Modular, self supporting exterior enclosure system with insulating, evacuated tubes having solar collector rods

• US 9,003,728 B2
• Filed: 04/25/2014
• Issued: 04/14/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Skidmore, Owings And Merrill LLP
• Original Assignee: Skidmore Owings & Merrill LLP
• Inventors: Asci, Aybars, Haney, Gary, Rainey, Teresa, Olsen, Christopher, Boone, Elizabeth
• Primary Examiner(s): WENDELL, MARK R
• Application Number:
  US14/262,119
• Publication Number:
  US 20150059828A1
• Time in Patent Office: 354 Days
• Field of Search: 521/733
• US Class Current: 52/173.3
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2/88 Curtain walls fixing of glass panes E06B3/54
• CPC Class Codes: E04F 13/0733 for corners
• CPC Class Codes: E04F 13/0871 having an ornamental or specially shaped visible surface E04F13/0867 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E04F 13/0898 with sealing elements between coverings sealings of joints between building constructions in general E04B1/68
• CPC Class Codes: E04F 13/145 with an outer layer of glass
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 10/45 the enclosure being cylindrical
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 20/66 in the form of facade constructions, e.g. wall constructions in the form of shingles or tiles F24S20/69
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 23/30 with lenses
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 25/61 for fixing to the ground or to building structures
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 25/65 for coupling adjacent supporting elements, e.g. for connecting profiles together
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 80/54 using evacuated elements
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 31/048 Encapsulation of modules
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 31/0543 comprising light concentrating means of the refractive type, e.g. lenses
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 20/20 Supporting structures directly fixed to an immovable object H02S20/30 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 20/26 Building materials integrated with PV modules, e.g. façade elements H02S20/25 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 10/10 Photovoltaic [PV]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 10/20 Solar thermal
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/44 Heat exchange systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/47 Mountings or tracking
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/52 PV systems with concentrators

Abstract

A tubular building enclosure system with thermally-broken modules having evacuated air spaces assembled in rows and/or columns to form a structurally self-supporting, thermally insulating, and solar energy collecting facade.

Claims

1. A modular wall system having a plurality of evacuated air spaces to provide a thermal break, the system comprising:

a plurality of thermally-broken interconnected units, each unit having a top end plate, a bottom end plate, a convex exterior sidewall, an interior sidewall, and an interior void defined by the top end plate, the bottom end plate, the convex exterior sidewall, and the interior sidewall, each unit configured to form at least a portion of the thermal break,

wherein an outer surface of the exterior sidewall has a radius equal to or unequal to a radius of an outer surface of the interior sidewall such that, when the exterior sidewall and the interior sidewall are secured to each other, the exterior sidewall and the interior sidewall collectively form a tubular columnar member, and

wherein,

each of the sidewalls extends between the top end plate and the bottom end plate, and

each of the units is connected (i) horizontally via a horizontal connector and/or (ii) vertically via a vertical connector.

2. The modular wall system of claim 1, wherein,

each of the units includes a solar energy collection rod extending vertically within the interior void, and

the rod is substantially positioned at a focal point defined by the convex exterior sidewall.

3. The modular wall system of claim 2,

wherein the rod extends from the top end plate to the bottom end plate.

4. The modular wall system of claim 2,

wherein the rod contains a photovoltaic material.

5. The modular wall system of claim 4,

wherein the photovoltaic material is monocrystalline silicon, polycrystalline silicon, amorphous silicon, cadmium telluride, or copper indium gallium selenide/sulfide.

6. The modular wall system of claim 1,

wherein the interior void is partially or completely evacuated of gases.

7. The modular wall system of claim 1,

wherein,

each of the exterior sidewall and the interior sidewall includes an outer layer and an inner layer, and

the outer layer and inner layer are spaced from each other via an interlayer.

8. The modular wall system of claim 1,

wherein the interior sidewalls are bonded together at interior linear joints therebetween via an adhesive.

9. The modular wall system of claim 1,

wherein,

each of the top end plate and the bottom end plate includes a groove about a circumference thereof,

the groove configured to partially receive a side surface of a gasket, and

the side surface of the gasket abuts plates of adjacent ones of the plurality of interconnected units.

10. The modular wall system of claim 1,

wherein,

each of the top end plate and the bottom end plate includes a frame projecting into the interior void,

the frame is secured to the exterior sidewall and the interior sidewall via an adhesive bond, and

the frame houses an insulating material therein.

11. A modular wall system having a plurality of evacuated air spaces to provide a thermal break, the system comprising:

a plurality of thermally-broken interconnected units, each unit having a top end plate, a bottom end plate, a convex exterior sidewall, an interior sidewall, and an interior void defined by the top end plate, the bottom end plate, the convex exterior sidewall, and the interior sidewall, each unit configured to form at least a portion of the thermal break,

wherein the interior sidewalls are bonded together at interior linear joints therebetween via an adhesive, and

wherein, each of the sidewalls extends between the top end plate and the bottom end plate, and

each of the units is connected (i) horizontally via a horizontal connector and/or (ii) vertically via a vertical connector.

12. The modular wall system of claim 11,

wherein,

the exterior sidewalls are bonded to a spacer at exterior linear joints therebetween via an adhesive.

13. The modular wall system of claim 12,

wherein the interior linear joints are horizontally displaced from the exterior linear joints.

14. The modular wall system of claim 12,

wherein the spacer (i) extends along the interior linear joint, (ii) spaces the exterior sidewalls from each other, and (iii) includes a projection with a receiver at a distal end thereof.

15. The modular wall system of claim 14,

wherein the projection (i) extends obliquely from the spacer, and (ii) includes a contoured outer surface to at least partially receive a fastener.

16. The modular wall system of claim 15,

wherein, the spacer cooperates with another spacer of an adjacent one of the plurality of interconnected units to completely surround a perimeter of the fastener, and the spacer and the another spacer form a remaining portion of the thermal break.

17. The modular wall system of claim 16,

wherein,

the another spacer of the adjacent one of the plurality of interconnected units (i) extends along an interior linear joint of the adjacent one of the plurality of interconnected units, (ii) spaces the exterior sidewalls of adjacent units from each other, and (iii) includes a projection with a receiver at a distal end thereof,

the projection (i) extends obliquely from the spacer, and (ii) includes a contoured outer surface to at least partially receive a fastener, and

the receiver includes vertical grooves extending parallel to each other along a length of the receiver, the grooves configured to partially receive a rear surface of a gasket, the rear surface of the gasket abutting exterior sidewalls of adjacent ones of the plurality of interconnected units.

18. The modular wall system of claim 14,

wherein,

the receiver includes vertical grooves extending parallel to each other along a length of the receiver,

the grooves are configured to partially receive a rear surface of a gasket, and

the rear surface of the gasket abuts exterior sidewalls of adjacent ones of the plurality of interconnected units.

19. The modular wall system of claim 14,

wherein the projection (i) extends obliquely from the spacer, and (ii) includes a contoured outer surface to at least partially receive a fastener.

20. A method of erecting a modular wall system in a grid, the method comprising the steps of:

positioning a solar energy receiver within each interior void of a plurality of units, each unit having a top end plate, a bottom end plate, an exterior sidewall, and an interior sidewall, the interior void defined by the top end plate, the bottom end plate, the convex exterior sidewall, and the interior sidewall;

wherein an outer surface of the exterior sidewall has a radius equal to or unequal to a radius of an outer surface of the interior sidewall such that, when the exterior sidewall and the interior sidewall are secured to each other, the exterior sidewall and the interior sidewall collectively form a tubular columnar member

evacuating each of the interior voids of gases; and

connecting the plurality of units to form the grid,

wherein each of the solar energy receivers is positioned at a focal point defined by the exterior sidewall.