System for solar heating water using a glass absorber

Abstract

A system of passively heating water using solar energy and an absorber formed from two identical halves of molded darkened glass that are fused together. The absorber is essentially a plurality of black glass struts that are sandwiched between two black glass surfaces. The struts act as baffle plates and define cells. Water is carried through the system via the thermosiphoning effect.

I claim: 
     
         1 ) A system for solar heating water, said system comprising:
 a. a housing;   b. a glass absorber within said housing;   c. at least one inlet in fluid communication with said glass absorber; and   d. at least one outlet in fluid communication with said glass absorber.   
     
     
         2 ) The system of  claim 1  wherein said housing comprises a dual paned window. 
     
     
         3 ) The system of  claim 1  wherein said glass absorber is comprised of darkened glass. 
     
     
         4 ) The system of  claim 1  wherein said glass absorber defines a downwardly sloping bottom in communication with said inlet. 
     
     
         5 ) The system of  claim 4  wherein said inlet is oriented downwardly. 
     
     
         6 ) The system of  claim 5  wherein said outlet is oriented upwardly. 
     
     
         7 ) A glass absorber for use in a system for solar heating water, said system comprising:
 a. a plurality of struts defining a series of interconnected cells;   b. at least one inlet in communication with said interconnected cells; and   c. at least one outlet in communication with said interconnected cells.   
     
     
         8 ) The glass absorber of  claim 7  further comprising an upper surface, said surface connected to said plurality of struts. 
     
     
         9 ) The glass absorber of  claim 8  wherein said plurality of struts and said upper surface are each comprised of darkened glass. 
     
     
         10 ) The glass absorber of  claim 7  wherein said plurality struts are individually separate one from another. 
     
     
         11 ) The glass absorber of  claim 7  further comprising a plurality of baffles substantially perpendicular to said struts. 
     
     
         12 ) The glass absorber of  claim 11  wherein said baffles define slots. 
     
     
         13 ) The glass absorber of  claim 12  wherein said slot vertically traverses said baffle. 
     
     
         14 ) A method of forming a glass absorber for a solar heating water system comprising the steps of:
 a. forming two identical halves; and   b. fusing said halves to each other to form one unit.   
     
     
         15 ) The method of  claim 14  wherein said step of forming two identical halves comprises the step of forming two identical halves with darkened glass. 
     
     
         16 ) The method of  claim 15  wherein the step of forming two identical halves comprises the step of forming two identical halves with each half including of a plurality of half struts, said half struts defining a plurality of half cells. 
     
     
         17 ) The method of  claim 14  further comprising the step of positioning said unit in a housing.