Apparatus and method for solar thermal energy collection

Abstract

An apparatus for collecting solar energy includes a receptacle adapted for receiving solar thermal energy; an insert located within the receptacle, the insert being a heat pipe adapted to transfer heat; and an absorption device positioned proximate to and substantially conforming to at least a portion of an internal surface of the receptacle and thermally coupled to the insert. The insert enters the receptacle substantially at a cross-sectional center of the receptacle, and further inside the receptacle, the insert shifts to become closer to the absorption fin.

1 . An apparatus for collecting solar energy, comprising:
 a receptacle adapted for receiving solar thermal energy;   an insert located within the receptacle, the insert being a heat pipe adapted to transfer heat; and   an absorption device positioned proximate to and substantially conforming to at least a portion of an internal surface of the receptacle and thermally coupled to the insert;   wherein the insert enters the receptacle substantially at a cross-sectional center of the receptacle, and further inside the receptacle, the insert shifts to become closer to the absorption fin.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the receptacle has a vacuum drawn interior that is sealed with a glass to metal seal. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a non-imaging optic reflector located external to the receptacle and adapted to direct solar thermal energy to the receptacle. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the reflector is a compound parabolic concentrator (CPC). 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein a substantial portion of one side of the insert is adjacent the absorption device. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the insert shifts to become closer to a non-imaging optical reflector. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the insert is a metal selected from the group consisting of brass, copper and aluminum. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the absorption device is a metal selected from the group consisting of brass, copper and aluminum. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a manifold adapted for circulating a fluid and thermally coupled to the insert; and   a pump utilized for the circulating.   
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the manifold is thermally coupled to multiple inserts. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the absorption device is coated with a coating. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the coating is aluminum nitride. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the absorption device has a corrugated shape. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the insert is a heat pipe with a hollow interior, the hollow interior having a heat transfer fluid therein. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the heat transfer fluid is adapted to transfer heat by vaporizing and condensing. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a seal connecting the receptacle to the insert. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the seal is a metallic disk, and wherein the insert extends through a center of the metallic disk. 
     
     
         18 . A method for collecting solar thermal energy, comprising:
 positioning a reflector exterior to a receptacle, the receptacle containing an absorption device positioned proximate to and substantially conforming to at least a portion of an internal surface of the receptacle, wherein the reflector is adapted to direct sunlight onto the absorption device;   positioning an insert inside the receptacle, the insert being coupled to the absorption device, and the insert being a heat pipe adapted to transfer heat; and   positioning the insert such that the insert enters the receptacle substantially at a cross-sectional center of the receptacle, and further inside the receptacle, the insert shifts to become closer to the absorption fin.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein a manifold is adapted to circulate the fluid, the insert being thermally coupled to the manifold. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the manifold is coupled to multiple inserts. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the absorption device is coated with a coating of aluminum nitride. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the reflector is a compound parabolic concentrator (CPC). 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the insert and the absorption device are formed of a metal selected from the group consisting of brass, copper and aluminum. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the insert is a heat pipe with a hollow interior, the hollow interior having a heat transfer fluid therein. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the heat transfer fluid is adapted to transfer heat by vaporizing and condensing.