Insulated Solar Thermal System

Abstract

A solar thermal system is provided. The system comprises a solar thermal collector, comprising: a solar absorber to convert incident sunlight into heat; a transparent insulating component positioned relative to the solar absorber to allow sunlight to pass through to the solar absorber, and to reduce heat losses from the solar absorbed; wherein the transparent insulating component comprises a nano-porous matrix; and a heat exchanger coupled to the solar thermal collector.

1 . A solar thermal system, comprising:
 a solar thermal collector, comprising
 a solar absorber to convert incident sunlight into heat; 
 a transparent insulating component positioned relative to the solar absorber to allow sunlight to pass through to the solar absorber, and to reduce heat losses from the solar absorber; wherein the transparent insulating component comprises a nano-porous matrix; and 
   a heat exchanger coupled to the solar thermal collector.   
     
     
         2 . The solar thermal collector of  claim 1 , wherein the nano-porous matrix is defined by an aerogel. 
     
     
         3 . The solar thermal collector of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first fluid flow path defined in the solar thermal collector for a heat transfer fluid to be introduced into the solar thermal collector for heating by the solar absorber; and   a second fluid flow path defined in the solar thermal collector for removal of heated heat transfer fluid from the solar thermal collector; wherein the first fluid flow path comprises an advective flow path through the transparent insulating component whereby at least some of the heat transfer fluid entering the collector flows through the transparent insulating component en route for the solar heat absorber.   
     
     
         4 . The solar thermal system of  claim 3 , wherein the first fluid flow path further comprises a non-advective flow path that is disposed between the transparent insulating component and the solar absorber. 
     
     
         5 . The solar thermal system of  claim 4 , wherein a ratio of a volume of fluid flowing through the advective flow path to a volume of fluid flowing through the non-advective flow path is set to minimize heat losses from the solar collector through advection. 
     
     
         6 . The solar thermal system of  claim 5 , wherein said ratio can be set dynamically during operation of the system. 
     
     
         7 . The solar thermal system of  claim 3 , wherein the solar absorber is embedded in the transparent insulating component. 
     
     
         8 . The solar thermal system of  claim 1 , wherein the heat transfer fluid is driven between the solar thermal collector and the heat exchanger by thermal buoyancy forces. 
     
     
         9 . The solar thermal system of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one valve for fluid isolation of the solar thermal collector from the heat exchanger in cases where a structural integrity of the solar thermal collector is compromised. 
     
     
         10 . The solar thermal system of  claim 1 , coupled to a heat function. 
     
     
         11 . The solar thermal system of  claim 10 , wherein the heat function is selected from the group consisting of a heating function, a cooling function, an electricity generation function; mechanical power function and a heat storage function. 
     
     
         12 . A solar thermal system, comprising:
 a solar thermal collector, comprising:
 a solar absorber to convert incident sunlight into heat; 
 a transparent insulating component positioned relative to the solar absorber to allow sunlight to pass through to the solar absorber, and to reduce heat losses from the solar absorber; 
 a first fluid flow path defined in the solar thermal collector for a heat transfer fluid to be introduced into the solar thermal collector for heating by the solar absorber; said first fluid flow path comprising an advective flow path through the transparent insulating component whereby at least some of the heat transfer fluid entering the collector flows through the transparent insulating component en route for the solar heat absorber; and 
 a second fluid flow path defined in the solar thermal collector for removal of heated heat transfer fluid from the solar thermal collector; and 
   a heat exchanger coupled to the solar thermal collector.   
     
     
         13 . The solar thermal system of  claim 12 , wherein the transparent insulating component comprises a nano-porous matrix. 
     
     
         14 . The solar thermal system of  claim 13 , wherein the nano-porous matrix is defined by an aerogel. 
     
     
         15 . The solar thermal system of  claim 14 , wherein the first fluid flow path further comprises a non-advective flow path that is disposed between the transparent insulating component and the solar absorber. 
     
     
         16 . The solar thermal system of  claim 15 , wherein a ratio of a volume of fluid flowing through the advective flow path to a volume of fluid flowing through the non-advective flow path is set to minimize heat losses from the solar collector through advection. 
     
     
         17 . The solar thermal system of  claim 16 , wherein said ratio can be set dynamically during operation of the system. 
     
     
         18 . The solar thermal system of  claim 12 , wherein the solar absorber is embedded in the transparent insulating component. 
     
     
         19 . The solar thermal system of  claim 12 , coupled to a heat function selected from the group consisting of a heating function, a cooling function, an electricity generation function; mechanical power function and a heat storage function. 
     
     
         20 . The solar thermal system of  claim 12 , wherein the heat transfer fluid is driven between the solar thermal collector and the heat exchanger by thermal buoyancy forces.