Solar wall apparatus and method

• US 8,230,649 B2
• Filed: 03/10/2010
• Issued: 07/31/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Solarpath Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Solarpath Incorporated
• Inventors: Kapany, Narinder Singh
• Primary Examiner(s): Chapman, Jeanette E.
• Application Number:
  US12/720,982
• Publication Number:
  US 20120031018A1
• Time in Patent Office: 874 Days
• Field of Search: 52210-213, 521/713, 522/045, 522/046, 522/045.93, 522/046.2, 428/13, 428/34, 428/215, 428/216, 428/336, 428/428, 428/442, 428/432, 428/701, 428/702, 428/212, 359/275, 359/265, 359/271, 359269-270
• US Class Current: 52/171.3
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 2009/2476 Solar cells
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 2009/2643 Screens between double windows
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 9/24 Screens or other constructions affording protection against light, especially against sunshine; Similar screens for privacy or appearance; Slat blindsoperating, guiding or securing devices or arrangements for roll-type closures E06B9/56; free-hanging flexible screens A47H23/00
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 20/63 in the form of windows
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 31/02325 the optical elements not being integrated nor being directly associated with the device
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 31/0549 comprising spectrum splitting means, e.g. dichroic mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 10/10 Photovoltaic [PV]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 10/20 Solar thermal
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/40 Solar thermal energy, e.g. solar towers
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/44 Heat exchange systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/52 PV systems with concentrators
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/1317 Multilayer [continuous layer]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/1393 Multilayer [continuous layer]

Abstract

A construction panel includes a pane, a construction substrate, and a frame that form an air gap there between. An electrical generator, a water circulator, and an air venting system are in the air gap. First and second reflective coatings are respectively on first surfaces of the pane and the construction substrate. The first surfaces face the air gap. The reflective coatings reflect IR to heat water in the water circulator and heat air in the air gap. First and second antireflective coatings are respectively on a second surface of the pane and on the first reflective coating. The second surface faces away from the air gap. The antireflective coatings transmit electromagnetic radiation to the electrical generator for electricity generation. The heated water, heated air, and electricity may be used in a building to which the construction panel is attached. The solar-construction panel includes a multiple-pane window integrally formed therein.

Claims

1. A solar-construction panel comprising:

a pane and a construction substrate disposed opposite from one another;

a frame coupling the pane and the construction substrate to form an air gap between the pane, the construction substrate, and the frame;

an electrical generator disposed in the air gap configured to convert electromagnetic radiation to electricity;

first and second reflective coatings respectively disposed on a first surface of the pane and a first surface of the construction substrate, wherein;

the first surfaces face the air gap, and

the reflective coatings are configured to reflect infrared radiation into the air gap to generate heated air in the air gap; and

first and second antireflective coatings respectively disposed on a second surface of the pane and on the first reflective coating, wherein the second surface faces away from the air gap, and the antireflective coatings are configured to transmit visible light and infrared radiation into the air gap.

2. The solar-construction panel of claim 1, further comprising a multiple-pane window.

3. The solar-construction panel of claim 2, wherein the multiple-pane window is integrally formed with the pane and the construction substrate.

4. The solar-construction panel of claim 1, wherein the electrical generator includes a set of photovoltaic panels.

5. The solar-construction panel of claim 4, wherein the photovoltaic panels are polymer strips.

6. The solar-construction panel of claim 5, further comprising a set of louvers to which the photovoltaic panels are coupled.

7. The solar-construction panel of claim 1, a venting system configured to selectively vent heat from the air gap in a direction away from the first pane or away from the second pane.

8. The solar-construction panel of claim 6, wherein the polymer strips are drawn from a reservoir as a sheet and cut to a length of the louvers.

9. The solar-construction panel of claim 6, wherein the louvers are configured to rotate to orient the photovoltaic panels for optimized energy generation.

10. The solar-construction panel of claim 1, further comprising a fan configured to move warm air our from or into the air gap.

11. The solar-construction panel of claim 1, further comprising a water heating unit configured to collect heat in water in the water heating unit.

12. The solar-construction panel of claim 11, wherein the water heating unit is configured to move heated water out from the solar-construction panel.

13. The solar-construction panel of claim 11, wherein the water heating unit is configured to move heated water into a building to which the solar-construction panel is attached for use.

27. A building comprising the solar-construction panel of claim 1.

28. A building comprising the solar-construction panel of claim 13.

14. A solar-construction panel comprising:

a pane and a construction substrate disposed opposite from one another;

a frame coupling the pane and the construction substrate to form an air gap between the pane, the construction substrate, and the frame;

an electrical generator disposed in the air gap configured to convert electromagnetic radiation to electricity;

first and second antireflective coatings respectively disposed ona first surface and a second surface of the pane, wherein;

the first surface faces away from the air gap,

the second surface faces the air gap, and

the first and second antireflective coatings are configured to transmit visible light and infrared radiation into the air gap; and

first and second reflective coatings respectively disposed onthe second antireflective coating and a first surface of the construction substrate, wherein;

the first surfaces of the construction substrate faces the air gap, and

the reflective coatings are configured to reflect infrared radiation into the air gap to generate heated air in the air gap.

15. The solar-construction panel of claim 14, further comprising a multiple-pane window.

16. The solar-construction panel of claim 15, wherein the multiple-pane window is integrally formed with the pane and the construction substrate.

17. The solar-construction panel of claim 14, wherein the electrical generator includes a set of photovoltaic panels.

18. The solar-construction panel of claim 17, wherein the photovoltaic panels are polymer strips.

19. The solar-construction panel of claim 18, further comprising a set of louvers to which the photovoltaic panels are coupled.

20. The solar-construction panel of claim 14, a venting system configured to selectively vent heat from the air gap in a direction away from the first pane or away from the second pane.

21. The solar-construction panel of claim 20, wherein the polymer strips are drawn from a reservoir as a sheet and cut to a length of the louvers.

22. The solar-construction panel of claim 20, wherein the louvers are configured to rotate to orient the photovoltaic panels for optimized energy generation.

23. The solar-construction panel of claim 14, further comprising a fan configured to move warm air our from or into the air gap.

24. The solar-construction panel of claim 14, further comprising a water heating unit configured to collect heat in water in the water heating unit.

25. The solar-construction panel of claim 24, wherein the water heating unit is configured to move heated water out from the solar-construction panel.

26. The solar-construction panel of claim 24, wherein the water heating unit is configured to move heated water into a building to which the solar-construction panel is attached for use.

29. A multiple-pane window comprising:

first and second panes opposite from one another;

a frame coupled to the first and second panes to form an air gap between the first pane, the second pane, and the frame;

a plurality of louvers disposed in the air gap

a plurality of photovoltaic panels coupled to the louvers, the photovoltaic panels configured to convert electromagnetic radiation to electricity;

a venting system configured to selectively vent heat from the air gap in a direction away from the first pane or away from the second pane;

first and second reflective coatings respectively disposed onfirst surfaces of the first and second panes, wherein the first surfaces face the air gap, and the reflective coatings are configured to reflect infrared radiation into the air gap to generate heated air in the air gap; and

first and second antireflective coatings respectively disposed onsecond surfaces of the first and second panes, wherein the second surfaces face away from the air gap, and the antireflective coatings are configured to transmit visible light and infrared radiation into the air gap.