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Solar Fluid Heater With Electromagnetic Radiation Trap, Blaine Frank Parker

Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Faculty Patents

A solar fluid heater including a radiation trap for concentrating solar radiation which has been focused on or near a line at the center of a transparent pipe assembly containing the fluid to be heated is described. The pipe assembly may include one or more transparent pipes containing one or more sets of reflective fins which are disposed in direct heat exchanging contact with the fluid to be heated. The focused radiation entering the pipe assembly experiences multiple reflections off one set of reflective fins therein, thus concentrating the solar radiation. The reflective fins are made absorptive near the apex …