GB2502310A

GB2502310A - Solar hot water system comprising one or more thermo-siphon tubes and a variable speed pump

Info

Publication number: GB2502310A
Application number: GB1209062.7A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Patrick Quinn
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2012-05-23
Filing date: 2012-05-23
Publication date: 2013-11-27
Also published as: GB201209062D0

Abstract

The solar hot water system comprises: a device 6 arranged to transfer energy to or from a fluid circuit; a solar collector comprising one or more thermo-siphon tubes 5; a pump 4; and a controller 7 arranged to control the speed of the pump. The speed of the pump is controlled based upon a comparison of a temperature of a fluid exiting the solar collector (Tc, figure 7) and either a temperature of the device or a temperature of a fluid entering the solar collector, whichever is greater (Tr, figure 7). The device comprises a heat exchanger or a thermo-electric semiconductor device. The thermo-siphon tube(s) ideally comprise a U-tube pipe having a temperature regulator (14, figure 3) to transfer thermal energy form a warmer, return side (11, figure 2) to a cooler, supply side (10, figure 2). The warmer and cooler side preferably connect to respective flow 1a and return 1b pipes of a manifold 1 of the collector. Control of the pump speed can achieve a maximum power point tracking (MPPT) thermal or a maximum temperature tracking point (MTTP) thermal.

Description

Field of the Invention

This invention relates to the apparatus, control and optimisation of a solar hot water system to achieve a dynamic maximum power curve "maximum power point tracking -thermal -MPPTt" for solar thermal hot water energy generating systems, moreover this invention also concerns methods for the apparatus, control and optimisation of solar heat for the production of high temperatures "maximum temperature tracking point -thermal-MTTPt for the use of thermoelectric semiconductors. Furthermore, this invention also concerns methods for the apparatus, control and optimisation of solar heat for the production of cooling and refrigeration. In addition, this invention also concerns methods for the apparatus, control and optimisation of solar heat for the production of desalinated water, electricity, water treatment and ice. Additionally, this invention relates to software products executable on computing hardware for implementing such methods.

Solar hot water systems can be used for the production of heat energy to create hot water, heating, cooling, refrigeration, desalinated water, electricity, water treatment and ice.

Background of the Invention

Existing patents such as U54300535, U56892724, U54446853, all describe methods for creating heat energy from solar hot water collectors. However, these applications do not consider how this energy must then enter a system to be utilised in the most efficient manner possible so it can integrate with existing energy systems.

At present, a significant amount of fossil fuel is employed for the production of hot water, heating, air conditioning, electricity and refrigeration in building and infrastructure energy solutions. However, there is a desire to use more renewable energy sources and particularly natural energy sources, which can create carbon reduction in buildings and infrastructure.

As the vast majority of our buildings and infrastructure already exist, there is an even stronger desire that these solutions can also upgrade existing buildings and infrastructure.

Unfortunately, these buildings have many pre-existing constraints such as but not limited to, defined orientation, limited roof space, pre-existing heating orcooling systems.

Many of the heating and cooling requirements of buildings need high temperatures to use existing infrastructure which cannot be supplied by legacy solar collector and system designs. The problems that occur with legacy solar system designs are sevenfold.

High temperature differentials required for high thermal power transfer in solar collectors can bring a legacy solar hot water system into a "stall" (stagnation) zone where the system pumps struggle as the temperature in the panels increases in association with existing hydraulic head; this circuit fluid does not want to travel down from the roof and the system initially loses pumping efficiency and eventually stalls (stagnation). The system then won't restart flowing until it cools down, this also invokes high pump electrical use as the pump fights this temperature differential effect. In a standard solar system, if this happened, the temperature differential controller would run the system pump all day even though no heat was being transferred.

The industry counteracts this by using very low differential temperature settings, a few degrees, which limit the power transfer by design which legacy solar systems can generate.

This problem is further exacerbated as the solar collector install area increases as on larger legacy commercial solar hot water systems and can only be counteracted by large pumping and pipe-work systems which add additional circuit fluid into the transfer circuit further lowering the achievable temperature and efficiency of the systems further. This requirement for large pipe-work and the extra circulation fluid is one of several reasons which undermines the ability of standard solar collectors and their systems to run pre-existing (high temperature) air conditioning chillers and refrigeration systems. Legacy solar hot water systems will need to be installed with NEW low temperature air conditioning chillers and large storage tanks (hot water stores or cooling towers) which will ad significant cost BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY will cause major construction disruption to buildings.

This means there would be significant service disruption for upgrading buildings such as hospitals, schools, hotels, factory's, supermarket, food storage centres, nursing homes, etc. Running very low temperature refrigeration "is not even being considered" by legacy solar hot water manufacturers. This construction disruption will ad significant cost and be a major barrier to commercial projects.

Furthermore; legacy solar hot water systems are typically designed with large pipe and mechanical pumps sets particularly in commercial systems and because of this they have a very large Reynolds number for their transfer flow circuits. Domestic systems have pipe sizes of 3/4(l8mm), 1"(2Smm) or larger depending on the area of collectors used and commercial systems use pipe diameters from typically 3"(J5mm) upwards. This then requires even larger pumping kits and large pipes to move the circuit fluid which significantly increases the cost per kW of installations. Legacy solar hot water systems especially commercial systems have large head (pressure) due to the volume of water in the transfer circuit.

Running smaller volumes of fluid would increase the performance and temperature profile of a solar hot water system but is not possible in legacy solar hot water systems due to the high Reynolds number and the stall (stagnation) factor.

Furthermore; legacy solar hot water systems operate in batch mode using a differential temperature controller which comes on and off using temperature set-points. They are not able to operate in "continuous temperature mode" due to the volume of circuit fluid they hold. Batch mode does not work for air-conditioning or refrigeration units as they require constant temperatures. Legacy solar hot water differential controls also would provide poor and intermittent heat for thermoelectric generators or thermoelectric cooling devices (TEG's & TEC's) used for heating, cooling or electricity production. Legacy solar hot water systems use two basic set-points, the collector exit temperature and the storage/heat exchanger temperature. When the solar collector is at a defined temperature above the storage/heat exchanger, usually only a few degrees, the pump is turned on until the temperature equalises or drops to a lower set-point value. This is a highly inefficient method of control and does not allow legacy solar hot water system operate in constant temperature mode using a maximum power point tracking system.

Legacy solar hot water systems are very basic systems which date back to the 1890's in design. The current method of differential control and system design is decades old.

Summary of the Invention

The present invention therefore provides a solution to the above problems. It seeks to create a high power AND constant running solar hot water production process including a real-time power efficiency control process MPPTt "Maximum Power Point Tracking thermal" for use with solar hot water systems transferring liquid heat energy and a real-time maximum temperature control process MTTPt "Maximum Temperature Tracking Point thermal" for use with solar hot water systems transferring energy in thermoelectric semiconductor devices. The real-time control process being operable to provide the maximum efficiency point tracking of the system at any given moment thus enabling the system to deliver highest temperature OR power rating constantly in the solar hot water system. The system typically will be able to operate in both modes exclusively or in parallel.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is a thermo-siphon pump. This pump consists of a U tube pipe of which a closed loop solar fluid circulates entering into a manifold at the top of the U tube, then moving down the back pipe which is not exposed to light and returns up the front pipe of the U tube re-entering a second manifold. The U tube pipe has an absorber and mechanical temperature regulator placed inside and around the U tube pipe configuration. This thermo-siphon structure is inserted or covered by a twin walled vacuum glass tube with a light absorber semiconductor coating. This device acts as a SEGD "solar energy generating device" as light passes through the glass tube into the core of the thermo-siphon generator. The thermo-siphon structure may be a plurality of thermo-siphon structures installed in a solar collector unit or as individual units capable of being attached together. In a second aspect, a mechanical regulator placed in and around the U Tube acts as a thermo-siphon thermal regulator. The larger the temperature between the front pipe and the back pipe on the U Tube assembly, the more thermal heat that is transferred through the heat exchanger in the building in kW's. The thermal regulator also ensures that the temperature of the front pipe can only create a temperature difference typically of between typically 20-30C maximum as the higher the temperature in MPPTt mode, the more fluid the thermo-siphon generator pumps and this feedback loop helps lower the difference. This is part of the anti-stall feature and is a requirement for achieving constant temperature operation. Because this invention uses thermo-siphon pumping, the system cannot stall If the water temperature difference was to become too large across the flow and return circuits, its potential thermal energy works against the pumping mechanisms. This action enhances thermo-siphon effect.. In MTTPt (maximum temperature mode), the temperature range can be much higher.

A third aspect of this assembly is the design of the flow loop feeding the solar thermo-siphon generators. A fixed size loop which could be 15mm outer diameter or 1⁄2 inner diameter pipe-work is typically used without any elbows, bends between the thermo-siphon generator. This creates a laminar flow with a Reynolds number typically between 1400 and 2000. This in conjunction with the thermo-siphon pumps allow a standard small regulator pump to be used on the system.

A forth aspect of this assembly is the regulator pump could be a 3M to 6 M head pump in a commercial building and will operate head heights up to4O M to 50 M.This regulating pump speeds up and slows down to control the thermo-siphon pumps in the SEGD's.

Unlike standard solar hot water systems, to speed up the flow in the solar hot water circuit, the regulator pump will slow down, and to slow the flow in the circuit the regulator pump will speed up. This is the opposite of standard solar hot water system operation. Because of the regulators pumps control of temperatures in the thermo-siphon generators, the solar system is pumped mainly by the thermo-siphon generators. If a system had 70 thermo-siphon assembly's, then the solar system has 70 thermo-siphon pumps and 1 regulating pump. This process creates an "always on" solar system pumped largely by free light energy.

A fifth aspect is the control system and the algorithms to run the system in either maximum power point mode OR maximum temperature mode. Solar hot water systems create heat from light and light levels are changing constantly, as is weather conditions and also the temperatures of the heat exchangers. This means that a real-time process is required to keep the system at its maximum power OR temperature point. The computer control system which communicates with all the systems sensors and regulator pump maintains that maximum thermal point required using algorithms.

The algorithm's which are running on a computing device turns on the thermo-siphon pump effect by adjusting the regulator pump and then controls its operation by regulating the flow of fluid through the thermo-siphon pump and hence adjusting the temperature difference between the back pipe and the front pipe to maintain the highest power rating at all times. For the purpose of clarity, MPPTt (maximum power point tracking -thermal) achieves the highest "constant" temperature differential between the flow and return circuits thus allowing the system to run over several hours at its highest kWhr transfer point.

Because it is using the thermo-siphon pumps to assist in fluid pumping which use light energy, there is very little amounts of electricity consumed in the system. In MTTPt, (maximum temperature tracking point -thermal), the system is always trying to achieve the highest temperature on the flow only. Again, this will be much lower power transfer to the heat exchanger but will be used for other uses such as driving thermoelectric semiconductor devices.

Detailed description.

Figures 1 through 10, discussed below, and the various embodiments used to describe the principles of the present invention in this patent document are by way of illustration only and should not be construed in any way to limit the scope of the invention. Those skilled in the art will understand that the principles of the present invention may be implemented in any type of suitably arranged device or system.

Figure 1 illustrates an energy generating system Si capable of integrating maximum power point tracking -thermal (MPPTt) in accordance to one embodiment of this disclosure. The solar energy generating devices (SEGD's) 5 each with at least one SEGD coupled to a corresponding manifold assembly 1 with a flow pipe 1 a (in) and a return pipe lb (out) that together form a solar thermal collecting array. The illustrated solar hot water system also comprises at least one closed loop pipe 3 filled heat transferfluid coupled to a regulating pump 4, housed in a pump station box 2, further coupled to a heat exchanger 6. It made up by a plurality of solar energy generator assembly's 5, at least one closed loop piping system 3 and at least one regulator pump assembly 4, a control system computer 7 and at least one transfer heat exchanger 6. Each SEGD 5 consists of a U tube solar pipe lOin Figure 2 connected at each end to either manifold 8 or manifold 9 described in Figure 2 to 10 separated and connected by an inserted metal mechanical regulator 14 in Figure 3. The whole EGD assembly asjust described is inserted into a twin walled vacuum glass tube 5.

As described in Figure 2; manifolds 8 and 9 are inserted in a manifold which could be made from aluminium or an aluminium alloy or other such material. The manifolds 8 and 9 are further covered by an insulation material 1 c as illustrated in Figure 1. Manifolds 8 and 9 are the same size as the closed loop circuit and are typically 1⁄2 inch or 15mm in diameter but could be larger.

As described in Figure 2; to maintain MPPTt, a computing device monitors the temperature differential of the supply flow pipe 10 and return flow pipe 11 in each SEGD and changes the speed of the regulating pump 4 to increase or lower the temperature of the thermo-siphon pumps 5 and their flow rates as illustrated in Figure 2 and shown complete with their vacuum covers in Figure 5.

As described in Figure 1, the closed loop is configured to achieve a low Reynolds number, a Laminarfiowwith a Reynolds number lowerthan 2000 buttypically 1500-1600.

The arrangement in Figure 1 could have many different variations in sizes, lengths of pipe-Figure 1 also shows that the solar energy collecting array 5 and 1 could contain a plurality of thermo-siphon pumps 5 and SEGD's 5. The heat exchanger device 6 could be a hot water heat exchanger or thermoelectric generating device or a thermoelectric cooling device and could be placed anywhere on the circuit to achieve its optimum performance.

Placement in Figure 1 is for illustrative purposes and different devices would be placed in different circuit locations.

Figure 3 shows a side view of the mechanical thermo-siphon regulator 14 which could be made from aluminium or other such like material depending on the thermal conductivity required.This mechanical thermo-siphon regulator 14 is inserted between the cooler feed pipe 10 and the heated return pipe 11. This mechanical thermo-siphon regulator 14 in conjunction with the regulator pump 4 controls the flow rate 12 and 13 of the thermo-siphoning action.

The mechanical thermo-siphon regulator 14 transfers heat from the front pipe of the thermo-siphon pump 11 to the rear pipe of the thermo-siphon pump 10, thus trying to equalise the temperature between them and thus slowing the thermo-siphon action naturally. The computing system 7 illustrated in Figure 1 running algorithm 23 illustrated in Figure 7 adjusts the regulating pump 4 flow rate which controls the temperature difference between these pipes band 11.

Figure 4 illustrates the mechanical thermo-siphon regulator 14 from a cross sectional view and shows it clipped onto the u tube assembly pipes 10 and 11.

Figure 7 illustrates the algorithm 23 which controls the MPPTt (Maximum Power point Tracking thermal) process. The system is set to MPPTt mode 24 ON and only operates when the system regulating pump 4 is active. When the temperature (Tc) of the SEDG's as detected in manifold 9 illustrated in Figure 3 is greater than the decision point temperature (Tr) 25 as illustrated in Figure 7 plus the set-point differential SD1,then the regulating pump 4 turns on.

This is represented by the following mathematical equation: Tc>Tr+SD1 Where: Tc is the temperature of the manifold 9 as illustro ted in Figure 3.

Tr is the temperature of the heat exchanger 6 as illustrated in Figure 1 or the temperature of manifold 8 as illustrated in Figure 3. The higher value which is detected is used as Tr. This ensures that any heat exchanger 6 that is extracting the heat produced into fluid or a device that is unable to remove the maximum amount of heat does not interfere with the maximum power calculation 27 as illustrated in Figure 7.

SD I is the set-point that causes the pump to 4 activate as illustrated in Figure 1.

As illustrated in Figure 7,the algorithm 23 then checks if the ongoing temperature (Ic) recorded in manifold 9as illustrated in Figure 3 is still increasing. If it is still increasing at 27, the computing system 7 as illustrated in Figure 1 increases the pump speed incrementally.

This has the effect of reducing the flow resistance in the closed loop transfer circuit 3 as illustrated in Figure 1 and increasing the flow rate of the thermo-siphon pump as illustrated in Figure 3. This then reduces the temperature acceleration increase detected in manifold 9 as illustrated in Figure 3.

This is represented by the following mathematical equation: Is Tc > Tr + SD1 increasing Where: Tc is the temperature of the manifold 9as illustrated in Figure 3.

Tr is the temperature of the heat exchanger 6 as illustrated in Figure 7 or the temperature of manifold 8 as illustrated in Figure 3. The higher value which is detected is used as Tr. This ensures that any heat exchanger 6 that is extracting the heat produced in to fluid or a device that is unable to remove the maximum amount of heat does not interfere with the maximum power calculation 27 as illustrated in Figure 7.

As illustrated in Figure 7,the algorithm 23 then checks if the ongoing temperature (Tc) recorded in manifold 9 as illustrated in Figure 3 is still increasing. If the temperature detected is now decreasing at 27, the computing system 7 as illustrated in Figure 1 decreases the pump speed incrementally. This has the effect of increasing the flow resistance in the closed loop transfer circuit 3 as illustrated in Figure 1 and reducing the flow rate of the thermo-siphon pump as illustrated in Figure 3. This then increases the temperature acceleration detected in manifold 9 as illustrated in Figure 3 being generated by the SEGD 5.

This formula 27 illustrated in Figure 7 creates a feedback loop which maintains the highest attainable temperature difference possible between manifold 8 and manifold 9 as illustrated in Figure 2; depending on the weather at any given time calculated many times a second. -10-

As illustrated in Figure 3, when the computing system decides to turn the pump controller on, it injects cooler circuit water into the much hotter U tubes rear pipe 10 which starts a thermo-siphon pumping action in the direction of 12 in the EGD 5 as illustrated in Figure 1.

As further illustrated in Figure 7, the system will run continuously until the temperature difference drops below the mathematical formula in 30 and the computing system will turn the pump OFF.

This is represented by the following mathematical equation: TccTr+5D2 Where: Tc is the temperature of the manifold 9 as illustrated in Figure 3.

Tr is the temperature of the heat exchanger 6 as illustrated in Figure 7 or the temperature of manifold 8 as illustrated in Figure 3. The higher value which is detected is used as Tr. This ensures that any heat exchanger 6 that/s extracting the heat produced into fluid or a device that is unable to remove the maximum amount of heat does not interfere with the maximum power calculation 27 as illustra ted in Figure 7.

SD2 is the set-point that causes the pump 4 to shut down as illustrated in Figure 1.

The algorithm 23 then reverts to decision 25 which will activate the pump controller 26 when the conditions on temperature are met in 25.

Figure 8 illustrates the algorithm 33 which controls the MTTPt (Maximum Temperature Tracking Point thermal) process. The system is set to MTTPt mode 34 ON and only operates when the system regulating pump 4 is active. When the temperature (Ic) of the EDG's 5 as detected in manifold 9 illustrated in Figure 3 is greater than the decision point temperature (Tr) 35 as illustrated in Figure 8 plus the set-point differential SD1,then the regulating pump 4 turns on.

This is represented by the following mathematical equation: Tc>Tr+SD1 Where: Tc is the temperature of the manifold 9 as illustrated in Figure 3.

Tr is the temperature of the heat exchanger 6 as illustrated in Figure 1 or the temperature of manifold 8 as illustrated in Figure 3. The higher value which is detected is used as Tr. This ensures that any heat exchanger 6 that is extracting the heat produced into fluid or a device that is unable to remove the maximum amount of heat does not interfere with the maximum temperature calculation 37as illustrated/n Figure 8.

SD 7 is the set-point that causes the pump to 4 activate as illustrated in Figure 1.

As illustrated in Figure 8,the algorithm 33 then checks if the ongoing temperature (Ic) recorded in manifold 9 as illustrated in Figure 3 is still increasing. If it is still increasing at 37, the computing system 8 as illustrated in Figure 1 makes no adjustment. If the temperature (Ic) being recorded is decreasing, then the computer decreases the pump speed incrementally until it starts to increase. This has the effect of increasing the flow resistance in the closed loop transfer circuit 3 as illustrated in Figure 1 and decreasing the flow rate of the thermo-siphon pumps as illustrated in Figure 3. This then increases the temperature acceleration of the system detected in manifold 9 as illustrated in Figure 3.

This is represented by the following mathematical equation: Is Tc > Tr + SD1 increasing Where: Tc is the temperature of the manifold 9 as illustrated in Figure 3.

Tr is the temperature of the heat exchanger 6 as illustrated in Figure 1 or the temperature of manifold 8 as illustrated in Figure 3. The higher value which is detected is used as Tr. This ensures that any heat exchanger 6 that is extracting the heat produced into fluid or a device that is unable to remove the maximum amount of heat does not interfere with the maximum temperature calculation 37as illustrated/n Figure 8..

-12 -As illustrated in Figure 8,the algorithm 33 then checks if the ongoing temperature (Ic) recorded in manifold 9as illustrated in Figure 3 is still increasing. If the temperature detected is now decreasing at 37, the computing system 7 as illustrated in Figure 1 decreases the pump speed incrementally. This has the effect of increasing the flow resistance in the closed loop transfer circuit 3 as illustrated in Figure 1 and reducing the flow rate of the thermo-siphon pump as illustrated in Figure 3. This then increases the temperature acceleration detected in manifold 9 as illustrated in Figure 3 being generated bythe EGD5.

This formula 27 illustrated in Figure 7 creates a feedback loop which maintains the highest attainable temperature difference possible between manifold 8 and manifold 9 as illustrated in Figure 2; depending on the weather at any given time calculated many times a second.

As further illustrated in Figure 7, the system will run continuously until the temperature difference drops below the mathematical formula in 40 and the computing system will turn the pump OFF.

Tr is the temperature of the heat exchanger 6 as illustrated in Figure 1 or the temperature of manifold 8 as illustrated in Figure 3. The higher value which is detected is used as Tr. This ensures that any heat exchanger 6 that/s extracting the heat produced into fluid or a device that is unable to remove the maximum amount of heat does not interfere with the maximum power calculation 27 as illustrated in Figure 7.

-13 -SD2 is the set-point that causes the pump 4 to shut down as illustrated in Figure 1.

The algorithm 33 then reverts to decision 35 which will activate the pump controller 36 when the conditions on temperature are met in 25.

Another aspect of the system controller is that it uses a web server to allow users on an intranet/Internet connection and the appropriate permissions to interact with it. Each user is able to use a standard web browser to connect to the system Si. This approach makes the connection geographically independent.

Support engineers are able to connect to the control system via the web server and provide remote troubleshooting, eliminating the need for costly site visits. The user can view system status, real-time and historical trend charts, alarm and fault information and adjust pre-defined machine parameters. The web server software has a high speed connection to the controller via which it sends/receives process and production information.Typical information that is exchanged is demonstrated in Figure 6.

This information is converted into a graphical format that can be viewed by a standard web browser providing the user has the appropriate permissions. Depending on the user's access permissions, they may have the ability to make changes to the selected system parameters and also to request historical process, production and billing data from the system Si.

The webs server software is flexible in that it may reside on the same computer system as the control system or it may reside on its own server. It also has the ability to connect to multiple systems.

With either option the web server is connected to the customer's network via a standard high speed Ethernet connection.

The web browsers that have access to the system will reside on the customer's network or on the internet once the appropriate permissions are held.

-14 -An option is shown in Figure 5 which shows the web server software and the control system software residing on the same computer 7.

Another aspect is also shown in Figure 6 where multiple systems in many buildings are connected via local web servers to the Internet which are monitored on one or more web browsers remotely in real-time such as a call centre format providing services to the end user.

The services provided could be optimisation services with algorithms constantly improving the real-time performance of the MPPTt process or the MTTPt process. It is envisaged that weather mapping and trending from systems in the same region will be hosted on external servers on the Internet which will directly optimise systems using algorithms and human intervention.

Efficiency of operation of system Si requires that problems or system errors are reported immediately to prevent energy loss, efficiency loss and to minimise downtime. Visual and audible fault indicators on the control system may not be sufficient to notify udders of process variations or system errors. As shown in Figure 9 the system Si overcomes the problem by using SMS, Email or push messages to Smart Phone devices and pc tablets.

The system may also be used to send scheduled status reports, energy yields, financial information and other information dashboards to selected personnel.

It will be appreciated that the invention provides for comprehensive and automated high performance solar hot water production which can be used for many applications. There is excellent temperature and power creation due to the creation of a low Reynolds number transfer circuit within the system, The use of a novel algorithm controlling a therrno-siphon pump within the system can be used for both thermal heat exchange to liquid and also for thermal heat exchange to thermoelectric semiconductor devices.

The invention is not limited to the embodiments described but may be varied in construction and detail.

Summary of diagrams

Fig 1: This is a figure of the complete solar system in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Fig 2: This is a diagram of the thermo-siphon pump which is housed inside a vacuum tube in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Fig 3: This is a diagram of Fig 2 with the mechanical temperature regulator attached in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Fig 4: This is a vertical or slice through view of Figure 3 in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Fig 5: This is a diagram of the structure of the 2 way control system in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Fig 6: This is a diagram of the command 8 control structure of multiple buildings in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Fig 7: This is a diagram of the MPPTT (Thermal Power Point Tracking) algorithm in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Fig 8: This is a diagram of the Maximum Temp algorithm in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Fig 9: This is a diagram showing the control and information flow over Smart Phone and/or other handheld devices in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Fig 10: This is a diagram showing the control and information flow of the command & control systems including billing, fault diagnosis, etc in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Claims

What is claimed is: 1. A solar hot water system comprising: a Ii tube thermo-siphon pump and mechanical regulator of at least one but typically several with the U Tube connected to a manifold protected by an insulation layer, housed each one in a single glass vacuum tube which together become a solar energy generating thermo-siphon pumping device; having a side exposed to incident radiation: one or more fluid transfer circuits containing a thermal transfer fluid to transport the generated heat around a circuit to other heat exchange devices; a circuit pump for regulating and controlling the flow of the thermo-siphon pumps in the solar energy generating devices; a heat exchanger for transferring the heat being transported by the transfer circuit fluid to be used in a further heating process or a thermoelectric semiconductor device for the production of electricity, heating or cooling; a controlling device to run algorithms to achieve the maximum power point tracking thermal or the maximum temperature tracking point thermal characterised in that, the control system can achieve it's maximum efficiency possible in real-time depending on which mode it is in.
2. The solar hot water system of claim 1 wherein the maximum power point of the system can be achieved with a maximum power point tracking thermal algorithm controlling the speed of the regulator pump.
3. The solar hot water system of claim 1 wherein the maximum temperature of the system can be achieved with a maximum temperature tracking point thermal algorithm controlling the speed of the regulator pump.
4. The method of claim 2 further comprising the use of thermo-siphon pumps housed inside the solar energy generating devices to achieve the maximum power point tracking thermal point of a system.
5. The method of claim 3 further comprising the use of thermo-siphon pumps housed inside the solar energy generating devices to achieve maximum temperature tracking point thermal point of a system.
6. The solar hot water system of claim 1 wherein the temperature adjustment of the fluid in the U tube can adjust the flow rate through the U tube thermo-siphon device by natural means.
7. The solar hot water system of claim 1 wherein there is a mechanical regulator device connecting the front flow pipe of the solar energy generator with the rear for the purpose of maintaining a temperature regulation in the thermo-siphon when in maximum power point tracking thermal mode.
8. The solar energy generating device of claim 4 wherein the mechanical regulator device provides a mechanical protection which restricts the temperature difference from becoming to large between the front and rear manifolds when there is a flow rate in the circuit.
9. The solar energy generating device of claim 1 where the "pump regulator" pushes cooler circuit water into the rear tube of the thermo-siphon to kick start the thermo-siphon pumps.
10. The method of controlling the thermo-siphon action of the U Tube by adjusting the regulator pump speed to achieve the maximum power point of the system at any given time.
1 1.The method of claim 10 further comprising adjusting the regulator pump to generate the maximum temperature of the system to produce the maximum production in thermoelectric semiconductor devices.
12. The solar hot water system of claim 1 wherein the transfer circuit had a Reynolds number of less than 2000 typically.
13. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the controller comprises means for transmitting wireless notification signals to a mobile device via a mobile network.
14. A systems as claimed in claim 1, wherein the controller comprises a web interface for remote control via a browser.