Classifications

• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C03—GLASS; MINERAL OR SLAG WOOL
  • C03C—CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF GLASSES, GLAZES OR VITREOUS ENAMELS; SURFACE TREATMENT OF GLASS; SURFACE TREATMENT OF FIBRES OR FILAMENTS MADE FROM GLASS, MINERALS OR SLAGS; JOINING GLASS TO GLASS OR OTHER MATERIALS
  • C03C17/00—Surface treatment of glass, not in the form of fibres or filaments, by coating
  • C03C17/22—Surface treatment of glass, not in the form of fibres or filaments, by coating with other inorganic material
  • C03C17/23—Oxides
  • C03C17/245—Oxides by deposition from the vapour phase
  • C03C17/2456—Coating containing TiO2
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
  • F24S—SOLAR HEAT COLLECTORS; SOLAR HEAT SYSTEMS
  • F24S40/00—Safety or protection arrangements of solar heat collectors; Preventing malfunction of solar heat collectors
  • F24S40/20—Cleaning; Removing snow
• • 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
  • F24S80/50—Elements for transmitting incoming solar rays and preventing outgoing heat radiation; Transparent coverings
  • F24S80/52—Elements for transmitting incoming solar rays and preventing outgoing heat radiation; Transparent coverings characterised by the material
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C03—GLASS; MINERAL OR SLAG WOOL
  • C03C—CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF GLASSES, GLAZES OR VITREOUS ENAMELS; SURFACE TREATMENT OF GLASS; SURFACE TREATMENT OF FIBRES OR FILAMENTS MADE FROM GLASS, MINERALS OR SLAGS; JOINING GLASS TO GLASS OR OTHER MATERIALS
  • C03C2217/00—Coatings on glass
  • C03C2217/20—Materials for coating a single layer on glass
  • C03C2217/21—Oxides
  • C03C2217/212—TiO2
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C03—GLASS; MINERAL OR SLAG WOOL
  • C03C—CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF GLASSES, GLAZES OR VITREOUS ENAMELS; SURFACE TREATMENT OF GLASS; SURFACE TREATMENT OF FIBRES OR FILAMENTS MADE FROM GLASS, MINERALS OR SLAGS; JOINING GLASS TO GLASS OR OTHER MATERIALS
  • C03C2217/00—Coatings on glass
  • C03C2217/70—Properties of coatings
  • C03C2217/71—Photocatalytic coatings
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C03—GLASS; MINERAL OR SLAG WOOL
  • C03C—CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF GLASSES, GLAZES OR VITREOUS ENAMELS; SURFACE TREATMENT OF GLASS; SURFACE TREATMENT OF FIBRES OR FILAMENTS MADE FROM GLASS, MINERALS OR SLAGS; JOINING GLASS TO GLASS OR OTHER MATERIALS
  • C03C2217/00—Coatings on glass
  • C03C2217/70—Properties of coatings
  • C03C2217/75—Hydrophilic and oleophilic coatings
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C03—GLASS; MINERAL OR SLAG WOOL
  • C03C—CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF GLASSES, GLAZES OR VITREOUS ENAMELS; SURFACE TREATMENT OF GLASS; SURFACE TREATMENT OF FIBRES OR FILAMENTS MADE FROM GLASS, MINERALS OR SLAGS; JOINING GLASS TO GLASS OR OTHER MATERIALS
  • C03C2218/00—Methods for coating glass
  • C03C2218/10—Deposition methods
  • C03C2218/15—Deposition methods from the vapour phase
  • C03C2218/154—Deposition methods from the vapour phase by sputtering
  • C03C2218/156—Deposition methods from the vapour phase by sputtering by magnetron sputtering
• • 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

Definitions

• the present invention relates to solar energy devices in general, and more particularly to the protective glass coverings of such devices through which solar radiation enters.
• Solar radiation striking the earth's surface can be utilized in various fashions to provide for heating and electrical needs.
• Solar thermal collectors expose a working fluid to solar radiation, and then transport that liquid for use either directly or for heating some other fluid in a heat exchanger.
• Solar photovoltaic cells convert the solar radiation to electricity which is then either immediately used, stored in some fashion, or returned to the power grid.
• solar collectors encompasses both solar thermal collectors and solar photovoltaic cells.
• solar collectors typically solar collectors have a cover which allows solar radiation to pass through, but which blocks wind, precipitation, dust and debris from attaching to or degrading the solar device.
• a conventional solar device cover will comprise a sheet of glass.
• the glass may or may not be transparent in the visible spectrum, but should be substantially transparent in the wavelengths being used by the solar device. Because of the protective function of the solar device cover, it will be exposed to contamination which can gradually obstruct the glass covering, resulting in a diminution of the solar energy passing through the cover to the solar device. To restore the performance of the solar device it is then necessary to periodically clean the glass covers, something that may be cumbersome, time consuming, and costly and potentially unsafe.
• the solar collector of this invention comprises an array of solar cells or fluid containing heat absorbing channels which are illuminated by the sun through a glass panel wherein the glass panel is constructed of thin high transmissive low iron (typically as Fe 2 O 3 ) glass with a first surface titanium dioxide that can be in the form of a coating of a magnetron sputter vapor deposition coating consisting primarily of titanium dioxide.
• the titanium dioxide coating achieves a hydrophilic and photocatalytic surface.
• the hydrophilic surface has a contact angle of 25° or less, preferably 20° or less.
• the back surface is preferably not coated.
• FIG. 1 is side elevational cross-sectional view of a solar cell array module and glass cover of this invention.
• FIG. 2 is a side elevational cross-sectional view of a solar absorber and glass cover of this invention.
• the solar cell array module 20 comprises a plurality of solar cells 22 positioned beneath a glass pane 24.
• the glass pane 24 together with an enclosure or box 26 protects the solar cells 22 from the environment.
• the glass pane 24 prevents rain, moisture and possibly corrosive elements from contacting the solar cells 22 which may corrode or short out in the presence of moisture.
• the glass pane is necessary in order to allow the sun's rays to reach the photoelectric surface 30 of the solar cells.
• the cost of solar cells, while continuing to decline, is still substantial. Therefore, to minimize the total cost and the number of solar cells needed it is important to maximize the amount of sunlight reaching the photoelectric surface 30 of the solar cells 22.
• the module 20 may be fixed in place, to maximize the amount of sunlight falling on the solar cells the module 20 may be made be to track the sun, or may be adjusted seasonally.
• a solar cell array module located at 35 degrees north latitude such as in Albuquerque, New Mexico, will in the winter be oriented at an angle of about 60.5° from the horizontal and facing south. During the summer the optimum angle is closer to 8°. For latitudes at 45 North the optimal angle in the winter will be 67.5°, and 17° in the summer.
• the orientation of the glass pane of the module 20 with respect to horizontal will often be closer to horizontal than to vertical, with the result that atmospheric dust may build up on the glass pane 24 blocking sunlight from reaching the solar cells 22 within the enclosure 26.
• the build up of dust and dirt on the glass pane 24 of the module 20 could be dealt with by frequent washing, however this can involve considerable expense, especially when it is considered that solar collectors are often located on the roof of buildings or other relatively inaccessible locations.
• Titanium dioxide coated windows have been developed which take advantage of the properties of titanium dioxide to achieve a hydrophilic and photocatalytic surface.
• the titanium dioxide may be in the anatase form, and in some cases can be doped with carbon.
• windows employing such a titanium dioxide coating are exposed to ultraviolet light the surface becomes hydrophilic and photocatalytic so as to oxidize organic dirt, dust, and films which are in contact with the titanium dioxide coating.
• rain or wash water is applied to the windows they are readily washed clean.
• Windows with titanium dioxide coating are normally supplied with other coatings, particularly low-E coatings which block ultraviolet and infrared rays in order to produce a window with less heat loss and less heat gain which is normally desirable in a window.
• the glass pane 24 is preferably thin tempered glass, having a thickness of about 3-6 mm (1/8 to 1/4 inches), and preferably of very clear glass such as can be achieved with a low iron content glass i.e., less than 0.1 % iron oxide calculated on the basis OfFe 2 O 3 , such as is available, for example from Guardian Industries Corporation under the trademark Guardian UltraWhiteTM.
• a low iron content glass i.e., less than 0.1 % iron oxide calculated on the basis OfFe 2 O 3 , such as is available, for example from Guardian Industries Corporation under the trademark Guardian UltraWhiteTM.
• Such a glass has visible light transmittance of 91% to 90% and a solar energy transmittance of 89 to 86% for glass thicknesses of 3 mm, or 6 mm (118 or 1/4 inches) respectively.
• the glass is coated with a layer of less than 100 angstroms of titanium dioxide which is expected to reduce solar energy transmittance by less than 1% so that a suitable glass pane 24, will transmit 89 to 90% of visible light and have a solar energy transmittance of 85% to 88%.
• the titanium dioxide coating is illuminated by the sun through a panel wherein the panel is constructed of thin, high strength, tempered, high transmissive, low iron, photocatalytic coated, titanium dioxide, glass which produces a hydrophilic surface with a contact angle of 25 or less, preferably 20 or less.
• the titanium dioxide layer can be deposited with the Magnetron Sputter Vapor Deposition (MSVD) process (also known as Magnetron Sputter Vacuum Deposition) (for purposes of this application, Magnetron Sputter Vapor Deposition will be used to include Magnetron Sputter Vacuum Deposition) which results in a smooth surface of controlled composition, which upon activation with ultraviolet light has a water droplet contact angle of 25° or less, preferably 20° or less, achieving even super hydrophilicity with a contact angle of near zero, i.e less than 2-3°.
• Other techniques for formation of titanium dioxide and other coatings are known. This low contact angle allows rainwater or wash water to sheet off the titanium dioxide pane surface 32.
• a suitable coating may be obtained from Cardinal Glass Industries, for example the titanium dioxide coating sold under the trademark NeatTM glass. With this applied coating, there is little or no affect on the solar transmittance or the solar reflectance.
• Conventional Cardinal window glass with this coating is not suitable for use with solar collectors because of its relatively low light transmission i.e., in addition to the photoactive hydrophilic titanium dioxide coating, other coatings, namely silver-based low-E coatings, are used which reduce total energy transmission through the glass.
• silver-based low-E coated surfaces must be hermetically sealed to avoid oxidation, and thus are not suitable for the single pane of a solar collector.
• the glass pane of the present invention does not have low- E coatings.
• Cardinal Glass NeatTM coating which contains metallic and nonmetallic layers but consists primarily of titanium dioxide, if applied to a suitable glass with high light transmissive properties provides a suitable glass for application in solar collectors.
• the benefit of the photoactive hydrophilic and photocatalytic titanium dioxide coated glass is that more light reaches the solar cells over time, because the glass pane is less obscured by soiling, due to the self-cleaning properties of the photocatalytic surface.
• the cost of maintenance of solar panels is also reduced because of the speed and ease of cleaning, and the relative infrequency of cleaning.
• the Magnetron Sputter Vapor Deposition (MSVD) process is distinct from pyrolytic hydrophilic coatings inasmuch as the surface coating is substantially less rough, see for example the comparison on page 2 of Cardinal glass technical bulletin CG 05 of June 2006 which is incorporated herein by reference, which shows surface variations of over 20 nanometers on a short scale for a pyrolytic hydrophilic coating whereas the MSVD coating has few and lower peaks.
• a thermal solar collector module 34 has an insulating box 36 with a glass pane 24 with a titanium dioxide outer surface 32 and an uncoated inner surface 38. Inside the insulated box 36, thermal collecting tubes 40 or passageways are arranged to allow a fluid 42 moving through the passageways to gather solar heat which enters through the glass pane 24. As with the solar cell array module 20, the thermal solar collector module 34 employs the glass pane 24 to isolate and protect from the environment the solar collecting structures, such as the collecting tubes 40 and any light baffles and absorbers present. Furthermore, the glass panel acts to limit convective cooling of the interior of the insulated box 36.
• the glass pane 24 provides over time greater solar incidence, and therefore greater solar energy because of the degrading of obscuring organic particles and film through the photocatalytic action of the titanium oxide coating.
• the photo active hydrophilic properties allow the ready removal by rainwater or washing of all contaminants which obscure the glass pane 24 outer surface 32. It should be understood that because the glass pane 24 need not transmit images, the glass pane 24 may have a texture such that it is only translucent i.e., transmitting light but sufficiently diffuse as to prevent perception of distinct images, while still having the visible light transmittance and solar energy transmittance of clear glass.
• the glass pane 24 of the device of FIG. 1 is not laminated to or directly affixed to the solar cells 22, but rather spaced a short distance from the solar cells, and that similarly in the device of FIG. 2, the glass pane 24 is not laminated or directly affixed to the collecting tubes 40.
• the visible light and solar energy transmittance is defined with respect to low iron content glass such as is available for example from Guardian Industries Corporation under the trademark Guardian Ultra WhiteTM such that visible light transmittance of 91 to 90% and a solar energy transmittance of 89 to 86% pertain for glass thicknesses of 3 mm, or 6 mm (1/8 or 1/4 inches) respectively.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Thermal Sciences (AREA)
• Sustainable Energy (AREA)
• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Sustainable Development (AREA)
• Organic Chemistry (AREA)
• Materials Engineering (AREA)
• Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
• General Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Geochemistry & Mineralogy (AREA)
• Surface Treatment Of Glass (AREA)
• Catalysts (AREA)

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• 2007
  • 2007-04-26 US US11/740,707 patent/US20080264411A1/en not_active Abandoned
• 2008
  • 2008-04-25 WO PCT/US2008/061556 patent/WO2008134502A1/en active Application Filing
  • 2008-04-25 EP EP08746888A patent/EP2153137A1/de not_active Withdrawn

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