WO2014144996A1 - Collecteurs d'énergie radiante et procédés associés - Google Patents

Collecteurs d'énergie radiante et procédés associés Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2014144996A1
WO2014144996A1 PCT/US2014/029630 US2014029630W WO2014144996A1 WO 2014144996 A1 WO2014144996 A1 WO 2014144996A1 US 2014029630 W US2014029630 W US 2014029630W WO 2014144996 A1 WO2014144996 A1 WO 2014144996A1
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WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
radiant energy
fluid
working fluid
channel
vaporized
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US2014/029630
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Roy Edward Mcalister
Original Assignee
Mcalister Technologies, Llc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Mcalister Technologies, Llc filed Critical Mcalister Technologies, Llc
Publication of WO2014144996A1 publication Critical patent/WO2014144996A1/fr

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Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
    • H02S—GENERATION OF ELECTRIC POWER BY CONVERSION OF INFRARED RADIATION, VISIBLE LIGHT OR ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT, e.g. USING PHOTOVOLTAIC [PV] MODULES
    • H02S40/00—Components or accessories in combination with PV modules, not provided for in groups H02S10/00 - H02S30/00
    • H02S40/40—Thermal components
    • H02S40/44—Means to utilise heat energy, e.g. hybrid systems producing warm water and electricity at the same time
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24S—SOLAR HEAT COLLECTORS; SOLAR HEAT SYSTEMS
    • F24S10/00—Solar heat collectors using working fluids
    • F24S10/20—Solar heat collectors using working fluids having circuits for two or more working fluids
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24S—SOLAR HEAT COLLECTORS; SOLAR HEAT SYSTEMS
    • F24S23/00—Arrangements for concentrating solar-rays for solar heat collectors
    • F24S23/30—Arrangements for concentrating solar-rays for solar heat collectors with lenses
    • F24S23/31—Arrangements for concentrating solar-rays for solar heat collectors with lenses having discontinuous faces, e.g. Fresnel lenses
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24S—SOLAR HEAT COLLECTORS; SOLAR HEAT SYSTEMS
    • F24S50/00—Arrangements for controlling solar heat collectors
    • F24S50/80—Arrangements for controlling solar heat collectors for controlling collection or absorption of solar radiation
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24S—SOLAR HEAT COLLECTORS; SOLAR HEAT SYSTEMS
    • F24S80/00—Details, accessories or component parts of solar heat collectors not provided for in groups F24S10/00-F24S70/00
    • F24S80/20—Working fluids specially adapted for solar heat collectors
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24S—SOLAR HEAT COLLECTORS; SOLAR HEAT SYSTEMS
    • F24S90/00—Solar heat systems not otherwise provided for
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02B—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO BUILDINGS, e.g. HOUSING, HOUSE APPLIANCES OR RELATED END-USER APPLICATIONS
    • Y02B10/00—Integration of renewable energy sources in buildings
    • Y02B10/10—Photovoltaic [PV]
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02B—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO BUILDINGS, e.g. HOUSING, HOUSE APPLIANCES OR RELATED END-USER APPLICATIONS
    • Y02B10/00—Integration of renewable energy sources in buildings
    • Y02B10/20—Solar thermal
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02B—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO BUILDINGS, e.g. HOUSING, HOUSE APPLIANCES OR RELATED END-USER APPLICATIONS
    • Y02B10/00—Integration of renewable energy sources in buildings
    • Y02B10/70—Hybrid systems, e.g. uninterruptible or back-up power supplies integrating renewable energies
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
    • Y02E10/00—Energy generation through renewable energy sources
    • Y02E10/40—Solar thermal energy, e.g. solar towers
    • Y02E10/44—Heat exchange systems
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
    • Y02E10/00—Energy generation through renewable energy sources
    • Y02E10/50—Photovoltaic [PV] energy
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
    • Y02E10/00—Energy generation through renewable energy sources
    • Y02E10/60—Thermal-PV hybrids

Definitions

  • the present technology is generally directed to radiant energy exchange systems occasionally serving as collectors and/or radiators and/or insulators. More specifically, some embodiments are directed to solar energy collectors employing a heat capacitance or thermal flywheel effect through the use of thermally absorptive materials and connection to thermal mass in nature or man-made architectural forms.
  • Photovoltaic panels generate electrical power by converting solar radiation into direct current using semiconductor materials that exhibit the photovoltaic effect.
  • Photovoltaic power generation employs solar panels composed of a number of solar cells each containing a photovoltaic material. Representative materials sometimes used for photovoltaics include monocrystalline silicon, polycrystalline silicon, amorphous silicon, cadmium telluride, and copper indium gallium selenide/sulfide.
  • solar thermal collector often refers to solar hot water panels, but may also refer to more complex installations such as a solar parabolic apparatus, solar troughs, and solar towers. Solar hot water panels may be used in residential and commercial buildings for supplemental water heating and/or space heating.
  • a solar hot water panel is often comprised of a series of tubes connected to a manifold.
  • the tubes are exposed to radiant energy from the sun, whereby water or other fluid flowing through the tubes absorbs the energy in the form of heat.
  • the heated fluid is then used to heat building spaces and water for household and commercial use.
  • the available surface area on the roof is preferably left unobstructed to allow the radiant energy to heat the greenhouse and/or provide light to the plants for photosynthesis. Accordingly, there remains a need for photovoltaic panels and solar thermal collectors that exhibit flexibility and provide a more efficient use of available surface area.
  • thermal storage In residential, commercial and industrial facility applications, the known advantages of thermal storage include: reduced utility expense for peak demand, improved facility plant efficiencies, reduced facility energy consumption, lower facility energy costs, more flexible plant operations and added backup capacity, smaller equipment, lower maintenance costs, and greater economic benefits than the "business as usual" installation of electrical heating and cooling. Improvements in solar thermal collection and storage offer increased efficiency in solar conversion, increased thermal insulation preventing energy waste and longer life of built structures, an improved means of converting existing building surface areas into energy harvesting applications, and improved thermochemical use of the energy collected (to include food production, water purification, and chemical processing in spaces previously not thought to be productive of such activity.
  • Figure 1 is a cross-sectional side view in elevation illustrating a radiant energy panel according to a first representative embodiment.
  • Figure 2A is a side view in partial cross-section illustrating a radiant energy panel according to a second representative embodiment.
  • Figure 2B is an enlarged view illustrating a lens according to a representative embodiment.
  • Figure 2C is an enlarged view illustrating a lens according to another representative embodiment.
  • FIG. 3 is a schematic representation of a solar collector system according to a representative embodiment.
  • Figure 4 is a side view in partial cross section illustrating a representative application of a radiant energy r panel system mounted on a roof.
  • FIG. 5 is schematic representation of a solar collector system illustrating phase change of a "working fluid" expanding from liquid to gas and condensing from vapor to liquid in a thermochemical reaction zone, with the resultant heat available for space heating and cooling through pipes, channels and apparatus located in walls, ceilings, and/or floors.
  • Figure 6A is a cross-sectional side view in elevation illustrating a radiant energy panel according to a representative embodiment.
  • Figure 6B is a view in illustrating a radiant energy channel according to a representative embodiment.
  • Figure 6C a view in illustrating a radiant energy channel according to another representative embodiment.
  • Figure 7A is a view in illustrating a radiant energy channel according to a representative embodiment.
  • Figure 7B is a view in illustrating a radiant energy channel according to a representative embodiment.
  • Figure 8A is a cross-sectional side view in elevation illustrating a radiant energy system according to a representative embodiment.
  • Figure 8B is a cross-sectional side view in elevation illustrating a radiant energy panel according to a representative embodiment.
  • Figure 8C is a cross-sectional side view in elevation illustrating a radiant energy panel according to a representative embodiment.
  • Figure 8D is a cross-sectional side view in elevation illustrating a radiant energy panel according to a representative embodiment.
  • Figure 9 is a cross-sectional side view illustrating a radiant energy distribution manifold according to a representative embodiment.
  • Figure 10 is a schematic of a large scale installation of a radiant energy system.
  • a radiant energy collector and/or rejecter includes an elongate conduit.
  • Embodiments with layered arrangements of conduits include upper, middle, and lower channels in which at least one layer contains and/or occasionally circulates phase-change substance.
  • the upper channel is operative to conduct a first fluid therethrough
  • the middle channel contains a phase change material
  • the lower channel is operative to conduct a second fluid therethrough.
  • the second fluid comprises photovoltaic particles, algae and/or other photosynthesizing media.
  • the upper channel includes an upper wall comprising a lens (or a lens collector) and/or an adjustable geometry such as a linear Fresnel feature, and/or index of refraction lens as may be provided by containment of fluid with properties such as light transmission at selected frequencies and index of refraction.
  • a fluid can be selected such as water or water containing various solutes or suspensions to participate in production of lens properties and/or transmit light of visible frequencies while preventing energy gain by invisible frequencies such as ultraviolet and/or infrared frequencies that are reflected and/or re-radiated and/or absorbed and removed by circulation to a suitable application or heat sink to thus avoid invisible solar gain to a dwelling.
  • any of the channels can be occasionally selected for containing and/or circulating a particular fluid substance including participation in a phase change event or operation.
  • Panel arrays may be placed on vertical, horizontal or inclined surfaces including multi-story structures such as high rise buildings.
  • one or more channels can be selected to perform radiant energy driven heat-pipe operations in which a fluid is evaporated in a region where it is desired to remove heat to enable condensation and heat delivery at another location such as in the room or zone heat exchangers of a building.
  • the partial pressure can be adjusted to a value that produces evaporation from a heat addition region at temperature such as 50°C (122°F) and provides condensation in a fan-coil or floor- circuit heat exchanger to heat an interior space such as a room or zone.
  • Condensation zones at elevations higher than the evaporation zone can provide a return of liquid water by gravity and condensation zones at elevations lower than the evaporation zone can provide return of liquid water by capillary circuits and/or by operation of a suitable pump.
  • Various fluids such as water and sodium sulfate have particularly useful solubility and phase-change characteristics.
  • Sodium sulfate (Na 2 S0 4 ) solubility with water increases more than tenfold between 0°C to 32.384°C, where it reaches a maximum of about 497 g/L. Above 32.4°C, solubility is almost independent of temperature.
  • crystal water is released and the hydrated salt changes phase to serve as a temperature referenced heat capacitor or thermal flywheel to participate in control of thermal gain in a dwelling that is served by such panel assemblies.
  • heat is flywheel banked to provide more than seven-times greater thermal control benefits than plain water including transfer of heat for space and domestic water heating along with even greater control to reduce or block thermal gain during the summer cooling season.
  • the present technology provides means to adaptively heat and cool architectural structures of various sizes and configurations by direct acquisition and discharge of solar thermal, geothermal, and generated (man-made) radiant energy at lower cost and greater energy utilization efficiency than conventional electrical heating and cooling methods.
  • the variety of architectural forms and built environments to which the present technology may be used exemplifies not only economic benefit, but the capacity to satisfy technical requirements of: heating and cooling large habitat areas (for human and animal livability, comfort and health) for daily living, work, and recreation; storage of temperature sensitive products (including food, water and material resources); and production of energy, food and biofuels by photosynthesis.
  • the adaptive versatility of the present technology may be applied purposefully to residential, commercial, industrial architectural buildings, and to systems for rural and urban farming (i.e., food and biofuel production), water purification and reclamation, chemical processing, and energy harvesting.
  • the versatility of the present technology specifically overcomes temperature barriers to enable human habitat, work and recreation, materials storage, food production, water reclamation, animal husbandry, and energy harvesting in the following illustrative applications of radiant energy (i.e., acquisition, transmission and/or removal): (a) architectural installations in geographic locals ranging from extreme heat (such as the tropics) to extreme cold (such as the arctic); (b) land installations to achieve increased surface area energy harvesting and insulative efficiency and protection (i.e., surface area aggregations capable of harvesting immense untapped solar energy potential via rooftops, walls and insulative siding of residential homes, commercial buildings, industrial factories, and architecture forms specifically designed for solar thermal and geothermal energy harvesting); (c) ocean surface and subsurface installations; (d) responsiveness to temperature control due to day/night, weather and seasonal variability; (e) permafrost installations enabling responsiveness to the seasonal temperature change including discharge of heat and reflective color change to counteract albedo degradation of large
  • multiple zones such as the upper, middle, and lower channels have a stacked configuration and selected elongate conduits may be defined by or comprise a transparent material.
  • a radiant energy collector further comprises photovoltaic material disposed on selected zones such as an upper and/or lower surface of the upper channel.
  • the photovoltaic (PV) material on the upper surface is responsive to a different portion of the radiant energy spectrum than PV material on the lower surface.
  • a working fluid such as carbon dioxide, nitrogen, air may be contained, conveyed or utilized in other ways.
  • a transparent carbon coating such as diamond like carbon (DLC) on selected surfaces to enhance a property or capability such as corrosion resistance, index of refraction, and/or hardness to prevent scratching or wear along with other benefits including protection of micro lenses such as linear lenses that selectively decrease or increase the acceptance and/or delivery of radiation throughout the day and/or seasons and to desired locations such as shown in FIGs. 2 and 7A.
  • a radiant energy collector further comprises a thermal flywheel such as a phase change substance and/or a carbon layer adjacent to the lower channel.
  • heat exchange or optically altering components such as carbon rods or carbon fiber bundles that may be positioned within one or more of the channel conduits to enhance thermal characteristics such as heat radiation and/or collection and/or heat sink properties or amplify control such as may be provided by conductivity of thermal, electrical and/or optical energy.
  • a radiant energy collector panel comprises a plurality of adjacent elongate conduits.
  • the conduits include upper, middle, and/or lower channels each of which may provide storage or conveyance of a substance.
  • the upper channel is operative to store or conduct a first fluid therethrough.
  • the upper channel also includes an upper wall and/or a lower wall comprising a lens or an array of smaller lens, a portion of which is shown in FIGs. 2B and 2C including linear Fresnel geometries.
  • Selected channels such as middle channels can contain a phase change material, such as paraffin, water, alcohol, or selected solutions, and the lower channel may be operative to store or conduct another fluid therethrough.
  • the second fluid may comprise photovoltaic, photocatalytic or photosynthetic agent such as algae and/or a fluid with another characteristic such as carbon dioxide or carbon dioxide in solution in water, or air, or oxygen, or nitrogen.
  • the radiant energy panel further comprises photovoltaic material disposed on a surface such as an upper surface of the collector panel.
  • the radiant energy panel further comprises a thermal flywheel substance such as a phase change material or carbon component such as a layer adjacent to the lower channels.
  • the radiant energy panel further comprises a filter layer at one or more locations such as adjacent to the carbon layer. In some embodiments, the filter layer can be used to shift wavelengths of incoming or exiting radiation.
  • a radiant energy panel comprises at least one upper channel operative to store or conduct a first fluid therethrough, at least one middle channel operative to store or conduct a second fluid therethrough, and at least one lower channel operative to store or conduct a third fluid therethrough. Selections in the upper, middle, and lower channels are supported in a glass matrix.
  • the radiant energy panel further comprises a carbon layer adjacent to the glass matrix.
  • the radiant energy panel further comprises a photovoltaic layer adjacent to the glass matrix.
  • the collector panel further comprises a one-way mirror adjacent to the glass matrix.
  • the radiant energy panel further comprises an insulation layer adjacent to the carbon layer to retain heat.
  • the first fluid comprises water, air, or carbon dioxide.
  • the second or alternate fluid comprises an environment to support photosynthesis, photovoltaic or photocatalytic activity in selected media such as biofuel digester fluids, water and/or carbon dioxide.
  • the lower channel stores an insulative gas to isolate a structure at least partially within an array of one or more such panels from radiative, conductive or convective energy exchange with the environment adjacent to and/or beyond the first fluid channel. Accordingly, this enables the isolated structure to serve as a thermal capacitance or heat flywheel by controlling gain such as increasing or reducing the rate that energy can be exchanged with the environment adjacent and/or beyond.
  • the isolated structure also provides beneficial protection against unwanted noise and ingress of pollutants.
  • the adaptive range of functionality of the radiant energy panels is illustrated by the following Table 1 of "working fluids".
  • the system may allow heat gain to be taken up, transported and stored, but also heat to be reflected and dissipated.
  • Each of these "working fluids,” in the form of gases, liquids or solids in circulation or suspension, may be thermochemically processed (purified, decomposed, activated into endothermic or exothermic reaction) by access to solar, geothermal and/or generated radiant wavelengths resulting in increased availability of material resource values.
  • a "working fluids” can be vaporized as a "vaporized working fluid.”
  • the working fluids can also function as "processing fluids" in simultaneous or sequential events. More specifically, a suitable chemical reaction can occur at a controllable condition (e.g., a suitable reaction location, temperature, pH, concentration etc.) in the working/processing fluids. For example, a photosynthesis process can be performed in the supportive working/processing fluids. In other embodiments, other suitable processes can be performed in the working/processing fluids. Exemplary processes include fermentation, digestion, mellowing, hydrolyzing, freeze separation, pasteurization, sterilization, and/or food cooking.
  • a suitable chemical reaction can occur at a controllable condition (e.g., a suitable reaction location, temperature, pH, concentration etc.) in the working/processing fluids.
  • a photosynthesis process can be performed in the supportive working/processing fluids.
  • other suitable processes can be performed in the working/processing fluids. Exemplary processes include fermentation, digestion, mellowing, hydrolyzing, freeze separation, pasteurization, sterilization, and/or food cooking.
  • radiant energy process systems and radiant energy structures such as panels that provide a flexible space efficient construction that can provide photovoltaic, photocatalytic, solar thermal collection, radiant heat rejection or dissipation, radiant energy reflection, and thermal flywheel capabilities.
  • Specific details of several embodiments of the technology are described below with reference to FIGs. 1 -10.
  • Other details describing well-known plumbing connections, electrical connections, structures, and systems often associated with photovoltaic systems and solar thermal collectors have not been set forth in the following disclosure to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the description of the various embodiments of the technology.
  • Many of the details, dimensions, angles, and other features shown in the figures are merely illustrative of particular embodiments of the technology.
  • a radiant energy collector panel 100 includes a plurality of channels 102 arranged in one or more layers such as 1 12, 1 14, and 1 16. Each channel 102 is operative to conduct and/or contain a fluid or other suitable material therein or therethrough. Channels 102 are supported in a suitable configuration such as polymer or glass-composite or glass matrix 106.
  • the radiant energy collector panel 100 also includes a substance with a suitable specific heat and radiative interaction characteristic such as absorptive characteristics for solar energy such as carbon or other substance characterized thermal flywheel layer (e.g., a heat absorbing layer 108) adjacent to the polymer or glass matrix 106, as shown in Figure 1 .
  • the radiant energy collector panel 100 may also include an energy insulation layer 1 10 adjacent to glass matrix 106 or to the heat absorbing layer 108.
  • a photovoltaic film layer 1 18 is disposed on the glass matrix 106 opposite the heat absorbing layer 108 and/or the energy insulation layer 1 10.
  • the photovoltaic film layer 1 18 is configured to block and/or convert radiant energy in the range of about 2% to about 30%.
  • radiant energy incidental on the radiant energy collector panel 100 may be allowed to radiate into and/or through the panel for further energy interaction or extraction as described below.
  • the upper layer may include substances to perform as a greenhouse system or a one-way mirror that is operative to allow various frequencies such as U.V. visible, and/or infrared radiation to enter the radiant energy collector panel 100 and block selected frequencies such as infrared energy from radiating out of the panel.
  • the channels 102 in the upper layer 1 12 contain a first working fluid 104, which in one embodiment comprises water and a transition metal compound such as titanium oxide, titanium nitride, zinc oxide, tin oxide, cobalt oxide, silicon carbide, and/or one or more phase-change agents such as sodium sulfate.
  • a fluid such as water and transition metal oxide mixture may be used during the day to block and/or reflect heat and provide reduced heat gain in or through the panel, for example.
  • Other mixtures suitable for reflecting and/or blocking heat include suitable liquids mixed with calcium carbonate, and magnesium oxide.
  • the working fluid may be a gas such as nitrogen, oxygen, carbon dioxide, or air.
  • the term fluid used herein includes liquids as well as gases including various mixtures and solutions.
  • the first working fluid 104 is water or other suitable fluid selections that allow heat energy to radiate to the sky such as during nighttime operation in order to help remove heat from some process and/or cool an interior space, for example.
  • the antifreeze or freeze protection additives include an antifreeze chemical and/or protein, such as those derived from insects, plants, and/or fish.
  • the channels 102 can be manifolded and connected to suitable circulation systems to provide the desired transfer of heat energy.
  • the channels 102 in the upper layer 1 12 may be manifolded such that during nighttime operation water is circulated through the channels 102 in the upper layer 1 12 to reject heat absorbed from an interior space or process to the outside atmosphere including the space beyond the earth's atmosphere.
  • the fluid may be actively circulated with a pump or may circulate passively as a result of natural convection in the system (e.g., thermosiphon).
  • suitable locations such as the middle layer channels 1 14 include a second working fluid 120, in the form of a mixture of photovoltaic, photocartalytic and/or photosynthesizing agents such functionalized nano tubes, photoactive particles, or agents such as algae and water.
  • the middle layer channels 1 14 containing the algae and water mixture may be supplemented by adding carbon dioxide and/or other nutrients substances into the mixture.
  • Carbon dioxide and nutrients may be supplied from various sources such as, for example, constituents of animal and/or crop wastes, sewage, landfill materials, aerobic or anerobic digesters, and/or compost.
  • the working fluid 104 in the channels 102 in the upper layer 1 12 shifts the incoming radiation to a wavelength that is suitable for use with greenhouses and/or to produce gases such as hydrogen, carbon dioxide and/or oxygen by photocatalytic or photovoltaic processes to provide energy conversion and/or otherwise promote growth in the algae and water mixture.
  • the wavelength of incoming light may be shifted to selected frequencies such as red, blue, or green light.
  • selected photoactive agents such as algae can more rapidly provide beneficial results such as removal of objectionable agents from the fluid and/or provide hydrogen, carbon dioxide and/or oxygen, along with food production, and in some instances serve as feed stock for producing bio-fuels.
  • the lower layer channels 1 16 may circulate or contain a third working fluid 122.
  • third working fluid 122 is air, thereby allowing radiant energy to impinge on a heat controlling or heat absorbing layer 108 during the day.
  • the heat absorbing layer 108 may comprise a heat-storage medium such as a selected allotrope, orientation, or type of carbon.
  • air or water may be circulated through lower layer channels 1 16 at a suitable rate in order to regain the heat absorbed from the heat storage medium such as a carbon and/or urea and/or phase-change substance or layer during the day.
  • the heat absorbing layer 108 acts as a thermal flywheel that provides thermal "inertia" or capacitance against temperature fluctuations.
  • the heat absorbing layer 108 can serve to controllably "flatten out” the daily temperature fluctuations, since the heat absorbing layer 108 will absorb and store thermal energy when the surroundings are higher in temperature than the heat absorbing layer 108, and give thermal energy back when the surroundings are cooler. Control of such heat exchange rates can be modified by the selection of fluid characteristics and circulation times and/or rates to provide suitable temperature regulation of the space within such panel system.
  • the energy insulation layer 1 10 impedes heat exchange including heat loss or gain by the heat absorbing layer 108 from transferring to a roof structure, for example, and thereby helps prevent unwanted heat transfer into the underlying structure.
  • the middle and lower layer tubes, as well the carbon layer and/or insulation layer may be shuttered, checkered, or transparent or omitted from the panel construction in order to allow certain portions of light to travel completely through the radiant energy collector panel 100 depending on the application. In some instances light is admitted from the "north" sky but blocked from the sun to gain visible light in Northern Hemisphere applications and vice versa for Southern Hemisphere applications. In other instances selected portions of the solar spectrum are admitted in the winter and blocked in the summer.
  • FIG. 2A illustrates a radiant energy collector panel 200 according to a second representative embodiment.
  • the radiant energy collector panel 200 includes a plurality of adjacent elongate conduits 202. Each conduit may have one or more channels.
  • An illustrative embodiment includes upper, middle, and lower channels 206, 210, and 212, operative to conduct and/or contain a fluid or other suitable material therein or therethrough.
  • the elongate conduits 202 include an upper channel 206 operative to contain or conduct a first working fluid 230; a middle channel 210 operative to contain or conduct a substance such as a phase change material 232; and a lower channel 212 operative to contain or conduct a selected substance such as working fluid 234 therethrough.
  • the upper channel 206 includes an upper wall 204 comprising a self- reinforcing structural arch and/or a suitable lens structure.
  • the upper and middle channels 206, 210 are divided by a wall 208 which may also be in the form of a structural arch and/or a lens.
  • the lens may have multiple facets 204B or Fresnel geometry 204C to provide variable characteristics that may be utilized in conjunction with refraction produced by selection of the index of refraction of the fluid in contact with the lens and/or elastic reshaping of the lens in response to changes in fluid pressure inside the channel.
  • the effective index of refraction, transmissivity, and/or reflectivity of the lens may be adjusted.
  • Lenses positioned in the upper wall 204 and a middle wall 208 are operative to focus the light energy entering the collector panel in order to direct the light energy into the corresponding working fluid.
  • the lens(es) may be reshaped to change the effective angle of incidence on the panel.
  • the pressure on the channel may be increased in order to increase the curvature of the lens, thereby increasing the amount of energy collected from the sun.
  • the focal distance or line of focus is changed or further adjusted according to the index of refraction of the selected fluid that is contained or circulated through one or more channels.
  • Selected lower channel 212 and middle channel 210 are separated by a wall 209. It can be appreciated in Figure 2A that where the elongate conduits 202 are joined together, a light pipe 214 is formed which directs at least a portion of incoming radiant energy 250 (e.g., IR, light, or UV) into the lower channel 212 and/or to the substance in layer 216.
  • the layer 216 can be a photovoltaic layer (or a photovoltaic film) that may be laminated or disposed on an upper surface of the radiant energy collector panel 200. As in an embodiment described above with respect to Figure 1 , the layer 216 may be configured to absorb in the range of about 2% to about 30% of incoming radiant energy 250.
  • the elongate conduits 202 may be suitably manifolded and connected to suitable circulation systems to affect the desired transfer of heat energy.
  • the elongate conduits 202 are disposed in a heat reflecting, transmitting, or absorbing material 218, such as a suitable carbon allotrope, metal hydride, ferrofluid, and/or granulated magnetite layer.
  • a suitable substance or fluid such as a phase change material, ferrofluid, air or water may be circulated through lower layer channels 212 in order to regain the heat absorbed during the day by the heat absorbing material 218.
  • the heat absorbing material 218 can act as a thermal flywheel as explained above.
  • the heat absorbing material 218 (or heat retaining layer) provides phase change and/or the phase change material 232, such as a phase change salt (i.e. sodium sulfate), selected paraffin based materials, and/or lipids (e.g., coconut, tallow, etc.), absorbs energy during the day by melting and releases energy when the environment cools by solidifying. Therefore the phase change material 232 also acts as a thermal flywheel including instances in which it is contained in place and/or circulated to and from larger storage reservoirs.
  • phase change salt i.e. sodium sulfate
  • selected paraffin based materials e.g., selected paraffin based materials
  • lipids e.g., coconut, tallow, etc.
  • both the heat absorbing material 218 and the phase change material 232 can act as thermal regenerative masses that absorb heat energy during the day in selected seasons and reject heat energy collected during the day back into the elongate conduits 202 where it can be used for heating, for example.
  • phase change materials 232 melt they may become transparent or translucent and become opaque as they solidify to provide various benefits, outcomes, and modes of operation including diurnal and/or seasonal adjustments and adaptations.
  • the radiant energy collector panel 200 includes one or more reflective, transmissive or insulative zones.
  • insulation layers 220 and/or layers including reflective films are disposed adjacent to the heat absorbing material 218 in order to help prevent heat transfer between the heat absorbing material 218 and any adjacent structures, such as a roof structure, for example.
  • the lower layer may be a filter operative to shift the wavelength of the incoming radiation to a wavelength that is suitable for thermal gain and/or use with greenhouses and/or to promote growth in an algae and water mixture.
  • some embodiments may include photo-process functions (e.g., by photo-process agents) such as dissociation of water or digester liquids such as acids produced by anaerobic digestion by architectural constructs of carbon including nano tubes, scrolls and graphene, manganese oxide, silicon carbide, titanium oxide and/or cobalt oxide particles or layers and/or a photosynthesis function such as may be provided by an algae and water mixture as the working fluids in selected channels such as 206, 230, 232, and/or 234.
  • photo-process functions e.g., by photo-process agents
  • dissociation of water or digester liquids such as acids produced by anaerobic digestion by architectural constructs of carbon including nano tubes, scrolls and graphene, manganese oxide, silicon carbide, titanium oxide and/or cobalt oxide particles or layers
  • a photosynthesis function such as may be provided by an algae and water mixture as the working fluids in selected channels such as 206, 230, 232, and/or 234.
  • FIG. 3 illustrates a solar radiant energy collector panel according to the described embodiments as may be used in representative solar collector system 300.
  • the solar collector 302 may be any of the embodiments described herein which is in turn may be connected to a heat pump loop 304, a solar water heater 306, and/or a storage tank 308.
  • a suitable fluid such as water and/or acids produced by anaerobic digestion.
  • gases such as hydrogen, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, and/or oxygen can be further utilized to produce bubble pumping or buoyant forces to circulate fluids in selected channels from the lower elevations to higher elevations of curtain wall or sloping roof-top installations.
  • Operations to provide maintenance of desired qualities of working fluids such as sodium sulfate-water and/or selected hydrocarbon substances such as paraffin or solute-paraffin thermal flywheel systems include utilization of stirring or turning such working fluids to prevent separation in components such as 302, 306 and 308.
  • one or more suitable pumps or stirring mechanisms may be included depending upon the volume, configuration, and thermal specifications of such components.
  • Figure 4 illustrates another representative installation/application 400 of the radiant energy panels described herein in which channels may be oriented at any suitable angle with respect to the slope of a roof or curtain wall.
  • the application 400 includes a radiant energy collector panel 200 mounted to a roof 410 with appropriate brackets 402 and 404 to provide more or less transverse orientation of flow channels compared to the drainage slope of roof 410.
  • FIG. 5 is schematic representation of a solar collector system 501 particularly suited for a curtain wall of locations such as a grain storage elevator or a high-rise building with elevation for fluid movement, illustrating phase change of a "working fluid” expanding and/or converting from liquid to gas and condensing from vapor to liquid, as shown.
  • thermochemical reaction zone 530 e.g., a thermal reaction component or a vertical thermal reaction component
  • Any of the pipes/channels 503, 508, 531 , and 512 can be occasionally selected for participation in a thermal expansion/contraction buoyant force production including a phase change event or operation.
  • Panel arrays may be placed on inclined or vertical surfaces as shown in the thermochemical reaction zone 530, such as multi-story structures or high rise buildings (or alternatively in horizontal or inclined surfaces).
  • One or more pipes/channels 503, 508, 531 , and 512 can be selected to perform thermal exchange such as heat-pipe operations in which a fluid 505A photo-processed to produce gases and/or is evaporated in a region 505B where it is desired to remove heat to enable reformation and/or condensation and heat delivery at another location such as in the room or zone heat exchangers of a building.
  • an application digester liquids, urea, or water can be photo-processed by agents such as titanium oxide silicon carbide, nanoscale architectural constructs, and/or cobalt oxide particles to provide hydrogen and oxygen that are transported to another zone for recombination and heat production including heat of oxidation such as catalytic oxidation and/or condensation.
  • agents such as titanium oxide silicon carbide, nanoscale architectural constructs, and/or cobalt oxide particles to provide hydrogen and oxygen that are transported to another zone for recombination and heat production including heat of oxidation such as catalytic oxidation and/or condensation.
  • the selection of working fluid such as water is used as the phase change substance the partial pressure can be adjusted to a value that produces evaporation from a heat addition region at temperature such as 50°C (122°F) and provides condensation in or near a thermostat controlled fan and heat exchanger 506A, 506B to heat the interior space 520 such as a room or zone.
  • synergistic combinations such photo-processes and fuel cell 560 provide production of electricity by fuels such as hydrogen and oxidants such as oxygen from the air are included in circuits that provide vapor and/or condensed water C.
  • Condensation zones at elevations higher than the evaporation zone can provide a return of liquid water by gravity and condensation zones at elevations such as floor heaters that are lower than the evaporation zone and can provide return of liquid water by capillary circuits or by pumps.
  • pump 518 returns liquid collected in a sump (or liquid collector) 514.
  • Gravity collected liquid 522 is retuned to fluid pipes/channels 503 and may be aided by valves such as check valves 524 and/or 528.
  • fluid pipes/channels 503 range from liquid filled with relatively few bubbles to mostly vapor with liquid film on the walls as liquid is returned is returned from heat exchanger 506 through check valves 524, such as 524 and/or 528.
  • Operations including heat pump adjustments of working fluid temperatures and/or night time radiation to the sky for fluid cooling and/or daytime heating enable energy-utilization efficiencies throughout varying ambient conditions.
  • Outside (e.g., the thermochemical reaction zone 530) and inside (e.g., the interior space 520) wall and room temperatures adjacent to the heat pipe operation are thereby maintained at a temperature selected by the operator to be suitable such as warmer or cooler than the ambient atmosphere as in a greenhouse or an office building.
  • the working fluid temperatures and/or the heated or cooled conditioned air circulated by the fans 509A and 509B can be used to warm or cool the vapors (e.g., noted as A and C in Figure 5) in the channels.
  • Vapors (e.g., A and C) in the channels can be condensed to form the liquids (e.g., B and C), which can be transferred and stored in the sump or liquid collector 514.
  • the liquid collector 514 can be positioned at a lever lower than the thermal reaction component.
  • the solar collector system 501 can have a vertical arrangement that can collect radiant heat energy from one side (or a first floor) of a building or structure and transfer the collected radiant heat energy to the other side (or a second floor) of the building or structure (or a predetermined space). More specifically, for example, radiant heat energy can be collected on a south or an east-facing side of the building and transferred to the north or west-facing side of the building during mornings. Similarly, in some embodiments, radiant heat energy can be collected on the south and/or west-facing side of the building and transferred to the north and/or east-facing side of the building during afternoons. By doing so, the solar collector system 501 can balance the solar radiant energy received by the building and maintain the room temperature inside the building in an acceptable range.
  • the solar collector system 501 can have various other arrangements depending on solar energy strength, sunlight angles, air motion, relative humidity, shadows, and other factors.
  • the solar collector system 501 can be adjustable so as to allow the photo-process and/or thermochemical reaction zone 530 to face a direction that can provide largest solar radiant energy input (e.g., due to seasonal changes).
  • the solar collector system 501 can be used to transfer radiant energy between different floors or zones.
  • the solar collector system 501 can collect radiant energy on a rooftop and then transfer collected radiant energy to a designated lower floor (e.g., transferring working fluids by expansion, contraction or downwardly by gravity).
  • the solar collector system 501 can collect radiant energy on a suitable lower floor (e.g., having suitable radiant energy input) and then transfer collected radiant energy to a designated zone such as a higher floor (e.g., transferring working fluids upwardly by capillary actions or pumps).
  • the pipes/channels 503, 508, 531 , and 512 described in the solar collector system 501 can further have one or more conduits such as a three-channel structure, including the channels 102 described in Figure 1 or the upper channels 206, the middle channels 210, and the lower channels 212 described in Figure 2A.
  • the solar collector system 501 can have similar functions as the single or multiple channel embodiments described above.
  • the solar collector system 501 can function as a photovoltaic, photo-processor, thermal flywheel and provide various combinations of energy-sustainable operations.
  • the power sources of the fans 509A and 509B can be from the collected radiant energy (e.g., using electricity transformed from radiant energy through a photovoltaic device).
  • the collected radiant energy can be used for photo-processing and/or to deliver fluids such heated or cooled substances or fuels to other components such as fuel cells that serve occupants of the buildings or structures.
  • FIG. 6A there is shown a representation of an embodiment of a radiant energy panel 600a with details.
  • the radiant energy panel 600a can include a photovoltaic film layer 610a with a transparent outer surface to receive radiant energy.
  • the radiant energy panel 600a can include a container space 620a filled with multiple channels 630a of "working fluid" such as water or another substance selection to receive solar energy used to drive photo-processes and/or heat exchange.
  • the radiant energy panel 600a can further include a floor 640b of substance such as phase change substance and/or ferrofluid, magnetite, or various allotropes of carbon 640a to absorb and hold heat (as heat sink of suitable thermal mass which enables a thermal flywheel effect).
  • FIG. 6B there is shown a representation of an embodiment of a radiant energy collector channel composed of a structural arch or lens top layer 610b, a thermal flywheel lower component or floor 640b such as a phase change material, ferrofluid, magnetite, etc., and one or more such as three independent channels or conduits 650b, 660b, and 670b for working fluids.
  • Each channel serves as a conduit for storage or transport of gases, liquids, and or solids in suspension as selected.
  • the arrows indicate that, if desired, a counter-current flow of working fluid is provided to amplify the heat exchange between the coupled channels.
  • the middle channel 660b contains or circulates phase change material such as a suitable salt, engineered wax or suitable paraffin to act as a heat collector and transporter.
  • the lower component or floor 640b can take the form of a wall that includes selections such as carbon, magnetite, ferrofluid, or phase change materials along the sides of the radiant energy collector channel to maximize heat control, storage or transfer properties.
  • a carbon channel insert 690c including boron nitride, silicon carbide or carbon tube, rods or bundled fibers
  • a carbon wall 680c can be included in one or more of the channels or layers to control, store or transfer energy inside a channel or layer.
  • the carbon channel insert 690c may add conductivity of specific heat, magnetic, electrical or optical properties to a specific working fluid or region of the processing and/or interactive zone.
  • the carbon channel insert 690c could provide a conduit for specific chemicals, such as enzymes or catalysts, to flow to a specific region to enhance photosynthetic, microorganism e.g., bacterial or chemical activities.
  • specific chemicals such as enzymes or catalysts
  • Use of certain materials such as photoactive or catalytic graphene architectural microstructures can be used to enhance or alter properties (thermal, chemical process, electrical, and/or optical) and/or operating characteristics.
  • Figure 7A illustrates a daytime lens function of a top layer 710a of the radiant energy channel which may include micro lens and/or linear Fresnel geometries, allowing selected wavelengths to collect in channels 720a, 730a, and 740a such as for achieving more efficient utilization of the sun's energy 705a.
  • Figure 7B shows a night time function of the radiant energy system to disperse energy such as heat from working fluids in the channels 720b, 730b and/or 740b.
  • water 750b infused with C0 2 collects and holds heat during the day, and then gives that heat up at night to provide solar gain management such as an overall space cooling function.
  • the C0 2 infused water can be provided with nutrients to grow a photosynthetic agent such as algae which in some examples can more than double in volume in a twenty-four hour period.
  • Fixing carbon in plant growth is another way to facilitate radiant panels for removal of the overburden of C0 2 from the atmosphere, as well as providing a method for biofuel production and/or carbon collection and transport.
  • FIG 8A there are shown details of an embodiment of an array configured as panel 810a of a radiant energy system which may be deployed as a plurality of panels.
  • the panel 810a configuration can be rectangular, by example.
  • the size of the panel 810a may be of any suitable dimensions such as about 0.7" in thickness H, 0.4" in channel width W1 , 2' in panel assembly width W2 and having a practical length L, e.g., 4' to 400' depending upon the dimensions of the structure served.
  • Embodiments relating to vertical farms may prefer much wider and taller panel arrays, e.g., 100' to 800'.
  • pearlite, foamcrete, papercrete, rock wool, bubble films in profile constructions, or fiberglass having V-shaped troughs or channels 820a can extend longitudinally a distance such as "L" of the base panel 815a.
  • One or more tubular passageways or tubes 840a may have lens or other arrangements for controlling radiant energy transfers.
  • the surfaces 830a of the channels 820a can be reflective, such as by adhering thereto very thin, e.g., 0.005" thickness, aluminum or another reflective foil or a film of the order of 0.001 " thickness of a suitably reflective polymer, such as nylon, polyethylene terephthalate or suitable polyolefin.
  • the surfaces 830a of one or more channels 820a can be made reflective by the application thereto of a white coating such as a white latex formulation.
  • a white coating such as a white latex formulation.
  • Supported in each channel 820a is a tube 840a, with one or more channels, made of suitable material such as glass, polybutylene, poly-4-methyl-1 pentene, polysulfone or fluoropolymer, and of the order of about 1 ⁇ 4" to 3 ⁇ 4" diameter depending upon the scale of the application, and which may be connected at each end to a larger manifold 850a of the same or another suitable material.
  • the (reflective) surfaces 830a of the channels 820a cause concentration of incident solar energy on the tube 840a.
  • tubes 840a comprising one or more channels.
  • Manifolds 850a may comprise one or more channels such as the number of channels in tube 840a to provide for containment or flow of one or more working fluids or substances.
  • the base panel 815a, tubes 840a and/or manifolds 850a are enclosed in a formable sheath such as a shrink tube 860a to make assembly sufficiently strong to support foot traffic and prevent hail damage.
  • a shrink tube 860a also performs transparent packaging and glazing functions.
  • the shrink tube 860a which may be made of a suitably weatherable material such as a fluoropolymer including selections, such as polyvinyl fluoride, polyvinylidene fluoride, ethylenechlorotrifluoroethylne, or -tetra-fluoroethylene copolymer, has a film thickness of the order of about 0.006" to 0.016" or as needed to serve in the scale of the structure being served.
  • the shrink tube 860a may be about 150% larger in preshrunk perimeter than that of the largest cross-section perimeter of the assembly of the base panel 815a, tubes 840a and manifolds 850a, with their attached shrink tubes 860a.
  • shrink tube 860a is heat-sealed closed at both ends after enclosure of the assembly therein and may be punctured at about mid-width to allow ingress and egress of air or another gas such as carbon dioxide incorporated in channels 820a (or spaces) during heat shrinkage.
  • This design may include passage of the panel 810a through a uniformly heated tunnel on a powered conveyor (neither shown).
  • the panels 810a preferably are shipped with the ends of the manifolds 850a covered by the shrink tube 860a to keep out dust, debris and insects.
  • FIG 8B shows a second embodiment of a radiant energy panel 810b.
  • This radiant energy panel 810b may be similar as that shown in Figure 8A except that the bottoms 820b of the channels 830b are flat, the spacing between the tubes 840b is less and the outward inclination of the side wall surfaces 850b is less.
  • the result is that more tubes can be used in a panel of given width with a resulting greater cross-sectional area for fluid flow or more features may be included such as thermal capacitance components 845b.
  • This configuration is suitable for longer panels and for low specific heat working fluids such as air, argon etc.
  • Figure 8C shows a third panel embodiment.
  • the bottoms of the channels or troughs 810c have a plurality of narrow V-shaped grooves 820c, and the spacing between the tubes 830c and the outward inclination of the side wall surfaces 840c of the channels or troughs 810c is less in certain applications than that shown in Figure 8B with even greater cross-sectional area for flow of the working fluid selections.
  • Figure 8D shows a fourth radiant energy collector panel embodiment.
  • This panel 81 Od can be particularly rugged but flexible and light-weight.
  • the channels 820d have inverted V-shaped bottoms and are provided by folds in a 0.006" thick film sheet 830d of suitable material such as glass or equal molar percentages ethylene-terephthatlate-butylene-terephthalate copolymer aluminized to 1 ,000 angstroms or 98% reflectivity of solar wavelengths for more or less normal entry rays.
  • the bottoms 820b of the channels 820d are nested on and/or adhered to the apices or areas in contact with V-folds in a (support) film sheet 840d which may be of the same film as the film sheet 830d.
  • the cooperating truss folds of the two film sheets 830d, 840d are further reinforced and/or retained against flattening by adhering the edge folds of a flat bottom sheet 850d to the edge folds of the film sheets 830d and 840d, and also by adhering the flat bottom sheet 850d to the film sheet 840d along the lines of contact produced therebetween.
  • the flat bottom sheet 850d which may be a thin film of polymer such as polyethylene-terephthalate, may have instructions printed on its outer surfaces respecting installation and use of the panel 81 Od.
  • the channels 880d may comprise one or more channels and have an outside diameter of the order of 0.25" or larger depending upon the scale of application and working fluid selections and may be made of clear glass or a thermoplastic such as ethylene-tetrafluoro-ethylene.
  • the "W" shape of the channels 820d provides multiple supports such as three line contact with the channels 880d. It has been found experimentally for certain applications that 0.27" spacing between the channels 880d and the shrink film 870d and a concentration ratio of about 2.4 enables suitable all-year solar collection efficiencies for working fluid temperatures, up to about 50° F above the ambient temperature. Concentration ratio, as used herein, means the overall front area of a collector panel exposed to solar radiation divided by the outside apparent area of the tubes. Concentration is achieved by reflection of considerable portions of incoming solar radiation toward the tubes from the reflective surfaces of the channels.
  • the panel shown in FIGs. 8A-8D may have material selections to provide weatherability of at least 20 years. It can withstand foot traffic and hailstones, and weighs less than one half a pound per square foot.
  • the use of cooperating folded trussed film sheets, e.g., 830d and 840d, as shown in Figure 8D, to support the channels 880d and the shrink film 870d while resisting lateral loading is of considerable strength to weight advantage over conventional designs of roofing, curtain walls and solar panels.
  • Radiation concentrating panels using troughs or channels having outwardly inclined reflective side wall surfaces have beneficial relationships based upon the physical, chemical, and optical properties of the materials selected. Depending upon the location of the application and various local conditions the concentration ratio is as high as possible without overheating the radiation-receiving tubes and without requiring tracking or reorientation of the troughs, i.e., the panels, for all-day/all-year collection of incident radiation.
  • the actual angle for total internal reflection within the film sheets 830d, 840d, and 870d is a function of their composition, surface finish, and/or the index of refraction of those films.
  • the angle of radiation entering and exiting from the shrink film 870d is related to the angle of inclination of the side wall surfaces of the channel 820d (or trough) shown in Figure 8D because it produces radiation reflection from such surfaces and delivery to the channels 880d.
  • Such (tube) channels 880d can be of any suitable cross-sectional configuration including elliptical, rectangular or triangular, and can be supported at any location within the reflective channels 820d.
  • FIG. 9 shows an example of a radiant energy distribution assembly 900 that releases thermal energy from walls, ceiling or floor for space heating and cooling.
  • this radiant energy distribution assembly 900 is made of ruggedized polymer that may be composited with thermal capacitance materials for enhanced heat transfer properties, and when integrated with flooring is able to withstand weight, traffic, and the demands of wear when used in animal husbandry facilities. Providing low cost (non-electrical) heating and cooling for animal facilities are important economic and humane benefits of this technology.
  • the radiant energy distribution assembly 900 can include a plurality of tubes 920 positioned with or without a gap 910 therebetween. In some embodiments, the gap 910 may be similar among all the tubes 920.
  • the gap 910 can vary among different tubes 920.
  • one end of the tube 920 can be in fluid communication with a single header 930.
  • the other end of the tube 920 can be in fluid communication with two shorter headers 940, 950.
  • a pump 960 can be positioned between the short headers 940, 950, so as to regulate or adjust the fluid flows in the headers 930, 940, 950 and tubes 920.
  • Figure 10 shows a partial schematic representation of a large scale installation of a radiant energy collection system 1000.
  • This system 1000 can be based on the embodiment of the radiant energy panel 1010 first described in Figure 2 (also elaborated in Figure 6b and Figure 6c) which shows multiple (such as three) integrated working fluid channels, with structural arches or lens at top and suitable floor or base for enhanced heat sink/thermal flywheel functionality.
  • Figure 10 illustrates that in a simple or complex installation a versatile and adaptive platform for energy harvesting and thermodynamic work is enabled.
  • the radiant energy collection system 1000 enables control and interaction of three or more working fluids to be selectively distributed through the system 1000 for exposure to radiant energy sources 1020 (i.e., solar thermal wavelengths, geothermal wavelengths, and/or generated, man-made, radiant energy wavelengths).
  • radiant energy sources 1020 i.e., solar thermal wavelengths, geothermal wavelengths, and/or generated, man-made, radiant energy wavelengths.
  • the radiant energy platform enables a variety of purposes to be selectively achieved.
  • the list of functions indicated in Figure 10 includes: heating, cooling, photo-processing, thermochemical processing (setting the occasion for and driving endothermic and exothermic reactions), anaerobic digestion, electrolysis, aeration with oxygen, infusion with C0 2 , filtering, selective extraction, algae production of biofuel, delivery of catalysts, enzymes, and nutrients to a working fluid, water purification, and wastewater treatment, to name just a few.
  • each panel is composed of a top channel 1030, a middle channel 1040, and a bottom channel 1050, such that there is an energy collector function and a fluid work zone function that are integrated.
  • Numerous such channels are assembled into the panels designed to be placed at the particular site, with selective control of the working fluids moving through manual or electronic valve control of manifold piping.
  • the importance of multiple functions such as photo- processing, heating and thermochemical reaction is emphasized because there can be wide variation in choice of chemistry and the goal to be achieved.
  • system support involves heat pumps, fuel cells, fluid storage and pumping that are appropriate for gaseous, liquid, solid suspension, and phase shift of each working fluid.
  • Input and output is schematically shown at 1060, 1070 and 1080 to indicate that each working fluid channel may have distinctive means of fluid input and output.
  • the output from each working fluid channel may involve multiple gaseous and liquid states as both energy and material chemistry is harvested.
  • the complexity of the plumbing manifold and control interface may be simple as in a home installation as shown in Figure 3 and Figure 4, or more complex for a high rise building or vertical farm/greenhouse as shown in Figure 5.
  • Figure 10 is meant to indicate the complexity of scale installations for industrial park or energy park operations.
  • the plumbing manifolds and control interfaces to accommodate hundreds or even thousands of radiant energy panel 1010 channels and pipelines for transport of gases, liquids, and solids in suspension are known in the art.
  • Figure 10 schematically shows the base platform to support: architectural installations in geographic locals ranging from extreme heat (such as the tropics) to extreme cold (such as the arctic); land installations to achieve mass surface area energy harvesting and insulative efficiency and protection; ocean surface and subsurface installations; responsiveness to temperature control in various architectural forms (for habitat, work and recreation) due to day/night, weather and seasonal variability; permafrost installations enabling discharge of heat and responsiveness to the seasonal temperature change and albedo degradation of large areas of the earth's surface; industrial zones of chemical processing; agricultural zones of production of biofuel by photosynthesis (to include, plant, algae, nano-engineered, and genetically engineered media); and environmental rescue installation through zone thermochemical processing (purification, filtering and removal) of environmentally toxic materials.
  • extreme heat such as the tropics
  • extreme cold such as the arctic
  • ocean surface and subsurface installations responsiveness to temperature control in various architectural forms (for habitat, work and recreation) due to day/night, weather and seasonal variability
  • permafrost installations enabling
  • radiant energy collector panels may be mounted on the roof of a greenhouse or the side of a high rise building, such as an office building or dwelling.
  • a high rise building includes a vertical farm, which is similar to a greenhouse.
  • the disclosed radiant energy collector panels' ability to collect, store, regenerate, and characterize radiant energy can be beneficially applied to high rise applications.
  • High rise buildings are often clad with glass, which can make the interior difficult to heat, cool, and control sunlight.
  • the radiant energy collector panels can be configured to change color depending on the needs of the building occupants. For example, in the summer, white fluids may be circulated through the panel to reflect light, thereby assisting in keeping the building cool.
  • a dark fluid may be circulated through the panel in order to help warm the building space.
  • Other colors such as green, may be circulated according to need for temperature control and ambient light desired.
  • Inorganic and organic materials may be used to change the color.
  • blueberry juice, tomato juice, and algae may be used to control color.
  • various colors may be circulated and changed in the panels for aesthetic purposes.
  • different panels mounted on an application can be configured with different colors according to an artist's interpretation.
  • one or more channels can be selected to perform heat-pipe operations in which a fluid is evaporated in a region where it is desired to remove heat to enable condensation and heat delivery at another location such as in hydroponics or soil conditioning heat exchangers of green houses or vertical farm structures.
  • water can be selected as the phase change substance and the partial pressure of a channel confining the water can be adjusted to a value that produces evaporation from a heat addition region at a temperature such as 25°C (77°F) and provide condensation in a suitable heat exchanger, growing tray or floor- circuit heat exchanger at a rate to supply heat for sprouting, growing or harvesting.
  • Condensation zones at elevations higher than the evaporation zone can provide return of liquid water by gravity and condensation zones at elevations lower than the evaporation zone can provide return of liquid water by capillary circuits or by one or more zone pumps.

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Abstract

La présente invention concerne un système à énergie radiante permettant d'équilibrer l'énergie radiante reçue par une structure. Le système comprend un composant de réaction thermique, un collecteur de liquide, un conduit allongé, et un premier ainsi qu'un second échangeur de chaleur. Le composant de réaction thermique est disposé d'un premier côté de la structure et contient un fluide actif. Le conduit allongé traverse un second côté du bâtiment. Le fluide actif contenu dans le composant thermique est partiellement vaporisé par l'énergie radiante avant d'être transféré vers le premier et le second échangeur de chaleur, puis vers le collecteur de liquide. Le système permet d'équilibrer l'énergie radiante reçue en transférant ladite énergie du premier côté vers le second côté de la structure.
PCT/US2014/029630 2013-03-15 2014-03-14 Collecteurs d'énergie radiante et procédés associés WO2014144996A1 (fr)

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CN111087117A (zh) * 2018-10-23 2020-05-01 浙江海洋大学 一种对虾养殖水源沉淀池
EP3274638B1 (fr) * 2015-03-26 2020-10-14 Solar Fluidics Uk Limited Système d'énergie solaire
CN113514967A (zh) * 2021-05-11 2021-10-19 岭南师范学院 一种基于热透镜效应的可控隐形装置
CN116632879A (zh) * 2023-07-24 2023-08-22 合肥工业大学 一种利用光伏光热电解水制氢的储能发电系统及方法

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CN106931680A (zh) * 2017-03-31 2017-07-07 武汉地质资源环境工业技术研究院有限公司 一种氢能和太阳能互补的热泵系统及其运行方法
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CN113514967A (zh) * 2021-05-11 2021-10-19 岭南师范学院 一种基于热透镜效应的可控隐形装置
CN116632879A (zh) * 2023-07-24 2023-08-22 合肥工业大学 一种利用光伏光热电解水制氢的储能发电系统及方法
CN116632879B (zh) * 2023-07-24 2023-09-22 合肥工业大学 一种利用光伏光热电解水制氢的储能发电系统及方法

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