This technology is a tankless solar water heating system that uses bottomless glass vacuum tubes to generate hot water for residential and commercial use.
Solar water heating is a promising alternative to traditional water heating systems that use electricity or fossil fuels to heat water. Driven by a need for environmentally-friendly energy solutions, solar water heating systems are gaining popularity, particularly in emerging markets like China. However, most systems require cumbersome insulating storage tanks that are difficult to store, aesthetically unattractive, and can require tedious maintenance. As such, there is a need for a solar water heating system with a tankless design.
This solar water heater uses bottomless glass vacuum tubes as both solar radiation collectors and thermal energy storage devices. The vacuum tubes act as excellent insulators for periods of low solar radiation, such as after sunset or on rainy days. These tubes also act as tankless water storage, and when hot water is needed, cold water is sent to the vacuum tubes to acquire heat from the energy storage medium inside the vacuum tubes, and water of the desired temperature is delivered. As this technology relies on the simple physics of heat exchange in water, no electricity is required. Additionally, the lightweight, low-profile design is inexpensive to produce, easy to install, and requires less maintenance than tank storage systems. In sum, this technology provides an efficient tankless solar water heating system for eco-friendly generation of hot water.
Patent Pending (WO/2017/210674)
IR CU16060, CU16327, CU16342
Licensing Contact: Richard Nguyen