GB2125531A

GB2125531A - Solar heating

Info

Publication number: GB2125531A
Application number: GB08223608A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Salvatore Trovato
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1982-08-17
Filing date: 1982-08-17
Publication date: 1984-03-07
Also published as: DE3233499A1; FR2532728A1

Abstract

A solar panel for supplying or extracting heat from a building comprising a double glazed window having a frame supporting two spaced-apart glass panes (enclosing a space housing a set of louvres, each of which is dark on one side and reflective on the other. The louvres are rotatable through 180 DEG to absorb or reflect the sunlight. Vents (10, 11) are openable to circulate air into or out of the building through the space, as required for heating or ventilation. The panel also includes a heat exchanger coil (13) of a hot water system. The louvres can be raised to the top part of the frame to leave the space clear and one pane is mounted on a hinged sub-frame so that it can be opened for cleaning. Coils (13) for heating water are located in the path of the air flow. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Solar panels specifically designed for exterior windows The invention relates to solar panels specifically, but not exclusively, designed for exterior windows, with the function of heating the building interior, and supplying heat to other apparatus, for example a hot water heater, during the cold season, and air conditioning the same interior during the summer months.

According to the invention there is provided a solar panel, usable both for heating and for ventilating the interior rooms of buildings, comprising a pair of spaced apart upright panels, at least one of which is transparent and providing therebetween a hollow space or air chamber which contains horizontally hinged louvres each having one dark-coloured rough face and another silver-coloured reflective smooth face treated with metallic sodium, the louvres being rotatable through 1 80", and an operating device and a control unit for respectively causing and controlling the rotation of the louvres and operable to group the louvres together and place them in a housing situated in an upper section of the panel.

In their preferential embodiment of the invention the upright panels, are mounted in exterior frames. These frames can be single or double wing, and made of any material whatsoever, such as wood, iron, aluminium, or even made of plastic. Each wing forms a double-glazing and designed to create an air chamber, within which are placed metal or plastic louvres, very thin, and with one darkcoloured rough surface and the other a smooth, silver-coloured, reflecting surface, treated with metallic sodium. These louvres can be rotated 1 80" about a horizontal axis.

They can also be grouped together and moved into a housing situated in the upper part of the wing frame. The two glass panes are each housed in their own frames, which are hinged for opening to permit the glass to be cleaned on the inside and for maintenance on the louvres and on all internal components.

Logically, when they are functioning as solar panels, the louvres have their dark rough side facing the sun's rays, capturing their heat and sending it, as hot air, through special openings or vents, preferably located in the upper or lower section of the wings, and communicating with the building interior. Coils of tubing are located in the upper section of the wing frame. These, heated by the flow of hot air generated by the solar panels, produce, for example, hot water.

The outside one of the two glass panes can be replaced by a masonry wall, insulated as required. This wall will therefore carry a false window, which performs the same functions as the real window, and increases the energycapturing power of the system-something which can be very useful, for example, with extremely large interior rooms.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a front view of a frame carrying the solar panels according to the invention, Figure 2 shows a horizontal cross-section of the frame shown in Fig. 1, and Figure 3 shows a vertical cross-section of the frame shown in Fig. 1, along line Ill-Ill in Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings, reference number 1 (Fig. 1 ) generally indicates a frame mounting a solar panel. The frame consists of a fixed frame 2 (Fig. 2), to which is hinged, for each of two wings, a first openable frame 3, carrying glass panes 4. The frame 3 supports a second sub-frame 5, which opens with respect to frame 3, permitting cleaning of the inside of the glass panes and maintenance of the entire system, as described below, which is situated in hollow space 6 between inner and outer glass panes 4.

Horizontally pivoted louvres 7 are located in the hollow space 6. These can be made of metal or plastic. Louvres 7 are very thin, with a dark-coloured rough surface on one side and a perfectly smooth, silver-coloured, reflecting surface on the other side which is treated with metallic sodium. Louvres 7, connected together like a Venetian blind, for example, can be orientated in all directions of the horizontal plane, by 1 80" rotation, i.e. they can be completely turned over. This movement is performed by a device 8 and a control unit 9 (Fig. 3), using which, if necessary, all the louvre blades can be assembled together and placed in a housing made in the upper section of the frame of the relative wing, as shown in the right section of Fig. 1.

Vents 10 and 11 are positioned, respectively, in the lower and upper sections of frames 3 and 5. These, by opening and closing flaps 1 2 as necessary, regulate the flow of air circulating in hollow space 6, as shall be described further.

During winter months, to heat the interior room, device 8 is used to adjust the louvres so that the light-capturing surface, i.e. that with the dark rough surface, is perpendicular to the direction of the sun's rays. Bottom vent 10 and top vent 11, which open to the interior of the room, are kept open and the heat which is absorbed from radiation on louvres 7 is transferred to the layer of air in the hollow space 6 between the inner and outer panes of glass, and then, by rising convection currents, is introduced into the room through the top vent 11.

Coils 1 3 are situated in the top section of the wing frame. These coils carry fluid, water for example, so that rising hot air, circulating in hollow space 6, comes into contact with these coils before it exits from the top vent, thus heating the fluid they contain, which can be supplied direct to a hot-fluid user.

Another vent 14 is also situated in the top section of the wing frame. This vent is in direct contact with the floor structure, or the area above a false ceiling, so that the heat which comes out from this vent is distributed throughout the entire floor structure, which acts to store heat energy, using heat captured during the day during the night as well.

During hot months louvres 7 are tilted 1 80" so that the sun's rays hit their silver-coloured reflecting surface, and are, for the most part, reflected back to the outside. In addition, by opening the bottom interior vent 10 and top exterior vent 11, a rising convection air current is produced, expelling any hot air which may be created in hollow space 6 through the top vent 11, and consequently pulling in fresh ventilation air from those parts of the building which are not exposed to the sun. In this case the invention functions as an air conditioner.

In addition to what has been said, it is evident that by regulating the angle of louvres 7 as desired, the amount of light permitted to enter the room can be regulated over an ample range, up to maximum light entry which is had when all the louvres are stacked and stored in the housing in the upper section of the wing frame.

Naturally, even though the invention has been described with specific reference to glazed frames, it is clear that other applications are possible. For example one of the two glazed surfaces could be replaced by a masonry wall, insulated as necessary, to obtain the same results. In this case there will be a false window, functioning as a solar panel, which can be placed side-by-side, for example, with a real window, or in any other position on the external facade of the building. This false window functions to increase the solar energy capturing power of the system, and thus heat, for example, large size rooms.

Claims

1. A solar panel, usable both for heating and for ventilating the interior rooms of buildings, comprising a pair of spaced apart upright panels, at least one of which is transparent, and providing therebetween a hollow space or air chamber which contains horizontally hinged louvres each having one darkcoloured rough face and another silver-coloured reflective smooth face treated with metallic sodium, the louvres being rotatable through 180" and an operating device and a control unit for respectively causing and controlling the rotation of the louvres and operable to group the louvres together and place them in a housing situated in an upper sec tion of the panel.

2. A solar panel according to claim 1, including vents, closable by flaps, in the lower and upper parts of a frame surrounding the panels, so that, by opening the vents, and regulating the movement of the louvres a hot air or ventilation air flow may be created in interior of a room.

3. A solar panel according to claim 2, including another openable vent in the upper section of the frame, which when open, can put the hollow space into direct communication with a floor structure, or with a space above a false ceiling below which the panel is installed, so that rising convection flow of hot air circulating in said air gap is distributed throughout the entire floor structure which acts to store this heat energy.

4. A solar panel according to claims 2 or 3, wherein coils are placed in the upper section of the frame, which extend longitudinally and carry a fluid which is heated by the flow of rising hot air within the hollow space.

5. A solar panel according to any of the preceding claims, wherein at least one of the panels is carried by an openable sub-frame, to permit cleaning of the insides of the panel surfaces and maintenance of the components located in hollow space.

6. A solar panel according to any of the preceding claims, wherein one of the panels is made of masonry or other opaque material which may be heat insulated.

7. A solar panel according to claim 6, wherein the said one panel is that which is not directly exposed to the sun's rays.

8. A solar panel constructed and arranged substantially as hereinbefore described and shown in the accompanying drawings.