Solar heating system for domestic or industrial use - has high efficiency heat transfer system through vapour phase internal recycling of transfer media

摘要

A solar collector system (30) contains an inner cylindrical container (31) which is suspended inside an outer container (32). The latter contains a small volume of heat transfer medium (38) and is evacuated to cause the heat transfer medium to vapourise partially. The inner surface of the outer container has capillary action drawing up the media to cover about half the inner surface area. Fluid to be heated is located inside the inner container. The outer surface is subjected to solar radiation which evaporates the heat transfer medium out of the capillaries. The vapourised medium contacts the inner container to transfer heat and re-liquifies to drop the bottom of the outer container and recycle through the capillaries. The system can be boosted through conventional electrical or oil/gas heating units.