ES2708399B2 - MOBILE AND AUTONOMOUS FACADE SYSTEM WITH FOLDABLE SOLAR PANEL FOR OPTIMAL USE OF NATURAL LIGHT - Google Patents

Description

d e s c r ip c io n

s is te m a de fa c h a d a m o v il y a u t o n o m o c o n p a n e l s o l a r p l e g a b l e pa r a

the a p r o v e c h a m ie n t o o p t im o de lu z n a t u r a l

Object of the invention and Field of application of the invention

The object of the invention is focused on implementing a photovoltaic solar energy collection system to be used in order to limit or regulate the passage of solar energy to a building. This implementation is carried out using the solar panels developed as a passive measure replacing the usual slats used to cover the building facades of exterior radiation.

The present invention is framed within the construction sector, focusing particularly on the field of building facades and building enclosures by mobile elements.

A concept known as active facades ^or intelligent facades, capable of not only improving the temperature conditions inside a building, but also to generate usable electrical energy.

Background of the invention

Different types of systems implemented in facades that passively protect from solar radiation are known in the market, so that they prevent said direct radiation from the sun from reaching the enclosures of the buildings, heating them in periods in which it is intended to cool the interior and allowing ^its collection in periods in which it is sought to heat the interior.

One of these systems that have been used for a long period of time are those known as solar protection in slats, which regulate the entry of light, allowing significant energy savings in the building. These systems are very versatile by allowing different dimensions of the elements for each project as well as ^their different arrangements in the enclosures.

In addition to these energy improvement systems, there are currently several other procedures and systems implemented in the façade, with the objective of air conditioning buildings allowing solar protection and energy savings through active installations of the building in combination.

These systems have been developed to achieve the objective of building buildings with almost zero consumption, where it is customary to develop envelopes not only thermally insulated, so as to reduce heat losses from the indoor environment, but also to ensure that these enclosures participate in the air conditioning system itself and provide energy to consume inside the building.

The so-called "active facades" are systems with great potential for capturing solar energy that affects the building envelope, such as the ventilated façade, trombe walls, active windows, water walls, use of PCM materials for the ventilation of facades, etc.

Another example in which the envelopes actively participate in energy saving are the mobile facades, which, driven by energies from natural or artificial sources, are capable of reproducing mechanical movements, some of them programmed and for specific functions.

The mobile facades used as solar control are the most widespread group, thanks to the advantages of ^their installation in an intelligent ^or domotic building. An installation that varies in position according to the time of year and time of day, adds value to the building. Currently, they are used in any type of building and ^their installation does not usually require more extra expense than those of manual control solar panels.

On the other hand, there are unique buildings that make ^use of solar collection systems to convert into electrical energy, where said collection elements are integrated into the building's architecture as a double skin, an exterior enclosure ^or simply as hollow visors, which according to In cases, they may have mechanisms to modify ^their orientation and inclination.

Of all the systems present in the mobile and active façade market, none of them has developed a system of drop-down panels that regulate the levels of immission of sunlight, while collecting excess light and converting it into electrical energy through flexible solar panels as part of the panel structure.

d e s c r ip c io n of the in ve n c i n

The foldable solar panel and the mobile and autonomous facade system that the invention proposes, constitutes in itself an obvious novelty within its field of application, since it incorporates a flexible skin into a folding structure, which connected to a mechanism, allows the panel deployed by changing ^its section autonomously ^or manually, to increase the use of solar energy when in situations where the degree of natural light incidence on the building is high.

The proposed folding solar panel comprises:

- a central mast located inside the solar panel, traversing it longitudinally, configured to withstand the efforts exerted on said panel; efforts such as the weight of the panel itself or the load exerted by wind or other external elements;

- an articulated structural skeleton connected to the central mast comprising: or at least two first bars comprising a sector ^or a lateral longitudinal part of the structural skeleton, assembled to the central mast by at least one tensioning element, the longitudinal direction being defined by the central mast;

or at least two second bars, which comprise a central longitudinal sector of the structural skeleton, joined ^together , by at least one spring element; Y,

or at least four transverse rods that are connected to the first bars and to the second bars in an articulated manner, allowing only the rotation in these joints with respect to the longitudinal axis; in this way an articulated structure with a single degree of freedom is obtained; - a flexible reinforced envelope that longitudinally and laterally covers the articulated structural skeleton; Y

- at least one photovoltaic cell, located on an outer surface of the reinforced envelope;

where the foldable solar panel additionally comprises at least one drive configured to activate at least one pulley located in the central mast, where said pulley It is configured to collect the tensioning element by winding on said pulley, producing the unfolding of the foldable solar panel, stretching the spring element that joins the two second bars. In this way, the first bars that comprise the lateral longitudinal section approach the central mast and the second bars that comprise the central longitudinal section of the skeleton move away from the central mast, maintaining the parallelism, producing the opening of the reinforced envelope that is connected to the photovoltaic cells.

In the same way, the mast drive is also configured to allow said tension element to be released, unrolling from the pulley, so that the panel recovers

Your initial deployment status.

In fact, the spring elements that connect the second bars, act as tensioners when the structure is fully deployed, so that they pull said bars in a compression effort, to recover the initial state of unfolding.

In the folding position, the panel allows a greater passage of light by varying the width of ^its section to the minimum allowed by the structure for said arrangement, the spring elements being collected in ^their resting position, and the pulley with the elements tensioners released that are extended.

In one embodiment, the foldable solar panel comprises four second bars comprising the central sector of the panel, said four bars being located surrounding the central mast, parallel to it, where each second bar is attached to another second bar, located in its front part, by means of at least two spring elements, which connect first and a few second ends of said second bars and because each second bar is connected to another second bar, located on its side, by means of at least two crossbars that connect said two second ones by a rigid joint bars forming a rigid structure.

In this way, when the pulley drive that collects the tensioning element is produced, the four spring elements are stretched, the two rigid structures formed by the two second bars and the crossbars being separated, producing the deployment of the panel, exerting all the spring elements a compression force

In one embodiment, the pulleys comprised in the central mast are proportionally distributed in said mast, that is, they maintain an equal separation between each pulley, and are all activated by the same drive, so that each of said pulleys collects a tension element attached to the first bars.

The tensioning element is a flexible element and is selected within the group consisting of a chain, a belt, a cable and a rope, so that it can be picked up on the pulley and released while maintaining an axial effort.

In one embodiment, the central mast comprises a hollow section configured to accommodate a wiring that is connected to the pulley drive, so that the wiring is not interrupted with the folding mechanism.

In one embodiment, at least one of the elements selected between the first and second bars, the central mast, the rods, the crossbars and the pulleys are made of stainless steel due to the structural conditions that it provides as well as its resistance to external environmental conditions.

In one embodiment, the reinforced wrap is made of polyvinyl fluoride and is configured to be folded longitudinally without affecting ^its condition. This reinforced skin shell of the structural skeleton allows the solar capture surface to flex in ^its folded position, since on the basis of PVF the photovoltaic cells divided into a small grid are joined according to ^their degree of flexion to be supported.

In one embodiment, the photovoltaic cells that are located on the outer surface of the reinforced envelope are connected to each other, by means of serial and / or parallel electrical connections, forming a flexible cell mesh that covers an unfolded side of the foldable solar panel, where said photovoltaic cells are connected to a transformer configured to transmit the electrical energy generated in the solar panel and direct it towards storage ^or a specific ^use .

In one embodiment, the collapsible solar panel comprises a first anchor at a first end of the central mast and a second anchor at a second end of said central mast, configured to be connected to an external floor. That is, the unions of the panels to external elements are made only by means of the anchors of the central mast, without affecting the folding or unfolding of the solar panel.

In one embodiment, the joints between ^the elements selected between the first and the second anchor and the exterior slab are fixed and rigid, while in another embodiment, the joints are articulated, being configured to rotate with respect to the axis of the central mast.

In one embodiment, when the joints are articulated, the first anchor comprises a first bearing and a threaded rod and the second anchor comprises a second bearing and a bearing rail configured to pivot the central mast, allowing articulation of said mast for greater solar utilization angle.

These joints work in such a way that, at the first anchor, when the threaded bar goes, it presses vertically to the mast when the panel is operated in its deployment, while the lower bearing rail of the mast, when inclined, forces the assembly to pivot a few degrees taking advantage of the same energy that the drive uses to collect the internal tensors of the structure.

In one embodiment, the drive that folds and unfolds the solar panel is a motor that also drives the pivoting of the central mast with respect to ^its union with the exterior slab.

On the other hand, the invention also comprises a mobile and autonomous system of building façade enclosures comprising ^the foldable solar panels defined above, where said foldable solar panels are covering part or all of a facade of a building, in form of slats, and are configured to regulate the passage of direct and indirect solar radiation into said building.

In one embodiment, the facade of the building in which they are installed foldable solar panels I ^I comprises a rigid structure attached to said facade profiles where I ^will connect ends of the central pole by the first and the second anchor.

In one embodiment, the regulation of the passage of solar radiation towards the building is determined by the folding and unfolding set of ^the solar panels that cover the The facade of the building, while in another embodiment, is determined by pivoting the central masts of the solar panels that cover the facade, together.

In another embodiment, the regulation of the passage of solar radiation is determined by the joint action of the folding and unfolding process of the solar panels that cover the facade and by pivoting the central masts, also jointly.

The solar panels that cover the facade of a building can be arranged in a horizontal or vertical position depending on the needs posed with respect to the orientation of the facade.

In one embodiment, the drive that activates the folding and unfolding of the solar panels that cover the facade of the building is activated by an autonomous system of brightness sensors located in said facade, so that when these sensors receive a certain radiation, Activate the panel operation.

In one embodiment, the mobile and autonomous system of building façade enclosures comprises at least one of the elements selected from: a charge regulator, an inverter, a battery, an electrical panel, and electrical energy measuring means, as well. like any usual element in this type of photovoltaic installations.

b r e v e d e s c r ip c io n of the s fig u r a s

Next, in order to facilitate a better understanding of this descriptive report and forming an integral part thereof, a series of figures are attached in which the object of the invention has been represented by way of illustration and not limitation.

Figure 1 shows a plan view of the foldable solar panel in the rest position, deployed, with the tension elements loose and the spring elements collected, the first bars being separated from the central mast and the second bars close to said mast.

Figure 2.- Shows a plan view of the foldable solar panel in the working position, folded, with the tension elements collected in the pulley and the spring elements stretched, exerting a compression effort, the first bars being next to the central mast and the second bars separated from said mast.

Figure 3.- Shows an axonometry view of the foldable solar panel in rest position, corresponding to the position of figure 1.

Figure 4.- Shows an axonometry view in the deployment position, corresponding to the position of Figure 2.

Figure 5.- Shows an interrupted view of the profile of the foldable solar panel, in which the connections of said panel with the outer profiles are appreciated.

Figure 6.- Shows an axonometry view of the structural skeleton of the folding solar panel in its deployed position, with the elements springs stretched.

Figure 7.- Shows an axonometry view of the structural skeleton of the foldable solar panel in ^its folded and resting position, with the springs elements collected.

d e s c r ip c io n p r e faith r e n t e of the in ve n c io n

In view of the figures, the elements and technical characteristics that are part of the flexible solar panel object of the invention can be observed.

To explain the invention of said panel, the internal elements that integrate and form ^its structure have to be defined. Hence, in Figure 7 a perspective view of the solar panel is shown in ^its folded position (represented in Figure 1 as D), in which a central mast (1) is seen running through said panel, connected to two first bars (4) by four tensioning elements (6) each.

These tensioning elements (6) consist of flexible elongated elements, preferably straps, which are connected to the central mast (1) through a pulley (9) for each pair of tensioning elements (6) that are at the same height. . That is, the central mast is divided into three intervals by the four pulleys that compose it, two of them being at the ends and the other two dividing the central sector of the mast (1).

In addition to these first bars (4), the folding panel comprises four second bars (4 ’) which, in the position of the folded panel, are around the central mast (1), symmetrically, being parallel to it.

These second bars (4 ') have connecting means so that each second bar (4') is connected to another corresponding second bar (4 ') located frontally to the first, by means of four spring elements (5) distributed along of said second bars (4 ') in the same way that the pulleys (9) are distributed in the central mast (1). In addition to these four spring elements (5), each second bar (4 ') is also connected to another second bar (4') located on its side, by a series of crossbars (16), distributed perpendicularly along said the second bars (4). These joints are rigid and form two rigid bodies without joints separately.

These rigid bodies formed by two second bars (4 ') and the crossbars (16) are attached, each of them, to the first bars (4) by means of elements called, transverse rods (15), through joints that so they only have a degree of freedom, the rotation with respect to the axis marked by the central mast (1).

All these elements consisting of the central mast (1), the first (4) and the second bars (4 '), the tensioning elements (6), the spring elements (5), the pulleys (9), the transverse rods (15) and the crossbars (16) form the articulated structural skeleton (14) of the solar panel.

Thanks to the joints of the bars (4 and 4 ') between them and the central mast, the articulated structural skeleton (14) can adopt two extreme positions. A first deployment position D, shown in Figures 7, 3 and 1, in which the tensioning elements (6) are released, but in a state of tension, and a second folding position P, shown in Figure 6, 4 and 2, in which the tensioning elements (6) are collected in the pulleys (9), the first bars (4) being closer to the central mast (1), causing the second bars (4 ') to be moving away from said mast (1) maintaining the parallelism of the bars (4 and 4 ') causing stretching of the spring elements (5).

In this second deployment position, the spring elements (5) are exerting a compression tension to recover the initial state of the folding panel.

E ^s say, these springs elements (5) are at rest in the folded position and fully extended in its extended position, allowing recovery of the shape of the panel resting without energy loss.

The gathering or winding of the tensioning elements (6) on the pulleys (9) is determined by a drive, preferably a motor, located in the central mast itself (1), which simultaneously activates all the pulleys (9), avoiding bar offsets (4 and 4 ').

This drive is connected by a wiring (7) that runs through the inside of the central mast (1), as can be seen in figures 3 and 4. This wiring arrangement allows, if desired, a simple connection with other foldable solar panels, so that it allows the folding and unfolding together of more than one solar panel.

As can be seen in Figures 2 and 3, the solar panel comprises a reinforced envelope (2) of polyvinyl fluoride that wraps around the structural skeleton (14), which is preferably made of stainless steel. The reinforced wrap (2) allows the panel to flex in its different positions as it is a flexible material in a laminar arrangement. The front part of the reinforced envelope (2) contains the mesh of photovoltaic cells (3) configured to collect sunlight and transform it into electrical energy by taking it through the transformer (8) to a power grid.

This transformer (8) is located inside the solar panel, next to the photovoltaic cells (3), avoiding coming into contact with other moving parts of the panel, as can be seen in figures 1 and 2.

The anchoring of the solar panels is carried out by means of the two ends of the central mast (1) joining external slabs.

Preferably the central mast (1) comprises a first anchor (17) at one of said ends comprising a bearing (10) and a threaded rod (11), while at the other

l l

end comprises a second anchor (18) which in turn comprises a second bearing (12) and a bearing rail (13) that allow the articulation of the mast in the transverse axis, as shown in figure 5, being able to swing to the panel a few degrees for a greater angle solar utilization whether the panel is in a folded or deployed state.

The defined folding solar panel is configured to be used on a building facade as part of a mobile and autonomous system of building façade enclosures.

This system comprises a series of foldable solar panels that are covering part or all of a facade of a building that receives direct solar radiation. T ^he panels are arranged in slats, and are configured to regulate the passage of solar radiation directly and indirectly to the interior of said building. This arrangement in slats implies that the panels are installed parallel to each other, connected so that they fold, unfold and pivot all of them at the same time.

T ^he solar panels are connected by anchors (17 and 18) of the central mast (1) to a rigid structure of profiles located on the facade in which to install the panel system where the anchors are connected (17 and 18) of the central mast (1).

L ^os folding movements, deployed and pivot regulating the passage of solar radiation inside the building is determined by an autonomous system of light sensors positioned on said facade, making it unnecessary human manipulation for proper use of light and Energy.

L ^os solar panels are arranged in a vertical position on the facade of the building, facilitating connection between different panels arranged.

Claims (21)

1. - Folding solar panel characterized by comprising: - a central mast (1) located inside the solar panel, traversing it longitudinally, configured to withstand the efforts exerted on said panel; - an articulated structural skeleton (14) connected to the central mast (1) comprising: or at least two first bars (4) comprising a lateral longitudinal sector of the structural skeleton (14), assembled to the central mast (1) by at least one tensioning element (6); or at least two second bars (4 '), comprising a central longitudinal sector of the structural skeleton (14), joined together, by at least one spring element (5); Y, or at least four transverse rods (15) that connected to the first bars (4) and the second bars (4 ') in an articulated manner, allowing the rotation in the joints of said rods (15) with respect to the longitudinal axis; - a reinforced envelope (2) that longitudinally and laterally covers the articulated structural skeleton (14); Y, - at least one photovoltaic cell (3), located on an outer surface of the reinforced envelope (2); where the foldable solar panel comprises at least one drive configured to activate at least one pulley (9) located in the central mast (1), said pulley (9) configured to collect and release the tensioning element (6), deploying the solar panel folding when said tensioner (6) is collected, the at least one spring element (5) joining the two second bars (4 ') being stretched. 2. - Folding solar panel according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises four second bars (4 '), located parallel around the central mast (1), where each second bar (4') is connected to another second bar (4 ' ), located frontally, by means of at least two spring elements (5), which connect first and second ends of said second bars (4 '); Y because each second bar (4 ') is connected to another second bar (4'), located laterally, by means of at least two crossbars (16) which connect said two second bars (4 ') by means of a rigid joint forming a rigid structure; where, when the pulley drive (9) that collects the tensioning element (6) takes place, the four spring elements (5) are stretched, the two rigid structures formed by the two second bars (4 ') and the two crossbars being separated (16), the panel unfolding, said springs (5) exerting a compression force. 3. - Folding solar panel according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the pulleys (9) included in the central mast (1) are proportionally distributed in said mast and are activated by a drive, each of said pulleys configured (9 ) to pick up a tensioning element (6) attached to the first bars (4). 4. - Folding solar panel according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the tensioning element (6) is a flexible element and is selected from the group consisting of a chain, a belt, a cable and a rope. 5. - Folding solar panel according to the preceding claims, characterized in that the central mast (1) comprises a hollow section configured to accommodate a wiring (7) connected to the pulley drive (9). 6. - Folding solar panel according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one of the elements selected within the group consisting of the first (4) and the second bars (4 '), the central mast (1), the rods (15), the crossbars (16) and pulleys (9) are made of stainless steel. 7. - Folding solar panel according to claim 1, characterized in that the reinforced envelope (2) is made of polyvinyl fluoride and is configured to fold longitudinally. 8. - Folding solar panel according to claim 1, characterized in that the photovoltaic cells (3) that are located on the outer surface of the reinforced envelope (2) are connected to each other forming a flexible cell mesh covering a deployed side of the foldable solar panel, where said photovoltaic cells (3) are connected to a transformer (8) configured to transmit the electrical energy generated in the solar panel. 9. - Folding solar panel according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a first anchor (17) at a first end of the central mast (1) and a second anchor (18) at a second end of said central mast (1), configured to connect to an external floor. 10. - Folding solar panel according to claim 9, characterized in that the joints between the elements selected between the first (17) and the second anchor (18) and the external slab are fixed and rigid. 11. - Folding solar panel according to claim 9, characterized in that the joints between the elements selected between the first (17) and the second anchor (18) and the external slab are articulated, being configured to rotate with respect to the axis of the central mast (one). 12. - Folding solar panel according to claim 9, characterized in that the first anchor (17) comprises a first bearing (10) and a threaded rod (11) and the second anchor (18) comprises a second bearing (12) and a bearing rail (13) configured to pivot the central mast (1). 13. - Folding solar panel according to claim 12, characterized in that the drive that folds and unfolds the solar panel is a motor that also drives the pivoting of the central mast (1) with respect to its union with the external slab. 14. - Mobile and autonomous system of building facade facades characterized in that it comprises the foldable solar panels defined in any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein said foldable solar panels are covering a facade of a building in form of slats, and are configured to regulate the passage of direct and indirect solar radiation into said building. 15. - Mobile and autonomous system of building facade facades according to claim 14 characterized in that the facade of the building in which the foldable solar panels are installed comprises a rigid profile structure attached to said facade, where the ends of the central mast (1) by the first (17) and the second anchor (18). 16. - Mobile and autonomous system of building facade facades according to claim 14, characterized in that the regulation of the passage of solar radiation inside the building is determined by the folding and unfolding of the solar panels covering the facade of the building. 17. - Mobile and autonomous system of building facade facades according to claim 14, characterized in that the regulation of the passage of solar radiation inside the building is determined by pivoting the central masts (1) of the solar panels that cover the facade of the building together. 18. - Mobile and autonomous system of building facade facades according to claim 14, characterized in that the regulation of the passage of solar radiation inside the building is determined by the joint action of the folding and unfolding process of the solar panels covering the facade and by pivoting the central masts (1) of said panels, together. 19. - Mobile and autonomous system of building facade facades according to claims 14 or 15 characterized in that the solar panels cover the facade of a building arranged in a selected position between horizontal and vertical. 20. - Mobile and autonomous system of enclosures of building facades according to claims 14 to 19 characterized in that the drive that activates the folding and unfolding of the solar panels covering the facade of the building is activated by an autonomous system of sensors of luminosity located on said facade. 21. - Mobile and autonomous system of building facade facades according to claim 14 characterized in that it comprises at least one of the elements selected from: a charge controller, an inverter, a battery, an electrical panel, and measuring means electric power