Importance

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Abstract

A house siding solar panel for the efficient conversion of solar radiation into usable heat energy, which includes an aesthetically pleasing housing having forwardly beveled side edges so that the panels may be mounted directly to the side of the house much like conventional siding, and present an aesthetically pleasing apearance. The front wall of the housing is a prismatic lens which serves to direct diffuse solar radiation perpendicularly rearward to a highly heat-absorbent and conductive selective surface plate positioned parallel to the lens. Unheated air from the room to be heated is introduced into an air channel behind this plate. The air channel extends substantially over the rear surface of the plate and allows the unheated air to conductively obtain heat energy from the plate, which causes said air to convectively rise to a heated air outlet, wherein the heated air can be transported for the heating of the interior of the house. A thermostatically controlled unheated air vent associated with the fan allows the selective introduction of unheated air to the panel. Likewise, a thermostatically controlled heated air duct selectively allows the heated air to be transported for use. Specially designed air diffusers at opposite ends of the air channel next to the plate force the unheated air to be uniformly distributed over the width of the plate as it travels convectively upward. These diffusers present less air passage openings at the center of the panel where the air inlets and outlets are attached in fluid communication, and present greater air passage openings towards each end of each diffuser so that air is forced to uniformly distribute across the air channel.

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First Claim