Cost-effective and reliable solar systems with novel heat pipe collectors

In order to avoid stagnation loads in solar circuits, different approaches are usually implemented. Most of them are based on additional cooling systems or draining (drainback), which require more complex hydraulic installations and control technology respectively. The use of heat pipes, on the contrary, can avoid stagnation loads directly in the collector. The functional principle is independent of a control unit or mechanically activated components, such as valves, so that the system and the safety technology can be simplified. The temperature limitation is reached by using the physical effect of the dry-out limitation of heat pipes and is absolutely intrinsically safe.

Within the research project innovative heat pipe solutions with temperature limitation were developed for integration into evacuated tube collectors and flat plate collectors. The results are used as a basis for the transfer into industrial production. The main goal is a significant reduction of the stagnation temperature, so that evaporation of the solar fluid can be completely avoided. The collector efficiency is comparable to commercial technologies. The use of heat pipe collectors with temperature limitation simplifies the system design and reduces the effort for installation and maintenance. For typical solar thermal systems, we expect a total cost saving of 20 – 30 % compared to the use of standard collectors.

• B. Schiebler, F. Giovannetti: Kostengünstige und zuverlässige Solarsysteme durch neuartige Wärmerohr-Kollektoren,  Abschlussbericht zum Vorhaben. Dezember 2018
• S. Föste, B. Schiebler, F. Giovannetti, G. Rockendorf G., S. Jack: Butane heat pipes for stagnation temperature reduction of solar thermal collectors, Energy Procedia 91 p. 35-41, 2015
• S Jack, J. Parzefall T. Luttmann, F. Giovannetti: Flat plate aluminium heat pipe collector with inherently limited stagnation temperature, Energy Procedia 48 p. 105-113, 2014