Solar Absorber

Abstract

A solar absorber system includes a solar absorbing layer that receives and converts solar radiation to thermal energy. The solar absorber assembly includes an anisotropic material to more effectively move the absorbed energy to a fluid conduit for capture and storage.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A heat absorber assembly comprising:
 a solar absorber layer having a top major surface adapted to absorb solar radiation and a bottom major surface opposed from said top major surface;   a conduit positioned proximate to said bottom major surface and for receiving a fluid therethrough;   a heat spreader in contact with at least a portion of the bottom major surface of said solar absorber layer, said conduit being positioned between said solar absorber layer and said heat spreader; and   wherein said heat spreader is a thermally anisotropic material having an in-plane thermal conductivity of at least about 250 W/mK.   
     
     
         2 . The heat absorber assembly according to  claim 1  wherein said thermally anisotropic material comprises a sheet of a compressed mass of exfoliated graphite particles. 
     
     
         3 . The heat absorber assembly according to  claim 1  wherein said thermally anisotropic material comprises a sheet of graphitized polyimide. 
     
     
         4 . The heat absorber assembly according to  claim 1  wherein said heat spreader is in contact with at least about 60 percent of the surface area of said bottom major surface of said heat absorber. 
     
     
         5 . The heat absorber assembly according to  claim 1  wherein said heat spreader is in contact with at least about 80 percent of the surface area of said bottom major surface of said heat absorber. 
     
     
         6 . The heat absorber assembly according to  claim 1  wherein said conduit includes a circumference and said heat spreader is in contact with at least about 30 percent of said conduit circumference. 
     
     
         7 . The heat absorber assembly according to  claim 1  wherein said conduit includes a circumference and said heat spreader is in contact with at least about 50 percent of said conduit circumference. 
     
     
         8 . The heat absorber assembly according to  claim 1  wherein said conduit includes a circumference and said heat spreader is in contact with at least about 75 percent of said conduit circumference. 
     
     
         9 . The heat absorber assembly according to  claim 1  wherein said heat spreader has a thickness of less than about 2 mm. 
     
     
         10 . The heat absorber assembly according to  claim 1  wherein said heat spreader has a thickness of less than about 1 mm. 
     
     
         11 . The heat absorber assembly according to  claim 1  wherein said heat spreader has a thickness of less than about 0.1 mm. 
     
     
         12 . A heat absorber assembly comprising:
 a solar absorber layer having a top major surface adapted to absorb solar radiation and a bottom major surface opposed from said top major surface;   a conduit in contact with said bottom major surface and for receiving a fluid therethrough; and   wherein said absorber is a thermally anisotropic material having an in-plane thermal conductivity of at least 250 W/mK.   
     
     
         13 . The heat absorber assembly according to  claim 12  wherein said thermally anisotropic material comprises a sheet of a compressed mass of exfoliated graphite particles. 
     
     
         14 . The heat absorber assembly according to  claim 12  wherein said thermally anisotropic material comprises a sheet of graphitized polyimide. 
     
     
         15 . The heat absorber assembly according to  claim 13  wherein said solar absorber layer includes a center enveloping section and opposed outwardly extending sections. 
     
     
         16 . The heat absorber assembly according to  claim 15  wherein said conduit has a circumference and said center enveloping section is in contact with at least about 30 percent of said circumference 
     
     
         17 . The heat absorber assembly according to  claim 15  wherein said conduit has a circumference and said center enveloping section is in contact with at least about 50 percent of said circumference 
     
     
         18 . The heat absorber assembly according to  claim 15  wherein said conduit has a circumference and said center enveloping section is in contact with at least about 75 percent of said circumference 
     
     
         19 . The heat absorber assembly according to  claim 12  wherein a graphite powder is adhered to said top major surface of said solar absorber layer. 
     
     
         20 . The heat absorber assembly according to  claim 19  wherein said graphite powder comprises d90% less than about 500 μm. 
     
     
         21 . The heat absorber assembly according to  claim 19  wherein said graphite powder comprises d90% is less than about 200 μm. 
     
     
         22 . The heat absorber assembly according to  claim 19  wherein said graphite powder comprises d90% is less than about 100 μm.