Abstract:
An apparatus for heating fluids in which hot water (1) circulates through piping (2) where it initially flows past end (3) of heat pipe (4). Heat pipe (4) communicates with upper warmest section (5) of water tank (6). If the temperature in hot water (1) which circulates past end (3) is higher than section (5) heat energy is transferred via heat pipe (4) to section (5). Hot water (1) subsequently flows past ends (3) of heat pipes (7) and (8) respectively. Heat pipes (7) and (8) communicate with cooler section (9) and cold section (10) of water tank (6). If the temperature of the hot water (1) flowing past ends (3) of heat pipes (7) and (8) is higher than sections (9) and (10) of water tank (6), heat energy is transferred via heat pipes (7) and (8) to sections (9) and (10).
Abstract:
A solar collector (10) comprising: an evacuated envelope (18); an absorber (60) housed inside the evacuated envelope (18) and comprising plates (62, 64) which define an evaporation gap (66, 67), the evaporation gap providing communication between a reservoir (40) of heat transfer fluid at a first, bottom end of the absorber and a condenser (102) at a second, top end of the absorber, the arrangement of the plates (62, 64, 70) defining the evaporation gap (66, 67) being such that capillary action between the plates can draw heat transfer fluid from the reservoir along at least a substantial portion of the evaporation gap to the condensor; the absorber serving to transfer heat derived from incident solar radiation to heat transfer fluid contained in the evaporation gap.