Importance

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Abstract

A solar thermal water heating system including a solar collector unit, first and second heat exchangers, and a drain back tank, ordered respectively in vertically descending relation. The solar energy collector comprises a plurality of heat absorbing modules formed by deforming two plates into intimate contact with parallel metallic pipes disposed intermediate the plates. The uppermost surface of the pair of plates is provided with a black body coating to emit infrared radiation when sunlight is incident thereon. A glazing is provided over such black body surface to freely transmit incident light to the black body surface but to reflect infrared heat energy emitted by the black body surface. A pump for pumping fluid from the drain back tank to the solar collector unit is positioned horizontally adjacent the drain back tank. The first heat exchanger is vertically disposed within the water storage tank for conducting heat to potable water within the storage tank. When the system shuts down, the thermally conductive fluid drains into the first heat exchanger and drain back tank providing freeze protection for the solar collector unit.

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First Claim