collecting and storing system according to  claim 6  wherein when the difference between said first temperature and said second temperature is higher than a first threshold value, said thermal energy input control valves are opened and said thermal energy input pump is enabled under control of said controller. 
   
   
       8 . The solar energy collecting and storing system according to  claim 6  wherein when said second temperature detected by said heat reservoir temperature sensor is higher than a predetermined temperature, said thermal energy input control valves and said thermal energy output control valves are opened and said thermal energy input pump and said thermal energy output pump are enable under control of said controller. 
   
   
       9 . The solar energy collecting and storing system according to  claim 6  wherein when the difference between said first temperature and said second temperature is lower than a second threshold value, said thermal energy input control valves and said thermal energy output control valves are closed and said thermal energy input pump and said thermal energy output pump are disable under control of said controller. 
   
   
       10 . The solar energy collecting and storing system according to  claim 4  wherein said thermal energy output control valves are manually opened or closed, and said thermal energy output pump is manually enabled or disabled, thereby manually collect or store thermal energy. 
   
   
       11 . The solar energy collecting and storing system according to  claim 1  wherein said thermal energy collector of said solar energy collecting unit includes a solar collector tube or a solar panel with a heat transfer mechanism. 
   
   
       12 . A solar energy collecting and storing system comprising:
 a solar energy collecting unit disposed at an environment with light exposure, and comprising a thermal energy collector and a thermal energy collector temperature sensor, wherein solar light is absorbed and converted into thermal energy by said thermal energy collector for heating a working fluid contained in said thermal energy collector, and a first temperature of said working fluid contained in said thermal energy collector is detected by said thermal energy collector temperature sensor so as to discriminate whether said light exposure is sufficient;   a heat reservoir comprising a receptacle and a heat reservoir temperature sensor, wherein said working fluid is contained in said receptacle to store thermal energy, and a second temperature of said working fluid contained in said receptacle of said heat reservoir is detected by said heat reservoir temperature sensor so as to discriminate whether said thermal energy is high or low;   a thermal energy input piping line interconnected between said thermal energy collector and said heat reservoir for providing a first circulating path of said working fluid between said thermal energy collector and said heat reservoir;   at least a thermal energy input pump arranged in the thermal energy input piping line for transporting said working fluid at a higher temperature from said thermal energy collector to said heat reservoir, and transporting said working fluid at a lower temperature from said heat reservoir to said thermal energy collector;   a thermal energy application device;   a thermal energy output piping line interconnected between said heat reservoir and said thermal energy application device for providing a second circulating path of said working fluid between said heat reservoir and said thermal energy application device;   at least a thermal energy output pump arranged in the thermal energy output piping line for transporting said working fluid at a higher temperature from said heat reservoir to said thermal energy application device, and transporting said working fluid at a lower temperature from said thermal energy application device to said heat reservoir; and   a controller connected with said thermal energy collector temperature sensor, said heat reservoir temperature sensor, said thermal energy input pump and said thermal energy output pump, wherein said thermal energy input pump and said thermal energy output pump are selectively enabled or disabled under control of said controller according to a first temperature detected by said thermal energy collector temperature sensor and a second temperature detected by said heat reservoir temperature sensor, thereby controlling said first circulating path and said second circulating path;   wherein said thermal energy application device has a first end connected with said thermal energy collector and a second end connected with said heat reservoir through said thermal energy input piping line, so that said working fluid transfers thermal energy to said thermal energy application device through both of said thermal energy input piping line and said thermal energy output piping line.   
   
   
       13 . The solar energy collecting and storing system according to  claim 12  wherein said thermal energy application device comprises:
 a thermal energy-based power generator for converting thermal energy into electrical energy; and/or   an indoor heating device for heating an indoor environment.   
   
   
       14 . The solar energy collecting and storing system according to  claim 12  wherein said heat reservoir further comprises:
 multiple thermal energy input control valves connected with said thermal energy input piping line and said controller; and   multiple thermal energy output control valves connected with said thermal energy output piping line and said controller,   wherein said thermal energy input control valves and said thermal energy output control valves are selectively opened or closed under control of said controller according to said first temperature and said second temperature.   
   
   
       15 . The solar energy collecting and storing system according to  claim 14  wherein according to said first temperature and said second temperature and under control of said controller, said thermal energy output control valves and said thermal energy input control valves are selectively opened or closed, and said thermal energy input pump and said thermal energy output pump are selectively enabled or disabled, thereby automatically collect or store thermal energy. 
   
   
       16 . The solar energy collecting and storing system according to  claim 15  wherein when the difference between said first temperature and said second temperature is higher than a first threshold value, said thermal energy input control valves are opened and said thermal energy input pump is enabled under control of said controller. 
   
   
       17 . The solar energy collecting and storing system according to  claim 15  wherein when said second temperature detected by said heat reservoir temperature sensor is higher than a predetermined temperature, said thermal energy output control valves are opened and said thermal energy output pump is enable under control of said controller. 
   
   
       18 . The solar energy collecting and storing system according to  claim 15  wherein when the difference between said first temperature and said second temperature is lower than a second threshold value, said thermal energy input control valves and said thermal energy output control valves are closed and said thermal energy input pump and said thermal energy output pump are disable under control of said controller. 
   
   
       19 . The solar energy collecting and storing system according to  claim 14  wherein said thermal energy output control valves are manually opened or closed, and said thermal energy output pump is manually enabled or disabled, thereby manually collect or store thermal energy.