System comprising a glazing element and a gas supply device

• US 7,774,997 B2
• Filed: 08/19/2002
• Issued: 08/17/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fraunhofer Gesellschaft Zur Foerderung Der Angewandten Forsching E.V.
• Original Assignee: Interpane Entwicklungs-Und Beratungsgesellschaft MbH & Co., KG
• Inventors: Rox, Rainer, Graf, Wolfgang
• Primary Examiner(s): Chilcot, Jr.; Richare E
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kwiecinski; Ryan D
• Application Number:
  US10/488,122
• Publication Number:
  US 20040206024A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,920 Days
• Field of Search: 527/861, 521/713, 527/861.3, 52/1, 52/21.1, 52/21.6, 527/881, 522/045.2, 522/045.9, 522/045.91, 428/34, 428/69, 165/110, 165/111, 165/112, 165/113, 165/114, 454/196, 454/198, 454/199, 454/200, 454/205
• US Class Current: 52/171.3
• 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) operable in a valveless mode, 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 comprising at least one electrochromic layer 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 comprising optical and/or electrical properties are alterable dependent upon the composition of the gas, the at least one electrochromic layer comprising oxides of transition metals which are selected from the group of materials consisting of iridium oxide, manganese oxide, cobalt oxide, niobium oxide, nickel oxide, or electrochromic polymers,

the gas supply device (4) comprises at least one electrolysis device,

a 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 is guidable in a closed circulation (6) between the glazing element (2) and the gas supply device (4),

at least one pump (5) being disposed in the system (1) for producing a directed gas flow (8, 14) in

the closed circulation (6),

means for influencing a moisture content of the gas are disposed in the system, means comprising an inert gas accumulator being connected to said gas supply device (4) for diluting the gas which is producible in the gas supply device (4) with an inert gas, which is selected from the group consisting of nitrogen, helium, neon, argon, krypton, or xenon, and

wherein the concentration of the gas which is producible in the gas supply device (4), is adjustable by supplying said inert gas at below 5%, relative to the total volume of the gas mixture.

6. System according to claim 1 or 2, wherein

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

8. System according to claim 1 or 2, wherein

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

9. System according to claim 1 or 2, wherein

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

10. System according to claim 1 or 2, wherein

the electrolysis device has a reversible polarity.

11. System according claim 1 or 2, wherein

moisture present or produced in the glazing element (2) is transferable into the electrolyte (17) of the electrolysis device.

12. System according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the means for influencing the moisture content of the gas are disposed in the gas supply device (4).

13. System according to claim 1 or 2, wherein

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

14. System according to claim 13, wherein

the supplement is selected from the group of materials consisting of acids, caustic solutions, or salts.

15. System according to claim 14, wherein

the supplement is selected from the group of materials consisting of hydrochloric acid, sulphuric acid, phosphoric acid, NaC1, K₃PO₄, NaOH, or KOH.

16. System according to claim 1 or 2, wherein

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

17. System according to claim 16, wherein

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

18. System according to claim 1 or 2, wherein

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

19. System according to claim 1 or 2, wherein

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

20. System according to claim 19, wherein

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

21. System according to claim 20, wherein

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

22. System according to claim 1 or 2, wherein

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).

23. System according to claim 22, wherein

salts, which include materials selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, oxygen, Fe, Mn, Sn, W Mo, Hg, Ag, I, Cu, Br, Cl, Bi ions, or oxides are dissolved in the electrolyte (17) on the counterelectrode side (10).

24. System according to claim 22, wherein

solid materials are selected from the group consisting of Fe, Mn, Sn, W, Mo, Hg, Ag, I, Cu, Br, Cl, Bi, Co, Mn, Ti, Cr, Ni, V ions, or oxides are contained in the electrolyte (17) on the counterelectrode side (10).

25. System according to claim 22, wherein

gases, which comprise materials selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, oxygen, chlorine, bromine, or iodine are contained in the electrolyte (17) on the counterelectrode side (10).

26. System according to claim 1 or 2, wherein

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

27. System according to claim 1 or 2, wherein

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

28. System according to claim 1 or 2, wherein

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.

29. System according to claim 1 or 2, wherein

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

30. System according to claim 1 or 2, wherein

the system has means for detecting physical parameters, such as temperature, radiation strength, moisture, in and/or on the system 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.

31. System according to claim 1 or 2, wherein

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

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

wherein said system is operable in the absence of valves,

the glazing element (2) comprising 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 which comprises at least one layer containing switchable metal hydrides 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 comprising optical and/or electrical properties are able to be altered dependent upon the composition of the gas, the at least one metal hydrides-containing layer comprises oxides of transition metals, which are selected from the group of materials consisting of iridium oxide, manganese oxide, cobalt oxide, niobium oxide, nickel oxide, or metal hydrides-containing polymers,

the gas supply device (4) comprises at least one electrolysis device,

a 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), at least one pump (5) being disposed in the system (1) for producing a directed gas flow (8, 14) in the closed circulation (6), and

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

3. System according to claim 2, wherein

the coating comprises at least one electrochromic layer.

4. System according to claim 2, wherein

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

5. System according to claim 4, wherein

the switchable metal hydrides are selected from the group which comprises La_1-zMg_zHx, YH_x, LaH_x, Gd_1-zMg_zH_x, CoMg_zH_x, SmH_x, or Y_1-zMg_zH_x.

7. System according to claim 2, wherein

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