Solar heat energy collecting systems and methods of making the same

DETAILED DESCRIPTION It has been found that such principal purposes and objects, as well as other principal purposes and objects which will become clear from a further reading and understanding of this disclosure, may be achieved by: forming a substantially flat, potentially foamable, resinous base layer containing a blowing agent; applying a printing composition to the surface of the potentially foamable, resinous base layer in the form of at least one continuous path extending from one edge point to another edge point of the potentially foamable, resinous base layer, the printing composition containing a blowing inhibitor and a release agent; applying a relatively thin, top surface layer to the printed surface of the potentially foamable, resinous base layer which adheres thereto except in those areas containing the blowing inhibitor and release agent; heating the potentially foamable, resinous base layer to decompose or activate the blowing agent in those portions of the potentially foamable, resinous base layer not lying under the blowing inhibitor and release agent, whereby such portions are blown and expand to extend and stretch upwardly so as to be capable of forming upright walls of foamed, relatively lower density resinous material extending substantially vertically upwardly from the main portion of the resinous base layer, while those other portions of the potentially foamable, resinous base layer lying under the blowing inhibitor and release agent remain relatively unaffected; and supplying a fluid medium to those areas of the potentially foamable, resinous base layer lying above the blowing inhibitor and release agent, whereby the top surface layer is moved upwardly to form at least one continuous open channel extending from one edge point to another edge point of the resinous base layer and capable of conducting a heat transfer fluid medium therethrough.
Then, when the heat transfer fluid medium is delivered to the solar heat energy collecting system through a suitable inlet, it is conducted, preferably but not necessarily, in a circuitous, serpentine fashion from that edge point to another edge point on the resinous base layer to absorb and collect solar heat energy while it is being so conducted and then, subsequently, to be removed by a suitable outlet to be conducted to the material or system to be heated by the solar heat energy