Laser welding of solar thermal absorbers

Laser welding technology in solar technology is the economical and future-oriented technology for the industrial mass production of solar thermal absorbers. The latest generation MiniTec laser welding system (LSA) is increasingly used in the production of full surface absorbers for thermal flat collectors.

With the leading laser welding technology, our customers can produce high quality and durable connections with the best heat transfer. In addition to a very high level of process reliability, our LSA is characterized by enormous flexibility, which allows the most diverse customer-specific products with pipe diameters between 8 and 22 mm to be assembled and welded in a short time and without much effort . By welding aluminum / copper absorbers, LSA allows our customers efficient, safe and economical absorber production even in multi-shift operation.

The LSA from MiniTec is a state-of-the-art fully automatic system with modern CNC control. This also allows for your own configuration. After a brief briefing, your qualified staff can program the control system and configure it according to your own requirements. This reduces unnecessary cost and effort. MiniTec offers customers turnkey projects with application warranty as well as a first class service including remote maintenance and online support.

LSA technical data:

Maximum absorber size 1250 x 2500 mm
Tube size (outer diameter) 8mm to 22mm
welding speed up to 25 m / min
Cycle time from 60 to 120 seconds for a 2m2 absorber
Higher production reliability accuracy (<2 ‰ rejects in continuous production mode)
Materials Cu / Cu; Cu/Al, Al/Al; Steel / Steel
Working environment Laser class 1
Absorbent materials can process all commercially available products (Cu and AL)
Absorbent solid surfaces / fins
Wickerwork Harps, Meanders, and Meanders with collection tube
Operation Graphical user interface with pre-programmed masks

Optional extras:

Test equipment for checking the strength of the weld seam
Automatic changeover for welding 2 different pipe diameters
Visual image capture for error analysis

Laser welding-lower material stress

A pulsed laser melts small areas of pipe and sheet metal alloys. The precise laser beam heats the absorber very dosed only at the welding point, so the heated zone can be kept very small. The absorbent layer remains intact.

Image 1: Solar heating / Laser welding facility

Image 2: Solar heating / Laser welding facility