Purpose

The Sokol Solar Collector is designed for transformation of solar radiation energy into thermal energy and its transfer to a heat-carrying agent (water, antifreeze) in systems of solar water heating. It is the main element of solar thermal heating systems. It is used as the main or an additional heater in heat supply systems.

Seasonal or year-round systems of water heating and heat supply for individual living houses, domestic and production facilities (hotels, resorts, swimming pools, children’s summer camps, public catering, farms, greenhouses etc.) can be created on its basis.

Advantages

• Selective absorbing coating;
• Robust body;
• Unique design of the absorber;
• Transparent insulation of the collector: hardened glass.

The main feature of the Sokol solar collector is a multi-layer optical absorbing coating applied to the absorber surface by vacuum magnetron deposition. The coating enables the absorber to absorb 95% of solar energy and to radiate no more than 5% of energy in the thermal spectrum. Due to that, efficiency of the solar collector (transformation of solar energy into thermal energy) is as high as 80%. Such efficiency has been confirmed by results of tests carried out in the leading European institute of solar technology: SPF Solartechnik (Switzerland).

 

 

Schemes of collector application in water heating systems

Double-circuit system with natural heat-carrying agent circulation

Double-circuit system with pumped heat-carrying agent circulation



Design of the Sokol Solar Collector

Absorber
The absorber consists of 10 tube-on-sheet aluminum profiles having dia. 9 mm internal channels, and two transverse collector tubes of 20 mm internal diameter. The absorber has four fittings having ¾" exterior pipe thread for connection of external pipelines or interconnection of several collectors. 
The absorber surface has selective coating applied by vacuum magnetron deposition.
Body
Box-shaped profiles for the body walls and a glass hold-down clamp have been specially designed for the Sokol collector. The profiles are coated with powder enamel. The body wall profile has a special longitudinal slot for M10 bolts. The 17 mm bolt heads are inserted in this slot. The bolt can move along the slot to any point of the body perimeter and attach the collector to any suitable support structure.
Glass
Transparent 4-mm thick hardened glass (without any surface treatment) is used in the collector. Four clamps hold down the glass without using screws.
The clamps can be removed to replace a broken glass.
Bottom
The bottom of the body is made of a 2-mm thick weather-resistant plastic sheet which is inserted in the body wall slots.
Sealing
The glass is sealed with a U-shaped profile made of EPDM rubber which is resistant to weather impact and high temperature. The glass with the sealing is placed on a shelf of the body.
To seal the absorber fittings where they pass through the body walls, annular sleeves are used which are made of silicon heat-resistant rubber. The seals are inserted into holes in the walls.
Thermal insulation
50-mm mats of basalt fiber/wool lined with glass fiber are used for lower thermal insulation.
Air enclosed in the box-shaped body wall profile serves as side insulation.

This design of JSC MIC NPO Mashinostroyenia received silver medals at international exhibitions in Brussels (1999) and Geneva (2000) and diplomas of other major exhibitions.


Contact person:
Mr. Serguey V. Ivanina

Tel.: (495) 528-22-41
Fax: (495) 302-20-01
e-mail: vpk@npomash.ru