WO2013177653A1

WO2013177653A1 - Energy saving building elements and building using solar energy for heating and cooling

Info

Publication number: WO2013177653A1
Application number: PCT/CA2012/000531
Authority: WO
Inventors: Huazi Lin
Original assignee: W&E International (Canada) Corp.
Priority date: 2012-06-01
Filing date: 2012-06-01
Publication date: 2013-12-05

Abstract

The disclosure provides building elements for a building using solar energy for building heating and cooling. The building uses building elements are able to collect and store solar heat building and have a fluid channel that is arranged in said building element such that a fluid is able to absorb and transfer the absorbed solar heat. A solar heat storage device is connected to the fluid channel to store the heat for hot water and/or space heating and a solar heat radiator is connected to said fluid channel for cooling the building element. The building elements may further comprise one or more of automation control system, electric power pump, heat driven self-powered pump, solar cooking appliance or a solar heat appliance.

Description

ENERGY SAVING BUILDING ELEMENTS AND

BUILDING USING SOLAR ENERGY FOR HEATING AND COOLING

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to solar energy application. The present disclosure especially relates to energy saving coverings for windows and doors of buildings and transportation tools, device integrated solar heat collecting with solar heat storing, recyclable solar heat collector and building element and building using solar heat for heating and cooling employing these energy saving devices.

BACKGROUND

Recently solar heat has been used in many buildings mainly for solar water heating and space heating. There is also solar cooling equipment for buildings. Usually the solar energy application in a building needs separated and extra equipments. Some of these equipments may be complex and expensive. For example, to heat water or space, an independent solar heat collector and independent solar heat storage are required. To cool a building, expensive cooling equipment may be required. A simple space-heating device, for example a Trombe wall also needs a heat absorber on the front of the building wall. All of the above-mentioned equipments require materials to make and need energy for manufacture and transportation. This is opposite to our goal to use solar energy for energy saving.

In fact, any building has many building elements that face the sunlight. There are enough surfaces to absorb solar energy and the absorbed heat is enough for the demand of hot water, space heating and cooling in the building at a sunny day. These building elements include wall, roof, floor, door, window, fence, deck, pillar, veranda, path, driveway, awning, brick, tile, covering of window, covering of door and a combination of them. Furthermore, the materials of the building elements also have large enough heat capacity to store the solar heat absorbed for use. These materials may include brick, stone, sand, soil, cement, metal, alloy, bitumen and reinforced concrete etc.

On the other hand, if we use the solar heat collector and storage equipment as a building element, it also can save building materials and cost.

Long time ago our forefathers used building elements for soar heating or cooling. The buildings in a high latitude area usually have a dark color and heavy wall to absorb and store more solar heat. The buildings in a lower latitude area usually have a light color wall to reflect the sunlight. The above arrangement is not perfect. When we use a building to absorb more solar heat at cool seasons, the building needs more air conditioning energy at the hot season. Vice versa, when a building reflects most of the sunlight, the building will need more heating energy at cool season. If the absorbed solar heat not only can heat the building but also can cool the building, we can make arrangement to absorb the solar heat as much as possible at any seasons for two opposite requirements.

The purpose of this disclosure is to find a simple and cost effective way for using solar heat in a building not only for heating but also for cooling. The first idea is to collect and store the solar heat by building element(s) and materials for reducing the extra cost of the solar heat collector and storage equipment. The second idea is to use a solar heat collector and/or storage instrument as building element(s) for reducing the cost of building. The third idea is that the collected solar heat not only can heat the building, but also can cool the building. Furthermore, most of the goals can be achieved by solar heat driven automatic circulating to reduce the consumption of circulating power.

Here said building is any building having an elements that can reach sunlight. The buildings may include commercial buildings, industrial buildings, agriculture buildings, residential buildings, education building and defence buildings etc.

To use solar energy for building heating and cooling, an energy saving covering for windows and doors need to be considered. There are many kinds of coverings for windows and doors in the markets. Some of them are known as shutters, roller blind, Venetian blind, vertical blind, shade, roman shade and different kinds of curtains such as glass curtain, attached curtain, loose curtain, sheer or net curtain etc. The element of a blind may be vertical, e.g. vertical blind, or horizontal e.g. Venetian blind.

The coverings of windows and doors mainly are used to control the amount of entry light to a space for providing decorating and privacy. They are also energy exchange channels between an internal space and outside environment.

For a space with a transparent window or door, the regular covering can block the light to the space. Because the covering is within the space, the solar heat may still be absorbed and stay within the space. If the space needs cooling, the absorbed solar heat may increase the cooling power. In an opposite case, a solar light entered in a space may be reflected by wall, floor or furniture with a light color. If the space needs heating, the reflected light is a loss of heating energy. At nighttime, if there is a temperature difference between an indoor space and outdoor environment, heat can be transferred between them by radiation. In any case there is an energy loss through windows and doors in a space using traditional covering of windows and doors.

This disclosure is trying to find a simple and cost effective way to save space heating or cooling energy by controlling the solar energy absorbed in a space. It is to provide a covering integrated heat absorbing and light reflecting for windows and doors. The covering has first side able and is for absorbing solar heat and second side able and is for reflecting sunlight. The users can select either side to face the sunshine and control the amount of absorbed energy in the space very easily. The energy saving covering of windows and doors can be controlled automatically based on space light and temperature. Furthermore the energy saving covering also can collect solar heat for use. The disclosed energy saving covering can be used for all kinds of windows and doors of buildings and transportation tools. The buildings include industrial, commercial, agriculture and residential buildings. The transportation tools include air transportation tools, road transportation tools, rail transportation tools and maritime transportation tools, e.g. aircrafts, airplanes, cars, buses, trucks, trains, vehicles, boats and ships etc.

Solar heating including solar water and space heating of a building is used widely for industrial, commercial, agricultural and residential purposes. Most of the solar heating systems separate solar heat collecting device and storing device. For example, a swimming pool is a solar heat storage device, but its solar heat collector may be put on the roof of a building. A domestic solar heating system has a separated solar heat collector and a water tank, even though they are located very closely. This arrangement increases the heat loss in two devices and connecting tubes. It also increases the costs of equipment, installation, operation and maintenance.

It is possible to integrate solar heat collecting device with solar heat storing device, because of the new technologies and products. For example we may add a solar heat absorb coating at a solar heat storing device e.g. a swimming pool or a water tank. Or we can put a flat solar heat storage tank in a solar heat collector. In either case, the cost of equipments, installation, operation and maintenance will be reduced. The solar heat may be used more popular. Recently to reduce the climate change by humankind energy consumption, more and more renewable energies are used. For the application of renewable energy, we need to add some new equipment. For example to use the wind energy we need wind turbine, tower and huge space. They need to consume energy first. The renewable energy equipment may also generate new pollution to earth. For example the existing solar heat collector's insulation and the painting of the frame of the collector may be a new pollution source. Further more the existing building uses a lot bricks and cement. They need huge energy to manufacture. When the building is out of the service, all the building materials become garbage. All the energy used for manufacture these building materials are wasted.

This disclosure released a building element mainly made of glass. It not only strong enough like the existing building, but also consume less energy to manufacture. Furthermore the building element can collect the solar heat for building heating and cooling. After the service of the building, the glass and metal can be recycled easily and cost effectively.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure provides a building using solar energy for heating and cooling. Said building comprises a building element absorbing solar heat, a building element storing solar heat, a fluid channel within said building element for a fluid to transfer solar heat and a controlling device controls the flow of said liquid.

The building further comprises a liquid heat storage device fluidly connect to the fluid channel in the building element to storage solar heat for hot water and/or space heating.

The building further comprises a heat radiator fluidly connected to said fluid channel in the building element to cool the building.

In accordance with one aspect of the present disclosure, it is to provide an energy saving covering for windows and doors of buildings and transportation tools, which having first side to absorb solar heat and second side to reflect sunlight.

In accordance with another aspect of the present disclosure, the provided energy saving covering of windows and doors allows users to use either side of the covering to the sunshine at any time. The energy saving covering also allows users to control the open or close angle of the covering at any degree. Thus the receiving solar energy in a space can be controlled continuously. In accordance with yet another aspect, this disclosure provides an automatic controlled energy saving covering for windows and doors of building and transportation tools.

In accordance with yet another aspect, this disclosure further provides a heating source by collecting solar heat from energy saving covering for windows and doors.

In accordance with another aspect, this disclosure further provides a flat plate energy solar heat collecting and storage device, which uses energy saving covering as a solar heat absorber.

In accordance with one aspect of the present disclosure, it is to provide a solar heat storage device with a wall having a solar heat absorb coating to collect solar heat. Transparent heat insulation allows the sunlight passing and reduces the heat loss.

In accordance with another aspect of the present disclosure, it is to provide a fully airtight sealed and water resistant solar heat absorber. Said solar heat absorber can be used to make up a solar heat storage device. Said solar heat absorber can also be attached on a wall of solar heat storage device to absorb solar heat.

In accordance with yet another aspect of the present disclosure, it is to provide a plate solar heat collector in which a flat metal box replaces flat plate solar heat absorber. Said box has a wall having a solar heat coating. A heat storage material is in the box.

In accordance with yet another aspect of the present disclosure, this disclosure provides an integrated solar heat collecting and storing device. Said device has an energy saving vertical blind style solar heat absorber. The absorber comprises a group of slats having an adjustable orientation. A first side of the slats is for absorbing solar heat and a second side is for reflecting solar heat. A mechanism is used for controlling the orientation of slats. Said absorber can track the sunlight at daytime and reduce the heat loss at nighttime.

In accordance with yet another aspect of the present disclosure, this disclosure provides an recyclable solar heat collector and energy saving building element. Said element comprises a hollow transparent object having a closed and airtight space, a solar heat absorber arranged in said space and separated said space into first subspace and second subspace, a gas filled in the subspaces, a fluid channel having thermal connection with the solar heat absorber and extended out of the space.

Other aspects and features of the present disclosure will become apparent to those ordinarily skilled in the art upon review of the following description of specific embodiments of the invention in conjunction with the accompanying figures.

BRIEF DESCRIBTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the figures which illustrate exemplary embodiments of this invention:

Fig. 1-A is schematic diagram illustrating a window Venetian blind having first side for absorbing solar heat and second side for reflecting sunshine;

Fig. 2-A is schematic diagram illustrating a window curtain having first side for absorbing solar heat and second side for reflecting sunshine;

Fig. 3-A is schematic diagram illustrating a door vertical blind having first side for absorbing solar heat and second side for reflecting sunshine;

Fig.4-A is schematic diagram illustrating a slat of vertical blind having a fluid channel attached to a solar heat absorbing side;

Fig. 5-A is schematic diagram illustrating an exemplary solar heat collector using an energy saving vertical blind as its solar heat absorber;

Fig. 1-B is schematic side view illustrating a liquid heat storage tank having a solar heat collecting wall;

Fig. 2-B is schematic side view illustrating a flat plate solar heat collector integrated with a heat storage tank;

Fig.3-B is schematic side view illustrating a liquid pool integrated with a solar heat collecting wall;

Fig.4-B is schematic side view illustrating an air inflated PVC liquid container integrated with a heat absorbing wall and bottom;

Fig. 5-B is schematic side view illustrating an exemplary solar heat collector using an energy saving vertical blind as its solar heat absorber and integrated with a solar heat storage tank. Fig. 1-C is schematic side view of an exemplary building using solar energy for heating and cooling through air channel within brick holes of the building wall;

Fig. 2-C is schematic side view of an exemplary single floor building using solar energy for heating and cooling;

Fig. 3-C is schematic side view of an exemplary multi -floor building using solar energy for heating and cooling.

Fig. 1-D is schematic side view illustrating an recyclable solar heat collector and energy saving building element which is a solar heat absorber arranged in a insulating glass, and said absorber having fluid channels.

DETAILED DESCRIBTION

Referring to Fig.l-A, an exemplary Venetian blind 10 is illustrated in schematic side view. From a mechanical point of view, this Venetian blind is no different from the Venetian blinds in the existing market. The blind 10 has a head-rail 101 and a bottom rail 102. A group of horizontal slats 100 are arranged one above another. They are suspended by cords, by which all slats in unison can be rotated through nearly 180 degrees, so that the slats can face the sunshine at either first side or second side. The slats also can be rotated at a preferred angle by controlling the lath tilt control bar 104. Further more, to stretch out and draw back the lift cord 108, the area of the blind can be adjusted.

In Fig.l-A, a representative slat 105 has first side 106 and a second side 107. In Fig. l-A we can only see a end of a turn over side of 106. But it represents all the first sides of slats 100. The difference between disclosed Venetian blind 10 and the market existing blind is that here first side 106 able and is for absorbing solar heat and second side 107 able and is for reflecting sunlight. In this case, the slats 100 are made of aluminum alloy sheets. The first side 106 has a selective coating comprising titanium, nitrogen and oxygen. So it has a beautiful blue color. The second side 107 has no reflective coating, because the polished aluminum alloy surface is good for light reflecting.

When the space needs heat, turn the heat absorbing side 106 of the blind to the sunlight, otherwise turn the reflective side 107 to sunlight. If the sunlight shines on the slats at 90 degrees, most of the solar heat entering into the space will be absorbed. If the reflective sides of the slats face the sunshine directly most of the solar heat will be reflected. By setting the angle of the slats, the received solar energy of the space can be controlled. The heat absorbing can be controlled continuously from a maximum amount to a minimum amount.

The base material of the covering of windows and doors can be selected from a group of wood, bamboo, metal (aluminum, stainless steel, copper etc), alloy, glass, polymer and plastic etc.

Aluminum is a good choice, because it is light, soft (comparing with other metals), and having a high melting temperature. So that aluminum can have many kinds of metal coatings. Wood and bamboo are natural material and environmentally friendly. Polymer and plastic are easy to manufacture. Users can have their own selections.

In some cases, a base material itself can absorb solar heat. For example, a dark rubber sheet can absorb solar heat and does not need a coating. In this case if we coat a reflective coating at one side of a dark rubber sheet, the sheet can become a energy saving covering.

There are also many kinds of solar heat absorbing coating materials in market. They may comprise one or more of elements such as carbon black, aluminium, copper, chromium, titanium, nitrogen, and oxygen etc. Some coating can be processed at ambient temperature and others need high temperature and special machines.

There are also many kinds of reflective materials in market. A base material having a light/white color surface can become a reflecting side. For example, a metal surface can become a reflective side. The metals may be copper, aluminium, stainless steel etc. Silver as a reflective material has a very long history and is well known. A special reflective material is the high reflective index glass beads (diameter of about 0.05 mm). This is a directional reflective material and has been used in highway industry widely.

Usually the covering of windows and doors are located indoor. Most of the collective coatings have a very thing glass protective layer to protect the metal coating against rust. So there is no need for mort of the energy saving covering to add a protection layer. Sometime, if the working condition of the covering is humid or polluted, a transparent protection for the covering may be required. It can be a liquid glass coating or a transparent paint. Referring to Fig. 2-A, an exemplary energy saving covering 20 is illustrated in schematic side view. The window curtain 202 has first side 203 for absorbing solar heat and second side 204 for reflecting sunshine. The material of curtain 202 is a cloth or a drapery. The first side 203 has a solar heat coating. The second side 204 has a reflective coating. The coatings can be sprayed or painted to the surface of the cloth. Either solar heat absorbing coating or reflective coating can be purchased in the market today. They are in many different ways, such as paint, print oil, film etc. We may also purchase a reflective cloth and make a coating on its opposite side. The reflective cloth is available in the market. It usually is used by the highway industry.

Fig.2-A also shows a U shaped supporting accessory 201. The curtain 202 is suspended on 201. When three rings 205, 206 and 207 are at the situation indicated by 20, the curtain absorbs solar heat. When three rings 205, 206 and 207 are at the situation indicated by 21 , the curtain reflects sunshine. To adjust the locations of 205, 206 and 207, the solar heat absorbed by a space can be controlled.

Curtains usually mean the soft covering for windows and doors. They are mainly used for decoration and for controlling light in a space. They are also important for the windows of the transportation tools, because they are safe in a moving transport. To attach the curtain to a window in a transportation tool, e.g. a car, a soft attach accessory may also be require. It may be made of rubber or silicon gel. A set of section cups can support a detachable curtain on a car window. Some times a soft aluminum foil can be used independently or together with a cloth to make a curtain too.

Referring to Fig. 3-A, a exemplarily vertical blind 30 for a door is illustrated in a schematic side view. A group of vertical slats (the number is 8 in this case) 300 are arranged one next to another. A head-rail 301 guides the slat's movement. All the slats are overhung under the head-rail 301. The vertical blind 30 has a similar working idea of the Venetian blind. The slats of the blind can be rotated through 180 degrees by stretching out and drawing back a rotating angle control cord 304. Through lift cord 309, the blind also can open or close for a preferred area. A slat 305 at right side shows the blind has a first side 306 with a selective coating comprising aluminum or copper. The second side 307 has a reflective coating. Here it is a reflective paint. A paint or ink or panting oil also has a function to protect the metal surface against rust. In a warm and humid region, it is necessary to protect the base material. It can be a coating of transparent paint or liquid glass.

It is valuable to have a high efficient coating on the second side of the energy saving covering, if the temperature difference is large between the indoor space and the outdoor environment. The reflecting side not only works at daytime, but also at nighttime. In the winter, when the indoor temperature is higher than the outdoors, the reflecting side reduces radiation heat transferred from internal space to the outdoor environment. In the summer, when the indoor temperature is lower than the outdoors, the reflecting side reduces radiation heat transfer from outdoor environment to internal space. In both cases the energy saving covering saves space heating and cooling energy.

In Fig. 3-A, an automatic control system 309 for the blind 30 is further comprised. The control system is based on the data of space temperature and/or light strength to control the open/close area and rotation angle of the slats. The basic elements of the control system comprise a data sensor, a micro motor for ruling the cords, a programmable unit to control the processing. The control system 309 can be installed and hidden in head rail 301 too. Of course both manual and automatic operation for blind 30 are available at any time.

Referring to Fig. 4-A, an exemplary slat 40 of a vertical blind is illustrated in a schematic side view. Slat 403 is one of the group slats of a vertical blind. The base material of slat 403 is copper. The first side 401 has a coating comprises aluminum for absorbing solar heat. A fluid tube, here is a heat tube 404, which is attached on the first side 401 to transfer the absorbed solar heat to its head-rail 406. The fluid tube can also be arranged in the slat. The head 405 of the heat tube 404 extends into the heat-insulated head-rail 406. The insulator is 407. In the head-rail 406, a fluid (here is air) in space 408 transfers the collected heat from all heat tubes for space or water heating. The heat tube 404 is also used to hold the slat 403. The second side 402 is for reflecting the sunshine. Many coatings may be used for 402. Here the reflective coating comprises a high reflective index glass beads (diameter of about 0.05 mm). This is a directional reflective material. This kind of material has been used in highway for indication and warning.

An alternative way is to put a liquid tube in the head-rail (not shown in the Fig.4-A). The head of the heat tube is extended into the liquid tube for collecting and transferring the absorbed heat. In some cases if we put a cloth curtain at the back of the vertical blind, it may increase the temperature of the slats and the heat tubes, so that the solar heat collected by covering is increased.

There is an alternative way to collect solar heat by using an energy saving covering of windows and doors. It is to put the energy saving covering within a two-layer glass window or door. One fluid channel, e.g. an air or water channel is arranged in the space between two layer glasses to absorb the received heat and transfer the heat for use. The space of the two layer glasses itself is also a good fluid channel for storing and passing received heat in air.

When we use the energy saving coverings, there is a risk of reflective sunlight pollution. The solution is to consider a diffuse reflection material or a directional reflection material. Both of them can be purchased in the market.

Referring to Fig. 5-A, an exemplary solar heat collector 50 is illustrated in a schematic side view. Said solar heat collector uses an energy saving vertical blind as its solar heat absorber.

The solar heat collecting device 50 has a transparent cover 503 that allows solar energy to pass through but reduce heat losses. Here cover 503 is glass. It can also be other materials like transparent plastic or polymer. The transparent cover may have two or more layers. It also r may be an evacuated glass or a insulating glass in a cool area. There is also a heat insulation backing 505 to reduce the heat loss.

The key element of this disclosure is an energy saving vertical blind style solar heat absorber 501. It is not a simple flat plate absorber as in a regular flat plant solar heat collector. It is a group of vertical slats arranged one next to another under the transparent cover. Slats 501 1-5014 are part examples of the slats. The first side of the slats having a solar heat absorb coat. It is a coat same as a flat plate solar heat collector available in market such as a coat comprises titanium. The second side of the slates has a reflective coat or a polished metal surface. A fluid tube, here is heat tube 51 1 having its one end attached at the heat-absorbing slat 501 1 and an opposite end extended into a heat converging fluid tube 504 to transfer the heat. Other heat tubes have similar arrangement. An end of the heat converging tube 504 is 509. In this case if the second side of the slats has no reflecting coating. It is no effect on the system operation.

The head rail 506 holds the slats and guides their movement. All the slats are overhung under the head-rail 506. The solar heat absorber 501 has a similar working idea of the vertical energy saving blind in Fig.4-A. The slats can be rotated through 180 degrees by stretching out and drawing back a rotating angle control cord (not shown in Fig. 5-A). A mechanism for controlling the orientation of the slats is hidden in the head-rail 506. An automatic controlling system similar to 309 in Fig.3-A can be connected to the control cord, (not shown in Fig.5-A). The automatic controlling system comprises a micro motor, a hardware and software to control the orientation of the slats based on sunlight incident angle or data of location, date and timing. Of course both manual and automation operation for slats 501 are available at any time.

When the sunlight shines on the solar heat collector 50, the first sides of slats 501 absorb the heat and transfer it to the fluid within tube 504. It is no different comparing to the regular solar heat collector. An unique point of this disclosure is that the absorber 501 is a group of slats and their orientation is adjustable and controllable. The control system lets the slats to face sunlight at an optimum angle at any time. It will significantly increase the heat collection efficiency of the system. There are some existing devises in the market which rotate the solar heat collector to follow solar movement. These device need a power to move the entire solar heat collector. Comparing to the existing devices, the disclosed system needs a power to rotate the slats only, it is much easier and can save energy.

We can also put a solar heat storage tank such as a flat box between the solar heat absorber 501 and heat insulation backing 505. The flat box is made of a metal or a heat insulation material. A heat storage material can be stored in the box. The heat storage material can be solid, liquid, gas or their combination. The collected solar heat can be transferred from the slats to the heat storage tank and stored in the tank for use. The reflecting second side helps to keep the heat in the tank. In this case, the solar heat collector 50 becomes a solar heat collecting and storing integrated device. This device may become a part of a building element. The building element includes building wall, roof, door or window etc. We can also set up a solar cooking place in the heat storage material of the device for solar cooking. As mentioned before, this disclosed solar heat collector uses an energy saving vertical blind as its solar heat absorber. In fact, any energy saving covering such as a Venetian blind, a shutter or a curtain can also be used in a solar heat collector as solar heat absorber. But the vertical blind style solar heat absorber is the first choice, because the rotated orientation of the slats can follow the sunlight. All discussions and limitations to the energy saving covering in this disclosure can be applied to the disclosed solar heating system.

Referring to Fig. 1-B, a liquid heat storage device having a solar heat-collecting wall is illustrated in side view. The device 10 comprises a water tank 1 10 having a stainless steel wall. There are selective coating on the sidewall 1 12 and top wall 1 13 to absorb solar heat. The selective coating comprises metal element e.g. titanium. The tank can be a pressured tank or a tank open to atmosphere. The device may have an automation controlling system like many solar heating systems did.

A transparent glass or plastic covering 120 covered the tank 1 10. Similar to a regular water tank, the tank 110 has a cool water inlet 131, hot water outlet 132, release valve 133, anode protection bar 134 and a drain valve 135. When sunlight shines on the tank 1 10, the selective coating 1 12 and 1 13 absorb the heat and transfers it to the water in the tank 1 10. The transparent cover 120 allows the sunlight to pass through and reduce the heat loss.

The tank 110 looks like the regular tank on the market. There are two differences. First, the insulation and protection covering is made of a transparent material. Second, the wall of the tank absorbs solar heat directly.

Sometimes for a transportation cost reason, the transparent insulation and protection 120 can be detachable and is formed by two or more parts. A two layer air inflated PVC insulation and protection is cost efficient, easy for transportation and easy for replacement. This kind of full transparent cover lets the sunlight going through onto east side at morning, west side at afternoon and front at noontime. So the efficiency is high for all day.

Furthermore if we put a transparent insulation at the front of the tank and put insulation with a reflective surface at the back, it will increase the absorbed heat. The transparent insulation may be a half cylinder evacuated glass. In a warm area, the transparent insulation and protection can be a transparent coating of glass, liquid glass, paint, ink oil, film, plastic or polymer. It also can be a PVC or a similar material's foil.

Referring to Fig.2-B, a flat plate solar heat collector integrated with a flat plate heat storage tank is illustrated in side view. Comparing with the flat plat solar heat collector in the present market, the device 20 has many similar parts as follows:

There is a solar heat absorber 201 with a solar heat absorbing coating 202. Here 202 is a selective coating comprising metal elements. A transparent glass cover 203 allows sunlight to arrive on the heat absorb coating 202 and reduce heat loss. Heat insulation 205 at the back and sides to reduce heat loss too. A fluid tube 204 is for transferring heat. It can be a simple tube to pass the heated liquid in the tank 208 or a heat exchange tube such as U shaped tube and a metal tube with fins.

There are also some significant differences. The solar heat absorbing plate 201 in Fig. 2 is not a single plate. It is a front/surface wall 201 of a flat solar heat storage tank 208. This means a flat heat storage tank 208 with a solar heat absorbing wall 201 in the device 20 replaces the flat plate solar heat absorber in a regular flat plate solar heat collector. The tank 208 further comprises other sidewall 205 and bottom wall. In this case, the tank 208 is made of aluminum alloy. The device including tank can made of other metal, alloy, ceramic, plastic, polymer, wood, stone, porcelain, glass, concrete and a combination of two or more above-mentioned materials. Furthermore there is a heat storage material 207 placing in the tank 208. The heat storage material 207 can be a solid material, e.g. sand, a fluid material e.g. air, anti-freezing liquid and water, or a phase change material e.g. paraffin. It also can be a combination of two or more of above-mentioned materials. Not like a convergence tube in an existing flat plate solar heat collector, here the tube 204 is a heat exchange tube such as a single copper tube, a U shaped tube or a metal tube with fins that arranged within heat storage material 207 to transfer the heat by fluid. When the device always operates at an environment with a temperature above the freezing point, water can be used as the heat storage material. In this case, an inlet at lower place and an outlet at higher place of the tank can replace the heat exchange tube to transfer the heat for use. An inlet fitting and a outlet fitting are arranged on the wall of the tank. They can be used either for heat exchanger or for water flow directly. Now we can make arrangement to let water pass through the tube 204 to get solar heated hot water. We can also let air pass through the tube 204 to get solar heated air for space heating. Further more an air inlet and an air outlet are arranged at the wall of the device 20 respectively (not show in the Figure). When the cool air passes through the upper surface 201 or a channel arranged in tank 208, the air will be warmed. The warmed air can be used for space heating or industry processing. In this case the device 20 can generate the solar heated hot water and warm air at the same time. So that it is a multifunction solar heat device. To let the device works properly and automatically, the device may have an automatic controlling system like many solar heating systems did.

Following are the advantages of sand as a heat storage material:

1. Sand is a cost efficient material.

2. Sand is easy to get in many places. It reduces the transportation cost.

3. Sand has no rust risk to aluminum plate.

4. Sand has no freezing risk in winter.

Of course water and antifreeze are good heat storage material too, if the tank is made of stainless steel.

When sunlight goes through glass plate 203 and arrives at solar heat absorbing plate 201 , heat is absorbed and transferred to the heat storage material 207 through the aluminum alloy plate 201 and other sidewalls. When we need the heat, let fluid, e.g. water, passing through the tube 204. The heat will be transferred. The aluminum alloy is a very good heat conductive material. The fluid tube 204 connects to the aluminum plate 208 closely or the tube is part of the aluminum plate. The heat in sand 207 can be transferred to the fluid in the tube 204 quickly.

A heat conducting material, a heat tube or a fluid tube may be installed in the heat storage material to speed up heat transferring.

At the right corner of Fig.2-B an alternative arrangement for liquid tube 204 is provided in 21. The single fluid tube 204 in 20 is replaced by a Ί" shaped tube group. The tube group has four ports 214, 219, 224, and 229 distributed on the walls of the tank. There are two spare bolts for closing two ports that are not in use. This arrangement not only make the heat transferring from sand 207 to tube 204 easier, but also more flexible for field installation. In this case because the heat storage material is a solid material, so there is no risk of liquid freezing in winter if there is no liquid in the tube 204. In some cases, the tank 208 can be filled with heat storage liquid, e.g. water, and there is no need of the tube 204. One inlet and one outlet at the wall of tank are enough.

Referring to Fig. 3-B, a stainless liquid reservoir 30 is illustrated in a schematic side view. The reservoir may be a swimming pool or other processing pool. The liquid reservoir 30 has a sidewall 301, bottom wall 302 and a open top. There is heat insulation 303 for the sidewalls and bottom wall. The reservoir may be under ground or above ground. The sidewalls 301 and bottom wall 302 are formed by stainless steel sheets. An enlarged side view of the sheet is shown in 31. There are 4 layers 311 to 314 plus the heat insulation 315. 314 is stainless steel sheet. 313 is a selective coating comprising titanium. We select titanium because its coating color is blue.

Comparing to a dark color of other metal coatings (e.g. chromium and aluminum), blue is better for swimming pool. Usually the metal coating has a glass protection layer. It is 302. Out of 302 is a transparent paint 301 added after field construction.

Sometimes we need a reconstruction swim poor made of concrete or fiberglass. In this case a full airtight sealed and water resistant concrete brick can be a mosaic of the pool walls. We still use 31 in Fig. 3-B to describe it. Here 315 is a existing concrete wall, 314 is a concrete brick or tile, 313 is a heat collecting coating, 312 is a protection in manufacture and 31 1 is a food class paint after field construction. The full airtight sealed and water resistant solar heat absorber can be used in many building places as a part of element too. The absorber can made of many materials. For example they may be a metal sheet, a brick, a glass, a tile, a floor tile, a gypsum tile, a ceramic tile a stone, a concrete, a reinforced concrete, a plastic, a polymer, a porcelain, and a combination of above one or more mentioned materials.

Sometime we can make the reconstruction or new construction of a swim poor very simple and easy. We can simply put solar heat absorbing sheets on the bottom and or sidewall of the swim pool. One side of the sheet has solar heat absorbing coating. A transparent water resistant protection is arranged on the solar heat absorbing coating. Said side can become submerged within water. The material of the sheet can be any material of the material of above-mentioned absorber. We can also simply put transparent sheets (like the sheet of glass, transparent plastic and polymer) on the bottom and/or sidewall of the swim poor. One side of the transparent sheet has a solar heat absorbing coating. The opposite side of the transparent sheet can become submerged within water. This idea can be used for all liquid containers that need solar heat. For safety reason, the glass used in this case needs special processing. Or the solar heat absorbing coating may be laminated between two layers of grass.

32 of Fig.3-B is a schematic side view illustrating an air inflated transparent plastic cover. The cover is made of a food class plastic film for food wrap. Here 321 is top layer. 322 is bottom layer. 323 is an air injection mouth. The bottom layer is floated on the liquid surface to reduce heat loss through liquid vapor. The air gap between 321 and 322 is for reducing heat loss through heat conduction. The cover 32 may be one entire cover for a reservoir. When the liquid reservoir is large, the transparent cover 30 may consist of a group of covers. 323 is for air injecting and releasing. A cord to string the sub-covers may be necessary.

When sunlight shines on the reservoir 30, the sidewall 301 and bottom wall 302 absorb the solar heat and transfer the heat to the liquid within the reservoir 30. The heat insulation 303 reduces heat loss through sidewalls and bottom wall. The bottom layer of cover 31 is floated on the liquid surface to reduce heat loss through liquid vapor. The air gap between 321 and 322 reduces heat loss through heat conduction to atmosphere. So the solar heat liquid reservoir has a high heat collecting and storing efficiency.

Referring to Fig.4-B is schematic side view illustrating an air inflated PVC liquid container 40 integrated with a heat absorbing wall 401 and a bottom 403. This PVC liquid has a similar mechanical structure as the PVC swim pool in market. There are air inflated inner wall 401, outer wall 402. There is a single layer bottom wall 403.

Following are the differences of liquid container comparing with the PVC swimming pool in market:

1. The wall 402 and 403 are made of transparent material e.g. transparent PVC. 2. The inner wall 401 and bottom wall 403 has a solar heat absorbing coating. Here it is black rubber coating. The coating may other color coatings. They are located at the outside side or covered by a food class PVC. So the coating does not contact the liquid in container directly.

3. The container has a removable transparent air inflated cover 41. The cover 41 has a top layer 411 and bottom layer 412 and a air injection mouth 413. The function of the cover has been described in details in Fig.4-B. The cover 41 may be one layer PVC. Its heat insulation efficiency is not as good as a cover of two layers.

4. There is a bottom heat insulation pad 42. It is foldable for the purpose of packaging and

transportation. Some time a top layer 421 over the insulation 422 of the heat insulation pad has a solar heat absorbing coating. Here it is a titanium coating on a aluminum foil. 422 is regular foam plastic. In this case the bottom 403 is a single layer transparent PVC. The reason for this arrangement is as following: 1. Most of the coatings on PVC are in dark color. Our pad is in blue and has a better color. 2. This arrangement reduced the unit weight of the container 40.

When sunlight shines on the container 40, the solar heat is collected by the coating on the sidewall 402 and bottom wall 403 of the container and transferred to the water in the container 40. The bottom insulation 42, the inflated air in sidewall 402 and the cover 41 reduced the heat loss. It is similar as in Fig.3-B. This kind of the swimming pool can work longer time every year.

The material of the container 40 is not only PVC. Any other transparent polymer materials can be used too, if they are safe. We can add some accessories to the container such as a solid cover, an inlet and a outlet, connection tubes etc. The container will not only can be used as a PVC swimming pool, it also is a simple solar heat collecting and storing device. The device is cost efficient and easy to move, install and use.

Referring to Fig. 5-B, an exemplary solar heat collecting and storing device 50 is illustrated in schematic side view. Said device uses an energy saving vertical blind as its solar heat absorber.

The solar heat collecting and storing device 50 has a transparent cover 503 that allows solar energy to pass through but reduce heat losses. Here cover 503 is glass. It can also be other materials like transparent plastic or polymer. The transparent cover may have two or more layers or may be an evacuated glass in a cool area. There is also a heat insulation backing 505 to reduce the heat loss.

The first key element of this disclosure is an energy saving vertical blind style solar heat absorber 501. 501 is not a simple flat plate absorber. It is a group of vertical slats arranged one next to another under the transparent cover. Slats 501 1 -5015 are part examples of the slats. The first side of the slats has a solar heat absorbing coating 502. It is a coating same as a flat plate solar heat collector available in the market such as a coating comprising titanium. The second side of the slates has a reflective coat or a polished metal surface. A heat tube 51 1 having its one end attached at the heat-absorbing slat 501 1 and an opposite end extended into a head rail 506. Here the heat tube will transfer collected heat to the heat storage material 507. In head rail 506 there is also heat converging tube 506 to transfer the heat for use. Other heat tubes have similar arrangements. An end of the heat converging tube 504 is 509.

The head rail 506 holds the slats and guides their movement. All the slats are overhung under the head-rail 506. The solar heat absorber 501 has a similar working idea of an energy saving vertical blind. The slats 501 1-5015 of the blind can be rotated through 180 degrees by stretching out and drawing back a rotating angle control cord 520. The first side of the slats having a solar heat absorbing coating 502. It is a coating same as a flat plate solar heat collector available in the market. The second side of the slates has a reflective coating. A mechanism for controlling the orientation of the slats is hidden in the head-rail 506. An automatic controlling system 519 can be connected to the control cord 520. The controlling system 519 comprises a micro motor, a hardware and a software to control the orientation of the slats based on sunlight incident angle or location, date and timing of the device. Of course both manual and automation operation for slats 501 are available at any time.

The second key element of this disclosure in Fig. 5-B is a heat storage container 508, where a heat storage material 507 is stored. Here it is a flat aluminum box 508 filled with sand 507. The heat storage material can be a solid material, a liquid material, air, a phase change material or the combination of above mentioned two or more materials. Because the sand is easy to get in many places and can be installed in the field, so it may not need transportation. Further more many solid heat storage materials (like sand) have no freezing risk in the winter. It is valuable to have a high efficient coating on the second side of the heat absorber 501. It will significantly reduce the heat loss of the tank 508 by radiation, especially if the temperature difference is large between heat storage box 508 and the environment. The reflecting side not only works at daytime, but also at nighttime.

When the sunlight shines on the solar heat collector 50, the first side of slats 501 absorbs the heat and transfers it to the heat storage material 507. The absorber 501 is a group of slats and their orientation is adjustable and controllable. The control system lets the slats face sunlight at an optimum angle at any time. It will significantly increase the heat collection efficiency of the system. There are some existing devices in the market, which rotate solar heat collector to follow solar movement. The device needs a power to move the entire solar heat collector. The disclosed system needs a power to rotate the slats only and it is much easier to operation and can save energy. The idea to rotate slats instead to rotate entire devices is an idea that can be used for PV panels and other sunlight collecting and reflective equipments.

According to above discussions we conclude the follows:

1. Either a solar heat collector or a solar heat storage tank can be reconstructed to a solar heat device integrated solar heat collecting with solar heat storing.

2. In Fig. 1-B and Fig. 2-B we disclosed a cylinder device and a flat plate solar heat collecting and storing devices. This makes it easy to use existing machine tools and skilled workers. In fact any shapes can be used for the new devices. For example a cone shaped heat collector may be better than a cylinder shaped collector in the future.

3. As mentioned there are many different heat storage materials that can be used in our device.

They include solid, liquid, gas and phase change materials.

4. The integrated solar heat collecting and storing device uses single heat insulation for both solar heat collector and heat storage tank. It not only saves the material, but also reduces heat loss.

5. In the above drawings, we used many walls of the device as a solar heat absorbing walls.

They are sidewalls, top walls, inner wall and outside wall. In fact any wall can reach sunlight, it can become a wall to collect solar heat.

6. The disclosed integrated device may become a part of a building element. The building element includes building wall, roof, door or window etc. 7. We can also set up a solar cooking place in the heat storage material of the integrated device for solar cooking.

Refer to Fig. 1-C, it is a schematic side view of an exemplary building 10 using solar energy for heating and cooling through air channel within brick holes of the building wall.

The building 10 has a sunny wall 101 and opposite wall 102. Perforated bricks in dark color, e.g. red or gray builds the walls, (as showed wall 102 in Fig. 1-C, the hollows are not in series). The bricks are regular bricks or bricks with a solar heat coating. Some holes in bricks are connected in series to form an air channel 103 in the wall. Air gaps 104, 105 on the sunny wall connect the channel 103 with the building space 1 10. Air gap 106 connects the air channel 103 with atmosphere outside of the building. The gap 106 is located at the highest level. The gap 104 is at the lowest place and the gap 105 is in between. A air gap 107 is at a lower place of the opposite wall and connects the building space 1 10 with the atmosphere outside of building.

Refer to 11 in Fig. 1-C. It is a copy of building 10, except the gap 106 is blocked by a switch door. When the sunlight heats the wall 101, heated air in channel 103 rises up and enters into higher space of the building through gap 105. Cooler air in a lower space of the building enters into the channel 103 through gap 104. To continue this processing, the space 110 including wall 102 will be heated. This is a case using solar energy to heat a building space. In this case, air pressure in space 1 10 is positive. There is no air entering into the space 110 through gap 107. The gap 107 helps air pressure balance in the space 1 10.

Refer to 12 in Fig.l-C. It is a copy of building 10, except the gap 106 is opened and the gap 107 is connected to a tube having a part under ground or water, (not shown in Fig.1 ) This is a case using solar energy to cool the building space. When sunlight heats the wall 101, heated +air in the channel 103 rises up and goes to outside of the building through the highest gap 106. The complement air from the space 110 gets into channel 103 through gaps 104 and 105. It causes cooler air comes to the space 1 10 through gap 107. Because the air through gap 107 is from a shadow of the building or it may further go through a tube under ground or water, so the temperature of the air is lower. The air will cool the building space 1 10.

This is a very simple example how to heat or cool a building space through three steps. 1. To arrange existing brick holes in series to form an air channel in a sunny wall of a building. 2. To add some gaps at the walls. 3. To open or close the gap 106. Even though the solar energy efficiency in this case is not high, but the cost is very low. Because it can use existing building design and materials and there is no need to add extra expensive equipment and material. In fact, the building walls are not necessary to be built by bricks. Soil, cement or other materials can be used to build the walls if channel and gaps can be arranged in the walls. Furthermore the building wall can be built by using solar energy heating devices disclosed in this application such as device integrated solar heat collecting with solar heat storing and recyclable solar heat collector and building element. In this case, the bricks in Fig. 1. are replaced by solar energy heating devices. The holes of bricks are replaced by the channels or the spaces in the devices. They are 408 in Fig.4-A, 504 and 509 in Fig. 5-A, 206 in Fig.2-B and 106 in Fig. 1-D. These channels and following spaces can be connected to form channel like 103 in Fig. 1-C. Said spaces are the spaces 1071 or 1072 in Fig. 1-D and the space between 203 and 202 in Fig. 2-B. The new channel 103 can be used to flow solar heated air.

Fig. 2-C is schematic side view of an exemplary single floor building 20 using solar energy for heating and cooling. The building 20 may be a single layer building, a trailer or a top floor of a multi-floor building. The building has a sunny wall 201, an opposite wall 203 and a sunny roof 202. A wall 205 separates the building 20 into two spaces 206 and 207. First layers of the walls 201 and 203 are two transparent coverings. Second layers 221 and 222 are solar heat absorbing plates. 241 and 242 are heat insulations. There are building materials in the space between solar heat absorbing plates and heat insulations. The building materials may be sand, stone, bricks, cement etc. The wall of the building may also be the solar heat devices and energy saving building elements, some examples are shown in Fig. 5 A, Fig. 2B, Fig. 5B and Fig. 1-D. They also have transparent layer, heat absorber layer, heat insulation and fluid channel. The solar heat absorb plates 221 or 222 is a metal plate with a solar heat absorbing coating. The wall 203 has a surface plate, heat insulation 243 and building materials in between of 203 and 243. It has floor surface 244 and building materials 234 (such as sand, stone or cement etc) under the floor surface. The bottom floor 204 is not heat insulated, so that the heat stored in the floor 234 can be transferred to the spaces 206 and 207. Within the building walls 201 , 202, 203 and floor 204 there are liquid tubes, e.g. metal or cement tubes, 21 1 , 212, 213 and 214 filled with liquid. The liquid may be water or antifreeze. Here it is water. The tubes also can be hollow pillars. The water tubes 212 and 213 have one end connect to a heat driven liquid self-circulating device 215 respectively. There is a water control valve 216 that connects to the tube 212. Within the building material 232 of the building top wall 202, there is a water fin tube 251 connected to the hot water appliances 252 and 253. The cold water inlet of the fin tube is not shown in Fig. 2-C.

When the sunlight heats the solar heat absorbing plates 221 and 222, the solar heat is stored in the building material of the walls 201 and 202. The following is a discussion of some cases: 1. When the tubes 21 1, 212 and 213 have no water, the heat absorbed in wall 201 is stored in the material 231. The heat absorbed by 222 is stored in the material 232. When we need hot water, let cold water passes through the fin tube 251, the heat in the storage material will heat the water for use.

2. When the tubes 21 1, 212, 213 and 214 are filled with water and the valve 216 and 217 are turned off, the solar heat absorbed in plate 221 will be transferred to and stored in the building material 232 of the top wall 202 through tubes 21 1 and 212.

3. When tubes 211 , 212, 213 and 214 are filled with water and the valve 216 and 217 are turned on, the solar heat absorbed by wall 201 heats the water in the tube 21 1. The heated water rises up to tube 212 and is further heated by heat absorb plate 222. The further heated water flows though the heat driven self- circulating device 215 and is circulated in a close loop system formed by tubes 21 1 , 212, 213, and 214. The solar heat is transferred to the building materials and heat storage materials 231 , 232, 233 and 234 in the walls 201, 202, 203 and the floor 204. The heat received by floor 204 is also transferred to the spaces 206 and 207 to heat building.

4. When tubes 211, 212, 213, 214 and the heat driven self-circulating device 215 are filled with water and the valve 216 is turned on, but valve 217 is turned off, the solar heated water in tube 21 1 will rise up and is further heated in the tube 212, then flows into heat driven self-circulating device 215. In this case, the device 215 is a double layer wall water tank. The cold water in the tank 215 will take off the solar heat in the water from the tube 212. The cooled water from 215 will return to tube 212 and then the tube 21 1 to cool the wall 201. Therefore the building 20 is cooled. The heated water in device 215 can be used as hot water. Some time the double layer wall water tank 215 can have a detachable insulation and a open top cover. When the temperature of water in the device 215 is too high, the device 215 can take of the insulation and become a heat radiator. Further more we may also open the top cover to cool the water in the device further by vapor.

The above-mentioned heat driven self-circulating device may include a double layer wall liquid tank, a liquid tank with a heat exchanger and a self-powered pump etc. These devices have been disclosed in our prior patents and pending patents. Some time the heat driven self-circulating device can have a detachable insulation and an open top cover. When the temperature of water in the device 215 is too high, the device 215 can take off the insulation and become a heat radiator. Further more we may also open the top cover to cool the water in the device further by vapor.

In some cases we can also use hollow pillars of the building as both the fluid channel and heat storage element. The pillars need to be insulated. If the fluid is water, we can get the hot water from the pillars directly. If the fluid is air, the heated air from a valve can heat a space. The wall 201 and roof 202 can be replaced by a set of plate solar heat collector filled with solar heat storage material. This kind of solar heat collector has also been disclosed in our prior pending patent. The wall 201 and roof 202 can also be replaced by the three solar heating devices disclosed in this application. They are the solar heat collector integrated heat collecting with storing, the recyclable solar heat collector and building element as well as energy saving covering for buildings. Every device of the three devices has a fluid channel. To connect these channels can form the channels 21 1 , 212 and 213. So there is no material difference between the case discussed in Fig.2 and the cases using the new solar heating devices.

In a cold area (high latitude area), some time we also add a solar heat absorb plate in the wall 203. Because snow reflected sunlight can heat a shadow wall. Especially when the building uses any energy saving device of the three solar heating devices, the wall 203 should be considered. The devices can save the energy for space heating in the winter.

Fig.3-C is a schematic side view of an exemplary multi-floor building using solar energy for heating and cooling.

The building 30 has a space 31 under roof, second floor space 32 and first floor space 33 and basement space 34. It has a sunny wall 301 , an opposite wall 302, roof 303, basement wall 304 under ground and a top wall 306. A part of the roof 303 is 3031. It is a solar heat collector or a set of fully sealed solar heat absorbing tiles. Sunny wall 301 can absorb solar heat. It is a red color cement wall with a transparent plastic coating. In the walls water tubes 31 1 , 312, 313, 314, 315, 316, 317, 318, 319, 320, 321 and 322 are arranged. They connected each other and connected to a heat driven self-circulating device 330 as shown in Fig.3-C. The tubes are made of metal or cement.

As shown in Fig. 3-C, control valves 351, 352, 353, 354, 355, 356 and 357 are arranged for controlling the liquid flow in the tubes. The valves can be controlled manually and automatically. By controlling these valves, the water system can operate in different conditions for water heating, space heating or space cooling. There is also a device 350. It is an electrical pump with an automatic control system. The automatic control system set up the operation conditions of the valves based on preinstalled control program and data collected by sensors. The liquid system mainly is driven by solar heat. If it is necessary, the control system will also put electric powered pump in operation. The building also has an air condition system. The air condition system cools and heats the building using solar heat firstly and other energy sources secondly. The other energy sources include electricity, gas, oil, coal etc. The air condition system is not shown in Fig. 3-C. In the space 31 there is a heat driven self-circulating device 330 on the top wall 306 and under the roof 303. It is a double layer wall water tank or a liquid tank with a heat exchanger. The tank has a cold water inlet, a hot water outlet, a release valve, a drain valve and one or two electric heater(s). They are regular configurations, so the above-mentioned parts of the tank are not shown in Fig. 3-C.

The water tank 330 has ports 3301 and 3302 in the outer layer wall. They connect to solar heat collector 3031 through connecting tubes. A port 3033 connects to an end of tube 318. A port 3304 connects to an end of tube 317. The tank 330 further includes a detachable insulation (not shown in Fig.3-C). There is also a spare bolt for closing a breathing port 3305 of the tank 330. The tank 330 is a heat storage tank when heat insulation is on the tank. The tank can also be a heat radiator when the insulation is detached. In our case the solar heat collector 3031 and heat storage tank 330 are separated. The wall 301 not only is a solar heat collector, but also a heat storage device. They are integrated in one unit.

At the front of the building there is a water reservoir 360, e.g. a swimming pool. An airtight container 361 is located in the pool. A higher port connects to tube 312 through a connecting tube 322. A lower port connects to an end of tube 321 through a connecting tube 323. Here the airtight container 360 is a heat radiator. The pool 360 and the airtight container are required, because following reasons:

1. The building 30 has no basement or the basement wall cannot be used to store or radiate solar heat.

2. The swimming pool needs solar heat collected by building elements to heat the water.

3. The building needs the water in the pool to cool the walls.

If there is no water reservoir, we also can arrange the airtight container 361 under ground directly.

Some time the pool 360 can also become a heat source to heat the building. If the walls of the pool 360 have a solar heat absorbing coating and the pool has a transparent covering, then water temperature in the pool 360 may higher than the temperature of the wall 301. Then the warmer water in 361 will rise up automatically to heat the wall 301. In this case the pool 360 is the solar heat collector integrated solar collecting and storing as disclosed in Fig. 3-B.

Following are some exemplarily cases discussing how to use solar energy for heating and cooing of building 30.

1. To turn off all valves 351, 352, 353, 354, 355, 356, 357, 358 and pump 350. The solar heat absorbed by wall 301 is for heat building and stored in the wall 301 and 306. The heat received by roof 3031 is stored in the tank 330 for heating hot water. In this case, the channels in the building are not very useful.

2. To turn on the valve 352 and turn off all other valves and the pump. The heat absorbed by wall 301 preheats the water in tube 312 and 31 1. The heated water rises up to the tube 322 through the valve 352. In the roof solar heat collector 3031, the preheated water is further heated. Then the water flows into the outer layer tank of tank 330 through inlet 3301. Here the hot water gives up the heat to water in the inner tank and flow back to tube 31 1 , 312 through outlet 3302- the tube 322-the valve 352-the tube 31 1 and 312. In this case, the solar heats collected by both wall 301 and roof 3031 are for heating hot water in tank 330. At the same time, the solar heat absorbed by wall 301 is transferred to tank 330. So that the wall and building is cooled.

3. To turn off the valves 352, 355, 357, 358 and the pump 350, and turn on valve 351, 353, 354, 356. In this case the solar heat collected by roof 3031 is stored in the tank 350. It is the same as case 1. The solar heat collected and stored by the wall 301 heats the water in the tube 311 and 312. The heated water rises up into the tube 318, then passes through the heat driven self-circulating device 330 and flows to the tube 317, 316, 315, 320, 321 , 312 and 31 1. So that the collected solar heat is transferred to the space 32, space 33 and heats entire building.

4. To turn off the valve 352, 353 358 and pump 350 and turn on the valve 351, 354, 356, 355 and 357.

In this case, the solar heat collected by the wall 301 generates a heat driven power to circulate the heated water in a close-loop 312-31 1-318-317-316-315-314-319-313-312. So that the collected solar heat can be transferred and stored in the walls 301, 306, 302 and 304. It also can be transferred to earth through wall 304. At nighttime and cold weather the heat stored in the basement wall 304 and earth can heat the water in the tube 313, 319 and 314 to warm the building.

5. If the building 30 has no basement or the basement wall has no tubes, we need to use outside under ground/water airtight container to cool the building. To turn off the valves 352, 353, 356, 357, 355 and turn on the valves 351 , 354, 358 and power pump 350. In this case, the pump circulates the heated water in the tubes 31 1 and 312 through a loop 312-31 1-318-317-316-315-321-323-361-322- 312. The heat radiator 361 transfers the solar heat to water in the pool 360 to warm the swimming pool and cool the building.

From above discussed cases, we can find that the absorbed solar heat by building elements like wall and roof not only can heat water and space, but also can cool the building. The heated liquid circulation not only can rely on an electric power pump, but also can rely on the solar heat energy itself. Even though there are only five exemplarily cases been discussed, but we can change the valve/pump numbers and locations to get many more operation cases and achieve more purposes. If we add some sensors and an automation controlling system to operate the system based on a computer program, the solar energy application will have a higher efficiency.

Furthermore, the solar heating and energy saving devices disclosed in this application can be used in building 30-C. For example, all the walls can be replaced by the solar heat collector integrated heat collecting and storing and/or the recyclable solar heat collecting device and building element partially or entirely. Some samples of these devices are showed in Fig. 5-A, 2-B, 5-B and 1-D. The roof 303 and the solar heat collector 3031 in Fig. 3-C can be replaced by the recyclable solar heat collecting device. One of the examples is shown in Fig. 1-D. In this case, the energy saving roof not only can generate hot water, but also can heat air for space heating directly. Of cause the energy saving covering can also be used in the building for heating or cooling the building. Because all above mentioned solar heat and energy saving devices have the fluid channels, so the operation of the building 30 has no material difference comparing to the operation discussed above for building 30.

The example of Fig. 3-C takes an entire building as one unit to be heated and cooled by solar energy. In fact we can separate the entire building into several floor or room units to heat and cool. The control systems will be much simpler. The building elements for collecting and storing solar heat not only include wall and roof, but also include pillar, veranda, window, door, deck, awning, fence, path, driveway, brick, tile etc All of the building elements can be used for collect and/or store solar heat. All of them can be replaced by the solar heat and energy saving devices disclosed in this application.

From the discussions of above examples, we also can find that to heat or cool a building, the fluid channel can be an existing channel in a building (e.g. Fig. l -C), a new added channel like a channel made of metal, cement and ceramic etc. They also can a channel designed in the solar heating and energy saving devices disclosed this application. Further more, a hollow pillar or a hollow frame of building can also be used. The heat transferring fluid can be air (Fig. 1 -C), antifreeze and water (Fig.2 and Fig.3-C) and other liquids.

Referring to Fi. l-D, a schematic side view of an exemplary recyclable solar heat collector and energy saving building element 10 is illustrated. Here device 10 is not only a solar heat collector, but also an energy saving building element or unit. 101 is an insulating glass or hollow glass that used in the recent buildings widely. It also can be two or triple transparent plates separated by spacers. Two or three layer glasses and spacer form one or two spaces filled by air or other gas for heat insulation. The space (s) also can be evacuated. Here there are two layers of glass 102, 103 and spacer 108 to form a closed space 107. A solar heat absorber 104 arranged in the space 107 and separate 107 into two subspaces 1071 and 1072. The two subspaces can be completely isolated or they are connected by air. Air or other gas is filled in the subspaces for heat insulation. Other fluid including liquid like water also can be filled in the subspace to store and transfer heat. For example, when the insulating glass has triple glass panes, a single solar heat absorber (without fluid channel) is arranged in one of two spaces, the second space can fill in fluid to store and transfer heat. The absorber 104 has solar heat absorbing coating in one side or two sides. It can be a single solar heat absorber without fluid channel. Usually a set of fluid channels is arranged at the absorber 104. In Fig. 1-D, there are only two of the channels are shown. Channels 1051 and 1052 are two representatives of them. One (at center) or two (at two sides) convergent tube(s) connect other liquid tubes and having end(s) extend to outside of 101. The convergent tube has one or two open ends. It depends on the situation of the element/unit. If the unit is at the end of a wall or roof, one open end is enough. If the unit is at the middle of a series of units to pass the fluid, two open ends are required. In Fig. 1-D convergent tube 106 connects the sub-channels like 105 and having two connecting fittings 1091 and 1092 at the frame of the collector. Here 1091 is a liquid outlet and 1092 is a liquid inlet. The liquid can be water, antifreeze or other heat storage and transfer liquids. The fluid also can be air or other gas, The solar heat absorber not only can be a single sheet of absorber or a sheet with liquid channels, it also can be a plat shaped container or tank like 208 shown in Fig. 2-B. The material filled in the tank can be any heat storage material such as solid material, fluid material and phase change material. The material is for store heat for transferring. In any case the solar heat absorber in the insulating glass make the building element stronger to against the damage and breaking of the building, especially when the absorber is a plate sheeped tank. So the unit can be used in any flow as a wall or other building element.

When sunlight shines on the energy saving building element 10, the sunlight pass through glass 102 and reach the surface of solar heat absorber 104. The absorber absorbs the heat and transfers it to the liquid in the liquid channels like 1051 and 1052. Because the space 1071 and 1072 are insulated by air, so most of absorbed heat is transferred into the liquid. Through convergent tube 106 the heat is transferred to outside of the unit through the fittings 1091 and 1092 for water and/or space heating. In the hot season, to speed up the flow of the liquid in the unit will cool down the unit and building. In the cold season, the heated liquid can also stay in the unit to warm the building element, so that the spaces in the building are heated. According to the discussions of above, we can find that, the unit 10 can be a solar heat collector to be used separately when a heat storage tank is installed in. It can connect to a separated water tank to heat the water and make hot water. In this case it is a traditional solar heat collector. It can be installed in a building as any building element. For example, it can be put on the top of building as a roof. It can be put in anywhere of building as a wall. We can also make the unit to pass sunlight partially by using a net absorber or the absorber takes part of the space. Then the unit can be used as a window or sky roof. By controlling the fluid flow direction and speed, the unit can help to heat the space or cool the space. It also can provide absorbed solar heat for storing or other using. Because the glass and metal absorber can be recycled for use in second time, so it is a recyclable solar heat collector. Because it can be used as a building element or unit not only has the function of a building element, but also have a function of solar heat collector, so it is energy saving building element. A building installed this element not only can use solar energy to heat the building, but also can cool the building.

By using the said element, a building can be constructed very easy. The only two main elements are said element and frame materials. We can manufacture the units and frame materials in a manufacture. Then the units and materials can be moved to field for construction. The frame material can be metal, wood, bamboo or steel and concrete.

Other modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art and, therefore, the invention is defined in the claims.

Claims

1. A building using solar energy for heating and cooling, comprises:

a building element absorbing solar heat,

a building element storing solar heat,

a fluid channel within said building element for a fluid to transfer solar heat, and

a controlling device controlling the flow direction of said fluid.

2. The building according to claim 1, further comprises a device selected from a group of

a heat storage device connecting to said fluid channel,

a solar heat radiator connecting to said fluid channel, and

a combination of said heat storage device and said heat radiator.

3. The building according to claim 1 , comprises a building selected from a group of

a commercial building,

an industrial building,

an agriculture building,

a residential building,

an education building,

a defense building, and

a building having an element able to reach sunlight.

4. The building according to claim 1, wherein said building element is selected from a group of

wall, roof, pillar, veranda, window, door, deck, awning, fence, path, driveway, brick, tile, covering of windows, covering of doors, solar heat collector as a building element, solar heat storage device as a building element, fully sealed solar heat absorber, a building element with a transparent covering and a combination of two or more above-mentioned elements.

5. The building according to claim 1, wherein said building element is made of a material selected from a group of

brick, stone, sand, soil, cement, reinforced cement, metal, alloy, bitumen, wood, plastic and a combination of two or more above-mentioned materials.

6. The building according to claim 1, wherein said building element further comprises a feature selected from a group of a dark color surface, a solar heat absorbing coating on a surface, a metal covering with a solar heat absorbing coating, a metal covering having a solar absorbing coating covered building material, a transparent cover covering said element and a combination of two or more above mentioned features.

7. The building using solar energy for heating and cooling according to claim 1, wherein said fluid channel is selected from a group of

a liquid channel, a gas channel, a heat tube and a combination of two or more above mentioned channels.

8. The building using solar energy for heating and cooling according to claim 1, further comprises a device selected from a group of

a control valve,

a sensor,

an automation control system,

an electric power pump,

a heat driven self-powered device,

a solar cooking appliance,

an energy saving covering for windows and doors, a solar heat appliance, and

a combination of two or more above mentioned devices.

9. The building using solar energy for heating and cooling according to claim 2, wherein said solar heat storage device is selected from a group of

a liquid heat storage tank,

a liquid heat storage tank further comprises one or more of electric heater, release valve, drain valve and anode protection,

a liquid heat storage tank having a detachable heat insulation coat,

a liquid heat storage tank having a cover able to open to atmosphere,

a double layer liquid heat storage tank,

a liquid reservoir, and

a combination of two or more above mention devices.

10. The building using solar energy for heating and cooling according to claim 2, wherein said heat radiator is selected from a group of

a liquid tank having a detachable heat insulation coat, a liquid reservoir opened to atmosphere and liquidly connected to said fluid channel within said building element,

an airtight fluid container having a port connected to said fluid channel and having a wall thermally connected to ground,

an airtight fluid container having a port liquidly connected to said fluid channel and having a wall thermally connected to a water reservoir,

a fluid tube arranged within a wall of said building base, and

a fluid tube arranged within a wall of a basement of said building, and fluidly connecting to said fluid channel within said building element.

1 1. An energy saving covering of buildings and transportation tools, comprises a shade made of a base material, said shade having first side able for absorbing solar heat and second side able for reflecting sunlight.

12. The energy saving covering according to claim 1 1 , wherein said shade is selected from a group of:

said first side of the shade having a solar heat absorbing coating and said second side of the shade able to reflect sunlight;

said first side of the shade able to absorb solar heat and said second side of the shade having a reflective coating; and

said first side of the shade having a solar heat absorbing coating and said second side of the shade having a reflective coating.

13. The energy saving covering according to claim 1 1 , is selected from a group of

a Venetian blind,

a vertical blind, and

a shutter, and

wherein said shade comprising:

a group of adjustable and rotatable slats one next to another,

said slats having first side able for absorbing solar heat and second side able for reflecting light, and

a mechanism for controlling slat's location and orientation .

14. The energy saving covering according to claim 1 1 , is a curtain, wherein said base material comprising a drapery/cloth, and

said first side having a solar heat absorbing coating, and said second side having a reflective coating.

15. The energy saving covering according to claim 1 , wherein said base material is selected from a group of

wood, bamboo, metal, alloy, polymer, plastic and a combination of two or more of above mentioned materials.

16. The energy saving covering according to claim 1 1,

wherein said first side of the shade is selected from a group of

said base material with a dark surface,

said base material's first side with a solar heat absorbing paint coating,

said base material's first side with a solar heat absorbing ink coating,

said base material's first side with a solar heat absorbing film,

a heat absorbing side of a solar heat absorber of a flat plate solar heat collector,

said base material's first side with a solar heat selective coating, said selective coating, comprises one or more elements selected from a group of

metal, aluminum, copper, titanium, chromium, oxygen, nitrogen and a combination of two or more above mentioned elements; wherein said second side of the shade is selected from a group of

said base material with a light surface,

said base material's second side with a reflective paint coating,

said base material's second side with a reflective ink coating,

said base material's second side with a reflective film,

said base material's second side with a plated reflective material,

said base material's second side with a coating comprising directional reflecting material, and said base material's second side with coating used for highway indicators.

17. The energy saving covering according to claim 1 1 , wherein said shade is selected from a group of

a shade made of cloth/drapery,

a soft shade, said shade having a detachable soft accessory for attach said shade on a window, a shade having a diffuse reflecting second side to reduce light pollution, and

a shade having a net base material for sunlight pass through partially.

18. The energy saving covering according to claim 1 1, further comprises an automatic control

system based on data selected from a group of light strength, temperature of a covered space, sunlight incident angle and a combination of two or more above mentioned data.

19. The energy saving covering according to claim 1 1 , further comprises a fluid channel to transfer the solar heat.

20. The energy saving covering according to claim 1 1 , wherein said covering is located within two layers of transparent plates, and a fluid channel disposed within said two layers of transparent plates for heat transferring.

21. The energy saving covering for windows and doors according to claim 1 1, wherein said first side and/or second side having a transparent protection.

22. A solar heating system comprises:

a energy saving window blind style solar heat absorber, comprising

a shade made of base material comprising a group of adjustable and rotatable slats one next to another, said slats having

a first side for absorbing solar heat,

a second side for reflecting heat, and

a mechanism for controlling orientation of said slats.

23. The solar heating system according to claim 22, further comprises an accessory selected from a group of a transparent cover covering said heat absorber,

a heat insulation,

a heat storage tank with a heat storage material arranged between solar heat absorber and heat insulation, said heat storage material is selected from a group of solid material, fluid material, phase change material and a combination of above mentioned materials;

a fluid channel arranged at said slats for transferring absorbed heat,

a heat tube attached on said slats for transferring absorbed heat,

an automatic controlling system,

a solar cooking chamber for solar cooking,

a electric power heater,

a part of building elements, and

a combination of the above mentioned accessories.

24. The solar heating system according to claim 22, further comprises a device integrated solar heat collecting with heat storing, comprises

a heat storage tank with a heat storage material disposed between solar heat absorber and heat insulation,

a fluid channel arranged at said slats for transferring absorbed heat,

an automatic controlling system,

said heat storage material is selected from a group of solid material, fluid material, phase change material and a combination of above mentioned materials;

25. The solar heating system according to claim 13 and 22, wherein said controlling mechanism further comprises:

a micro motor, a controlling software and hardware, and said controlling software is based on data selected from a group of date and time, sunlight incidence angle and a combination of both of them.

26. A solar heating device integrated solar heat collecting with heat storing, comprises

a solar heat storage container comprising a solar heat absorber,

a solar heat storage and conducting material placing in said container, said solar heat absorber heat said heat storage and conducting material directly,

a transparent covering for sunlight pass through, heat insulation and/or protection, and a heat insulation.

27. The solar heating device according to claim 26, wherein said solar heat storage container being a solar heat storage tank, said tank having a outside wall being said solar heat absorber to absorb solar heat and heat the heat storage material in the tank directly.

28. The solar heating device according to claim 1, wherein said solar heat absorber is a fully airtight sealed and water resistant solar heat absorber, comprising

a base material of solar heat absorber,

a solar heat absorbing coating on said base material,

a transparent and water resistant protection for absorbing coating,

a fully airtight sealed and water resistant protection for base material.

29. The solar heating device integrated solar heat collecting with heat storing , comprises:

a solar heat storage container, which is a flat plate solar heat storage tank, said tank having solar heat absorb coating on upper wall to collect solar heat and heat the heat storage and conducting material placed in said tank directly;

a transparent covering arranged above said upper wall for sunlight pass through, heat insulation and/or protection,

a heat insulation and

a fluid inlet fitting and a fluid outlet fitting arranged on the wall of the tank.

30. The solar heating device according to claim 29, which is a multifunction solar heating device, further comprises:

an air inlet fitting and an air outlet fitting for directing air for heating.

31. The solar heating device, according to claim 26,

wherein said solar heat absorber comprising an energy saving window blind style solar heat absorber, comprising

a shade made of base material comprising a group of adjustable slats arranged one next to another, said slats having

a first side for absorbing solar heat,

a second side for reflecting heat, and a mechanism for controlling orientation of said slats.

32. A solar heating device integrated solar heat collecting with heat storing, comprises

a liquid reservoir comprising:

a open top to receiving sunlight,

a wall of said reservoir having a transparent sheet, wherein said wall being bottom wall and/or side wall, said transparent sheet having one side with solar absorb coating and its opposite side can become submerged in the liquid;

said liquid placing in said reservoir, said solar heat absorb coating heating said liquid directly, a transparent air inflated cover covering said liquid, and

a heat insulation insulating said transparent sheet.

33. A solar heating device integrated solar heat collecting with heat storing, comprises a liquid reservoir having an open top to receiving sunlight, comprising:

a fully airtight sealed and water resistant solar heat absorber on bottom and/or side wall of

a liquid reservoir having an open top,

a fully airtight sealed and water resistant solar heat absorber on a wall of said liquid reservoir, comprises

a base material of solar heat absorber,

a solar heat absorbing coating on said base material,

a transparent and water resistant protection for absorbing coating,

a fully airtight sealed and water resistant protection for base material

a heat insulated backing of said liquid reservoir,

a transparent air inflated cover.

34. The solar heating device according to claim 1, wherein said solar heat storage container comprising a solar heat absorber, comprises

a double layer air inflated liquid reservoir, comprising

a transparent external layer wall,

an internal layer wall having a solar heat absorbing coating,

a bottom wall able to absorb solar heat,

a heat insulation pad under said bottom wall,

a double layer air inflated transparent cover.

35. The solar heating device according to claim 26,

wherein said heat storage material is selected from a group of

solid material,

fluid material,

phase change material, and

combination of above two or more materials. wherein said transparent covering is selected from a group of

a transparent air inflated polymer/plastic overcoat,

a transparent polymer/plastic coating,

a glass covering, an insulating glass covering,

a glass coating.

a liquid glass coating,

an evacuated glass covering

a transparent paint coating,

a transparent panting oil coating,

a transparent film,

a transparent insulation and protection with a reflecting surface on a heat insulation backing, and a combination of above two or more insulations and protections.

36. The solar heating device according to claim 26, 27 and 29 further comprises one select from a group of

an automatic controlling system,

a solar cooking place for solar cooking,

a heat tube,

a fluid channel for transferring heat,

a part of a building element

a electric heater,

an anode protection, and

a supporting trestle.

37. The solar heating device according to claim 29, which is a multifunction solar heating device, further comprises an air inlet fitting and an air outlet fitting on the wall, said fittings connected to an air flow channel in the device for generating solar heated air.

38. The solar heating device according to claim 26, wherein said device forms an element of one selected from a group of: a solar heating system and a building.

39. A recyclable solar heat collector and energy saving building element, comprises:

a hollow transparent object having a closed and airtight space,

a solar heat absorber arranged in said space and separated said space into first subspace and second subspace,

a gas filled in the subspaces,

a fluid channel having thermal connection with the solar heat absorber and extended out of the space.

40. The solar heat collector and building element according to claim 39, wherein said hollow transparent object is selected from a group of:

a insulating glass,

a hollow transparent object, and

two transparent sheets separated and enclosed by spacer.

41. The solar heat collector and building element according to claim 39, wherein said solar heat absorber is selected from a group of:

a sheet having a solar heat absorb coating in one side,

a sheet having solar heat absorb coating in two side,

a solar heat absorber having liquid channel arranged wherein,

a solar heat absorber having one side to absorb solar heat and a opposite side to reflect heat, a flat tank having a surface with solar heat absorb coating, a heat storage material placing in said tank,

a heat channel thermally connected to the solar heat absorber,

a net solar heat absorber, and

a solar heat absorber placed in the space partially.

42. The solar heat collector and building element according to claim 39, wherein said fluid channel is selected from a group of:

said first subspace,

said second subspace,

said first and second subspace,

a heat tube thermally connected with the absorber,

a fluid channel arranged at solar heat absorber,

a fluid channel thermally connected with solar heat absorber,

a fluid channel thermally connected with a subspace,

a end of solar heat absorber extended out of the space, and

a end of heat storage material extended out of space.

43. The solar heat collector and building element according to claim 39, further comprises a accessory selected from a group of:

a supporting element,

a sunlight reflector,

a heat storage tank having a thermal connection with said element,

a controllable cover to close or open the thermal channel, and

a automatic controlling system.

44. The solar heat collector and building element according to claim 39, wherein said element forms a solar heating system, and further comprises a solar heat storage tank.

45. The solar heat collector and building element according to claim 39, wherein said element forms a building element, and further comprises building frame.