WO1980000035A1

WO1980000035A1 - Solar energy collector assembly

Info

Publication number: WO1980000035A1
Application number: PCT/US1979/000352
Authority: WO
Inventors: L Whinnery
Original assignee: Kendon Concepts Inc
Priority date: 1978-06-09
Filing date: 1979-05-24
Publication date: 1980-01-10
Also published as: GB2037422A; AU4736079A; FR2428216A1; JPS55500389A

Abstract

A solar energy collector assembly (10) is disclosed. The collector assembly (10) includes an outer enclosure (16) which has a light transparent major face (22) adapted to face a light source and a plurality of walls (24, 26, 28, 30) extending rearwardly from the major face (22). A single collector plate (18) is secured in the enclosure spaced from and rearward of the major face (22). The collector plate (l8) has a curvilinear configuration with a large radius of curvature. The collector plate (18) has an outer surface (108) adapted to face a light source and an opposite inner surface (110). A rear panel assembly (20) which has an inner (54) and an outer surface (21) is attached in the enclosure rearward of the collector plate. A heating chamber (14) is formed between the inner surface (54) of the rear panel assembly (20) and the inner surface (110) of the collector plate (18). An inlet (126) and an outlet (127) communicate with the heating chamber (114) to pass a transfer medium through the heating chamber.

Description

"SOLAR ENERGY COLLECTOR ASSEMBLY" Technical Field

The present invention relates broadly to the use of solar energy for heating a building, such as a home. More specifically, the present invention relates to a solar collector assembly for absorbing solar energy and transfer- ing the absorbed energy as heat to the interior of a build¬ ing.

Background of the Prior Art Numerous types of solar collectors are currently on the market. Solar collectors generally utilize a col¬ lector plate or collector medium which absorbs solar ener¬ gy. Thereafter some transfer medium, generally a fluid, passes by or in close proximity to the collector plate or collector medium to transfer energy in the form of heat away from the collector plate or collector medium. The transfer medium either passes the heat energy directly into the air of a building or to a storage medium.

One method of classifying solar collectors is according to the type of transfer medium used. One type of solar collector utilizes a liquid, such as water, as the transfer medium; and another type of solar collector util¬ izes a gas, generally air, as the transfer medium. When gas is utilized as the transfer medium, the air which has been heated by the solar collector can be passed either directly into the interior of a building to be heated or to a storage medium, such as rocks.

The following patents are illustrative of various prior art solar collectors.

United States Patent No. 4,043,317 of Scharfman discloses a solar collector wherein fluid conduits are disposed above a flat collector plate and in heat conduct¬ ive relation to the plate. The fluid conduits are adapted to generally carry water as the transfer medium.

U.S. Patent No. 4,059,226 of Atkinson discloses a heat collector and storage chamber which is adapted to be mounted adjacent a wall of a building. The storage chamber holds a relatively large pile of rocks. A glass front wall permits sun rays to impinge upon and heat the rocks. Air, preferably from a conventional air furnace, passes throu the rocks as the transfer medium.

U.S. Patent No. 4,054,246. of Johnson discloses building structure wherein the outer surface of the buil ing is utilized as a solar collector. A plenum is form behind the outer walls and a gas is blown through t plenum to transfer heat away from the walls. The a transfers the heat to subterranean gravel pits which ser as heat storage media. When heat is required within t building, heated air is passed from the gravel pits to t interior of the building.

U. S. Patent No. 4,069,809 of Strand disclos solar heat-collecting building blocks wherein the bloc themselves serve as solar collectors. Passageways a formed through the blocks so that air may be passed throu the . blocks to transfer the collected heat out of t blocks.

U. S. Patent No. 4,046,133 of Cook discloses solar panel assembly wherein a plurality of triangula shaped fins form a collector plate. Air is blown direct across the top surface of the collector plate to transf heat therefrom to the interior of a bulding.

U. S. Patent No. 4,068,652 of Worthington di closes a solar collector which utilizes a generally fl plate collector. The solar collector is illustrated either a roof mount or wall mount collector. As a wa mount collector, the transfer medium is drawn directly in a room to be heated.

U. S. Patents 4,033,324 and 4,054,125 of Ecke disclose the use of focusing elements above a collector direct light thereto. In several embodiments, a curv collector plate having a small radius of curvature disclosed. The curved collectors plates generally form curtain-like structure. U. S. Patents 4,051,832; 4,067,316; and 4,071,0 also disclose solar energy collectors or panels. Summary of the Invention The present invention relates to a solar energy collector assembly. The collector assembly includes an outer enclosure which has a light transparent major face adapted to face a light source and a plurality of walls extending rearwardly from the major face. A single collec¬ tor plate is secured in the enclosure spaced from and rearward of the major face. The collector plate has a curvilinear configuration with a large radius of curvature. The collector plate has an outer surface adapted to face a light source and an opposite inner surface. A rear panel assembly which has an inner and an outer surface is at¬ tached in the enclosure rearward of the collector plate. A heating chamber is formed between the inner surface of the rear panel assembly and the inner surface of the collector plate. An inlet and an outlet communicate with the heating chamber to pass a transfer medium through the heating chamber.

In the preferred embodiment, the outer surface of the collector plate is embossed and coated or painted flat black. The embossing of the outer surface reduces the reflection of light from the collector plate and thus enhances the efficiency of the heat absorption by the collector plate. The inner surface of both the collector plate and the rear panel assembly are reflective. Electro¬ magnetic heat energy which emanates from the inner surface of the collector plate thus reflects back and forth within the heating chamber. This reflection also enhances the - efficiency of the collector assembly, since the reflection reduces the absorption and reabsorption of the heat energy into other parts of the collector assembly. The heat energy is thus readily available to a transfer medium passing through the heating chamber.

Turbulence deflectors are disposed within the heating chamber. The turbulence deflectors are aligned generally transverse to the path of a transfer medium through the heating chamber. Air, which is generally the transfer medium, therefore passes through the heating chamber in a turbulent manner. The turbulent passage the air increases the scrubbing effect of the air acro the surface of the collector plate to the moving air.

Also in the preferred embodiment, the ou enclosure is made of a single piece of plastic material a insulative materials are interposed between the ou enclosure and the collector plate.

Various advantages and features of novelty whi characterize the invention are pointed out with particul ity in the claims annexed hereto and forming a part hereo However, for a better understanding of the invention, i advantages, and objects obtained by its use, refere should be had to the drawings which form a further pa hereof, and to the accompanying descriptive matter, which there is illustrated and described an embodiment the invention.

Brief Description of the Drawings FIGURE 1 is a perspective view illustrating plurality of solar collectors made in accordance with t present invention mounted to a wall of a building;

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view taken along line 2 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a partially side elevational a partially sectional view illustrating an air inlet into t interior of a building;

FIGURE 4 is an exploded perspective view of t solar energy collector assembly;

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view taken along line 5 of FIGURE 1; FIGURE 6 is a perspective view illustrating t rear of the collector plate; and

FIGURE 7 is a view similar to FIGURE 3 illustra ing an air outlet into the interior of a building. Detailed Description of the Invention Referring to the drawings in detail, wherein li numerals indicate like elements, there is shown in FIGURE a plurality of solar collector assemblies in accorda with the present invention designated generally as 10.

(_> - solar collector assemblies 10 are shown mounted to a gener¬ ally South-facing wall 12 of a bulding 14. The building 14 may be of any type, however, the solar collector assemblies 10 are especially suitable for use on residential homes. The basic components of the solar collector assemblies 10 include an outer enclosure 16, a collector plate 18 and a rear panel assembly or wall 20. The outer enclosure 16 is made of a single piece of material, prefer¬ ably a plastic material such as a butyrate cellulose plas- tic. The outer enclosure 16 has a major face 22, a pair of side walls 24, 26, a top wall 28, and a bottom wall 30. A major portion of the face 22 and portions of- the side walls 24, 26 are light transparent. The entire top and bottom walls 28, 30 and trim portions 32 of the face 22 and side walls 24, 26 are painted for decorative purposes. The major face 22 is adapted to face a light source, i.e., sunlight.

The rear panel assembly 20 is comprised of a rear panel plate 21, a rear insulation panel 50 and a sheet of reflective material 54. The rear panel plate 21 is prefer¬ ably made of a lightweight sheet metal material and has a plurality of upstanding walls or edges 36, 38, 40 and 42. An air inlet hole 44 and an air outlet hole 46 are formed through a face 48 of the rear panel plate 21. The rear insulation panel 50 is received on the inside of the face 48 between the walls 36-42. A flange 52 extends inwardly from each of the walls 36-42 to secure the rear insluation panel 50 in place. The sheet of reflective material 54 covers substantially the entire inner surface 55 of the in- sulation panel 50. The reflective material 54 and the insulation panel 50 each has an inlet hole 56, 58 in align¬ ment with the air inlet hole 44 and air outlet holes 60, 61 in alignment with the air outlet hole 46.

A longitudinally extending structural beam 62 is supported above the rear panel assembly 20 adjacent the side wall 24 and a longitudinally extending structural beam 64 is supported above the rear panel assembly 20 adjacent the side wall 26. As seen in FIGURE 5, the structural

OMPI beams 62, 64 can take on a right-angled cross-section configuration. A strip of side insulation material 66 received between the beam 62 and the side wall 24. A str of side insulation material 68 is received between the be 64 and the side wall 26. The strips of insulation materi 66, 68 can be made of any suitable thermally insulati material, for example, Styrofoam.

A longitudinally extending retainer strip 70 supported on the rear panel 20 next to the beam 62. longitudinally extending retainer strip 72 is supported the rear panel 20 next to the beam 64. The retainer stri 70, 72 each have a generally zig-zag cross-sectional conf guration. A longitudinal edge 74 of the collector plate is received and retained within a valley 76 of the retain strip 70. An opposite longitudinal edge 78 of the colle tor plate 18 is received and retained within a valley 80 the retainer strip 72. A silicon adhesive 71 is preferab used to provide a thermal seal between the edges 74, 78 a the retainer strips 70, 72. In the preferred embodiment, an inner glazing fiberglass sheet 82 is also secured within the enclosure the retainer strips 70, 72. A longitudinal edge 84 of t fiberglass sheet 82 is secured within a valley 86 of t retainer strip 70, and an opposite longitudinal edge 88 secured within a valley 90 of the retainer strip 72. T silicon adhesive 71 is also used to secure the edges 84, to the retainer strips 70, 72. The inner glazing 82 preferably made of a solar fiberglass material. The sol fiberglass material serves to transmit light through t inner glazing 82 to the collector plate 18 while at t same time preventing reflection of the light or heat ou wardly from the collector plate 18 to the major face 2 The inner glazing 82 thus acts similar to a one-way mirr to prevent the loss of heat from the assembly 10. A plurality of support or insulation blocks a disposed at the top and bottom ends of the assembly 10. relatively thick top insulation block 92 is inserted b tween the top edges of the fiberglass sheet 82 and of collector plate 18 and the top wall 28. Similarly, a relatively thick bottom insulation block 93 is inserted between the top edges of the fiberglass sheet 82 and of the collector 18 and the bottom, wall 30. A spacer-insulation block 94 is contoured to fit between the rear panel 20 and the collector plate 18. A spacer-insulation block 96 is contoured to fit between the collector plate 18 and the fiberglass sheet 82. A spacer-insluation block 98 is con¬ toured to fit between the fiberglass sheet 82 and the enclosure 16. The spacer-insulation blocks 94-98 are disposed at the top end of the assembly 10 between the insulation block 92. A similar set of spacer-insulation blocks 100, 102, 104 are disposed at the bottom end of the assembly 10 above the insulation block 93. The inner surface of the uppermost spacer-insulation blocks 98 and 104 is covered with a light-reflective material 106. The inner surface of the central space-insulation blocks 96 and 102 is also covered with a light-reflective material 107. Light striking the light-reflective material 106, 107 may thus be reflected downwardly to the collector plate 18.

The collector plate 18 has an outer or light- facing surface 108 and an inner surface 110. The collector plate 18 has a curvilinear configuration in cross-section. The radius of curvature of the curvilinear section is relatively large. For example, in a typical assembly 10 which is approximately 30 inches in width, approximately 6 feet 8 inches in length, and approximately 7 inches in depth, the radius of curvature may be between 20-30 inches and preferably is 26 inches. The use of a curvilinear collector plate 18 with a large radius of curvature has an advantage over a flat collector plate in that throughout the day a larger surface area of the collector plate 18 receives a larger normal component of sunlight. If a flat collector plate were used, during the morning and evening hours a small normal component of sunlight would strike the reflector. By utilizing a slightly curved collector plate 18, a larger component of the light strikes the collector plate 18 at or near a normal angle during the morning and evening hours. The collector plate 18 is made of a heat-cond tive material such as aluminum. As is conventional w solar collector plates, the outer .surface 108 of the c lector plate 18 is coated or painted flat black. A f black surface normally reflects little light, however, order to reduce even more the reflectance of light from surface 108, the surface 108 is embossed. In the prefer embodiment, standard embossed or milled sheet metal alu num is used for the collector plate 18. To further enha the embossing or roughness of the surface 108, the f black paint which is applied to the surface 108 is spra on in such a manner that some of the paint solidifies i small particles prior to settling upon the surface 1 Such a spraying technique further enhances the embossing roughening of the surface 108.

The inner surface 110 of the collector plate is made of a reflective surface. A reflective material is attached to the inner surface of the insulation blo 94, 100. As was mentioned above, the sheet of reflect material 54 covers the rear insulation panel 50. A heat chamber 114 is thus bounded by the reflective surfaces 112, and 110. Solar energy is absorbed by the collec plate 18 and converted into heat energy which raises temperature of the collector 18 and can be emitted into heating chamber 114 as electromagnetic heat energy. reflective surfaces reflect the electromagnetic heat ene which is emitted from the inner surface 110 of the c lector plate 18. The reflection of the heat energy wit the cavity 114 enhances the efficiency of the collec panel assembly 10 by preventing, the reabsorption or abso tion of the heat into the other parts of the assembly That is, the heat energy remains available within chamber 114 for removal by a transfer medium.

A plurality of flanges or angle brackets 116 secured to the inner surface 110 of the collector plate and extend into the heating chamber 114. The flanges each have first sections 118 which run generally paral to the longitudinal dimension of the collector plate

_*y^B (_> _ Since the air flow through the heating chamber 114 is from the air inlet hole 44 to the air outlet hole 46, the air flows through the heating chamber generally in the longitu¬ dinal dimension of the collector plate 18. The first sections 118 of the flanges 116 are thus generally parallel to the direction of the air flow. The flanges 116 have a plurality of cut-out sections 120 which are bent away from the first sections 118 and are disposed generally trans¬ verse or perpendicular to the first sections 118. As is best seen in FIGURE 6, successive cut-out sections 120 on a given flange 116 extend transversely from the first sec¬ tions 118 in opposite directions. The cut-out sections 120 serve as turbulence deflectors to create turbulence in the air flowing through the chamber 114. The turbulence cre- ated by the cut-out sections 120 also enhances the effi¬ ciency of the assembly 10 by causing a greater scrubbing action against the collector plate 18 so that more heat is removed or drawn from the collector plate 18.

The solar energy collector assembly 10 is secured to the wall 12 by a plurality of angle brackets 122. The angle brackets 122 are secured to the side walls 24, 26 by a suitable means, such as screws 124. As best seen in FIGURES 2, 3 and 7, the angle brackets 122 are secured to the wall 12 in such a manner that the outer face of the rear panel 20 is spaced from the wall 12.

An air inlet duct 126 is received within the air inlet holes 44, 56, 58 and couples the heating chamber 114 with the interior of the building 14. An air outlet duct 127 passes through the air outlet holes 46, 54, 61 and couples the heating chamber 114 with the interior of the building 14. A resilient material 129 surrounds each of the ducts 126, 127. The resilient material 129 in its uncompressed state is wider than the space between the rear panel 20 and the wall 12. When the brackets 122 are tight- ened against the wall 12, the resilient material 129 com¬ presses and forms an air tight seal around the ducts 126, 127. An air-deflecting grille 128 is secured to an inner wall 130 of the building 14 and communicates with the air

/^UR£ ( . J. -≤M I outlet duct 127. An air-deflecting grille 132 is al connected to the inner wall 130 and communicates with t air inlet 126.

A blower means 134, such as a squirrel cage fa is supported within the air outlet duct 127. The blow means 134 draws air from within the building 14 in throu the air inlet duct 126, through the heating chamber 114 a returns the air to the interior of the building 14 throu the air outlet duct 127. An electrical cord 136 from t blower means 134 is passed through the heating chamber 1 and the air inlet duct 126 to the interior of the buildi 14. Thus, the blower means 134 may be connected to typical wall outlet.

A damper assembly 131 is supported within the a inlet duct 126. As is best seen in FIGURE 7, the damp assembly 131 includes an upper bracket seal 133 and a low bracket seal 135. A damper door 137 is pivotally support in the inlet duct 126 by a pivot bar 139. The damper do 137 is shown in a closed or sealed position in full li and in an open position in dotted line. The damper do 137 has a larger surface area below the pivot bar 139 a is gravity-biased downwardly to a sealed position. Wh the blower means 134 is operative, only a slight pressu upon the lower surface of the damper door 137 will piv the damper door 137 to its open position. The electric cord 136 may be passed through a grommet 141 in the upp bracket seal 133.

The solar energy collector assembly operates the following manner. As sunlight strikes the collect plate 18, the temperature of the collector plate 18 elevated. Electromagnetic heat energy is given off at t inner surface 110 of the collector plate 18 and is r flected within the heating chamber 114. The blower mea 134 draws air through the heating chamber 114 to transf the hot air from the heating chamber 114 and from t collector plate 18 to the interior of the building 14. control means is provided for controlling the operation the blower means 134. The control means is comprised of pair of temperature-sensitive control sensors or switches 138, 140. The temperature-sensitive control switches 138 and 140 are mounted to the inner surface 110 of the collec¬ tor plate 18. The first switch 138 turns the blower means 134 on when the collector plate 18 temperature reaches approximately 110°F, and thereafter shuts the blower means 134 off when the temperature of the collector plate 18 falls below approximately 90°F. The first switch 138 operates the blower means 134 through a transformer or resister at a reduced output. The second switch 140 over¬ rides the first switch 138 when the temperature of the collector plate 18 reaches 140°F, and continues to override the first switch 138 until the temperature of the collector plate 18 falls to 110°F. While the second switch 140 overrides the first switch 138, power is supplied directly to the blower means 13 so that it operates at its normal total output. It has been found that a squirrel cage-type blower fan operable at a full output of 100 cubic feet per minute and a lower reduced output of 60 cubic feet per minute is desirable. In this manner, a substatially con¬ stant amount of heat is transfered into the interior of the building.

As shown in FIGURE 1, the solar energy collector assemblies 10 are preferably installed on the vertical wall of a building. However, the solar energy collector assem¬ blies of the present invention may also be mounted to a roof of a building. Also, while two solar collector assem¬ blies 10 are shown in full line attached to the wall 12, it should be understood that any number, i.e., one or more, may be utilized. The number of assemblies 10 which are utilized will be dependent upon the size of the building to be heated and the amount of which the existing heating system is to be supplemented by the collector assemblies 10. Numerous characteristics and advantages of the invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the invention, and the novel features thereof are pointed out ^BΪJR£4

( __0MPI - in the appended claims. The disclosure, however, is il strative only, and changes may be made in detail, es cially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of par within the principle of the invention, to the full ext extended by the broad general meaning of the terms in wh the appended claims are expressed.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A solar energy collector assembly comprising: an outer enclosure having a light transparent major face adapted to face a light source and a plurality of walls extending rearwardly from said major face; a single collector plate secured in said enclo¬ sure spaced from and rearward of said major face, said collector plate having a curvilinear configuration with a large radius of curvature and an outer surface adapted to face a light source and an opposite inner surface; a rear panel assembly having an inner and an outer surface, said rear panel assembly being attached to said enclosure rearward of said collector plate to form a heating chamber between said inner surface of the rear panel assembly and said inner surface of the collector panel; and inlet and outlet means communicating with said heating chamber for passing a transfer medium through said heating chamber.

2. A solar energy collector assembly in accordance with claim 1 wherein said enclosure is formed of a single piece of material and said plurality of walls are formed integral with said major face.

3. A solar energy collector assembly in accordance with claim 2 wherein said plurality of walls include a pair of side walls extending along a lengthwise dimension of said enclosure, and a top wall and a bottom wall extending between said side walls.

4. A solar energy collector assembly in accordance with claim 3 wherein said single piece enclosure is formed of a plastic material.

5. A solar energy collector assembly in accordance with claim 1 including a pair of thermal barrier strips disposed along a pair of opposing walls of said enclosu a pair of opposing edges of said collector plate be secured to said thermal barrier strips whereby said ther barrier strips thermally insulate said collector plate f said outer enclosure.

6. A solar energy collector assembly in accorda with claim 5 wherein said thermal barrier strips are for of thermally insulative material and have zig-zag cro sectional configuration with at least one valley extend along a lengthwise dimension thereof, and the edges of s collector plate secured to said thermal barriers be received within said valleys.

7. A solar energy collector assembly in accorda with claim 1 wherein said outer surface of said collec plate is an embossed flat black surface, and wherein s inner surface of said rear panel assembly and said in surface of said collector plate are reflective whereby h collected by said collector plate is reflected within s heating chamber.

8. A solar energy collector assembly in accorda with claim 7 wherein said inlet means includes a fl inlet hole through said rear panel assembly adjacent longitudinal end thereof and said outlet means include fluid outlet hole through said rear panel assembly adjac another longitudinal end thereof, said inlet hole and s outlet hole being in communication with said heating ch ber and establishing a fluid flow path therethrough.

9. A solar energy collector assembly in accorda with claim 8 including a plurality of turbulence deflect disposed generally transversely of said fluid flow p through said heating chamber.

10. A solar energy collector assembly in accorda with claim 9 wherein said turbulence deflectors includ plurality of flanges extending downwardly from the inner surface of said collector plate into said heating chamber, each flange having a first section generally parallel to said fluid flow path, and a plurality of cut-out sections extending from said first section generally transverse thereto.

11. A solar energy collector assembly in accordance with claim 1 including a light transparent inner panel secured inside said enclosure between the major face of said enclosure and the outer surface of said collector plate.

12. A solar energy collector assembly in accordance with claim 11 wherein said inner panel is formed of a translucent fiberglass material.

13. A solar energy collector assembly in accordance with claim 1 including an inlet duct, in communication with said inlet means, an outlet duct in communication with said outlet means, blower means for moving said transfer medium through said inlet • duct, said heating chamber and said outlet duct, and means for controlling said blower means in response to the temperature of said collector plate, said inlet and outlet ducts being adapted to be in communication with an interior of a bulding.

14. A solar energy collector assembly comprising: a single-piece outer enclosure having a light transparent major face adapted to face a solar light source and a plurality of walls integral with said major face and extending rearwardly therefrom; a single collector plate secured in said enclo- sure spaced from and rearward of said major face, said collector plate having a curvilinear configuration with a large radius of curvature, an embossed outer surface adapted to face a light source and an opposite reflective inner surface; a rear panel assembly having an inner reflect surface and an outer surface, said rear panel assem being attached to said enclosure rearward of said collec plate to form a heating chamber between said reflect surface of .the rear panel and said reflective inner surf of said collector panel; and an air inlet hole through said rear panel ass bly adjacent one longitudinal end thereof and an air out hole through said rear panel assembly adjacent anot longitudinal end thereof, said inlet hole and said out hole being in communication with said heating chamber establishing an air flow path therethrough.

15. A solar energy collector assembly in accorda with claim 14 wherein said single-piece outer enclosure formed of a plastic material and said walls include a p of side walls extending along a lengthwise dimension said outer enclosure, and a top wall and a bottom w extending between said side walls, and wherein said coll tor plate is formed of an embossed aluminum sheet and s outer surface of said embossed aluminum sheet is coa flat black.

16. A solar energy collector assembly in accorda with claim 15 wherein said collector assembly is subst tially 30 inches wide and 6 feet 8 inches long, and s curvilinear configuration of said collector plate has radius of curvature greater than 20 inches.

17. A solar energy collector assembly in accorda with claim 14 including a pair of thermal barrier str disposed along a pair of opposing longitudinal side wa of said enclosure, each of said thermal barrier str being formed of a thermally insulative material and hav a zig-zag cross-sectional configuration with at least valleys extending along a lengthwise dimension thereof, pair ^"of opposing side edges of said collector plate be secured within one valley of each thermal barrier str and said collector assembly including an inner panel formed of a translucent fiberglass material and having opposing side edges secured to another valley of each thermal bar¬ rier strip, said inner panel being disposed between the major face of said enclosure and the outer surface of said collector plate.

18. A solar energy collector assembly in accordance with claim 17 including a plurality of flanges extending downwardly from the inner surface of said collector plate into said heating chamber, each flange having a first section generally parallel to said air flow path and a plurality of cut-out sections extending from said first section generally transverse thereto to form a plurality of turbulence deflectors.

19. A solar energy collector assembly in accordance with claim 14 wherein said rear panel assembly includes a rear panel plate having an inner and an outer surface, a rear insulation panel covering the inner surface of said rear panel plate and having an inner and an outer surface, and a sheet of reflective material covering the inner surface of said rear insulation panel and forming the reflective surface of said rear panel assembly.

20. A solar energy collector assembly in accordance with claim 14 including an inlet duct in communication with said inlet hole and adapted to communicate with the inerior of a building, an outlet duct in communication with said outlet hole and adapted, to be in communication with a building, a blower means mounted in said outlet duct for drawing air in through said inlet duct, through said heat- ing chamber and out said outlet duct, and control means for controlling said blower means, said control means including a first thermally-responsive switch operative in a first temperature range to turn on and off said blower means at a power less than the maximum power level of said blower means and a second thermally-responsive switch operative at

"Bϋ E c

OMPI a temperature above the range of said first thermall responsive switch to operate said blower means at i maximum output.

21. A solar energy collector assembly comprising: a single-piece plastic outer enclosure having light transparent major face adapted to face a solar lig source and a plurality of walls integral therewith a extending rearwardly from said major face, said wal including a pair of side walls extending along a lengthwi dimension of said enclosure, and a top wall and a bott wall extending between said side walls; a single collector plate secured in said encl sure spaced from and rearward of said major face, sa collector plate having a curvilinear configuration with radius of curvature of at least 20 inches and a flat bla embossed outer surface adapted to face a light source a an opposite reflective inner surface; a light transparent inner panel formed of translucent fiberglass material secured inside said encl sure between said major face of the enclosure and sa outer surface of the collector plate; a thermal barrier strip disposed along each si wall of said enclosure, each of said thermal barrier stri being formed of a thermally insulative material and havi a zig-zag cross-sectional configuration with two valle extending along a lengthwise dimension thereof, and oppo ing side edges of said collector plate being secured in o valley of each thermal barrier strip and opposing si edges of said inner panel being secured in the other vall of each thermal barrier strip; a rear panel assembly having an inner reflecti surface and an outer surface, said- rear panel assemb being attached to said enclosure rearward of said collec plate to form a heating chamber between said reflecti inner surface of the rear panel assembly and said refle tive inner surface of the collector plate; an air inlet hole through said rear panel assem¬ bly adjacent one longitudinal end thereof and an air outlet hole through said rear panel assembly adjacent another longitudinal end thereof, said inlet hole and said outlet hole being in communication with said heating chamber and establishing an air flow path therethrough; an air inlet duct in communication with said air inlet hole and being adapted to communicate with an inter¬ ior of a building and an air outlet duct in communication with said air outlet hole and being adapted to be in commu¬ nication with an interior of a building; a blower fan disposed in said outlet duct for drawing air from an interior of a building in through said air inlet duct, through said heating chamber, and out said air outlet duct into the interior of the building; and temperature-responsive control means for control¬ ling the operation of said blower fan so that said blower fan blows air at a first rate and a second rate dependent upon the temperature of said collector plate.