System comprising a glazing element and a gas supply device

• US 20040206024A1
• Filed: 02/27/2004
• Published: 10/21/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fraunhofer Gesellschaft Zur Foerderung Der Angewandten Forsching E.V.
• Original Assignee: Fraunhofer Gesellschaft Zur Foerderung Der Angewandten Forsching E.V.
• Inventors: Graf, Wolfgang, Rox, Rainer
• Granted Patent: US 7,774,997 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 52/204.5
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 3/6722 with adjustable passage of light
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 3/677 Evacuating or filling the gap between the panes ; Equilibration of inside and outside pressure; Preventing condensation in the gap between the panes by means of spacing elements E06B3/663; Cleaning the gap between the panes
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/19 based on variable-reflection or variable-refraction elements not provided for in groups G02F1/015 - G02F1/169
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2202/34 Metal hydrides materials

Abstract

The invention relates to a system (1) comprising a glazing element (2) and a gas supply device (4), whereby the glazing element (2) has at least two substrates (18, 19), which enclose a space (3), and at least one gas of a defined composition located inside the space (3). A coating whose physical properties, in particular, optical and/or electrical properties, which can be altered according to the composition of the gas, is at least applied to one of the surfaces of a substrate (18, 19), said surfaces facing the space (3). The gas supply device (4) has at least one electrolysis device that has a working electrode (9), a counter electrode (10) and at least one electrolyte (17) for producing gas. The glazing element (2) and the gas supply device (4) are connected to one another whereby enabling the gas inside a closed circuit (6) to be guided between the glazing element (2) and the gas supply device (4). In addition, means for influencing the moisture content of the gas are placed inside the system.

Claims

1. System (1) comprising a glazing element (2) and a gas supply device (4),

wherein

the glazing element (2) comprises at least two substrates (18, 19), which enclose an intermediate space (3), and at least one gas disposed in the intermediate space (3) with a defined composition, a coating being applied at least on one face of a substrate (18, 19) which is orientated towards the intermediate space (3), the physical properties of which coating, in particular optical and/or electrical properties are able to be altered dependent upon the composition of the gas,

the gas supply device (4) comprises at least one electrolysis device, the one working electrode (9), a counterelectrode (10) and at least one electrolyte (17) in order to produce gas,

the glazing element (2) and the gas supply device (4) are connected to each other such that the gas can be guided in a closed circulation (6) between the glazing element (2) and the gas supply device (4), and

means for influencing the moisture content of the gas are disposed in the system.

2. System according to claim 1,

characterised in that

the coating comprises at least one electrochromic layer.

3. System according to claim 2,

characterised in that

the at least one electrochromic layer comprises oxides of transition metals, in particular tungsten oxide, molybdenum oxide, titanium oxide, chrome oxide, vanadium oxide, cerium oxide, iridium oxide, manganese oxide, cobalt oxide, niobium oxide, nickel oxide and/or mixtures or compounds thereof, and/or electrochromic polymers.

4. System according to claim 1,

characterised in that

the coating comprises at least one layer which contains switchable metal hydrides.

5. System according to claim 4,

characterised in that

the layer, which contains switchable metal hydrides, comprises rare earths and/or transition metal oxides.

6. System according to claim 4 or 5,

characterised in that

the connectable metal hydrides are selected from the group which comprises La_1-zMg_zH_x, YH_x, LaH_x, Gd_1-zMg_zH_x, NiMg_zH_x, CoMg_zH_x, SmH_x, Y_1-zMg_zH_x and mixtures thereof.

7. System according to one of the preceding claims,

characterised in that

the coating comprises catalysts as an addition and/or as a separate layer.

8. System according to claim 7,

characterised in that

the catalysts contain components from the group which comprises Pt, Ir, Pd, Rh, Os, Re, Ni, Ru and mixtures thereof.

9. System according to one of the preceding claims,

characterised in that

the production of gas is effected at a gas production rate which is in a range of 10 ml/min to 500 ml/min, preferably 20 ml/min to 200 ml/min.

10. System according to one of the preceding claims,

characterised in that

the gas, which is producible in the gas supply device (4), can be diluted with inert gas, preferably nitrogen, helium, neon, argon, krypton, xenon or mixtures thereof.

11. System according to claim 10,

characterised in that

the concentration of the gas, which is producible in the gas supply device (4), can be adjusted by supplying inert gas at below 5%, preferably below 3%, relative to the total volume of the gas mixture.

12. System according to one of the preceding claims,

characterised in that

the electrolysis device produces hydrogen and oxygen from an aqueous electrolyte (17), the hydrogen and/or oxygen being transferable into the glazing element (2).

13. System according to one of the preceding claims,

characterised in that

the electrolysis device can have its polarity reversed.

14. System according to one of the preceding claims,

characterised in that

moisture present or produced in the glazing element (2) can be transferred into the electrolyte (17) of the electrolysis device.

15. System according to one of the preceding claims,

characterised in that

the system can be operated without valves.

16. System according to one of the preceding claims,

characterised in that

the means for influencing the moisture content of the gas are disposed in the gas supply device (4).

17. System according to one of the preceding claims,

characterised in that

the electrolyte (17) contains at least one supplement which withdraws moisture from the gas.

18. System according to claim 17,

characterised in that

the supplement is selected from the group which comprises acids, caustic solutions, salts and mixtures thereof.

19. System according to claim 18,

characterised in that

the supplement is selected from the group which comprises hydrochloric acid, sulphuric acid, phosphoric acid, NaCl, K₃PO₄, NaOH, KOH and mixtures thereof.

20. System according to one of the preceding claims,

characterised in that

at least one means for producing a directed gas flow (8, 14) in the closed circulation (6), preferably a pump (5), is disposed in the system (4).

21. System according to one of the preceding claims,

characterised in that

the electrodes (9, 10) of the electrolysis device are applied directly on a membrane (11).

22. System according to claim 21,

characterised in that

the membrane (11) comprises an ion-conducting plastic material film or a porous solid material filled with electrolyte (17).

23. System according to one of the preceding claims,

characterised in that

the electrodes (9, 10) contain Ru, Rh, Pd, Re, Os, Ir, Pt, Ni or mixtures thereof.

24. System according to one of the preceding claims,

characterised in that

current supply lines (12, 13) are provided in the electrolysis device, which are applied directly on the electrodes (9, 10).

25. System according to claim 24,

characterised in that

the current supply lines (12, 13) have channels for guiding gas.

26. System according to claim 25,

characterised in that

the current supply lines (12, 13) contain Ti, C, Ni, Fe, Ru, Rh, Pd, Ag, Re, Os, Ir, Pt, Au, Ni or mixtures thereof or more reactive metals which are provided with a protective layer made of Ru, Rh, Pd, Ag, Re, Os, Ir, Pt, Au, electrically conductive metal oxides, in particular doped tungsten oxide, tin oxide, zinc oxide, indium oxide or mixtures thereof.

27. System according to one of the preceding claims,

characterised in that

the electrolyte (17) on the counterelectrode side (10) contains additional redox pairs which undergo a redox reaction when a voltage is applied to the electrolysis device (4).

28. System according to claim 27,

characterised in that

salts, which include hydrogen, oxygen, Fe, Mn, Sn, W, Mo, Hg, Ag, I, Cu, Br, Cl, Bi ions or oxides thereof or complexes thereof or mixtures thereof, are dissolved in the electrolyte (17) on the counterelectrode side (10).

29. System according to claim 27,

characterised in that

solid materials, which include Fe, Mn, Sn, W, Mo, Hg, Ag, I, Cu, Br, Cl, Bi, Co, Mn, Ti, Cr, Ni, V ions or oxides thereof or complexes thereof or mixtures thereof, are contained in the electrolyte (17) on the counterelectrode side (10).

30. System according to claim 27,

characterised in that

gases, which comprise hydrogen, oxygen, chlorine, bromine, iodine or mixtures thereof, are contained in the electrolyte (17) on the counterelectrode side (10).

31. System according to one of the preceding claims,

characterised in that

the substrates (18, 19) are produced from glass or transparent polymer material.

32. System according to one of the preceding claims,

characterised in that

the gas supply device (4) comprises a plurality of electrolysis devices which are connected to each other in series and/or in parallel.

33. System according to one of the preceding claims,

characterised in that

the system (1) comprises means for detecting one or more physical parameter(s) of the glazing element and a control unit (7) for evaluating the detected parameter or parameters and setting a prescribed value of the physical parameter.

34. System according to one of the preceding claims,

characterised in that

the system (1) has means for detecting one or more physical parameters of a sensor element integrated into the gas supply system or in the gas circulation, in particular for detecting the gas composition, and a control unit which takes this/these parameter(s) into account when controlling the electrolysis device.

35. System according to one of the preceding claims,

characterised in that

the system has means for detecting physical parameters, such as temperature, radiation strength, moisture, in and/or on the system, in particular on the inside or outside of the glazing element (2), and a control unit (7) for evaluating the detected parameters and control of the system.

36. System according to one of the preceding claims,

characterised in that

further elements absorbing and/or storing moisture are disposed in the system.