US 12,241,657 B2
Polycarbonate solar water heater
Kim Pierson, Eau Claire, WI (US); and Rebecca Tollakson, Jr., Mahomet, IL (US)
Filed by WiSys Technology Foundation, Inc., Madison, WI (US)
Filed on Apr. 28, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/731,421.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/180,934, filed on Apr. 28, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2022/0349624 A1, Nov. 3, 2022
Int. Cl. F24S 10/50 (2018.01); F24S 70/14 (2018.01); F24S 80/00 (2018.01); F24S 80/30 (2018.01); F24S 80/40 (2018.01)
CPC F24S 10/502 (2018.05) [F24S 10/501 (2018.05); F24S 70/14 (2018.05); F24S 80/30 (2018.05); F24S 2080/05 (2018.05); F24S 80/40 (2018.05)] 17 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A solar heat absorber for absorbing heat and transferring heat from a sun to a heat exchanger comprising:
a heat absorber panel having
front and rear plates wherein the front plate supports an absorbent sun contact surface;
a plurality of ribs extending between the front and rear plates and forming longitudinal channels extending along a longitudinal axis flanked by the front and rear plates wherein the plurality of channels permits a flow of fluid along the longitudinal axis;
an upper header communicating with the heat absorber panel and configured to receive fluid from the plurality of channels wherein a connection between the upper header and the heat absorber panel is an upper interlocking joint; and
a lower header positioned below the upper header and communicating with the heat absorber panel and configured to transfer fluid to the plurality of channels wherein a connection between the lower header and the heat absorber panel is a lower interlocking joint;
wherein the upper and lower header have slots receiving upper and lower edges, respectively, of the heat absorber panel;
wherein the plurality of longitudinal channels hold blocking elements configured to produce turbulence in the flow of fluid; and
wherein the blocking element produces a turbulence in the flow of fluid that preferentially directs the fluid toward the front plate.