Solar energy gathering device

Abstract

A solar energy gathering device includes a heat storage unit, a number of heat gathering units and a number of Fresnel lenses. Each of the heat gathering units includes a transparent glass block having a vacuum receiving space, and a heat pipe received in the vacuum receiving space and in thermally contact with the heat storage unit. The Fresnel lenses are attached on each of the glass blocks, and configured for converging solar light to the heat pipes through the glass bocks.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A solar energy gathering device, comprising:
 a heat storage unit;   a plurality of heat gathering units each comprising a transparent glass block having a vacuum receiving space, and a heat pipe received in the vacuum receiving space and in thermally contact with the heat storage unit; and   a plurality of Fresnel lenses attached on each of the glass blocks, and configured for converging solar light to the heat pipes through the glass bocks.   
     
     
         2 . The solar energy gathering device of  claim 1 , wherein the heat pipe comprises a main body and a plurality of spherical knobs in communication with the main body, the main body comprises a plurality of sections separated by the spherical knobs, and an inner diameter of each of the spherical knobs is greater than that of the main body. 
     
     
         3 . The solar energy gathering device of  claim 2 , wherein a focal point of each of the Fresnel lenses is located at a central axis of the corresponding spherical knob, and the Fresnel lenses are configured for converging the solar light to the respective spherical knobs. 
     
     
         4 . The solar energy gathering device of  claim 1 , wherein the heat pipe is made of a thermal conductive metallic material selected from a group consisting of stainless steel, aluminium, copper and an alloy of aluminium and copper. 
     
     
         5 . The solar energy gathering device of  claim 4 , wherein the heat pipe contains a fluid therein. 
     
     
         6 . The solar energy gathering device of  claim 1 , wherein a distal end of each of the heat pipes is in thermally contact with the heat storage unit. 
     
     
         7 . The solar energy gathering device of  claim 6 , wherein the solar energy gathering device further comprises a heat conductive glue applied to an interface between the distal end of each of the heat pipes and the heat storage unit. 
     
     
         8 . The solar energy gathering device of  claim 1 , wherein a shape and a size of the vacuum receiving space are substantially adapted for those of the heat pipe. 
     
     
         9 . The solar energy gathering device of  claim 1 , wherein the glass block comprises a flat top surface, and each of the Fresnel lenses comprises a flat bottom surface attached on the flat top surface. 
     
     
         10 . The solar energy gathering device of  claim 9 , wherein each of the Fresnel lenses comprises a light incident surface including a plurality of concentric annular protrusions, and heights of the concentric annular protrusions gradually increase in a direction away from a center of the light incident surface. 
     
     
         11 . The solar energy gathering device of  claim 1 , wherein the glass block is elongated, and the glass block comprises a cylindrical outer surface. 
     
     
         12 . A solar energy gathering device, comprising:
 a heat storage unit;   a plurality of heat gathering units each comprising a transparent glass block having a vacuum receiving space, and a heat pipe received in the vacuum receiving space and in thermally contact with the heat storage unit, the heat pipe comprising a main body and a plurality of spherical knobs extending from the main body and in communication with the main body; and   a plurality of Fresnel lenses attached on each of the glass blocks, and configured for converging solar light to the spherical knobs of the heat pipes.