Roof covering for solar heating - uses translucent lenses to focus solar rays onto flat-plate heat exchanger, or photocells to electrically heat working fluid

摘要

The roof covering has focussing lenses set into the roof covering material to concentrate solar rays onto a flat plate type heat exchanger carrying a working fluid which is circulated to heat the building below the roof. As an alternative to the lenses, photocells may be fixed to the roof covering and the generated electricity used to power resistance heaters which heat the working fluid. The heated plate is carried below the roof covering and has the working fluid circulated through a heat exchanger coil inside a water cylinder. The heated water is circulated through room radiators by a thermostat controlled pump.