Classifications

• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E04—BUILDING
  • E04B—GENERAL BUILDING CONSTRUCTIONS; WALLS, e.g. PARTITIONS; ROOFS; FLOORS; CEILINGS; INSULATION OR OTHER PROTECTION OF BUILDINGS
  • E04B5/00—Floors; Floor construction with regard to insulation; Connections specially adapted therefor
  • E04B5/02—Load-carrying floor structures formed substantially of prefabricated units
  • E04B5/04—Load-carrying floor structures formed substantially of prefabricated units with beams or slabs of concrete or other stone-like material, e.g. asbestos cement
  • E04B5/043—Load-carrying floor structures formed substantially of prefabricated units with beams or slabs of concrete or other stone-like material, e.g. asbestos cement having elongated hollow cores
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
  • F24S—SOLAR HEAT COLLECTORS; SOLAR HEAT SYSTEMS
  • F24S10/00—Solar heat collectors using working fluids
  • F24S10/70—Solar heat collectors using working fluids the working fluids being conveyed through tubular absorbing conduits
  • F24S10/72—Solar heat collectors using working fluids the working fluids being conveyed through tubular absorbing conduits the tubular conduits being integrated in a block; the tubular conduits touching each other
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
  • F24S—SOLAR HEAT COLLECTORS; SOLAR HEAT SYSTEMS
  • F24S20/00—Solar heat collectors specially adapted for particular uses or environments
  • F24S20/60—Solar heat collectors integrated in fixed constructions, e.g. in buildings
  • F24S20/62—Solar heat collectors integrated in fixed constructions, e.g. in buildings in the form of fences, balustrades or handrails
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
  • F24S—SOLAR HEAT COLLECTORS; SOLAR HEAT SYSTEMS
  • F24S20/00—Solar heat collectors specially adapted for particular uses or environments
  • F24S20/60—Solar heat collectors integrated in fixed constructions, e.g. in buildings
  • F24S20/64—Solar heat collectors integrated in fixed constructions, e.g. in buildings in the form of floor constructions, grounds or roads
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
  • F24S—SOLAR HEAT COLLECTORS; SOLAR HEAT SYSTEMS
  • F24S20/00—Solar heat collectors specially adapted for particular uses or environments
  • F24S20/60—Solar heat collectors integrated in fixed constructions, e.g. in buildings
  • F24S20/66—Solar heat collectors integrated in fixed constructions, e.g. in buildings in the form of facade constructions, e.g. wall constructions
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
  • F24S—SOLAR HEAT COLLECTORS; SOLAR HEAT SYSTEMS
  • F24S20/00—Solar heat collectors specially adapted for particular uses or environments
  • F24S20/60—Solar heat collectors integrated in fixed constructions, e.g. in buildings
  • F24S20/67—Solar heat collectors integrated in fixed constructions, e.g. in buildings in the form of roof constructions
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
  • F24S—SOLAR HEAT COLLECTORS; SOLAR HEAT SYSTEMS
  • F24S80/00—Details, accessories or component parts of solar heat collectors not provided for in groups F24S10/00-F24S70/00
  • F24S80/30—Arrangements for connecting the fluid circuits of solar collectors with each other or with other components, e.g. pipe connections; Fluid distributing means, e.g. headers
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
  • F24S—SOLAR HEAT COLLECTORS; SOLAR HEAT SYSTEMS
  • F24S80/00—Details, accessories or component parts of solar heat collectors not provided for in groups F24S10/00-F24S70/00
  • F24S2080/01—Selection of particular materials
  • F24S2080/012—Concrete
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
  • Y02B—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO BUILDINGS, e.g. HOUSING, HOUSE APPLIANCES OR RELATED END-USER APPLICATIONS
  • Y02B10/00—Integration of renewable energy sources in buildings
  • Y02B10/20—Solar thermal
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
  • Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
  • Y02E10/00—Energy generation through renewable energy sources
  • Y02E10/40—Solar thermal energy, e.g. solar towers
  • Y02E10/44—Heat exchange systems

Definitions

• the present invention relates to solar heat col ⁇ lectors and, more particularly, to solar heat collector panels developed as integral structural members.
• the collection and harnessing of solar energy has been a long sought after goal because of the obvious inex ⁇ haustible source of radiant energy.
• many solar collectors have been developed which are quite efficient in employing the received radiant energy to raise the temperature of a fluid passed through the collector.
• Such units are generally rela ⁇ tively easily subject to damage and due precautions must be taken.
• the amount of heat collected is es ⁇ sentially a function of the surface area subjected to the source of radiant energy as well as the. angular orientation of the collector with respect to the source of radiant energy.
• Another object of the present invention is to pro ⁇ vide a solar collector panel which is of sufficient structural integrity to also serve as a sidewalk or driveway.
• Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a solar collector of sufficient structural integrity to serve as a fence.
• Still another object of the present invention is to provide a radiant heat panel useable as an interior 10 or exterior wall of a building.
• a further object of the present invention is to provide an inexpensively mass produceable radiant energy heat exchange unit.
• a yet further object of the present invention is to 15 provide a radiant energy heat exchange unit of moldable hardenable material.
• a still further ojbect of the present invention is to provide a plurality of precast solar collector panels inter-connectable with one another through external 20 plumbing fixtures.
• Figure 1 is a perspective view of a precast solar collector panel.
• MPI Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 2-2, as shown in Figure 1.
• Figure 3 is a partial cross-sectional view taken along lines 3-3, as shown in Figure 1.
• Figure 4 is a partial cross-sectional view illus ⁇ trating the external interconnection between two adjacent solar collector panels.
• Figure 5 illustrates a roof of a dwelling developed from the precast solar collector panels of the present invention.
• Figure 6 depicts a fence constructed of precast solar collector panels.
• Figure 7 is a partial cross-sectional view taken along lines 7-7, as shown in Figure 6.
• Figure 8 is a perspective view of a residence and depicts the various uses of the present invention.
• Figure 9 is a block diagram of a representative fluid flow path between the various solar collector panels illustrated in Figure 8.
• the ice trees are maintained in their frozen state by energization of the embedded freezing elements. After curing has been completed, the ice trees are allowed to melt and the subsequently freed freezing elements are withdrawn to leave smooth surfaced ' passageways of predetermined configuration and size.
• the passageways may be lined with a plastic sealant, epoxy, or similar other material to preclude mechanical or chemical interaction between the fluid and the cured moldable hardenable material.
• the precast solar collector panel 1 illustrated in Figure 1 may be formed by the method described in United States Patent No. 3,821,818.
• a serpentine-like passageway 2 is formed in sufficient proximity to surface 3 of the panel. The location of the passageway must be shallow enough to establish a satisfactory heat transfer rate from the panel surface to the fluid con ⁇ tained within passageway 2 and it must be deep enough • to establish rigidity sufficient to protect against collapse of the passageway. Where panel 1 is developed from concrete, the passageway may be embedded one-half to one inch beneath the adjacent panel surface. Access to passageway 2 is provided by means of corner indenta ⁇ tions 10 and 11 at adjacent corners of the panel.
• a stub passageway 12 extends from one terminal point of passageway 13 extends from the other end of passageway 2 into indentation 11.
• the precast solar collector In order for the precast solar collector to serve as a structural member as well as a collector of radiant heat, it should be constructed in accordance with accepted precast concrete structures, as illustrated in Figure 2. Normally, a mesh of reinforcement bars 15 are encased within the concrete. Moreover, lightening holes or cavaties 16 may be employed which reduce the weight of the structure and yet allow the structure to main ⁇ tain sufficient structural integrity.
• the normally employed cavaties may be connected to a vacuum pump.
• the low pressure within the cavaties will reduce the heat transfer capability of the panels and it will aid in reducing sound trans ⁇ mission through the panels.
• the reduction in heat transfer necessarily has a beneficial effect upon the conservation of energy.
• the cavaties can also be used for other purposes, such as holding tanks for water, prior or subsequent to flow of the water through the passageways.
• the necessary fittings and plumbing to accomplish such a result are known to those skilled in the concrete and plumbing arts.
• each inlet or outlet of passageway 2 includes a nipple fitting 18 and an attached threaded collar 19. Both the extremity of the nipple and the collar are contained within the respective indentation, such as indentation in Figure 3.
• a U-shaped fitting 20 as illustrated in Figure 4, may be employed.
• the fitting includes externally threaded legs 21 and 22 which threadedly engage collars 23 and 24 extending from nipple fittings 25 and 26 of panels 27 and 28. Thereby, one end of passageway 29 within panel 27 is connected to one end of passageway 30 in panel ' 28.
• the depth of U-shaped fitting 20 is sized such that it does not extend below lower surfaces 31, 32 of panels 27, 28, respectively.
• FIG. 5 is a partial view of a dwelling 35 having a plurality of precast solar collector panels la, lb, lc. Id and le serving as a roof of the dwelling. These panels are supported by conventional roof trusses or other sub-structure normally employed for roofs. Becaus precast solar collector panels la-le are developed as structural modules, they can and do fulfill all of the requisite load bearing requirements of a roof and do not need an underlying sub-roof for mechanical integrity or expected roof loads.
• the protruding nipple fittings from passageways within adjacent precast solar collector panels are interconnected by U-shaped fittings 36, similar to fitting 20 illustrated in Figure 4. This fitting and the indentations within which it is located is covered and yet rendered accessible by means of a cover plate 37 suitably attached to the edges and lower
• a similar cover plate 38 is disposed at the passageway junction intermediate panels la and lb.
• a length of pipe 40 is threadedly attached to the nipple fitting within indentation 41.
• Pipe 40 serves as a conduit to drain or supply fluid, depending upon the direction of flow, to the serially connected passage ⁇ ways within panels la, lb, lc and Id.
• a corner cover plate 44 having an appropriately configured recess 45 to accommodate pipe 40, is attached to the edges and lower surface of panel la to cover and protect in ⁇ dentation 41 and the fittings disposed therein.
• a pipe 46 extends from one corner of panel le to convey fluid to or from the passageway within the panel, depending upon the direction of flow.
• a cover plate 47 protects the junction of pipe 46 and the nipple fitting extending from the embedded passageway within the panel.
• fences such as fences around the back- -8-
• the precast solar collector panels of the present invention are particularly suited for use as fences in that they possess the requisite structural integrity. More importantly, when employed as fences, the precast solar collector panels are capable of serving a useful purpose to heat the fluid passed there ⁇ through. Since a fence is vertically oriented and not necessarily aligned perpendicular to the sun's rays during any given time of the day, it is expedient and practical to develop a serpentine passage proximate to each broad side of each fence panel.
• the serpentine passageway may be as close as one-half inch to the surface if the panel is made of precast concrete and yet be sufficiently robust to withstand normal expected abuse without col ⁇ lapse of a section of the passageway.
• Panel 50 as illustrated in Figures 6 and 7, includes a serpentine passageway 51 disposed adjacent surface 52 and a second serpentine passageway 53 adjacent surface 54.
• An in ⁇ dentation 56 is disposed at one lower corner of panel 50 to provide a cavity for nipple fittings 57 and 58 extend ⁇ ing from their respective serpentine passageways 51 and 53.
• a similar indentation for the nipple fittings at the other end of serpentine passageways 51 and 53 is developed in the adjacent lower corner 59 of panel 50.
• Cover plates such as cover plate 60 covering the inden ⁇ tation at corner 59 and an equivalent indentation at corner 61 of panel 62 protect the nipple fittings and conduit interconnecting the passageway of panels 50 and 62.
• a further cover plate, such as cover plate 63 is employed at corners of the fence, such as the corner defined by panels 62 and 64.
• Figure 8 is a representation of a residence and the various locations wherein precast concrete solar col ⁇ lector panels constructed in accordance with the present invention could be employed.
• roof, 70 from a plurality of precast solar collector panels, such as the panel identified by number 71 . the total surface area of the roof can be employed as a collecting surface for the radiant energy irradiated by the sun.
• a pipe or. conduit 5 extends from one of the legs (leg 6) of passageway 2 external to the panel and terminates in the ceiling or other convenient fire serving location within the dwelling.
• a fire sensor and associated valve 7 is dis- posed at the extremity of conduit 5.
• a sprinkler 8 discharges any water flowing through conduit 5 in the event of opening of valve 7. In operation, valve 7 will remain closed until tripped in response to heat or smoke (depending upon the type of sensor employed). The water within passageway 6 will flow through conduit 5 and discharge through sprinkler 8.
• fire prevention sprinkler heads can also be installed in panels of the type illustrated in Figure 1 when the later are used as interior wall and ceiling located sources of radiant heat.
• Sidewalk 75 can also be constructed of a plurality of interconnected precast concrete solar collector panels 76. Such a sidewalk will not only serve the nor al functions of a sidewalk but also serve as further surface area for collecting the radiant energy irradiated by the sun.
• Driveway 80 is also cons ructable from a plurality of' interconnected precast concrete solar collector panels to provide yet further surface area for receiving the energy irradiated from the sun. Because of the precast concrete employed to construct the solar collector panel, each panel is of sufficient strength to bear the loads imposed by vehicular traffic upon the driveway.
• Fence 85 which is commonly employed along the property line of a residence, can be developed from a plurality of interconnected solar collector panels, as described above with respect to Figures 6 and 7.
• the exterior walls of the residence shown in Figure 8 may also be constructed of the precast solar collector panels described herein.
• the fluid, normally water, flowing through the serpentine passageways within each of the panels in all of the groups of panels will be subjected to the heating effects of the radiant energy impinging upon the surfaces of the panels.
• Such heating depending of course upon the geographical latitude of the residence and the time of the year, is capable of producing an increase in temperature of the water to approximately 130 .
• Water temperature is normally sufficiently heated to serve all of the domestic needs of a residence. Al ⁇ ternatively, the water can be routed to a conventional water heater for final heating with the panels serving as preheaters.
• the heating of the fluid within the serpentine passageways of one group of pre ⁇ cast solar collector panels can be employed to heat the precast solar collector panels of another group.
• the snow will settle upon the sidewalks and driveways and usually must be manually cleared. Because little if any snow will impinge upon the surfaces of fence 85, the fluid disposed within the serpentine passageways of the fence will be heated by the rays of the sun, even during wintertime.
• the driveway and the sidewal-k will be warmed or raised in temperature to a sufficient degree to bring about melting of any snow lying thereupon.
• the fence may be used as a heat source to heat the water flowing therethrough, which heated water is ultimately conveyed through roof 70 to raise the temperature of the roof and bring about melt ⁇ ing of snow or ice which has settled thereon.
• the roof may, in turn, be used to generate heated fluid for transmission through side ⁇ walk 75 and driveway 80.
• heated water from a water heater internal to the residence through the serpentine passage ⁇ ways within the sidewalk, driveway and roof to clear the latter of snow and ice. Once cleared, these groups of panels can be once again employed to preheat the water flowing into the water heater within the residence and result in an ultimate savings in the cost of heating water during the wintertime.
• interior walls of the residence illus ⁇ trated in Figure 8 are not specifically depicted in the figure, such walls may be constructed in the same manner as that of the fence panels illustrated in Figure 6 and 7.
• the interior walls may be warmed and the radiant heat generated thereby will warm the rooms within he residence.
• the ceilings and floors could also be similarly constructed to effect radiant heat therefrom. Thereby, savings may be effected in the heating costs of the residence.
• one or more groups of panels can be disposed within a closed circuit for sup ⁇ plying heated water to a swimming pool.
• the group of panels can be connected in series therewith to continuously introduce heated water to the pool.
• the slight ad ⁇ ditional load, hence current drain, imposed by the group of panels is insignificant in cost compared to the normal costs of heating a pool electrically
• Figure 9 depicts a representative plumbing circuit for selectively interconnecting the various groups of precast solar collector panels described with respect to the residence illustrated in Figure 8.
• a pump 95 conveys the fluid, hereinafter presumed to be -water, from water input 96 through conduit 97 and conduit 98 into roof panels 70.
• the outflow from the roof panels is conveyed through conduit 99 to fence 85, assuming valve 100 within outlet conduit 101 being in the open position.
• the water flowing from fence 85 may be returned to outlet conduit 102.
• conduit 102 From conduit 102, the water flows to sidewalk 75, depending on the s ' tat of valve 101, through conduits 102a, 103 and 104 to driveway 80, depending upon the state of valves 105 and 106, to interior wall panels 107 through conduit 108, depending upon the state of valve 109, and to interior floors 110 through conduit 113, depending upon the state of valves 111 and 112.
• the output from each of these groups of panels ultimately flow into a common conduit 114 for conveyance of the water flow back to pump 95 or to water heater 115, depending upon the state of valves 116, 117 and 118.
• Additional valves, such as valves 119 and 120 may be employed with the existing conduit or additional conduit to provide alternate routing of the flow of water to or from the identified groups of panels.
• valve 121 When one or more of the groups of panels are to be heated by water from water heater 115, valve 121 is opened to accommodate flow of hot water heater 115, valve 121 is opened to accommodate flow of hot water through conduits 122 and 123 into a selected one or more of the groups of panels. Where none of the groups of panels are to be employed for preheating the water flowing into water heater 115, valve 124 disposed within conduit 125 interconnecting water input 96 and
• OI..FI water heater 115 is opened. Thereby, water heater 115 is supplied directly from water input 96 and is avail ⁇ able for the domestic needs, as depicted by block 126.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Sustainable Development (AREA)
• Sustainable Energy (AREA)
• Thermal Sciences (AREA)
• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Architecture (AREA)
• Electromagnetism (AREA)
• Civil Engineering (AREA)
• Structural Engineering (AREA)
• Building Environments (AREA)

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• 1979
  • 1979-08-13 WO PCT/US1979/000615 patent/WO1981000445A1/en unknown
• 1981
  • 1981-02-24 EP EP80900273A patent/EP0034144A1/de not_active Withdrawn

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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