Solar thermal collector manifold

Abstract

A solar thermal energy collector manifold is provided. The manifold is connected to solar collector tubes for collecting solar energy. A fluid is used to transfer the heat collected from the collector tubes. The manifold includes an inlet path for receiving the fluid, a fluid flow path for transferring the fluid to the solar collector tubes, and an outlet path for outputting the heated fluid. To facilitate the flow paths, the manifold includes a plate with depressions.

1 . A solar collector manifold, comprising:
 a first manifold port;   a second manifold port;   a solar collector connection port that defines an external opening into the manifold and is constructed and arranged to connect to a fluid tube of a solar collector;   a network of fluid flow paths that comprises a first fluid flow path that conveys fluid from the first manifold port, and a second fluid flow path that conveys fluid to the second manifold port; and   an insert that defines at least a portion of a fluid exchange path that conveys fluid between the solar collector connection port and the first fluid flow path.   
     
     
         2 . (canceled) 
     
     
         3 . The solar collector manifold of  claim 1 , wherein the insert comprises a flange adjacent the solar collector connection port and a projection extending from the flange into the solar collector connection port. 
     
     
         4 - 6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . The solar collector manifold of  claim 1 , wherein the insert provides a counter-flow path between the fluid tube of the solar collector and the first fluid flow path. 
     
     
         8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . A method, comprising:
 forming a manifold comprising a first manifold port, a second manifold port, a solar collector connection port that defines an external opening into the manifold and is constructed and arranged to connect to a fluid tube of a solar collector, and a network of fluid flow paths that comprises a first fluid flow path that conveys fluid from the manifold inlet port, and a second fluid flow path that conveys fluid to the manifold outlet port; and   attaching to the solar collector connection port an insert that defines at least a portion of a fluid exchange path that conveys fluid between the solar collector connection port and the first fluid flow path.   
     
     
         10 - 13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . The method  claim 9 , wherein the attaching comprises welding the insert to the solar collector connection port of the manifold. 
     
     
         15 . A method, comprising:
 obtaining solar collectors;   obtaining a manifold comprising a first manifold port, a second manifold port, for each of the solar collectors a respective a solar collector connection port that defines an external opening into the manifold and is constructed and arranged to connect to a fluid tube of the respective solar collector, a network of fluid flow paths that comprises a first fluid flow path that conveys fluid from the first manifold port, and a second fluid flow path that conveys fluid to the second manifold port, and for each of the solar collector connection ports a respective insert that defines at least a portion of a respective fluid exchange path that conveys fluid between the respective solar collector connection port and the first fluid flow path; and   connecting the manifold to the solar collectors arranged in an array, wherein the connecting comprises for each of the solar collectors connecting the fluid tube of the solar collector to the respective insert.   
     
     
         16 - 18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . The method  claim 15 , wherein each of the inserts provides a counter-flow path between the fluid tube of the respective solar collector and the first fluid flow path. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein each of the inserts comprises a flow port that provides cross flow of the fluid through the insert. 
     
     
         21 . The solar collector manifold of  claim 1 , wherein the insert comprises a surface sized to mate with a surface of the fluid tube of the solar collector. 
     
     
         22 . The solar collector manifold of  claim 1 , further comprising a locking mechanism that couples the fluid tube of the solar collector to the insert. 
     
     
         23 . The solar collector manifold of  claim 22 , wherein the locking mechanism is a flared fitting. 
     
     
         24 . The solar collector manifold of  claim 1 , wherein the insert is welded to the solar collector connection port of the manifold. 
     
     
         25 . The solar collector manifold of  claim 1 , wherein the insert comprises screw threads, and the insert is screwed into the solar collector connection port of the manifold. 
     
     
         26 . The solar collector manifold of  claim 1 , wherein the first fluid flow path and the second fluid flow path are parallel, and the fluid exchange path is perpendicular to the first and second fluid flow paths. 
     
     
         27 . The solar collector manifold of  claim 1 , wherein the solar collector manifold is formed of aluminum. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the insert comprises a flange adjacent the solar collector connection port and a projection extending from the flange into the solar collector connection port. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the insert comprises a surface sized to mate with a surface of the fluid tube of the solar collector. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising engaging a locking mechanism to couple the fluid tube of the solar collector to the insert. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the first fluid flow path and the second fluid flow path are parallel, and the fluid exchange path is perpendicular to the first and second fluid flow paths. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the insert comprises screw threads, and the attaching comprises screwing the insert into the solar collector connection port of the manifold. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the forming comprises forming the manifold from aluminum. 
     
     
         34 . A solar collector manifold, comprising:
 a first manifold port;   a second manifold port;   a solar collector connection port that defines an external opening into the manifold;   a network of fluid flow paths that comprises a first fluid flow path that conveys fluid from the first manifold port, and a second fluid flow path that conveys fluid to the second manifold port; and   an insert connected to the solar collector connection port and constructed and arranged to connect to a coaxial arrangement of an outer fluid tube of the solar collector and an inner fluid tube of the solar collector, wherein the insert is constructed to connect to the outer fluid tube of the solar collector and defines a channel through which the inner tube of the solar collector extends to the first fluid flow path wherein the channel defines at least a portion of a fluid exchange path between the first manifold port and a fluid path defined between an inner surface of the outer fluid tube of the solar collector and an outer surface of the inner fluid tube of the solar collector.   
     
     
         35 . The solar collector manifold of  claim 34 , wherein the fluid exchange path is defined between the insert and an outer surface of the inner fluid tube of the solar collector. 
     
     
         36 . The solar collector manifold of  claim 34 , wherein the insert comprises a flange adjacent the solar collector connection port and a projection extending from the flange into the solar collector connection port. 
     
     
         37 . The solar collector manifold of  claim 34 , wherein the insert comprises a surface sized to mate with a surface of the fluid tube of the solar collector. 
     
     
         38 . The solar collector manifold of  claim 34 , further comprising a locking mechanism that couples the fluid tube of the solar collector to the insert. 
     
     
         39 . The solar collector manifold of  claim 34 , wherein the insert comprises screw threads, and the insert is screwed into the solar collector connection port of the manifold. 
     
     
         40 . The solar collector manifold of  claim 34 , wherein the insert is welded to the solar collector connection port of the manifold. 
     
     
         41 . The solar collector manifold of  claim 34 , wherein the solar collector manifold is formed of aluminum.