Soft Solar Collector

The portable solar panel heats water with solar energy in a very functional way. The warm water can be used for showering and washing. The panel consists of different layered soft membranes, such as a transparent energy catching, a spacer fabric and a black absorbent layer. That multilayer system also isolates and seperates the collector from storage to catch solar energy efficiently. The shape of the panel is generated by the internal pressure of the water. This principle forms a collector and a storage volume. By using the thermosiphon effect, the water circulates autonomously between collector and hot water storage using natural convection. The size of the collector can be reduced to one tenth, when it is empty. The integrated linking system allows a expansion of the solar collectors. So you can increase the collector surface and storage by an easy-to-use and self-locking coupling system. In addition to the individual single use, there is also given a systemic mass supply for temporarily needs of hot water for many people. The range of applications for the self-sufficient solar panel are relief camps in disaster situations, as well as nomadism, expeditions, outdoor sports and other outdoor events such as festivals.

2013 designed at HfG Offenbach assisted by Prof. Zebner.