Integrated off-grid thermal appliance

Abstract

A thermal device includes a solar collector configured to concentrate solar energy in a heated zone, and a combustion area configured to provide thermal energy to the heated zone simultaneously with the concentrated solar energy from the solar collector. The heated zone may include two or more locations, wherein the solar energy is primarily concentrated at only one of the two or more locations at any particular time.

1 . A thermal device comprising:
 a solar collector configured to concentrate solar energy in a heated zone; and   a combustion area configured to provide thermal energy to the heated zone simultaneously with the concentrated solar energy from the solar collector.   
     
     
         2 . The thermal device according to  claim 1 , wherein the heated zone comprises two or more locations, and wherein the solar energy is primarily concentrated at only one of the two or more locations at any particular time. 
     
     
         3 . The thermal device according to  claim 2 , further comprising means to select which of the two or more locations receives the solar energy at the particular time. 
     
     
         4 . The thermal device according to  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a first location of the two or more locations configured to house food or water, wherein the combustion area is positioned below the first location.   
     
     
         5 . The thermal device according to  claim 4 , wherein the food or water is simultaneously heated by both the solar energy and by the thermal energy when the solar energy is focused on the first location. 
     
     
         6 . The thermal device according to  claim 4 , further comprising a reflective surface positioned about the heated zone to concentrate the solar energy, wherein the solar collector is sealed about the first location to vent exhaust from the combustible substance away from the reflective surface. 
     
     
         7 . The thermal device according to  claim 2 , wherein the two or more locations further comprise the combustion area, and wherein a combustible substance is ignited when the solar energy is primarily concentrated on the combustion area. 
     
     
         8 . The thermal device according to  claim 7 , further comprising:
 a flue configured to remove exhaust following ignition of the combustible substance; and   a heat exchanger configured to transfer the thermal energy from the exhaust to a fluid contained within the heat exchanger.   
     
     
         9 . The thermal device according to  claim 2 , wherein the two or more locations comprise:
 a first location configured to house food or water; and   a second location including a heat exchanger, wherein when the first location is empty, the solar energy passes through the first location to concentrate on the heat exchanger.   
     
     
         10 . The thermal device according to  claim 9 , further comprising:
 a thermal tank fluidly connected to the heat exchanger, wherein solar energy concentrated on the heat exchanger is fluidly transferred to the thermal tank as thermal energy.   
     
     
         11 . The thermal device according to  claim 10 , further comprising a valve configured to select between a first fluid path comprising fluid retained within the heat exchanger and a second fluid path comprising fluid transferred between the heat exchanger and the thermal tank. 
     
     
         12 . The thermal device according to  claim 1 , further comprising an insulated oven chamber including a transparent thermal window through which the solar energy is transmitted. 
     
     
         13 . The thermal device according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an insulated oven chamber containing the heated zone;   an exhaust flue configured to remove exhaust; and   an adjustable closing mechanism configured to impede airflow through the flue and to retain heated air within the insulated oven chamber when no combustion is occurring.   
     
     
         14 . The thermal device according to  claim 13 , further comprising:
 a primary heat exchanger configured to transfer heat from the insulated oven chamber to fluid located within the primary heat exchanger;   a secondary heat exchanger configured to transfer heat from the exhaust flue to fluid contained within the secondary heat exchanger; and   a priority valve configured to adjust a fluid flow priority between the primary and secondary heat exchangers.   
     
     
         15 . The thermal device according to  claim 14 , further comprising a thermal tank fluidly connected with the primary and secondary heat exchangers, wherein the priority valve is configured to shut off the fluid flow between the thermal tank and the primary heat exchanger to retain heat within the insulated oven chamber while transferring waste heat from the flue to the thermal tank via the secondary heat exchanger. 
     
     
         16 . The thermal device according to  claim 13 , further comprising a wind-powered turbine configured to draw the exhaust out of the exhaust flue. 
     
     
         17 . The thermal device according to  claim 16 , further comprising a ventilation air path separate from the exhaust flue, wherein the wind-powered turbine is further configured to draw air out of the ventilation air path. 
     
     
         18 . The thermal device according to  claim 1 , wherein the solar collector comprises a trombe wall configured to provide a ventilation path within a building structure, and wherein the thermal device further comprises:
 a flue located in thermal contact with the trombe wall and configured to vent exhaust from the combustion area; and   one or more adjustable openings configured to control airflow, wherein when the flue is hotter than the trombe wall the flue heats air within the trombe wall to increase the trombe wall's ventilating effects, and when the flue is colder than the trombe wall, solar heated air within the trombe wall heats the flue to increase airflow through the flue.   
     
     
         19 . The thermal device according to  claim 18 , further comprising a turbine configured to generate a low pressure zone that selectively pulls air out of the trombe wall and pulls the exhaust from the flue. 
     
     
         20 . The thermal device according to  claim 19 , wherein the turbine is rotated by the wind. 
     
     
         21 . The thermal device according to  claim 19 , further comprising an auxiliary path configured to divert heated air in the trombe wall away from the low pressure zone and into the building structure while the turbine continues to pull the exhaust from the flue, wherein the exhaust is expelled outside of the building structure. 
     
     
         22 . A method comprising:
 concentrating solar energy in a heated zone of a thermal device, wherein the heated zone comprises two or more locations, and wherein the solar energy is primarily concentrated at only one of the two or more locations at any particular time; and   increasing a temperature of the heated zone with thermal heat provided by a combustion chamber, wherein the thermal heat is provided at the same time that the solar energy is concentrated in the heated zone.   
     
     
         23 . The method according to  claim 22 , further comprising:
 concentrating the solar energy at the combustion chamber housing a combustible material;   igniting the combustible material with the solar energy;   concentrating the solar energy at an object located in the heated zone; and   simultaneously heating the object with heat from both the solar energy and combustion of the combustible material.   
     
     
         24 . The method according to  claim 22 , further comprising:
 removing exhaust through a flue positioned above the combustion chamber; and   transferring thermal energy from the exhaust to a fluid contained within a heat exchanger, wherein the heat exchanger is in thermal contact with the flue.   
     
     
         25 . The method according to  claim 24 , further comprising selecting between a first fluid path containing fluid retained within the heat exchanger and a second fluid path containing fluid transferred between the heat exchanger and a thermal tank fluidly coupled to the heat exchanger. 
     
     
         26 . The method according to  claim 22 , wherein the solar energy is concentrated by a reflective surface, and wherein the method further comprises venting exhaust from the combustion chamber away from the reflective surfaces. 
     
     
         27 . The method according to  claim 22 , further comprising:
 generating a low pressure area adjacent a wind-powered turbine; and   increasing airflow through the combustion chamber by drawing air through an exhaust flue into the low pressure area.   
     
     
         28 . The method according to  claim 27 , wherein the wind-powered turbine is mounted on a building structure, and wherein the method further comprises drawing air from within the building structure via an airflow path separate from the exhaust flue. 
     
     
         29 . The method according to  claim 27 , wherein the airflow path comprises a trombe wall of the building structure in thermal contact with the exhaust flue, and wherein the solar energy is transmitted through the trombe wall to the thermal device.