WO2011009487A1

WO2011009487A1 - System and method suitable for converting solar energy

Info

Publication number: WO2011009487A1
Application number: PCT/EP2009/059444
Authority: WO
Inventors: Laurentius Gerardus Johannes Wolters
Original assignee: Helios Multi Energy Roofing System B.V.
Priority date: 2009-07-22
Filing date: 2009-07-22
Publication date: 2011-01-27
Also published as: NL2005008A; NL2005008C2

Abstract

The invention relates to an integrated solar panel, comprising a sun facing surface, a shade side surface, a side rim and an insulating body, wherein at least a portion of the shade side surface and at least a portion of the rim is defined by a sheet like material forming a casting die for and being affixed to the insulating body. The invention further relates to a system comprising an integrated solar panel.

Description

System and method suitable for converting solar energy

The invention relates to a system and method suitable for converting solar energy. More specific, the invention relates to system and method suitable for

converting solar energy wherein an integrated solar panel is used.

These integrated solar can be applied on top of a existing roof, or supported by a roof supporting structure such as truss braces.

A drawback of these integrated panels is that, a complete support structure is required for mounting the integrated panels thereon. This renders the installation of the roof cumbersome.

A further drawback of integrated panels in the art is that the connections between the separate panels on the one hand and the connections between the panels and the regular roofing on the other hand are difficult to render and to maintain watertight.

Accordingly it is an object of the invention to mitigate or solve these above described and/or other

problems of integrated solar panels in the art, while maintaining and/or improving the advantages thereof. A further object of the invention can be to render integrated solar panels easier to install and easier to mutually connect and close off.

These and/or other objects are reached by an integrated solar panel comprising a sun facing surface, a shade side surface, a side rim and an insulating body, wherein at least a portion of the shade side surface and at least a portion of the rim is defined by a sheet like material forming a casting die for and being affixed to the insulating body.

The sheet like material can for instance be a roll-formed metal sheet, with a bottom side and two folded side portions forming e.g. a continuously produced, off roll, endless gutter like shape. This way, an accurately controlled, mass production of panels can be obtained through which efficient, economical and readily up-scalable production can be obtained.

The insulating body, which can be e.g. a chemically solidifying foam such as e.g. a polyurethane foam or a physically expanding foam such as expanding polystyrene (EPS) can thus be poured in, in an continuous shaping process.

In the folded side portions, a tong and groove profile can be shaped. This can provide a better closing in between the panels when these are installed on a roof.

Another aspect of the invention is a system suitable for converting solar energy comprising, an

integrated solar panel, wherein the integrated solar panel comprises a heat absorber and an insulating material such as a foam body, wherein the heat absorber comprises a

longitudinal metal profile, wherein the longitudinal metal profile comprises longitudinally extending wing portions, wherein a first surface of the wing portions is attached to the foam body, wherein a photovoltaic foil is attached on a second surface of the wing portions, wherein the

longitudinal metal profiles comprise a longitudinally extending central portion, wherein the longitudinally extending central portion comprises a longitudinally

extending fluid conduit . These longitudinal metal profiles can be e.g. roll formed or extruded and can be continuously produced. The longitudinal central portion can be inserted in the

insulating material, for example before the insulating material such as polyurethane or EPS foam is fully

solidified. This way, the wing portions of the metal

profiles can form and partly or completely cover the solar facing side of the panel.

In a more specific embodiment, the longitudinally extending wing portions in the above described system can comprise an increasing thickness towards the longitudinally extending central portion and can be embedded in insulating material. This can provide maximum heat transport with minimal material requirement.

The integrated solar panel can further comprise at the distal ends two transversally arranged integrated headers which connect the longitudinal extending fluid conduits. These headers can evenly distribute a fluid through the separate conduits.

The transversally arranged headers can comprise connectors suitable for connecting adjacent transversally arranged headers of adjacent panels. Thus during

installation, the headers can be, side to side, connected to form and integrated full roof fluid system.

In another specific embodiment, the panels can comprise two laterally arranged longitudinal ribs extending upward from the sun facing surface of the panel, wherein the ribs can form an integral part of the foam body. These ribs can be covered by a longitudinal extending protective cap or cover. This way a further improved weather and water tight connection can be made.

In a further specific embodiment, the ribs can comprise inwardly arranged longitudinal rims, suitable for retaining a longitudinally extending the protective cap or cover. By these rims the cap or cover can be virtually snapped on two adjacent rims of neighbouring panels such that a further secure, firm, closed off and easy to install connection is obtained.

On the sun opposing side, the foam body can be attached to a sheet like cover, which sheet like cover extends beyond the width of the sun opposing face of the foam body and extends at least partially around the

longitudinally extending lateral sides of the foam body.

The sheet like cover can comprise on the longitudinally extending lateral sides of the foam body a longitudinally extending tongue and/or groove. These can provide a further improved closed off connection between neighbouring panels.

The longitudinally extending groove can comprise a longitudinally extending packing, such as e.g. a silicon tube. This packing can further provide a secure sealing between two neighbouring panels. The silicon tube can for instance be glued inside the groove, such that during transport or storage, it can be prevented from escaping the groove .

In a further specific embodiment, the photovoltaic foil can be provided with poles having electrical connectors on each of them, wherein poles of the photovoltaic foil can be in conductive connection with one or more of a convertor, a battery, a power grid, a transformer, an AC-DC convertor. Thus the generated electrical power can be used or stored for later use.

In another specific embodiment, the heat absorber can be in fluid connection with one or more of a heat exchanger, heat storage, a heat sink, a heat pump, a Carnot engine, a boiler, a climate control system, an air conditioning system. Thus, the heat generated by means of the panels can be used or stored for later use.

The Carnot engine can be connected to one or more of a convertor, a battery, a power grid, a transformer, a AC-DC convertor, a DC-AC convertor. This way a portion of the generated heat can be further transformed in electric power, which on its turn can be used or stored for later use .

In order to further elucidate the invention, exemplary embodiments will be described with reference to the drawing. In the drawing:

Figure 1 represents a schematic sectional front side view of a set of installed panels according to a first embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 represents a schematic sectional front side view of a metal profile of the panel as depicted in figure 1.

Figure 3 represents a schematic cut out view in detail of the schematic sectional front view of a tongue and groove of two adjacent panels as depicted in figure 1;

Figure 4 represents a schematic cut out view in detail of a schematic sectional front view of extending ribs of two adjacent panels;

Figure 5 represents a schematic sectional side view of a set of panels in a roof structure according to a further embodiment of the invention;

Figure 6 represents a further schematic sectional side view of a set of panels in a roof structure according to another embodiment of the invention;

Figure 7 represents a further embodiment of the invention, depicting a schematic flow diagram of a system, comprising an integrated solar panel according to any of the embodiments of the invention. The figures represent specific exemplary

embodiments of the inventions and should not be considered limiting the invention in any way or form. Throughout the figures the same or corresponding reference numerals are used for the same or corresponding elements.

The expression "A Carnot engine" is to be

understood as, though not to be considered limited to a heat engine that acts by transferring energy from a warm region to a cool region of space and, in the process, converting a portion of that energy to mechanical work. In this engine, typical a high pressure boiler and a low pressure condenser are coupled through both a turbine and a pump.

The pressure difference between the boiler and the condenser forces vapour through the turbine, which starts to rotate and thus drives a shaft of a power generator, where the pump forces the condensed liquid back in the boiler.

The expression "turbine" is to be understood as, though not to be considered limited to a device comprising rotating elements that are configured to transform potential and/or kinetic energy of a fluid passing there through into a rotating motion. A turbine thus can be e.g. a vane stack turbine, a piston expansion engine, a Roots turbine and/or any other device suitable thereto.

The expression "integrated solar panel" is to be understood though not to be considered limited to a solar panel that comprises both photovoltaic and thermal energy generation in one combined panel.

In figure 1, a set of adjacent solar panels Ia, Ib and Ic are depicted. The panel Ia is only partially

depicted, thus indicating that in a direction x, more panels can be arranged.

The panel comprises an insulating body 2, having a sun facing side 3, a shade facing side 4 and side rims 5 and 6. At the shade facing side the panel comprises a sheet like material 7 covering the shade facing side and a portion of the side rims 5 and 6. This material can be any suitable material, such as a metal sheet, which can be for instance shape rolled to produce the side rims 5, 6 and the shade facing side 4 in e.g. a continuously produced gutter shaped form. This continuously formed gutter shaped form can provide a casting die for the material of the insulating body 2, which can be e.g. polyurethane foam or expanded polystyrene. Within the side rims 5 and 6, tongues and grooves can be formed as is described in more detail herein below.

The sun facing side of the panel 1 comprises metal profiles 8, as is indicated in more detail in figure 2.

These profiles 8 comprise wing portions 9 and a central portion 10. In the central portion 10 a U-shaped space is provided, wherein a fluid conduit 11 is arranged. The wing portions 9 comprise an increasing thickness d towards the central portion 10. By reducing the thickness d, towards the distal sides 12 of the profile 8 the amount of heat

collected and transported towards the fluid conduit 11 can be optimised, while the amount of material of construction can be minimised. The sun facing sides 3a of the profiles 8 can be substantially flat, such that a photovoltaic foil 13 can be attached thereto.

The central portion 10, with the fluid conduit 11 can be embedded in the insulating body, as is depicted in figure 1. For instance the profiles 8 can be embedded in the insulating material of the insulating body during the production, when the material is not yet fully solidified. Thus the profiles 8 can be integrated with and anchored within the insulating body 2 and thus provide further strength to the panel 1. During production, in order to prevent the profiles from sinking in the foam material too deep, supporting struts can be applied. When the insulating material of the foam body 2 solidifies, these struts can become an integrated part of the foam body 2.

The metal profiles 8 and the fluid conduit 11 can comprise a material with good heat conducting properties such as copper or aluminium. Also a combination of aluminium and copper can be applied, if proper measures have been taken against metal to metal induced corrosion.

A portion of the side rims 55, 5c, 6a, 6b, 6c is partially comprising sheet like material 7, as is depicted in more detail in figure 3. The sheet like material 7 comprises a tongue 14 at the side rim 6b and a groove 15 at the side rim 5c. The tongue 14 and the groove 15 are

dimensioned such that the groove 15 can engage the tongue 14. For a further water tight connection between the

adjacent panels Ib and Ic, a packing 16 can be integrated within the groove 15. This packing can for instance be a tube made of an elastic material such as e.g. silicon or rubber. The packing 16 can be glued or otherwise attached to the groove 15.

In figure 1, at the sun facing side 3 of the panel 1, extending ribs 17a, 17b, 17c, 18b and 18c are provided. These ribs 17a-18c can be integrally formed with the

insulating body 2. In figure 4, the ribs 17a-18c are

provided with rims 19 and 20, which can serve to connect and affix a protective cover 21. The protective cover 21 can snap on the rims 19 and 20 and close of the connection between adjacent panels Ia and Ib. The panels Ia and Ib can for example be mounted on a roof structure by means of brackets 22 and screws 23. The bracket 22 can be provided with inclined side portions 24 such that on tightening the screw 23, the ribs 17a and 18b are forced together to a certain extend.

In figure 1, the fluid conduits 11 are connected to transverse header 25a, 25b, 25c. The headers 25a-25c of adjacent panels Ia-Ic, can be interconnected by means of sockets 26. These sockets 26 can be provided with annular grooves 27, which can engage a packing such as an 0-ring 28 as is depicted in further detail in figure 3. Thus during installation, the adjacent panels can be sideward shifted together, wherein the sockets 26 can provide a fluid tight closing of the headers 25a-25c of adjacent panels Ia-Ic.

At the side of the roof, the header 25 can be closed of by a blind socket 27.

An exemplary way of a roof connection to a wall portion 29 is further presented in figure 1. On an outer brick wall 30, an upright plate 31 can be mounted. The upright plate 31 can be provided with a groove or a tongue, engaging either grooves 16 or tongues 17 of the neighbouring panel Ia-Ic. The upright plate 31 can be further equipped with a rim 32, such that in a similar way as adjacent panels are connected, the connection between plate 31 and panel Ic can be formed. Thus a protective cover 21c can be snapped on the rib 17c of panel Ic and the rim 32 of the upright plate 31 after bolt 23c has been tightened.

In one of the adjacent panels a connecting conduit

33 can be in fluid connection with a transverse header 25b.

This connecting conduit can either be in fluid connection with a heat storage device, a heat exchanger or other device heat storage or energy conversion device, as is schematically depicted in the flow diagram of figure 7.

In figure 5, a roof structure is depicted with the panels Ia-Ic installed there upon. The panels la-c are mounted on the walls 29, trusses 33 and ridge beam 34. In the embodiment of figure 5, the panels Ia-Ic are mounted in an inclined position. The lower transverse headers 25d are in fluid connection to the roof supply conduit 35, whereas the upper transverse headers 25e are in fluid connection with the discharge conduit 36. The arrangement of supply 35 and discharge conduit 36 is suitable for systems with both forced convection and natural convection.

The connectors of the poles (not shown) of the photovoltaic foil 13 can be connected to collecting electric lines 37, integrated in cable ducts 38. Around the ridge beam 34 and the cable ducts 38, a further protective cover 39 can be mounted in order to prevent ingress of dust and/or water into the cable ducts 38.

In figure 6 a further embodiment of a roof structure with panels Ia-Ic is shown. In this figure, the panels 1 are mounted on a steel frame 40, wherein the walls 41 are extending upwardly passed the roof 42.

In figure 7, an exemplary configuration of an integrated solar heat and power collecting and conversion system is depicted. The solar panel 1 is connected trough power cables 44 to a grid 43 and a battery storage 45.

The supply 35 and discharge conduit 36 of the solar panels 1 are connected directly or through a heat exchanger 46 to a heat storage 46 such as a container 47, which can be partially filled with a low melting substance 48 with a high melting enthalpy such as e.g. an organic, inorganic salt, a salt hydrate or a mixture thereof. This substance might be contained in ball shaped containers by which a portion of the container 47 can be filled. A phase change temperature of the low melting substance 48 can be chosen around 45-50 degrees centigrade, such that for instance water of a temperature between 45 and 50 degrees centigrade can be readily available. The temperature of this water can be further boosted to above 60 degrees, in order to substantially prevent germs or algae built up within the system.

The heat of the solar panels 1 can be used in a heat pump 49, to increase the temperature of e.g. another fluid, such as water, a Carnot engine 50, a boiler 51, or a climate control system 52.

The Carnot engine 50 can comprise a boiling section 53, in which a low boiling liquid boils and the generated vapour drives a turbine 54, such as a vane

turbine, a Roots generator or a gear pump. In a condensing section 55, the expanded vapour can re-condense. The shaft of the turbine 54 of the Carnot engine can be connected to the shaft of a generator 56 such as a dynamo, which can generate power.

In order to contain the low boiling liquid inside the Carnot engine, a magnetic coupled seal less shaft transmission can be applied as well. In such system, the rotating parts, within a housing, that transfer the shaft power are connected to one or more shaft mounted rotatable magnets. These magnets rotate on the inside of the housing, in close proximity to an outside wall of the housing. A further shaft mounted set of magnets is positioned outside the housing in close proximity of the very same wall, such that both the inside magnets and the outside magnets are magnetically coupled. While the wall in between the coupled magnets remains fluid tight, this type of transmission is generally referred to as a seal less coupling.

In the condensing section of the Carnot engine a considerable amount of energy needs to be transferred from the condensing low boiling fluid. This fluid can be cooled by means of a further water circulating system, that absorbs the heat from the condensing low boiling fluid in a heat exchanger within the Carnot engine. The water used herein can obtain a temperature of about 15 to 25 degrees

centigrade. It can be stored in e.g. a sub-soil warm water storage for later use, such as in winter time, when the stored heat can be reused more efficiently. Typical aquifers or water layers at depths of ten to several hundreds meters can serve for this purpose.

The power cables of the generator 56 can be connected to a power grid 43 and/or a battery storage 45. This way the power generated in the Carnot engine can be used or stored for later use.

The invention is to be understood not to be limited to the exemplary embodiments shown in the figures and described in the specification. For instance in between the profiles 1 and the photovoltaic foil 13, a further bituminous layer can be applied. This layer can serve both as glue for the photovoltaic foil and as a seal of the roof system below. This is especially advantageous in roof systems as depicted in figure 6, where possibly water might remain resident on the roof for a longer period of time.

A further application of the system and/or the panels as described above is that in winter during frost or snow, warm water from the system is circulated through the panels, preventing any snow and/or ice built up on the roof.

These and other modifications are considered to be variations that are part of the framework, the spirit and the scope of the invention outlined in the appended claims.

Claims

Claims 1. An integrated solar panel;

comprising a sun facing surface;

a shade side surface;

a side rim;

- and an insulating body;

- wherein at least a portion of the shade side surface and at least a portion of the side rim is defined by a sheet like material forming a casting die for and being affixed to the insulating body.

2. An integrated solar panel according to claim 1;

- comprising a heat absorber;

- wherein the heat absorber comprises a longitudinal metal profile;

- wherein the longitudinal metal profile comprises longitudinally extending wing portions;

- wherein a first surface of the wing portions is attached to the foam body;

- wherein a photovoltaic foil is attached on a second surface of the wing portions;

- wherein the longitudinal metal profiles comprise a longitudinally extending central portion;

- wherein the longitudinally extending central portion comprises a longitudinally extending fluid conduit.

3. An integrated solar panel according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the longitudinally extending wing portions comprise an increasing thickness towards the longitudinally extending central portion.

4. An integrated solar panel according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the longitudinal extending portion is embedded in the foam body.

5. An integrated solar panel according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the integrated solar panel comprises at the distal ends two transversally arranged integrated headers which connect the longitudinal extending fluid conduit .

6. An integrated solar panel according to claim 5, wherein the transversally arranged headers comprise connectors suitable for connecting adjacent transversally arranged headers of adjacent panels.

7. An integrated solar panel according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the panels comprise two laterally arranged longitudinal ribs extending upward from a sun facing surface of the panel, wherein the ribs form an integral part of the foam body.

8. An integrated solar panel according to claim 7, wherein the ribs comprise inwardly arranged longitudinal rims, suitable for retaining a longitudinally extending protective cover.

9. An integrated solar panel according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the foam body is on the sun opposing side attached to a sheet like cover, which sheet like cover extends beyond the with of the sun opposing face of the foam body and extends at least partially around the longitudinally extending lateral side rims of the foam body.

10. An integrated solar panel according to claim

9, wherein the sheet like cover comprises on the

longitudinally extending lateral side rims of the foam body a longitudinally extending tongue and/or groove.

11. An integrated solar panel according to claim

10, wherein the longitudinally extending groove comprises a longitudinally extending packing, such as an elastic material like a rubber or silicon profile such as a tube.

12. A system comprising an integrated solar panel according to any of the preceding claims, wherein poles of the photovoltaic foil are in conductive connection with one or more of a convertor, a battery, a power grid, a

transformer, a AC-DC convertor.

13. A system according to claim 12, wherein the heat absorber is in fluid connection with one or more of a heat exchanger, a heat storage, a heat sink, a heat pump, a Carnot engine, a boiler, a climate control system, an air conditioning system.

14. A system according to claim 13, wherein the Carnot engine is connected to one or more of a convertor, a battery, a power grid, a transformer, a AC-DC convertor, a DC-AC convertor.