evacuated tube panel to radiator using heat pipe

frankwest12345 · 08-12-11, 11:12 AM

Using a very large alloy heatsink instead of a radiator, any thoughts on how it could be connected to heat pipe in evacuated tube solar panel... I am able to position the panel on a south-facing wall so that the top is level with where I would want to put the radiator. I am trying to make something simple without any water in it so would need to put some kind of heat-exchanger on end of the evac tube heatpipe and then put another heat pipe through the wall into the alloy heatsink (and repeat for each evac tube, ie eliminating the water filled manifold). I know it will get very hot in the summer but I can live with that as the property never warms up even on the hotest day!

AC_Hacker · 08-12-11, 01:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frankwest12345

Using a very large alloy heatsink

How big is your heat sink?

How far have you gotten on this project?

What design ideas are you working with?

-AC_Hacker

frankwest12345 · 08-12-11, 01:37 PM

Design stage at the moment, I have to use evacuated tube solar on the wall because of where I am re winter which means if I use water/antifreeze it has to have a pump, vent etc which gets too complicated for my liking. Then I thought you have all this concentrated heat coming out of the heat-pipes, how to get that to a radiator... so then you get using a heatsink as a radiator, I thought one fairly simple extrusion per heatsink, something like 100x50mm, know I can get them in 300mm length but looking in to getting twice that, or may get away with much longer but simpler channel section.

Just thought about putting small heatsinks on the ends of heat pipes, enclosing in a large pipe and running an extractor fan to get the air moving fast enough and doing away with the radiator altogether, just have hot air piped into the room.

Does not seem much on the web about this because it depends on how your house is laid out re the sun, and what you are looking for - my house needs extra heat inside but is very well insulated, so this could work for me. For most people it would probably not work at all.

Daox · 08-12-11, 01:47 PM

Welcome to the site frankwest12345.

I'd have to agree with AC Hacker, we're gonna need some more info to help you out. Do you have an image of the collector?

Ryland · 08-12-11, 10:59 PM

You should be able to make the heat pipe either with water or alcohol, alcohol of course is not going to freeze as easily but is going to have to be under a slight pressure to get it to the liquid form and that is key, to have the fluid boil then as it cools turn back in to a liquid and drain back on it's own, I would use a diluted isopropal alcohol because it likes to bond with water so as it cools the water at the lowest point will want to suck it up, but it will need to be under pressure, not sure how high, maybe 10psi?
Your idea sounds good, so I say go for it.

08-12-11, 11:12 AM	#1
frankwest12345 Lurking Renovator Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Swindon UK Posts: 13 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	evacuated tube panel to radiator using heat pipe Using a very large alloy heatsink instead of a radiator, any thoughts on how it could be connected to heat pipe in evacuated tube solar panel... I am able to position the panel on a south-facing wall so that the top is level with where I would want to put the radiator. I am trying to make something simple without any water in it so would need to put some kind of heat-exchanger on end of the evac tube heatpipe and then put another heat pipe through the wall into the alloy heatsink (and repeat for each evac tube, ie eliminating the water filled manifold). I know it will get very hot in the summer but I can live with that as the property never warms up even on the hotest day!

08-12-11, 01:47 PM	#4
Daox Administrator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Germantown, WI Posts: 5,525 Thanks: 1,162 Thanked 374 Times in 305 Posts	Welcome to the site frankwest12345. I'd have to agree with AC Hacker, we're gonna need some more info to help you out. Do you have an image of the collector? __________________ Current project - To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. & To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. Last edited by Daox; 08-12-11 at 01:55 PM..

08-12-11, 01:37 PM	#3
frankwest12345 Lurking Renovator Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Swindon UK Posts: 13 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Design stage at the moment, I have to use evacuated tube solar on the wall because of where I am re winter which means if I use water/antifreeze it has to have a pump, vent etc which gets too complicated for my liking. Then I thought you have all this concentrated heat coming out of the heat-pipes, how to get that to a radiator... so then you get using a heatsink as a radiator, I thought one fairly simple extrusion per heatsink, something like 100x50mm, know I can get them in 300mm length but looking in to getting twice that, or may get away with much longer but simpler channel section. Just thought about putting small heatsinks on the ends of heat pipes, enclosing in a large pipe and running an extractor fan to get the air moving fast enough and doing away with the radiator altogether, just have hot air piped into the room. Does not seem much on the web about this because it depends on how your house is laid out re the sun, and what you are looking for - my house needs extra heat inside but is very well insulated, so this could work for me. For most people it would probably not work at all.

08-12-11, 10:59 PM	#5
Ryland Master EcoRenovator Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Western Wisconsin. Posts: 913 Thanks: 127 Thanked 82 Times in 71 Posts	You should be able to make the heat pipe either with water or alcohol, alcohol of course is not going to freeze as easily but is going to have to be under a slight pressure to get it to the liquid form and that is key, to have the fluid boil then as it cools turn back in to a liquid and drain back on it's own, I would use a diluted isopropal alcohol because it likes to bond with water so as it cools the water at the lowest point will want to suck it up, but it will need to be under pressure, not sure how high, maybe 10psi? Your idea sounds good, so I say go for it.