SOLAR COLLECTOR PANEL WITH TEMPERATURE CONTROLLED BI-DIRECTIONAL AIRFLOW

Abstract

s disclosed for heating ventilation air to a building interior, featuring a method for protecting the build-in solar cell panel from long term excessive heating, leading to damage of the panel, if the solar collector panel is turned off. Furthermore the solar collector panel features a method to create active cooling ventilation to a building interior during summer, by using a forced bi-directional airflow. The above is achived by using a build-in temperature controller. The temperature controller, located within the heater, is powered by a solar cell panel. The temperature controller relays a signal to one or more solar powered fans, to change the direction of the air flow through the heater, at a preset temperature measured within the panel.

Description

[0001]The present invention relates to a solar collector panel, for heating ventilation air with solar energy. This solar collector panel is characterized by a thermostat, controlling one or more fans, forcing the direction of the airflow to change at an adjustable, preset temperature, measured within the housing. This prevents the risk of long-term excessive heat, damaging the build-in solar cell panel, when the conventional heat function is turned off. Also the system supplies cooling ventilation during summer, by drawing air from the interior of a building to free air.

BACKGROUND

[0002]solar collector panels are well known in the art. The French patent FR 2500036 shows a typical simple solar collector panel comprising a transparent front panel, a heat absorber, thermally insulated from the back panel, and a passage between the front panel and the back panel, comprising an inlet opening for allowing cold air to flow into the passage and an outlet opening for exit of the air heated. Prior art solar collector panels like Doherty (WO2007100819) in section 0026, 0033 and 0036, describes a solar collector panel comprising a plurality of channels and sections providing second means of heating to increase efficiency. The heater comprises a temperature controller for turning the fan(s), in the solar collector panel, on and off, once a preset temperature are obtained. The heater also comprises a recirculation function, having the air drawn out of the building and into the heater again for reheating. Optional solar cells for generating electricity to operate the fan(s) is mentioned. (section 0028). This solar collector panel has a one-way airflow, reheating interior air from a building and with no cooling effect to the building. When the heater is turned off by the temperature controller, there is no airflow, an no cooling effect to a build in solar cell panel.

[0003]The temperature controller is not described as electrically connected and driven by the optional solar cells. In another prior art device, the Japanese invention D1, JP2004347146 A (TSUKAMOTO MINORU) Dec. 9, 2004, a contra rotation of the fan is mentioned (section 0017), having the air drawn out of the indoor in the daytime. This is not performed at a preset temperature. In JP2002-267227A, an air charging system with two fans is shown in drawing no. 1, and in section 008, a reversible type of fan is mentioned. These fans are not connected to a temperature controller. Several other solar collector panels has a build in fan driven by a solar cell panel like in the JP2002005530. Generally, the purpose of a solar collector panel is to provide heated air to a building interior during cold seasons. Normally the solar heat collector panel will be switched off during summer, but by doing that, the active ventilation is turned off as well. When the solar heat collector panel is turned off, the temperature rises due to stagnating air, and the risk of long-term excessive heating of the solar cell panel occurs.

[0004]It is an object of the present invention to provide a method for protecting the build-in solar cell panel from long term excessive heating, leading to damage of the panel, if the solar collector panel is turned off. Furthermore the solar collector panel, of the present invention, features a method to create active cooling ventilation to a building interior during summer.

[0005]The present invention featuring a unique temperature controlled bi-directional airflow, where the solar powered fan(s) are controlled by a solar powered temperature controller, drawing air out of a building to free air, when a adjustable, preset temperature is reached within the housing of the solar collector panel

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0006]The present invention relates to a solar collector panel, characterized by an adjustable thermostat (8) and a switch (9), controlling one or more fans (7), changing the direction of the airflow at a preset temperature. The thermostat (8), switch (9) and fan(s) (7) are electrically powered by a solar cell panel (6).

[0007]The temperature reading of the thermostat sensor (8) electrically relays a signal to the switch (9) turning the power from fan (7a) to fan (7b), or by changing the polarity of one reversible fan (7), once preset temperature are obtained, and there by changing the direction of the air flow through the solar collector panel.

[0008]Once the temperature, again, is below the preset value, the thermostat sensor electrically relays a signal to the switch (9), turning the power back from one fan (7b) to another fan (7a), or by changing the polarity of one reversible fan (7), changing the direction of the airflow through the solar collector panel.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0009]Embodiments of the present invention are shown in the enclosed drawings for illustration of how the invention may be carried out, including the following figures:

[0010]FIG. 1. Side view of a solar collector panel, according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0011]FIG. 2. Side view of a solar collector panel, according to a second embodiment of the present invention, where the ventilation device comprises a single reverse action fan.

[0012]FIG. 3. Side view of solar collector panel, according to the second embodiment of the invention, where the ventilation device, is alternatively placed at the other opening away from the building.

[0013]FIG. 4. Side view of a solar collector panel, according to a third embodiment of the invention, where the ventilation device comprises two opposite rotating fans placed at the same opening.

[0014]FIG. 5. Side view of a solar collector panel, according to the third embodiment of the invention, where the ventilation devices are alternatively placed at other opening away from the building.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

[0015]A solar collector panel according to a first embodiment of the present invention, where the ventilation device comprises two fans (7a,b) powered by a solar cell panel (6), a thermostat (8) and a switch (9) also powered by the solar cell panel (6). The switch (9) has two conditions, controlled by a thermostat (8).

[0016]The fans (7a,b) are connected to a switch (9). When the temperature of the air inside the solar collector panel is below an adjustable, preset temperature, the thermostat (8) will drive the switch (9) to 1^st.condition, turning the fan (7a) on, drawing the air through the inlet opening (3), through the solar collector panel, where it is heated up and forced out of the outlet opening (4) to the building. In this condition the solar collector panel will produce warm air to the building interior.

[0017]When the temperature inside the solar collector panel reaches the preset temperature, the thermostat (8) will drive the switch (9) to 2^nd condition, switching the fan (7b) on, drawing air from opening (4) through the solar collector panel and forces the air out of another opening (3) to open air. In this condition, the solar collector panel will draw interior air out of the building, maintaining coolness to the solar cell panel, and creating ventilation and cooling effect to the building.

[0018]In a second embodiment of the invention FIGS. 2&3. the ventilation device comprising a single reversible fan (7). The fan (7) is connected to a switch (9). When the temperature of the air inside the solar collector panel is below an adjustable, preset temperature, the thermostat (8) will drive the switch (9) to 1^st.condition, turning the fan (7) in one direction, drawing the air through the inlet opening (3), through the solar collector panel, where it is heated up and forced out of the outlet opening (4) to the building interior. When the temperature inside the solar collector panel reaches the preset temperature, the thermostat (8) will drive the switch (9) to 2^nd condition, forcing the fan (7) to turn in another direction, forcing the air to change direction as well, now drawing air from opening (4) through the solar collector panel and out of opening (3) to open air. In this condition, the solar collector panel will draw interior air out of the building, maintaining coolness to the solar cell panel, and creating ventilation and cooling effect to the building. In another version, of the first embodiment, the ventilation device comprises two opposite turning fans (7a,b) mounted at the same opening duct FIGS. 4&5.

[0019]The advantage of a construction with the fan(s) mounted at the opening to free air, away from the building(FIGS. 3&5), is a more quiet operation.

[0020]In another version, the present invention, comprises a thermostat of mechanical art, like a bimetallic or a fluid-expansion type.

[0021]The fan (7a), or the electricity to the single reversible fan (7), according to the invention, both performing an inlet flow to the building interior, can be turned off, without breaking the thermal control of the fan (7b) or the 2^nd function of the single reversible fan, both performing the unique feature reverse action airflow.

[0022]As the indoor temperature under normal conditions, will be equal or higher than the outdoor temperature, the solar collector panel, according to the present invention, will not switch back to 1^st condition, unless the weather conditions changes, bringing the temperature back under a preset value.

Claims

1. A solar collector panel with a housing (1), said housing comprising a front panel (2) of light-transmitting material, a heat collector (5), a thermostat (8), at least two openings (3,4), and a ventilation device (7), wherein said solar collector panel, comprising a solar cell panel (6) electrically connected to a switch (9), with two conditions controlled by said thermostat (8), and where said ventilation device (7) is electrically connected to said switch (9), and where said thermostat (8) at a temperature below a preset temperature, drives said switch (9) into a 1.sup.st condition, causing said ventilation device (7) to draw air into said opening (3) and to blow air out of said opening (4), and where said thermostat (8) at a temperature on or above the preset temperature will drive said switch into a 2.sup.nd condition, causing said ventilation device (7) to blow air out of said opening (3) and to draw air through said opening (4).

2. A solar collector panel, according to claim 1, wherein said housing futher comprises a back panel, a top panel and two side panels, wherein said light-transmitting front panel and said back panel are connected to each other by said top, bottom and side panels to create a box-like housing.

3. A solar collector panel, according to claim 1, wherein said ventilation device (7) comprising a single reversible fan, turning in one direction when said switch is in 1.sup.st condition, and turning in another direction when said switch is in 2.sup.nd.condition.

4. A solar collector panel, according to claim 1, wherein said ventilation device (7) comprising two fans, and with said switch in 1.sup.st. condition, activating the primary fan, forcing the air in one direction out of said opening (4) and where the switch in a 2.sup.nd. condition activating the secondary fan, forcing the air in another direction into said opening (4).

5. A solar collector panel, according to claim 4, wherein said ventilation device comprising two opposite turning fans (7a,b), placed at the same said opening (3,4)

6. A solar collector panel, according to any of claims 1-5, wherein said thermostat is of a mecanical art.

7. A solar collector panel, according to any of claims 1-5, wherein said thermostat is of a fluid-expansion art.

8. A solar collector panel, according to any of claims 1-7, wherein said thermostat is temperature ajustable.

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