SOLAR WATER-HEATING PLANT Russian patent published in 1997 - IPC

FIELD: solar engineering; off-line hot-water supply systems. SUBSTANCE: plant has hermetically sealed storage tank and solar connectors connected to storage tank through pipings. Welded into tank bottom is hot-water intake pipe running from solar heaters. Pipe has holes uniformly arranged through its height in several rows. Total area of holes in each row equals at least sectional area of piping connecting solar collectors to storage tank. Hot-water takeoff pipe is welded to tank bottom and has holes uniformly arranged through its height in several rows. Total area of holes in each row equals at least sectional area of pipe supplying hot water to users. Hot-water takeoff pipe is provided with hollow slide valve having beveled top part and made of material whose density is lower than that of water. Beveled part length is greater than distance between adjacent rows of holes by at least two hole diameters. Part of pipe that has holes is located inside tank through at least three fourths of its height and is provided with top slide-valve travel stop. Bottom part of takeoff pipe extends from tank and must ensure location of slide valve within it at minimal water level in storage tank. It is connected to pipe supplying hot water from storage tank to user. Overflow pipe is placed on one side directly at tank bottom, and on top end, it is elbow-shaped, has hole, and placed inside tank, in its uppermost part. Hole is used to admit air into tank during water consumption and to evacuate it as tank is filled with water. Pipe connection functions to admit cold makeup water to tank. During water overflow, cooler water is drained from tank bottom. Upon closure of makeup valve, hole functions to break water jet and to prevent tank drying. Hot-water outlet pipe running from solar collectors is located at top point of each collector to ensure natural water circulation and easy escape of air bubbles as water heats up in collectors. EFFECT: improved efficiency of hot-water supply. 1 dwg