WO2024081208A1 - Système d'alimentation en énergie multiprocessus intégré dans un toit à concentration solaire - Google Patents

Système d'alimentation en énergie multiprocessus intégré dans un toit à concentration solaire Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2024081208A1
WO2024081208A1 PCT/US2023/034783 US2023034783W WO2024081208A1 WO 2024081208 A1 WO2024081208 A1 WO 2024081208A1 US 2023034783 W US2023034783 W US 2023034783W WO 2024081208 A1 WO2024081208 A1 WO 2024081208A1
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Prior art keywords
heat
solar
light
collector
roof
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PCT/US2023/034783
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English (en)
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Carl Brent ANDREWS
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Andrews Carl Brent
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    • 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
    • H02S40/20—Optical components
    • H02S40/22—Light-reflecting or light-concentrating means
    • 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
    • H02S20/00—Supporting structures for PV modules
    • H02S20/30—Supporting structures being movable or adjustable, e.g. for angle adjustment
    • H02S20/32—Supporting structures being movable or adjustable, e.g. for angle adjustment specially adapted for solar tracking
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24S—SOLAR HEAT COLLECTORS; SOLAR HEAT SYSTEMS
    • F24S20/00—Solar heat collectors specially adapted for particular uses or environments
    • F24S20/60—Solar heat collectors integrated in fixed constructions, e.g. in buildings
    • F24S20/67—Solar heat collectors integrated in fixed constructions, e.g. in buildings in the form of roof constructions
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24S—SOLAR HEAT COLLECTORS; SOLAR HEAT SYSTEMS
    • F24S60/00—Arrangements for storing heat collected by solar heat collectors
    • F24S60/10—Arrangements for storing heat collected by solar heat collectors using latent heat
    • 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

Definitions

  • Unique aspects include solar collector optical and insulation design, method of upgrading, intra-col lector plug-ins, roof mounting system, skylight, heat storage, energy processing control system, and methods for interfacing with dehumidifiers, batteries, oil stores, hot water stores, hydronic heating, heat pumps, and absorption chillers.
  • CPC classification Y02B 10/70, Y02B 30/625, Y02 B 10/12, Y02B 10/22, Y02B 10/40, Y02B 20/40, Y02 B 30/14, Y02B 30/24, Y02B 30/762, Y02B 80/40, Y02B 90/10, Y02B 90/22.
  • the invention is comprised of a combination of optical devices, light-channeling geometry, intelligent control, aerogel insulation, phase-change materials, method of connection and upgrading, and regulating a heat transfer fluid to produce a solar capture, processing, and distribution system that can be built up from modules.
  • the invention is highly flexible and has many more possible applications.
  • it can be a PV array, a PV/T array, a PV/T/Hydrogen array, a solar cooling, heating, and hot water system, a system for chemical processing, etc.
  • This invention is geometrically and optically a unique design, which enables the same external structure to house over a dozen different configurations (species), using various technologies, accessories, and plug-in units that can make solar collection and processing more efficient or better able to meet the demands of a built environment.
  • the invention is also an economic innovation: when a customer is in the process of building their home or does not have a permanent home, and this customer has a tight budget, the invention herein offers an ideal solution, because it enables the customer to buy a very basic operational system using two or four units, which can be safely installed without professional help, and which includes a portable power supply to use in various locations. Then, later, the customer can add other parts of the invention onto the base units in order to meet other needs as they build, upgrade, or enlarge their home, while using a minimum of roof space. And the customer can avoid the need to make a special room or cabinet with safety precautions for a battery bank, because the invention integrates batteries and other storage means into the roof-mounted equipment.
  • Array buss strip that combines DC currents from TV cell arrays
  • Bifacial photovoltaic panel constructed so as to receive light and generate electricity from both sides.
  • BOS balance of system: parts of a renewable energy system other than the solar collector, needed to deliver end-use functions, store energy, and sometimes to provide back-up functions when renewable energy is insufficient.
  • CPT compound parabolic trough, a public domain design invented by Dr. Roland Winston.
  • Electro-chromic glass coating that becomes opaque or transparent depending on a voltage applied to it.
  • GaSb, GalnP Gallium Antinomide and Gallium Indium Phosphate semiconductors that generate electricity in response mostly to infrared radiation.
  • Graphitic composed of graphite or a compound containing graphite, graphene, or graphene oxide.
  • OIRC Opaque Internal-Reflecting Concentrator, also known as a light guide with absorptive coatings on it.
  • Warm air duct conduit inside attic space with opening to receive air from at least one collector's plug-in's heat sink, with a fan located inside moving air through the conduit.
  • Heat-enhanced Battery a battery that charges more when heat is applied to it, and discharges more power when it is subsequently cooled.
  • Hybrid HVAC system a system that integrates renewable energy generation with building heating, cooling, and ventilation, optimizing energy efficiency by means of integration and cybernetic control.
  • IC-PI intra-collector plug-in, something that fits between two A.T. collectors, underneath the roof covering, and adds functionality to the collectors.
  • J-C-D jet-pump cooling and dehumidification system
  • LAN Local Area Network, a Peer-to-peer network of digital signals within the SCRIMPESS system.
  • LSC Luminescent solar concentrator: a device that absorbs light and re-emits it inside the device, where it is channeled by Total Internal Reflections to the edges or any breaks in the surface coating.
  • PCM HX heat storage plug-in unit that contains phase change materials and a heat exchanger
  • Perovskite cell a multi-layered chemical formulation deposited on glass to produce a solar cell.
  • PV photovoltaic
  • QCP quasi-compound parabolic meaning a geometry that approximates Dr. Winston's Compound Parabolic Trough (CPT) reflective concentrator design.
  • SCRIMPESS Small Concentrating Roof- Integrated Multi-Purpose Energy Supply System
  • thermovoltaic or thermophotovoltaic these term encompasses those cells able to produce electricity from infrared waves, or from both infrared and visible light waves.
  • Off-grid solar with storage generally requires a much larger overall system, capturing extra energy to store, and expensive batteries plus large heat storage containers and equipment for channeling that stored energy back into the system.
  • the invention uses a new approach to combining optics, phase-change materials, fluids, and spacial design to produce high-grade heat and electric energy more consistently and efficiently, in order to gain the above advantages over existing technology.
  • spacial design it is meant that accommodation is made for capturing both direct and indirect solar energy, and integrating other parts of an energy system with the solar collectors, including heat regulation and storage, electric storage, cooling towers, and other heat pumping apparatus. In this way, the whole system is far more compact, uses less roof space, and saves materials.
  • the inventor's hypothesis is that overcoming the roof size limitations and reducing material costs is likely to increase adoption rates substantially.
  • the main cost of the system is not the capturing of energy, rather it is the regulation of the flow of energy. Batteries are necessary in order to store energy so that it can flow more intensely at times when the Solar Supply is less intense than the demand.
  • the battery charge controller is used to regulate the flow of energy to the batteries in case the supply from solar panels is too much or too little for the battery charging function.
  • hot water must be stored in order to supply hot water at a flow rate that is desired at times when such a flow rate of incoming energy is not available.
  • the invention succeeds in capturing energy more consistently over a longer period of the solar day, and especially if it is interfaced with a heat pump that can collect energy at night, then the size of all the above mentioned equipment for regulating the flow of energy can be reduced, thus reducing the cost of the balance of system significantly.
  • a primary design principle of the Aladin Transformer (the invention), is to provide methods to regulate energy flow rate within the collector or immediately adjacent to the collector.
  • a second principle of our solar system is integration: most current systems using renewable energy do not meet all the energy needs of the building, do not provide an option for generating fuel, or cooling, and do not function well in cloudy weather.
  • Solar collectors use up roof space, while not offering any energy capture at night, and very little during rain storms, during morning hours, or during the end of the solar day. This causes a need for more collectors, and a large storage facility, and often means that the full demand can not be met with the energy available on the roof. There is limited space for solar collectors and for balance-of-system equipment at most building sites. This means that it is imperative to maximize the capture of solar energy within the solar-exposed area available. A method is needed of combining functions of heat and electricity generation, and adding a potential for cooling and fuel generation, and integrating this equipment into a compact design that maximizes use of roof space.
  • Energy storage systems used with solar systems use toxic materials, are unsafe, and are not easily integrated with the building, requiring many large, expensive wires, pipes, cabinets, safety devices, and ventilation, to transport electricity and hot water to a remote room where batteries and hot water are stored. This increases the installation cost very significantly.
  • the invention includes the following design elements which resolves or ameliorates said problems:
  • the Seasonal variation problem that solar thermal designers encounter means that sizing the system for 100% of the winter heating load often results in overheating during the summer.
  • the Aladdin Transformer offers several ways to avoid this problem. a. Since a larger portion of the solar irradiance in the wintertime comes from Eastern and Western angles and low-angles in the sky, the Aladdin Transformer's heat capture optics sections favor the Eastern, Western, and low-angle rays. Therefore the difference between winter and summer seasonal capture quantities is decreased, due to a more efficient capture in the winter and a less efficient capture in the summer.
  • the invention incorporates auxiliary reflectors and dual receiving channels on both East and West flanks.
  • auxiliary reflectors in the invention can optionally serve a second purpose as evaporator plates, for use in climates at higher latitudes. This makes use of the long winter nights at such latitudes to generate additional heat via a Rankine cycle or absorption cycle heat pump.
  • the collectors plus the heat pump provide a very efficient energy system that can satisfy the building's needs without fossil fuels and without excess heating in the summer.
  • the auxiliary reflectors in the invention can be tilted at a slightly steeper slope in the winter season, to feed more sunlight to the thermal absorbers, thus providing more heat in ratio to electricity generation.
  • the thermal absorbers in the invention are able to heat an oil heat transfer fluid to a high temperature in summer, thus driving an absorption heat pump for cooling the building, and during the winter, the same heat absorbers can produce a lower temperature in the same heat transfer fluid, which is useful to heat the building.
  • solar capture can be sized for a larger percentage of the heating and any cooling load without overheating.
  • the invention optionally includes evaporative absorber plates, which can capture heat energy at night or during rain. These plates do not require separate roof area, as they are integrated into the auxiliary reflectors. Therefore the system can be running 24 hours per day, eliminating the need to store heat from the day for use at night, and reducing the difference in heat capture between summer and winter, since the shorter winter days are compensated for with longer winter nights. Also, by combining Junctions of heat delivery, electricity generation and fuel generation (in a future plug-in) in the same collectors as well, the roof space is used to maximum result.
  • the invention provides for capture of visible, ultraviolet, and infrared radiation, as well as heat from air, (item #2) in order to produce sufficient quantity of energy.
  • the ratio of heat, electricity, cooking, and cooling demands of a building can be matched through the initial design choice of plug-in and drop-in units, by adjusting the auxiliary reflectors, and by choosing plug-ins that enable real-time redirection of light between thermal and photovoltaic absorbers or converters.
  • Energy Storage can be integrated into a roof-mounted system, both as heat in phase-change materials, and as electricity in non-toxic batteries that are mounted in, under, or next to the collectors, thus relieving the need for floor space and safety enclosures, and lowering the extent and cost of wires and pipes to transfer energy to a storage facility housed at a distance.
  • the invention includes auxiliary reflectors between the main solar collectors. These can be easily removed, creating a path the right size for human access to the collectors. Thus upgrades and maintenance are easily facilitated, while using the entire roof area exposed to the sun, which is unique among static-mounted rooftop solar module arrays.
  • the super-modular design means that repurposing the collectors with new plug-ins, drop-ins, and accessories is an easy process, making it possible to change the ratio of heat to electricity to cooling drastically, in the event that the building needs change significantly, such as during a remodel or move-in of a new tenant.
  • Aladin Transformers provide better heat isolation between the thermal capture sections and the PV sections by use of a specially formulated aerogel conduit encasing the thermal absorber.
  • the desired properties of a transparent thermal insulator are high solar transmittance (>90%) and low thermal conductivity ( ⁇ 0.1 W/m/K).
  • Aerogels are porous materials that naturally exhibit low thermal conductivity due to a low volume fraction of solid. Structurally, the key to achieving high transmittance of visible light is small, uniform pores. The inventor identified scattering as the dominant extinction mechanism in aerogels at visible wavelengths, since the observed behavior is characteristic of Rayleigh scattering, which increases drastically with increased scatterer size (in this case, the aerogel pore).
  • Transmittance can be increased by changing the pH of the solution in the sol-gel process, using a two-step sol-gel process, heat treatment, and alternative drying techniques.
  • transmittance of PV band 97%.
  • Transmittance of the thermal band through one layer 97%. Therefore, by encasing the thermal absorbers with one or two layers of this aerogel, it is possible to use 2.5 suns concentration of sunlight, and heat a heat transfer fluid to 140-180° C, while keeping the PV absorber surface below 44° C. This is a breakthrough in PV-T design.
  • the invention acts to minimize the cost and quantity of voltaic conversion devises used.
  • the invention's optics capture early and late sunshine efficiently, concentrating light, capture substantial diffuse energy, and both concentrate light and alter the light beam's frequency content. These features allow the use of fewer and in some cases cheaper voltaic conversion devises, because they are working for a higher percentage of the time.
  • the invention design reduces costs by eliminating aluminum racking supports, optimizing the roof support structure, and using the collectors themselves as part of the roof covering for new build applications, while retaining within the design an option for easy installation on top of existing roofs.
  • the inventor herein having worked in the building-sited solar energy industry, including both solar thermal and solar electric systems, has learned of the major problems with current solar systems elaborated above, and has endeavored to solve these major problems with the invention herein.
  • the invention herein is not a specific item design, but rather a method of combination, optical and thermal accommodation, and spatial positioning applied to the entire system design, comprehensively altering how renewable energy systems are structured and used.
  • the invention includes the design of the solar collectors, but also encompasses the way in which energy is processed after collection, and even how it is delivered to end uses.
  • the inventor has also worked in the HVAC industry. He has endeavored to make a system that can contribute to keeping a building comfortable for the occupants as well as generating the needed quantity, density, and forms of energy, without encroaching on the ability of any architect to design the aesthetics of indoor living space well.
  • the ideal system would use the most cost-effective manner of capturing solar energy by integrating absorption and conversion technologies with building components ("building-integrated”) to minimize structural material costs.
  • the main structural material costs in a standard rooftop solar system are for aluminum support "racking", aluminum frames around PV panels, roof support structure, and roof covering materials.
  • a method is needed for reducing costs by eliminating aluminum racking supports, optimizing the roof support structure, and using the collectors themselves as part of the roof covering, at least for new build applications, while retaining within the design an option for easy installation on top of existing roofs. Since aluminum has a very high embodied-energy component, minimal aluminum should be used.
  • the conversion to electricity should make use of both visible and infrared radiation, in order to produce sufficient quantity of electricity and heat.
  • Aladin Transformer design means that the initial supply of energy from the sun can be captured in a more consistent and efficient manner, and optionally, heat from the air can be captured at night. This will benefit the entire remainder of the processing, storage, and delivery system, making the total cost-benefit ratio lower and total supply level optimized. An inexpensive technology for the conversion of infrared flux to electricity was found. And a solar system that is more compact, to meet ever denser building trends was designed. All of these goals are met in the designed system herein.
  • the feed cable from the SCBU unit to the UCPS portable power pack conducts high-frequency AC power, so that any shock received by a human from this cable will not affect their internal organs. It is therefore safe enough to be installed by personnel without special training in electrical safety or special tools, even when multiple units are connected together, producing substantial electrical charge capacity. This allows the unit to be more powerful than other "portable" DIY systems.
  • the SCBU unit has a trapezoidal prism form: it is easy to hang on a wall or set on a flat stand, and get the PV panel oriented at approximately 45° from vertical. When placing it on a roof, said SCBU can be installed at an angle that is fully adjustable using brackets and it's extendable legs.
  • said extendable legs can be used to tilt the unit towards one side or the other, on roofs that are not facing due South (or due North, if they are located in the Southern hemisphere). Thus it is very adaptable to various installation situations.
  • the SCBU unit has a higher weight-to-surface ratio than other PV panels. This plus the form factor makes it much less vulnerable to becoming detached from its mooring by either wind or snow loads. Thus it can be installed where there is not available a strong supporting roof structure, for example in a refugee camp, by using two tripod-stands, or it can be hung on a solid wall, and still achieve stability with a minimum of added material.
  • the SCBU unit can be upgraded later, by installing it into a larger unit that makes more electricity and hot water or hot oil as well, or by setting it into a skylight assembly, or by buying more of the same units and connecting them together.
  • the connector locations, shape, and electrical configuration enables this.
  • the solar photovoltaic cells in the SCBU are preferably made by new manufacturing methods using perovskite organic coating, a cheaper process than is used for the silicon PV cells sold currently.
  • the batteries in the Solar module unit will be away from people's reach, once installed, since they are housed inside SCBUs, which attach to a roof or a wall, preferably above windows, thereby increasing system security, and avoiding the need for special battery cabinets with fans and locks.
  • the electronic charge-control circuit board in the SCBU can accept more power input from the PV of a larger assembly, hence it enables larger systems to be easily built up from SCBUs.
  • the dual connectors on the ends of SCBUs can be switched between input and output, to accommodate combining of SCBU Units into adjacent pairs with short connecting cables.
  • thermogalvanic means are stacked directly underneath the PV panel, and batteries are also located lower, inside the SCBU, with special charge control circuitry that maximizes battery storage of electricity from both the PV panel and the super-capacitors.
  • the UCPS is lighter in weight than other portable power stations due to the use of supercapacitors and fewer batteries.
  • the Goal Zero 1500 Watt power pack weighs 30 pounds
  • the UCPS 2000 Watt power pack will weigh less than 25 pounds.
  • the UCPS is chargeable from mains power, and charges more quickly than comparable battery power packs, due to the inclusion of supercapacitors, and our trade secret electrodes.
  • Ergonomic and light-weight design makes the UCPS easy to carry in one hand or attach to a backpack.
  • the UCPS preferably offers four USB and four 12VDC outputs, as well as 3 AC outputs. It can energize LED lights at night, charge four cell-phones or other USB devices, and run three small fans, all simultaneously.
  • the micro-inverter circuit within the UCPS has unique characteristics, because it is designed to work with two units of combined Chinchilla and A.T., which combines eight or more different current sources that are all DC.
  • A.T. When upgraded to an A.T., There are two thin-films on the side channels (2a, 2b) which are in long, narrow arrays, supplying approximately 24VDC, and up to 8 Amps of current.
  • the crest PV panel on the top of each Chinchilla is similar in output to the two side films.
  • the thermogalvanic capacitor stacks supply another current source. Then there is the potential of a bifacial panel in the central channel of an attached A.T., that would produce at maximum 26 VDC @ 12 Amps current.
  • the power supply AC inverter circuit is designed to provide 50 Watts of combined USB 5 VDC power to four USB sockets, through a direct current pathway, and up to 2000 Watts of 220 Volts AC @ 50 Hz power.
  • the UCPS preferably provides a separate power pathway to these outputs, which are supplied through several 12V batteries, preferably of nickel-bromide, and 12V and 5V regulators.
  • the ultra-capacitors will supply any temporary large AC loads.
  • the battery will make power available for longterm uses, such as lights and charging or USB devices. This saves the batteries from stress, letting them have a long life.
  • the invention optionally includes other features and additions, including but not limited to:
  • Auxiliary reflectors preferably with unique micro-prismatic surfaces that provide virtual curvature to the reflector, thus capturing more sunlight, especially on cloudy days.
  • a phase-change heat storage snap-in under-module that regulates temperature of the heat-exchange fluid in the Aladin Transformers, thereby extending their supply of heat into evening or night hours.
  • thermovoltaic cell row • An integrated Opaque Internal Reflecting Concentrator of infrared radiation coupled with a thermovoltaic cell row.
  • the invention's design of the roof and collector system enables various modules and add-ons to be easily connected to each other, making a compact system that can be mounted on or integrated into a roof or wall or ground mount.
  • These compact systems can fit into one or more rows, with auxiliary reflectors between them, for a larger array that captures sunlight from a continuous region of roof area, yielding more total power plus heat output per roof area used than any current known system, and potentially acting as the roof protective membrane as well. Therefore the invention is more flexible, more efficient, and more useful than existing products because it accommodates various budgets, roof or wall dimensions, combinations, and levels of building needs.
  • the invention includes new designs for adjunct hydronic heating, for interfacing with building cooling, for integrated energy storage, for extension of energy generation into night time, and for energy processing and control strategy.
  • the invention preferably includes both thermal absorbers and photovoltaic converters, and optionally thermovoltaic and Perovskite photovoltaic converters.
  • the solar collector portion of the invention has four nominal sections, three of which are called channels, all of which are multipurpose.
  • the invention provides means for maximizing the use of either bifacial photovoltaic converters or opaque internal-reflecting solar concentrators, for space illumination, and for channeling light to plug-in units, some of which can be shared between two or more collector units.
  • the invention includes integrated electricity storage & process management design.
  • the invention enables the production of electricity, heat, and hydrogen from sunlight, in a variable ratio and controlled timing, and optionally integrates into or onto a roof or facade structure, using a special truss system.
  • the invention thus enables a large class of buildings to be energy independent using only renewable energy, waste energy, and energy conservation methods.
  • the invention offers higher efficiency and more control of energy capture, because it provides novel methods of diffuse and beam radiation collimation and concentration, better heat isolation between the thermal and photovoltaic functions, and optional second and third stages of optics, providing means for different levels of light concentration, and conducting light into a closed optical interface underneath the collector, thus enabling convenient and efficient integration with either slide-in heat exchanger unit(s) or other plug-in modules for light processing.
  • it is highly flexible in application. For instance, it is suitable for integrating with an absorption cooling system, or for photocatalysis of hydrogen, or for interface with an air dehumidification system, or for channeling day-lighting, all while providing efficient electrical conversion from solar energy. This makes the invention ideal for use at university research centers where various solar conversion technology is under development or testing.
  • the invention includes a simple, inexpensive pilot unit (Chinchilla) for low-income customers, which can be multiplied, upgraded, or added to by using plug-ins, drop-ins, and accessories, thus giving customers a method of self-financing, adapting to their changing needs, and balancing their financial and energy demand situations.
  • Chinchilla simple, inexpensive pilot unit
  • the collector In order to capture more solar radiation during early and late hours of the solar day, the collector must be convex to the azimuthal perpendicular plane, since planar collectors' present incident angles to the solar beam radiation of 50- 85° at these times, yielding a smaller aperture and poor penetration of the cover material.
  • Convex design also affords greater capture of diffuse light (overcast sky radiation), and the optics herein are adjusted to accommodate collimation of diffuse as well as beam radiation, in order to maximize the consistency of energy supply throughout the usable solar day, in spite of any interference by clouds. So, the convex design is ideal for minimizing storage requirements, and for capture during the wintertime, when the sun is lower in the sky, and there is more diffuse light as well, due to cloud cover, smog, and atmospheric scattering.
  • the invention herein avoids mechanical tracking, while achieving the same goals as tracking to some extent. It does so by use of convex shaped collectors combined with auxiliary reflectors with virtual curvature, thereby making a system of high reliability and ease of maintenance or replacement, with a low profile and aesthetic appearance suitable for residential and commercial rooftop applications. This approach enables the combination of tracking-type benefits with adequate capture of diffuse light from an overcast sky.
  • the invention's virtual curvature widens the aperture by means of micro-prismatic optics, which can substitute for a parabolic curved reflector and mechanical tracking system and are more reliable and cheaper.
  • a design is used that is low-profile, wherein the solar collectors remain stationary, can be building-integrated, and are quite durable even in severe weather.
  • This design protrudes externally from the roof covering only 42 centimeters, (or 69 centimeters, if retro-fit on an existing roof) in a quasi-prismatic shape, so that early and late sunshine irradiates a larger normalized interface than it does on flat panels. This increases the efficiency and the practical functionality of the solar collector, especially since most of the need for both electricity and power in residential buildings happens during these extreme hours of the solar day or just after them.
  • auxiliary reflectors with less height and a peaked closed-channel profile are added between the main solar collectors.
  • These auxiliary reflectors employ a back- surface treatment that can redirect the light downward towards the second device, using linear micro-prismatic structures with a reflective under-coating that impart a deflection of the incoming light.
  • the prismatic structures ensure that more light is directed into the solar collector as the sun moves higher in the sky. They are preferably varied in angle of light-deflection, in order to approximate the virtual curve of a parabolic reflector. Also, the angle of these reflectors can be adjusted slightly on demand, to redirect light from the central channel to the side channel, thus changing the supply of light from a PV function to a thermal function, reducing waste of the solar energy.
  • the first stage optical design has the result that at 0° azimuth, (sun at vertical position, nearly perpendicular to the collector), the crest panel of the ALADIN TRANSFORMER ( 38 cm x 179 cm) operates at peak wattage, with 97% of the solar beam radiation incident on it.
  • This panel is both high-efficiency and produces more electricity by giving its rejected heat to heat-charging batteries located right below it. So, between the panel and the battery charging, this should produce 150 Watts of power during noon time.
  • the two oblique cover plates admit sunlight mostly from the auxiliary reflectors, and a majority of the sunlight goes into the East and West facing channels, providing about 360 Watts of thermal energy to the system. Still, the central channel is able to generate up to 60 Watts since it receives sunlight from both sides, assuming a bifacial PV panel is installed vertically in this channel. So, at a combined 210 W of electricity and 360 Watts of heat, the collector is still quite efficient at noon!
  • the AL DIN TR NSFORMER has better acceptance of diffuse light than either flat plate or tracking collectors. Partly cloudy skies often have a gap where the sky is bright. With an ALADIN TRANSFOR ER, wherever the bright spot in the sky is, there are usually two collector faces facing within 40° incidence of it, and the rest of the sky has similarly incident faces as well.
  • ALADIN TRANSFORMER collectors receive about 400% more of the diffuse light coming from all over the sky compared to tracking collectors of concentration factor 20, and about 15% less direct sun than tracking collectors of the same size. Combining the gains and losses, this means that on sunny days, ALADIN TRANSFORMER receives about 140% as much light, but on cloudy days, it captures about 250% as much- 2 and a half times the light. The larger gain on cloudy days is more important, because that's when the energy need is greater. The spacing requirement for ALADIN TRANSFORMER to prevent shading each other is approximately the same as that for tracking collectors.
  • thermoelectric cells TV conversion in the ALADIN TRANSFORMER solar collectors (GaSb, GalnP or thermoelectric cells) Silicon-based photovoltaic cells do not substantially convert infrared radiation, which is about 53% of sunlight. In order to convert this extra energy to electricity, it is beneficial to use single-junction III-V thermo-photo-voltaic cells, such as GaSb or GalnP cells. These cells are also more heat-tolerant than silicon based cells. When cost or availability precludes using these cells, thermoelectric cells may be substituted. However, thermoelectric cells have a conversion efficiency of 4-10%, while thermovoltaic cells have an efficiency of 20-35%. GaSb semiconductors of very high purity and quality are commonly used in mobile phones, cameras, LCD monitors, etc.
  • GaSb cells can yield approximately 25% efficient conversion of the infrared portion of radiation from sunlight at 20-50 suns' concentration factor.
  • GalnP cells can provide slightly higher efficiency. Further refinement by use of a filter or a re-radiator element to tune the radiation could produce efficiency as high as 28% from infrared radiation.
  • the problems involved for employing these cells and optimizing them are standard engineering problems, for which expertise is available.
  • the use of a primary infrared-transparent photovoltaic coating, and a secondary optical concentrator that absorbs infrared light and re-emits it as concentrated infrared radiation within the ALADIN TRANSFORMER solar collector facilitates efficient use of TV cells to produce an aggregate conversion efficiency of 50% or higher. Also, because the ALADIN TRANSFOR ER solar collectors capture more early and late sunlight, including its higher fraction of infra-red radiation, this invention has the unique advantage that a TV cell array can convert infrared radiation to electricity for a longer portion of the solar day, with a higher cost-benefit ratio.
  • the TV cells are located in a device that can be moved automatically, in order to be illuminated by another heat source at night.
  • New technology enables the mass fabrication of inexpensive translucent solar cells that can be adhered to glass, based on a Perovskite material which is translucent and offers up to 22% conversion of non-concentrated sunlight.
  • a Perovskite material which is translucent and offers up to 22% conversion of non-concentrated sunlight.
  • This technology can be configured to allow the unconverted radiation to substantially pass through the glass and Perovskite coating, it is an ideal match for use in combination with either evacuated tubes or graphene-coated conduit assemblies inside of transparent aerogel insulating jackets, and with TV cells which can capture the left-over near-infrared and infrared light flux.
  • the cost-benefit ratio calls for concentrating the remaining light first, within a second optic, to minimize the cell material and the size of thermal absorbers required for conversion.
  • Such an optical design for low cost and high efficiency is made possible in the ALADIN TRANSFORMER collector because of its convex shape and because it collimates and concentrates the remaining radiation following penetration of an optional Perovskite layer on one or more of the collector's outer surfaces.
  • Translucent Perovskite technology while not the inventor's innovation, and not claimed in this patent, also enables the application of solar cells on the buildings' solar-facing windows, enabling more energy conversion.
  • Aerogel is a super-insulator.
  • Transparent Aerogel can replace the use of evacuated glass tubes to insulate thermal absorbers.
  • Transparent Aerogel technology is more durable and can handle high temperatures more reliably than evacuated glass tubes. This is important because the higher the temperature that can be produced in a collector, the more functions it can provide, such as driving an absorption chiller, food processing, etc, and the better the efficiency of using the heat transfer fluid for whatever purpose. This means smaller heat exchangers, also a major cost factor in the balance of systems using solar. Therefore the Aladin Transformer uses aerogel in several locations, and particularly it uses aerogel preferably to house the thermal absorbers. It also uses a thin layer between the top PV panel and the Battery charge controller circuit.
  • the spacing of the collectors at about 55 centimeters apart also creates a space between the underside of collector bodies that can be used for locating more balance-of- system equipment, just underneath the roof covering or between and underneath the collectors. This is especially true where the collectors are inset into the roof structure.
  • plug-in modules are installed within the attic space and can thereby receive two light beams, two or more sources of heat transfer fluid, and two or more electricity feeds, from adjacent collectors. This enables such end-uses as absorption chiller cooling, process heating in chemical or food /beverage processing plants, photo-catalysis of hydrogen from water, and hydrolysis or evaporative processes.
  • the system can be hurricane resistant, when integrated into a roof structure.
  • a modular array of A.T.s has a regular-patterned profile, with a height of less than 65 cm in most cases.
  • Aladin's thermal absorbers are thoroughly insulated from the photovoltaic converters by transparent insulators, and can reach high enough temperatures to drive absorption cooling or chemical processing, without affecting PV. Electro-chromic redirection
  • Electro-chromic coatings on the internal reflectors for redirection of the light makes an advantage for the invention as one method of entraining light to alternate between two different absorbers, because this method involves the least amount of material and no moving parts. It was not obvious how to employ this method, and the resulting solution also employed nano-coatings on the insides of the central channel cover glass, with a one-way reflective function, in order to minimize the amount of light escaping back to the ambient.
  • Electro-chromic technology has been thoroughly tested and is currently sold into the commercial window market. It enables the invention to provide a much closer match of energy supply to demand, by altering the ratio of heat versus electricity outputs in response to demand signals. It is used in the species for absorption cooling, figures 8, 9, and 10
  • the minimum supply level in ALADIN TRANSFORMERS has been raised at least 20% by designing a collector system that collimates diffuse light and maximizes capture of early and late beam radiation.
  • the ALADIN TRANSFORMER collector's combination of optical methods capture more light and help the balance of the system perform better than either systems with tracking collectors or flat panel collectors.
  • the invention also avoids common problems of other CHP solar systems, including frequent maintenance, undesirable aesthetics of tracking collectors, difficulty of repair, or tracking errors caused by storm and wind warping of the tracker mechanism parts.
  • the increased consistency and the reduced storage requirements of the new collector system called for further design improvements to the balance of the system, which can now be reduced in size and storage capacity, and to some degree integrated with the roof structure. Therefore these other improvements are added to the scope of the invention. It is very cost-efficient from a real estate perspective to reduce space requirements inside the occupied quarters.
  • the larger volume of the collectors and the intra-collector space enables placement of some or all of the balance-of-system parts inside, underneath, or in between the collector bodies, preferably with the collectors inset into the roof structure, so that the plug-in equipment may be accessed from inside the attic, and easily attached to one or two collector bodies as "plug-ins".
  • An object of the invention is to produce a solar concentrating collector system that can be integrated into a roof or wall structure, or mounted onto an existing roof or wall, that is well-suited to the demands of many buildings and practical for builders to install and to maintain throughout various weather conditions.
  • Another object of the invention is to provide a means whereby a maximum amount of daily solar radiation is collected and used per roof area required by the collection devise, without any exposed tracking motor or gears, and with a profile of less than 70 centimeters above the roof.
  • Another object of the invention is to dynamically apply solar radiation to both liquid-medium heating and electrical energy conversion units in such a manner that the ratio of heated liquid generation to electrical energy generation may be modulated in response to human- or machine-generated demand signals, and the baseline ratio of outputs can be adjusted by installing different plug-in accessory units.
  • Another object of the invention is to provide a means for reflecting solar beam radiation into a collector body throughout the solar day by means of reflectors, while accepting diffuse light from at least a 108° azimuthal (East- to-West) aperture.
  • Another object of the invention is to provide a means whereby a substantial part of the collected solar radiation may be conducted into a central channel where a plug-in unit may be inserted, thus enabling customization and upgrade of the collector for meeting various customer needs.
  • plug-ins include plug-ins: a) to cool a supply air stream with solar-generated steam by creating a vacuum via a jet-ejector means, b) to create hydrogen and oxygen by photocatalytically, electronically or magnetically splitting solar-generated steam in an insolated chamber, and channeling the by-products thereof to an end-use or storage tank for later use, c) to drive a turbine with said steam to produce shaft power or to generate electricity, or for any other convenient function, d) to provide a "day-lighting channel", either by means of a bundle of optical fibers, or of a channel means lined with reflective surfaces, for lighting the interior of a building.
  • Another object of the invention is to enable the solar energy collected by an individual collector to be used for heating during periods of heating load, and for cooling during times of cooling load, by having multiple absorber units within or next to a single collector that generate different temperatures for these functions.
  • Another object of the invention is to provide an electrical conversion, storage, and control system, comprising the combination of one or more storage batteries, a digital time and date computer, and a sensorbased electronic programmed controller all attached to an array of multiple output solar collectors as described herein, thereby achieving the following: 1) maximum electrical output during the peak hours of the grid, if the unit is grid-connected 2) light output when an interior building switch provides an 'on' signal for lighting to the internal space, if day-lighting option is employed, 3) heat output when a call for heat exists from logical calculation based on the connected heat storage unit temperature or end use space or floor temperature and time, date, and weather data, 4) method of prioritizing the three functions above, 5) method for dynamically locking and unlocking the system in full electrical production mode, in the case where the sales of the collector is subsidized by the power distribution company, 6) operation independent from the power grid, based solely on the user's program.
  • Another object of the invention is to provide a solar collector suitable for use with a combination of two types of solar cells, preferably near-infrared-transparent Perovskite and GaSb cells, that together have the capability to achieve conversion efficiency of approximately 35%, at low cost. Only very expensive multi-junction solar cells made for space applications have achieved a similar level of efficiency. Standard mono-crystalline silicon PV cells measure 20% efficient in the lab and always achieve less efficiency in the field.
  • Another object of the invention is to provide an inexpensive starter unit that can be added to, upgraded, and multiplied over time, thus enabling consumers to save money on their utility bills by making a small initial investment, and to use that saved money to upgrade and expand their energy independence.
  • Another object of the invention is to be able to deliver maximum power generation at times when the connected grid is experiencing a critical shortage of supply power, by means of a radio frequency or line signal that controls the settings of the SCRIMPESS solar system, and optionally by means of adding electrical storage that can be released to the grid on command.
  • Another object of the invention is to provide a solar collecting structure that enables sharing outputs from two collectors to a directly-connected plug-in unit, thus providing higher wattage and thermal density, as is necessary for some conversion processes or end-uses.
  • Another object of the invention is to provide a solar collector that sheds snow easily from its sloping sides.
  • Another object of the invention is to provide a solar collector with a built-in inverter system that makes high frequency AC current, for distribution to a building, in order to provide greater safety for installers and roof workers.
  • Another object of the invention is to provide a solar collector with an integrated battery, in which the battery heated to a relatively higher temperature by the incoming solar energy will have an enhanced power storage capacity and will charge more, and the same battery, when cooled after sundown will discharge a larger quantity of power.
  • Said battery will in this case be positioned under the crest solar panel.
  • Another object of the invention is to provide a method for interfacing with a chiller, a dehumidifier, batteries, a heat pump, and an energy processing control system
  • Another object of the invention is to provide a roof mounting system that enables using solar collectors as an integrated roof covering, giving access to the underside from inside the attic space.
  • Another object of the invention is to provide a hydronic heating and cooling system that stores heat in the floor mass, and delivers or rejects that heat in a regulated way so as to meet some of a building's heating and cooling loads.
  • Another object of the invention is to provide a skylight that also generates electricity, and can be retro-fitted with an SCBU unit, and preferably has a pivoting PV panel that can generate electricity when there is sun and no light demand. ) Advantages of the invention over the prior art -A) Benefits and applications of combined heat and power collectors
  • Combined heat and power systems have a long history and an established value for commercial buildings with very large roofs. But these are engineered one-off systems. Combined heat and power systems typically involve diesel generators, inverters, power conditioners, voltage regulators, air conditioning systems, heat recapture, and space heating systems. The cost of typical CHP systems is quite high, both initial capital costs, which include engineering design, and fuel costs for running it.
  • the basic idea of a hybrid solar HVAC-E system is to decouple the solar energy supply to HVAC-E functions at the collector level so as to arrange a better and more consistent match of energy supply to end uses, and to maximize the use of roof space while minimizing the heat-loading of the building through its windows and roof.
  • With single-purpose solar domestic hot water panels 60-75% of solar energy is wasted, because the 3+ square meters that are used for domestic hot water all year, are used only intermittently, when end use of hot water depletes the storage cylinder.
  • thermovoltaic plug-in when fitted with a thermovoltaic plug-in, or absorption heat pump interface plug-in, can use solar thermal energy for other purposes when hot water demand is absent, wastage of solar energy is practically eliminated because the invention enables both hybrid generation and plugin adaptation to each site's particular demands.
  • combined heat and power is advantageous for power plants and micro-grid electrical generation.
  • Higher power density per area of land used has the advantage of lowering the real estate cost and reducing the overall length of connection wiring within the power plant.
  • a solar energy system that provides electricity to a grid needs to use a large amount of land in order to produce in the megawatt range of power.
  • Using the A.T. collectors to build a power plant results in saving on real estate and makes siting it near a city more feasible. And it potentially can provide power at night as well with the TV plug-in or a heat engine and heat storage.
  • Radiant heating with hydronic radiators or in-floor tubing is by far the most advantageous way to use solar energy for conditioning building space comfort.
  • Radiant in-floor systems offer thermal stability because of their inherent thermal mass. This compensates somewhat for the instability of the solar supply of energy.
  • a typical solar energy system that will provide both hot water AND space heating for a human occupied structure typically wastes much more solar energy than those used only for domestic "tap" hot water.
  • In a moderate climate such a system typically requires the use of approximately 12 square meters of solar collector aperture per 100 square meters of floor space, and 800 liters of hot water storage per 12 square meters of collector.
  • no space heating is required in most locations, and the hot water domestic use of a family typically requires 2-3 square meters of solar collector.
  • the invention reduces the energy storage requirements greatly compared to other systems
  • the heat absorbers in the AM and PM sections of the collector absorb far more infrared light than PV cells, because of their optical black absorber surface efficiency at absorbing infrared rays.
  • the sunlight contains more IR near dawn and dusk. Therefore, by employing AM and PM full sun-facing apertures and optical black absorber surfaces, this adds at least 20% more light capture precisely at the time periods when most systems are using stored energy, so that less storage is needed.
  • Another advantage of the invention is that for the hot water store tank, a new technology of Phase Change Material Pellets is added to the storage tank to increase its heat storage capacity substantially, reducing it's size and footprint.
  • the traditional method requires more storage volume than is typically available or cost-effective within constraints of residential buildings in cities. It also typically requires piping the hot water from the roof collectors to and from multiple remote storage tanks, involving significant heat loss.
  • Phase Change Material is used to regulate temperature of the heattransfer fluid within the collector body, when employing a plug-in with PCM heat storage, (PI-III, or PI-IV).
  • the traditional method is to use a buffer tank, set on the floor somewhere, with piping to connect it to the collector bank. This method involves a substantial amount of heat loss during transit and storage.
  • PI-III, or PI-IV require a negligible amount of connection piping.
  • a buffer tank requires a time period to heat up before the heat can be delivered to an end-use.
  • the invention with PI-III, or PI-IV plug-ins and heat storage rails (14), will store a substantial amount of heat energy.
  • the PCM heat store does not require any heat-up time period, because the PCM heat store is bypassed until the heat transfer fluid gets above the PCM melting temperature. So, as soon as the solar collectors are able to heat the fluid to a usable temperature, heat can be delivered to an end-use.
  • a PCM with melting point a little bit lower than the ideal delivery temperature is selected.
  • the PCM heat store regulates heat also, yet heat can be delivered from solar energy supply up to three hours earlier in the day and this time difference reflects a decrease in overnight heat storage requirements by as much as three hours of heat supply.
  • the time offset is engineered to match the time offset of solar heat penetrating the shell of the connected building, so that the supply of heat driving force matches the cooling or heating demand period more closely.
  • the invention uses a thermally-enhanced battery, housed inside the collector's drop-in unit. This battery absorbs heat during the solar day and stores it as electrical charge, in addition to the charge from the Photovoltaic panel(s). Then, when the battery cools down at night, this excess charge can be released as electrical energy. Thus more energy storage is included without adding any extra materials or size to the collector system.
  • While the invention is modular and designed for group applications, a simplified core unit usable as both a drop- in power component and an independent solar collector and battery to effectively generate power only, without any additions.
  • This core unit creates an initial product that is affordable by most home-owners, and therefore can be manufactured on a large scale.
  • flexible-design hybrid collectors are useful in a large number of conditions where there is a need for more than one end use, of the group including heat, power, cooling, dehumidification, stored energy, hydrogen, and shaft power, and within commercial, residential, or industrial buildings using medium-heat processes, ocean water desalination plants, solar power plants, solar powered air conditioning systems, hydrogen fuel generating plants, and marine vessels. This contributes to the potential for mass production, making both the core units and the larger hybrid collectors relatively inexpensive.
  • the ALADIN TRANSFORMER can employ thermo-photo-voltaic or thermovoltaic cells (TV) in a secondary conversion of concentrated infrared and near-infrared radiation, which radiation is 58% of total solar radiation. This approach can give more electricity than using only photovoltaic cells.
  • TV thermo-photo-voltaic or thermovoltaic cells
  • This approach can give more electricity than using only photovoltaic cells.
  • ALADIN TRANSFOR ER enables customers to achieve a higher wattage of electric power for end-uses from a given roof area.
  • the Chromasun brand CHP collectors originally developed at Australian National University, only converted 8% of captured solar energy to electricity.
  • the ALADIN TRANSFORMER can convert up to 30% of captured light to electricity.
  • Silicon-based PV cells are vulnerable to heat. Even 40° C heat will decrease their output. If operated with concentrated sunlight or without at least air cooling, their life expectancy drops. This is not true for GaSb or other types of thermovoltaic cells. Their maximum operating temperature is when the solder junctions melt!
  • GaSb represents a large decrease in the energy used for fabrication. Silicon melts at 1450°C and GaSb melts at 711° C. This lowers the fabrication cost, and the carbon footprint of GaSb cells compared to silicon cells.
  • the preferred method of infrared radiation concentration is by means of an opaque infrared concentrator panel. This method is unique to the invention, and captures more infrared energy than other methods.
  • Bifacial PV panels Another method of optimization used in other plug-in units is Bifacial PV panels.
  • One way to increase the output per silicon solar cell while minimizing working temperature is to use bifacial cells. These can produce energy from light incident on both front and back surfaces. If one doubles the flux density of the light, more of the unconverted light gets absorbed by the cell material and turns into heat. But in Bifacial panels, most of the unconverted light passes through the panel without generating heat. In the invention, this light escaping is mostly reflected back to the bifacial panel, further raising the efficiency of conversion. -F) Installation is easier (in some cases)
  • PV systems are sold and installed by electric contractor companies, and hot water or steam systems are sold and installed by plumbing companies. But plumbers do not like to go up on roofs. They charge a premium price when they do. Perhaps that is one reason why the installation of combined systems has not been developed on a commercial scale for residences. It is therefore important to design a combined heat and power system that is easy to install, and does not require a plumber to go up on a roof.
  • the current invention has many attributes facilitating ease of installation. The requirement for heat storage in large water tanks has also been reduced by the invention design, making it easier to find the space required for an installation. Also, with a special cabinet design it is possible to achieve installation on the walls of tall buildings. For roof-inset installations, the solar collectors can be installed by roofers, and the plumbing and electrical connections can then be made by separate contractors inside the attic space.
  • evacuated tubes have tested the most efficient for heating water or a heat transfer liquid.
  • the standard sizes of these tubes are 47mm or 58mm internal diameter. These tubes are more resistant to breakage than larger tubes because the tight curvature gives them extra strength.
  • the standard hot water solar collectors sold are made of a series of many of these tubes, exposed to the weather directly, so resistance to breakage is an important feature.
  • larger tubes are more efficient, both in terms of materials and in terms of heat transfer.
  • our evacuated tubes are inside a skylight structure, more protected from the outside. Thus breakage is much less of an issue. I therefore use larger tubes, between 80 and 90mm diameter.
  • a 90mm tube uses 55% more glass material than a 58mm tube, and holds four heat transfer conduits instead of two. Therefore, when placed in an Aladin Transformer Collector's concentrating optic, this larger tube can attain about twice the heat transfer of a 58mm tube, while using only 55% more glass.
  • the invention includes the option to use a unique heat absorber design using hexagonal conduits interfaced with extending heat absorber plates coated with a ultra-conductive surface that reduces the material quantity while maintaining heat transfer rate and temperature compared to other heat absorbers.
  • the invention also uses only two compound parabolic reflectors, whereas the equivalent four 58mm tubes would use four CPRs, requiring more materials and more space. So the cost is about 65% less.
  • one A.T. collector yields the heat transfer equivalent of ten 47mm evacuated tubes, but it uses only four 90mm evacuated tubes.
  • the A.T. collector has other materials added that standard evacuated tube collectors don't have, but these other materials create a structure that supports and protects other functions, including the drop-in PV and battery unit on the top, an optional bifacial PV panel inside, and a plug-in processing unit on the bottom.
  • the robust protection offered by the glass skylight structure is well-warranted by the multiple functions that it houses and that share it's cost assignment, which is small in a proper comparison of all the aspects. Thus the cost-benefit ratio is maximized in the invention. -H) Future Upgrades are enabled
  • the invention does not include a specific design for hydrogen production yet.
  • the invention's roof- integrated solar conversion method can deliver concentrated sunlight to a cavity below the roof. With emerging cheaper photocatalyst technology, this concentrated light could affordably produce hydrogen by a process known as Hydrogen Evolution Reaction (HER).
  • HER Hydrogen Evolution Reaction
  • the crest compartment 'Chinchilla' is removable, and could be replaced with a dedicated hydrogen production module, and the A.T.s are provided with tubes to feed water or steam to the crest channel and to transfer hydrogen and oxygen down to the bottom of the A.T., (Ila, b, & c) Therefore it is suitable to work with plug-in modules for either steam electrolysis, hot water electrolysis, HER, or reversible hydrogen fuel cells.
  • the invention can convert any surplus summer energy to hydrogen, providing thereby a relatively economical seasonal storage solution.
  • This eliminates any need for large amounts of highly insulated hot water or steam piping.
  • Hydrogen gas can be stored in a special pressurized tank or sublimated in a tank of iron ore or other material that accepts hydrogen into its matrix.
  • A.T.S provide the a safe and economical foundation for a hydrogen-based energy storage and generation system for buildings. Once this is fully realized, it will be able to provide electrical power supply for 24 hours per day to a building system, thereby eliminating the use of interior building space for batteries or hot water heat storage.
  • the academic research work on solar-driven HER systems is ongoing, and we expect to have a complete solution for this by the time this invention goes to market.
  • the crest compartment 7 in A.T.s can hold either a reversible hydrogen fuel cell energy storage system or a heat- enhanced zinc-bromide battery storage system.
  • This means of energy storage may be sufficient and practical for climates that have a modicum of sunshine all year around, wherein electricity storage is mostly needed for night time and other short periods of time.
  • the photovoltaic panels incorporated into each AT will be electrically connected to a load management & storage controller E3+E5, which includes an integrated load splitting and maximum power point tracking circuit, to meet the load of any SCRIMPESS incorporated pumps, controls, valves, and optionally building loads, and divert surplus power to a reversible fuel cell or battery within the same compartment.
  • the fuel cell or HER system will produce hydrogen and oxygen, which can be stored locally in carbon, or in a plug-in unit mounted on the roof, and when the electricity demand of the building is greater than the supply from a bank of A.T. collectors and any other photovoltaics incorporated into the building, then the hydrogen may be delivered back to the reversible fuel cell to generate electricity.
  • hydrogen + oxygen can be used as a cooking fuel.
  • Concentrating collectors have up to now had outdoor tracking mechanisms attached underneath them. Not being able to integrate into a roof, the use of solar energy to make steam then requires super insulation around the entire boiler apparatus and flexible piping into the building, which is expensive and makes maintenance more difficult.
  • the invention's roof-integrated solar conversion system including hybrid collectors, which produce both hot water or steam and electricity located immediately at the fuel cell location, when also using plug-in modules for hydrogen storage, can efficiently convert surplus energy to hydrogen, without need for a large amount of highly- insulated or flexible transport piping, providing thereby a relatively economical and long-term storage solution with a small footprint.
  • Hydrogen fuel cells also generate heat, and this can be channeled back into the collector via a heat sink with optical fibers and a internal-reflecting concentrator plate, where the excess heat can be used. In this case, energy capture and conversion efficiency can reach above 70%. No prior art accomplishes this efficiency in a compact, modular combined heat and power solar system.
  • Another optional added feature of the invention is the capability to support a steam-to-hydrogen photo-catalysis system, that is structured so as to be mounted onto the bottom-sides of ALADIN TRANSFORMER collectors and underneath auxiliary reflectors, and driven by the heat, light, and electricity generated by the collector, as well as steam made from a local water supply source.
  • No specific method is given herein because new breakthroughs in this science promise to offer more efficient methods than the ones previously designed for this system.
  • Water splitting on illuminated semiconductors has long been studied as a potential means of converting solar energy into chemical energy in the form of H2, a clean and renewable energy carrier. If hydrogen gas can be made in a scalable solar energy system, then seasonal energy storage and fuel for transportation can be included in its benefits.
  • the volume of water changes as the cube root power of temperature, meaning that the rate of change increases as it gets warmer, on a logarithmic curve. Therefore, the closer to boiling point one can get the water before splitting, the less energy per volume change is required.
  • the enthalpy -1 -1 of water evaporation is 40 kJ/ mol
  • cold water requires 45 kJ/ mol for evaporation. It is therefore highly probable that a solar energy system could produce a higher rate of hydrogen gas production by heating the water to boiling point first with solar-generated heat before splitting it with a sunlight-illuminated photo-catalyst.
  • 1 Aladin Transformers can provide both the thermal and the photo-catalytic drivers.
  • the crest compartment 7 can be fitted with a drop-in unit containing flywheel batteries or ultra-capacitor storage or both. Ultra-capacitors and Flywheel batteries can store a great deal of energy in a small space and weight, and can provide storage for shorter periods of several hours or even a few days, but not for seasonal storage.
  • the drop-in unit can be removed easily, and replaced with another drop-in unit that contains a reversible hydrogen fuel cell. Then a hydrogen storage tank can be added either in the attic space or as an intra-collector plug-in.
  • a hydrogen storage tank can be added either in the attic space or as an intra-collector plug-in.
  • long-term energy storage is added to the SCRIMPESS system while making only one small drop-in unit obsolete.
  • the manufacturing company for plug-ins will offer a trade-in value for obsolete plug-ins, making the investment loss minimal.
  • three collectors can be retrofitted with intra-collector plug-ins that produce sufficient hot oil to drive a small absorption chiller. Therefore, cooling may be added or increased for the building at a later date than the first installation.
  • Steam generated and used for cooling can also become a co-generation medium, by using its pressure in the steam-jet ejector, and then it's remaining heat in a hot water system.
  • the Rankine-cycle plug-in uses a vapor compression cycle well-known in the art, and enhanced by directing a line-beam of concentrated sunlight onto a refrigerant pressurization component prior to introduction into the compressor. All these factors make SCRIMPESS into a compact, solar-driven cooling a win-win solution for society.
  • the separation of the Reflector system from the second device means that customers can purchase some second devices first, save money on their utility bills with the energy provided, and use that money to later add auxiliary reflectors, and more collectors.
  • Other stages of purchase can include adding the hot water sections, plug-ins, drop-ins, accessories, and more A.T. collectors.
  • the SCRIMPESS system thus includes electrical supply sufficient to operate the entire SCRIMPESS system, including any system fans, auto-valves, and water pumps. This ensures system compactness and reliability, and it provides building comfort even if there is insufficient electrical power for other demands.
  • the invention solves these problems by being a stationary wide-angle low-factor concentrating collector, placing the tracking mechanism instead inside of auxiliary reflectors, hidden from the outdoor wear factors, or removing it altogether, and using prismatic surfaces instead to direct light from different angles into the collector, and by being able to redirect the light beam on any solar cell arrays in the central channel to a heat-driven process instead when needed.
  • the methods used for solar tracking is the combination of convex geometry and use of auxiliary reflectors with a deflecting reflection film (DRF)
  • DRF deflecting reflection film
  • the separation of the tracking system from the second device means that customers can purchase the second devices first, save money on their utility bills with the energy provided, and use that money to later add tracking auxiliary collectors. This provides a method of economical self-financing.
  • the auxiliary reflectors increase light capture by about 50% on the evacuated tubes.
  • a solar collector should be stationary and have optics to enable it to capture the sunlight regardless of the sun's position in the sky.
  • a wide aperture also captures diffuse light on cloudy or semi-overcast days. Then it can be integrated into a roof structure, its connections to water and electricity would be static and stable, and no mechanical tracking system should be required.
  • the collector in order to "see” the sun during early and late hours of the solar day, the collector must be convex to the azimuthal perpendicular plane, since acute incident angles over 60° do not afford substantial penetration of the cover material.
  • the convexity is more practical if it is subtended into a series of planar faces, giving a polygonal cross-section.
  • planar glass or plastic materials may be used as cover materials- and the supporting structure may be geometric-formed from straight-lines-far easier to manufacture.
  • the angular displacement of adjacent planes of covering material should afford the maximum surface to be within ⁇ 60° of any given solar ray, so that the acceptance area remains large and reflection percentage remains low throughout azimuthal displacement of the sun. This posits a polygonal cross-sectional shape that has 135°+ angles between adjacent faces.
  • the above optical design follows this regimen and is unique over the prior art of solar collectors.
  • concentrating it is meant that the optic would act as an "instrument of illumination”, concentrating light onto the conversion medium within the collector, which means it should provide a shape and density of illumination suitable to precisely illuminate the absorber or converter.
  • Most concentrating systems see only direct sunlight ("beam radiation”), which is less than global sunlight. To maximize consistent energy supply, I found a way to capture global sunlight.
  • the invention makes use of optical thin films that enhance the acceptance aperture.
  • optical films are used to bend light downward, so that capture in the AM and PM sections is extended in time past what the geometry alone would provide.
  • a ray reflecting off of the auxiliary reflector at 115° ( 25° from vertical) would miss the AM section.
  • the optical film it is bent down by 20°, and reaches the internal wall low enough to be captured into the parabolic trough.
  • capture is gradually diminished between 1.66 hours before midday normal incidence and 4 minutes before normal incidence, when beam radiation moves beyond the aperture.
  • a quasi-prism-shaped exterior transparent covering containing at least four converging reflective channels positioned perpendicular to the azimuthal pathway of the sun, plus low-angled auxiliary reflectors with deflection films to increase the deflection angle, or tracking mechanisms to control the reflection angle, were discovered to accomplish both beam and diffuse concentration, a unique feat in optics.
  • the reflecting walls inside the AM and PM channels only capture light up to a point that is where a normal projection would intercept the lowest point of the AM cover glass open for transmission. Above this point, light would normally be reflected back out of the collector. To remedy this, I made the wall end at this point, and allowed the light traversing above the wall's edge to enter the central channel where it can be captured by an LSC, or re-directed by a forked deflector optic. Thus, during the same time that it is decreasing from the AM channel, this light is also captured, in the central channel. I call this bleed-through light, as it enters the AM channel but then moves through into the central channel.
  • LSCs luminescent solar concentrator
  • TIR total internal reflection
  • Some Quantum Dots-LSC-PV experiments have reached as high as 26.5% efficiency in the laboratory. If the efficiency, reliability and durability of internal-reflecting thin films can be perfected, the invention will use this system in the Aladin Collectors as part number 5 with certain plug-ins. If not, it will use a transmissive linear-beam type Fresnel-lens and a forked micro-prismatic deflector to concentrate light, and use PV cells that can convert wide-spectrum light, or split the light beam into substantially infrared and visible components.
  • the invention will use either quantum dots embedded in an LSC, that absorb light at 450-550 nm and emit light at 700-850 nm or longer, or, in the version using an Opaque Infrared Concentrator, it uses thin films of dyes plus an absorber coating on the outside layer, with matching TV cells to convert the resulting radiation to electricity.
  • the LSC used in the Aladin Transformer is bifacial, is trapezoidal with ends that slope inward, making thereby more concentration of light, and has a superior edge with preferably a coating that can transmit infrared light into the LSC using heat from the crest channel above the LSC.
  • the Light guide is placed within a central channel of an A.T.
  • One species of the A.T. also uses three light guides, one vertically positioned, and two close to horizontally positioned. These later two are curved at the lower portion to bring them parallel to the vertical light guide, for a joining of the output edges into a singe illuminator. These are innovations. -O) Optimum concentration ratio of solar energy
  • the invention uses either a lens made of printed refractors, similar to a Fresnel lens, or a internal-reflecting solar concentrator(s) (LSC).
  • the side surfaces of the LSC have thin films attached containing dyes that absorb sunlight and re-emits it as Infra-red radiation which becomes mostly trapped within the LSC by means of total internal reflection. Some light escapes the LSC, but because it is enclosed in a reflective channel, much of this light is then returned to the LSC for a second chance to be entrained to the edge.
  • a second and third curved LSC are positioned at the bottom of the central light channel, and absorbs light also from the two side channels, including light that escapes the vertically-placed LSC.
  • the vertical plate LSC can communicate at its edge with a strip lens and optical fibers underneath a fuel cell installed in the crest compartment 7, so that infrared light that is generated as the electricity is generated (hydrogen fuel cells operate at 50-100°C temperature) may pass into the LSC, staying inside by means of Internal reflections until it reaches the opposite edge, and use it for generating electricity at an included Thermo-photo-voltaic cell strip.
  • This added IR radiation increases the concentration factor in the daytime by adding to the sunlight absorbed, raising the light concentration factor from about 38X to about 43X, and acts as a stand-alone radiant energy when there is little or no solar radiation available.
  • the LSC and a strip of TPV cells together can provide electricity 24 hours per day.
  • Standard evacuated tube or flat plate solar collectors do not meet all these criteria, and would require extensive balance-of-system equipment, including electric or gas supplementary heaters to be able to manage these multiple end-uses.
  • the ALADIN TRANSFORMER invention is flexible enough that with the proper plug-in units, it can provide all of the above flux densities and temperatures.
  • A.T.s provide means for absorbing solar radiation in various different concentration levels and variable total flux quantities, by using a combination of extra-large evacuated tubes, a choice of central channel concentration optics, accessories, and plug-in units. This makes it possible to match the requirements of many different energy conversion instruments or machines, thereby maximizing efficiency and minimizing the whole-system cost.
  • plug-in X a plug-in unit, called “plug-in X"
  • plug-in X delivers light at any of three different concentrations, to three different absorbers, one for electricity generation, one for producing domestic hot water, and one for heating a heat transfer liquid to mediumtemperature levels that have many other end-uses.
  • the level of concentration can be dynamically chosen, according to changes in need.
  • GaSb TV cells operating with infrared radiation rather than visible light, the engineering requirements for efficiency versus concentration factor have an optimal trade-off at around 40 suns. At this temperature of infrared radiation, these cells are 38% efficient. Therefore, we use plug-ins that concentrate most of the infrared radiation. Although efficiency peaks at 100-200 X concentration of sunlight, the small gain in efficiency above 40 suns requires large increases in concentration, and the materials costs trade-offs make higher concentration unattractive for the invention's design purposes. Also, concentration level affects the life expectancy of GaSb cells at concentrations > 50 suns, although to a lesser extent than silicon-based PV cells. Therefore, an A.T. species with OIRC plug-in concentrates sunlight between 30 and 50 suns, depending on the sun's declination.
  • a design for a concentrating collector would be maximized by separating the infrared and the visible light, then concentrating the infrared around 40 times, or using a means to convert the light to primarily infrared, and absorbing the visible light at around 3-10 suns' flux density and the infrared light at around 40 suns' flux density.
  • the various means of dividing the beam into multiple beams also provides the advantage of enabling the yield of different concentrations and different total flux quantities in the resulting radiation beam forks.
  • the higher concentration beam (still in the medium range, at 20-40 suns) is more suitable for semiconductor conversion of infrared radiation to electricity, space cooling, and hydrogen production, while the lower concentration, (3-10 suns) is more suitable for either silicon crystal photovoltaic conversion of visible light or heating water for domestic hot water or steam, and space heating uses.
  • Other levels of concentration may be accomplished in the pivoting mirror plug-ins by varying the distance from the reflective mirror to the absorber. No other solar collector can provide light flux at three or more different densities for these various conversions by simply adding plug-in units.
  • the present invention provides an illuminated slot for a plug-in unit, which unit is designed to provide concentration of sunlight between 35 and 50 suns, enabling a light-to-electricity conversion efficiency of up to 38% with a small strip of GaSb or similar TV cells.
  • a DOAS reduces ventilation energy consumption by reducing the total ventilation airflow needed to meet Standard 62 ventilation requirements. This is due to the inherent precision of the DOAS in delivering required ventilation flows in the aggregate and in the individual zones in the building.
  • the ALADIN TRANSFORMER collector is designed to be suitable for interfacing with a steam-jet-ejector vacuum-evaporator air-cooling system with air dehumidification, or a heat-driven absorption cooling plug-in system, by using intra-collector plug-ins, a non- plug-in absorption chiller, run from 6 or more A.T.s in a chain, and a traditional Rankine cycle heat pump adapted to fit in the intra-collector space and to use light beams and the auxiliary reflectors ( as evaporators) to enhance compression and heat gain. With these four systems, almost any occupied-space cooling load can be handled.
  • the invention has new methods for increasing the efficiency of cooling, and solving the noise issues of the known technology of jet-ejectors.
  • the intra-collector plug-ins combine the outputs of at least two collectors, raising the power capacity supplied to the cooling system, and can be up to 1 cubic meter in volume.
  • the collectors also supply electricity to drive these intra-collector plug-ins.
  • This option provides an exceptionally compact and economical way of providing independent zone cooling: no long piping or cables are required between the power source and the chiller components.
  • a steam-jet ejector refrigeration cycle is similar to a typical vapor-compression cycle except that a steam-jet ejector is used to replace the role of a compressor in creating two distinct pressure profiles within the circuit, with a vapor generator and super-heater providing the steam.
  • the first recorded use of the steam-jet ejector was prior to 1901, by LeBlanc of France and Parsons of England, who are generally credited with its development. Steam trains of this era were cooled by steam-jet ejector cooling systems. Despite its simplicity and inherent reliability, its use has been neglected in recent times. The main reason for this is the specialization of the air conditioning industry during a time when electricity was quite inexpensive.
  • an absorption chiller cycle has several advantages over a Rankine cycle: less maintenance, less noise, less cost for the solar thermal collectors compared to solar PV collectors, (Rankine cycles are driven by electric pumps, which need electricity), and smaller heat exchangers.
  • SCRIMPESS is ideal for driving an absorption chiller, either as a plug-in or as a separate unit.
  • the temperature in the evaporators can also be lowered by lowering pressure in the absorbers and evaporators.
  • This lower pressure acts to lower temperature both directly, and by the fact that it speeds up evaporation. This can be accomplished using a jet-ejector to entrain fluid out from these evaporator containers and into the condensers.
  • Lower pressure evaporators deliver lower temperature cooling fluid at the output, and higher C.O.P. of the system.
  • My colleague, Professor Eames has tested a hybrid cycle that uses this exact configuration, combining a jet-ejector with an absorption system. The C.O.P. is significantly increased with this method over that of a conventional absorption system.
  • the Advanced Solar Institute built a prototype solar powered absorption chiller. They used a bank of 160 collector troughs, each with a large-diameter evacuated tube-absorber in it, using about 50 square meters of roof area,. They produced output varying from 80° to 200°C, depending on the sun's angle in the sky, length of time the heat-transfer fluid had been heating up, and weather conditions. They were able to get only 15 kW of chiller output from all these tubes. And they produced oil hot enough to drive the air conditioning system for only 4 hours per day. This system entails a lot of heat loss. This is a challenge for maximizing roof space.
  • the invention has a solution: do heating in two stages.
  • the first heating stage up to 117°C, happens in evacuated tubes or graphitic absorbers with aerogel insulation, at a medium-wide aperture.
  • the second stage happens inside the chiller's generators, where there is almost no heat loss, and there is no heat stress at the collectors from creating such high temperatures there.
  • the invention uses a concentrated light beam.
  • the invention preheats a heat transfer oil to 90-117°C in a series of four 84-90mm diameter evacuated tubes or four graphitic absorbers with transparent aerogel insulation, within two Aladin Transformer collectors.
  • These large diameter tubes are in deep troughs that concentrate the light better than those used by UC solar institute, are better insulated with a double-wall vacuum, and are enhanced by auxiliary reflectors that extend their aperture to compensate for the deeper trough, adding more hours of capture to the evacuated tubes.
  • This hot oil then is pumped through a heat exchanger in the generators, to start generating the vapor required for driving the absorption cycle.
  • the vapor then enters the second-stage generators, where the vapor and solution are then superheated by a line-beam of light shone upon a partially submerged light-absorbing panel inside the generators, causing accelerated vapor generation, and this pressurized vapor goes from there through a tube to the jetejectors.
  • the line-beam is produced by a bifacial LSC or OIRC, and a pivoting reflector positioned underneath it, thus the solar collectors are not subjected to or made to produce high temperature, and efficiency of capture is increased by avoiding heat losses in the collectors.
  • This unique method of making a solar driven absorption-jet-ejector cycle chiller is more efficient than the existing art because transparent windows C20 in said generators accept concentrated sunlight directly onto these internal absorbers, so that high-temperature/pressure fluid (160-210°C) is generated only at the site where heated fluid does work in the cooling system. Furthermore, this heating site is below the roof covering, insulated from the ambient, and inside an insulated equipment assembly. There the temperature difference between the heated container and it's environment is smaller, thus less prone to heat loss. This is more efficient than any other means of applying solar energy to such a system known to the inventor, because there is very low heat loss from an external collector apparatus, saving most of the energy for heat absorption and exchange.
  • the solar energy is converted to a heated fluid first, and then must travel a distance and go through a manifold, maybe a buffer tank, and an external heat exchanger before the heat reaches the generator fluid.
  • a manifold maybe a buffer tank, and an external heat exchanger before the heat reaches the generator fluid.
  • each conversion and every distance traveled by heated fluid across a reservoir of lower enthalpy entails heat losses. Therefore, the final temperature supplied to the generators in other solar-absorption systems must be relatively lower, for the same concentration ratio at the collector, and thus efficiency is lower, due to the Carnot theorem.
  • the auxiliary reflectors are shallow, and only take up space above the roof covering, leaving a large space below the roof between collectors, where an absorption chiller device can be located, to receive line-beams of light from both sides, by using the plug-in structure described herein. Adding together the space underneath the auxiliary reflectors and the space under and next to four of the A.T. collectors' under-roof parts, an absorption chiller could take up 2 cubic meters of volume when made to fit within 50 centimeters underneath the roof covering. This is estimated to provide enough space and power for cooling one floor of the building below up to 1500 square meters.
  • jet-ejectors have a disadvantage: the ejector makes noise.
  • My colleagues at Boeing have developed a mathematical formula to determine the frequency of sound generated by a given ejector design.
  • An added benefit the ultrasonic noise will scare away rodents from the attic space.
  • phase-change materials to buffer the chilled water heat exchanger compensates for these temporary deficiencies. If the chiller's evaporator temperature starts to rise, the phase change materials melt and thereby absorb heat from it and keep it at near the temperature of phase change. When the sunlight is at maximum, the phase change materials solidify and give off heat to prevent the chilled water getting too cold. This works because the materials are chosen to provide phase change at the mid-point of the chilled water temperature range that would otherwise occur.
  • Another innovation found herein is the method of cooling the absorbers and condensers. Normally a cooling tower is used, although a large air-cooler assembly will suffice on smaller chillers. However, cooling towers take up roof space. For this reason, the invention preferably uses a geothermal loop for cooling the absorbers and generators.
  • the Plug-ins to the ALADIN TRANSFORMER that supply hot water have built-in temperature regulation and heat storage, by means of phase-change materials. In many cases, this regulated temperature water can be used directly, as a hot water on-demand system. This saves money on installation costs, as it avoids the need for a large hot water storage tank, with its associated floor-space, mixing valve, plumbing-in cost, tank cost, insulation, drain pan, drain, and heat loss. I have experienced these tank installations to cost from $1500 up to $3,700 USD. Instead, a small electric on-demand heater can be used affordably, since it will only be needed in rare occasions when the heat store in the plug-ins is depleted.
  • DOAS Enthalpy Pump Dedicated Outdoor Air System
  • An Enthalpy pump can be powered by free solar heat and electricity from A.T. Collectors.
  • An “Enthalpy Pump” is a type of DOAS that can do four cycles: Enthalpy Recovery, Humidification, Evaporative Cooling, and Dehumidification. See drawing 28 for details.
  • a standard HVAC system with “Overcool & Reheat Cycle” can only do dehumidification. That device cannot do humidification, evaporative cooling, or enthalpy recovery. Also, adding an overcool & reheat cycle requires upsizing the HVAC unit to be 3 to 4 times the enthalpy capacity needed for just cooling.
  • the same core A.T. collector used for combined heat and power can be configured for only generating electricity.
  • both infrared-transparent PV cell arrays and infra-red converting TV cell arrays interface the solar radiation, and some of the collectors are fitted with a steam-vacuum-driven hydronic cooling system.
  • This species of the invention is advantageous for power plants, because by providing conversion of both the visible light and the infra-red light, the collectors offer higher power conversion efficiency (35%). Higher power conversion per area of land used has the advantage of lowering the real estate cost, decreasing the number of collectors needed, and reducing the overall connection wiring length of the power plant.
  • a solar energy system that provides electricity to a grid needs to use a large amount of land in order to produce in the Mega-Watt range of power.
  • it also is advantageous to be near a city or town, where land is usually more expensive. Cooling is usually needed for the maintenance and administration building, guard station, and for cooling any TV cell banks in some climates. All functions can be provided by SCRIMPESS.
  • This invention has the disadvantage that it requires that no shading is present within 15° angle of the sunfacing side of the roof surface in order to obtain the rated performance level.
  • This invention has the disadvantage that it requires an electronic sensor system and software in order for an array of Aladin Transformers fitted with various plug-ins to coordinate with each other and to match the demands of a building closely.
  • This invention has the disadvantage that some species of the invention depend on mass manufacturing of thermovoltaic cells in order to be economical, and such a mass manufacturer does not presently exist: only small custom fabricating services supply these cells. A very significant investment in manufacturing of the collectors, plug-in units, and the thermovoltaic cells on a large scale is required before full profitability can be realized.
  • This material describes a collector for concentrating solar radiation onto an array of thermophotovoltaic cells, in which infrared radiation enters an essentially closed container and illuminates the array of TV cells.
  • Combined heat and power collectors have been developed by Rheeml Solahart at the Australian National University. Called CHAPS, an acronym for Combined Heat and Power System, it involves a parabolic trough that tracks the sun and has in it's focal line a strip ofPV cells that are cooled by a piped water system. They have a working prototype on the student dormitory building.
  • Solar Electricity It is estimated that the PV array will contribute around 60% of the annual electricity consumption by residents in the new Bruce Hall building. The solar cells convert around 15% of the sunlight into electricity, but overall electrical conversion efficiency from the roof space used is less than 8%.
  • Solar Hot Water It is estimated that the experimental CHAPS collectors will contribute between a third and two thirds of the annual hot water consumption for the new building.
  • the hot water is used to power a hydronic heating system and supply the domestic hot water needs of the individual bathrooms and kitchenettes.
  • the two outputs, hot water and electricity, appear to be statically mismatched. That is, adjusting the ratio of the outputs would require re-designing the entire system. It is far better to have a modular system, such as the invention described herein, which contributes to a system that can be easily adjusted to make varying amounts of hot water and electricity.
  • the sun-tracking devise required in both the commercial and the residential designs is likely to cause noise and maintenance problems that upscale home owners will find rather unpleasant, if not unacceptable.
  • the design involves a tracking parabolic dish collector with a secondary reflector that comprises a cold mirror, with TV cells located behind the cold mirror.
  • the reflected light then goes through a hole in the center of the dish and enters large core optical fibers, that distribute the filtered concentrated sunlight to various lighting fixtures in the building.
  • the visible sunlight is always directed to lighting fixtures, whether or not lighting is desired.
  • the delivered light intensity varies greatly with the sun and clouds.
  • the tracking dish collector is very inefficient on cloud-covered days.
  • the system presently retails for $24,000 USD per dish, and generates only 70 watts of electricity and 50,000 lumens of day-lighting. Price per watt is unacceptably high.
  • the system does not integrate into the building facade structure or roof structure, but sits on top of the roof, creating considerable vulnerability to weather and making it unsightly.
  • the design requires close tolerances in manufacturing and adjustment, making it expensive and vulnerable to becoming misaligned.
  • the solar collector uses an internal motor and many mirror-surfaced levers to track the sunlight onto an absorber panel.
  • These collectors were discontinued by the company, because they didn't get reliable PV performance from them. (PV cells are vulnerable and sensitive to heat) Now they make solar panels that only make hot liquid.
  • These collectors called MCT, concentrate sunlight up to 20 times giving a working temperature in the heat transfer fluid of up to 400°F (204°C).
  • MCT collectors have proven to be great for driving absorption cooling. Disadvantages of this prior art: • Chromasun combined heat and power collectors were not reliable, and were discontinued.
  • Chromasun MCT collectors do not provide any electricity for the chiller controls, pumps, fans, etc. So when the grid power goes down, cooling stops. And there are running costs.
  • Chromasun collectors use complex mechanical tracking systems, whereas evacuated tube collectors in quasi-compound parabolic troughs have no moving parts, nothing to wear out, and no need for technicians to commission them and recalibrate them, yet they produce almost as high output temperature levels in direct sun and perform better in overcast or partial overcast weather.
  • Chromasun collectors are much better than flat-panel collectors at capturing sunshine in early and late hours of the solar day. Yet they don't have as large an aperture (relative to the roof area used) to early and late solar direct rays as the ALADIN TRANSFORMER. -F RM IT hybrid CPC and LSC solar collector
  • the solar collector uses a concentrating parabolic collector, as does the present invention, and a internal-reflecting solar concentrator, also as does some species of the present invention.
  • a concentrating parabolic collector as does the present invention
  • a internal-reflecting solar concentrator also as does some species of the present invention.
  • the invention has the advantage that more electricity can be produced from a given amount of roof space than other PVT or CHP solar systems. This is because a) the physical design of the collector accepts more sun light per day than other designs, and B) in some species, the collector's channels can be switched between generating electricity and generating heat, based on the building demands. Therefore electricity is generated whenever possible, while producing only the amount of heat needed, and no more.
  • the invention has the unique advantage that external energy storage needs are minimized.
  • the current invention uniquely enables it's functions to change based on demand signals, initial plug-in choice, accessories chosen, and moving optics, providing a much better match between supply and demand, with the result that energy storage needs are minimized.
  • the invention has a larger aperture per footprint to early and late solar direct energy, thus giving a more even supply of energy throughout the solar day relative to other solar collectors. More even supply means less storage is needed for accommodating the differential between maximum flux input and minimum flux input.
  • the invention has the unique advantage that it channels light to a contained space beneath the collectors, in a strip configuration. This makes it far easier to use any heat energy left after voltaic conversion of the visible radiation, because the heat has no direct path to escape back into the sky, and is in a concentrated form.
  • the invention has the unique advantage that it can adjust the ratio of power-to-heat output: it can dynamically match it's outputs ratio substantially to a building's energy demand profile.
  • the invention has the advantage that it provides different temperatures and conversion options. It captures light at low concentration (2-6 suns) onto 2 or more large vacuum-insulated absorber surfaces per collector, and it can concentrate sunlight up to 40X, and deliver useful output at around 140-210°C. This makes the invention useful for driving various thermal processes such as absorption refrigeration, food and beer processing, seawater desalination, and thermal power generation, as well as for heating domestic hot water.
  • the invention has the advantage that a single type of solar collector can be installed across an entire roof, with a simple flanged mounting & fastening system, by employing the invention's truss system, thus simplifying and speeding up the process of installation of combined function solar systems, while providing a weatherproof, low-profile, aesthetic, and consistent covering for the area it occupies. It lowers installation cost by allowing a single roof installation for supplying hot water, electricity, heating, and cooling systems.
  • the invention has the unique advantage that its auxiliary reflectors ( static version) direct solar beam radiation into the collectors passively and simply:
  • the invention is designed to bend light with micro-prismatic structures onto both evacuated tubes and a strip of TV conversion devices that can convert concentrated light into electricity during much of the solar day, without requiring an active mechanical tracking system.
  • the invention accomplishes this without the use of moving parts to do so, when properly installed.
  • the invention has the unique advantage that its (optional) tracking auxiliary reflectors provide a less vulnerable overall system than tracking collectors. If tracking auxiliary reflectors are used, they are simple, small, and inexpensive compared to systems that make the whole collector track the sun. The tracking system in the auxiliary collectors is optional. If it breaks, the collector still concentrates light, only not as much or for as long a period. The tracking system is installed in the factory, contained inside the auxiliary reflectors unit, hidden from weather, invisible, and easy to access for maintenance.
  • the invention has the unique advantage that it is composed of modules. These modules increase the market audience size, because the invention is so flexible and adaptable that it is adaptable for almost any building's needs.
  • the drop-in unit 1 can also be sold separately to owners of very small buildings.
  • This unit is a self-contained solar electricity supply. It's angled sides enable it to be installed easily on the roof of a hut or cabin, angled approximately toward the sun's mean declination, and a power cord can be attached to it to bring electric power inside the living unit.
  • the invention has the advantage that it increases overall output and cost efficiency of ancillary solar processing.
  • the invention includes a plug-in interface that makes installation and removal of ancillary solar processing units fast and easy, enabling a sliding snap-lock insertion and easy removal of various extension modules that produce hot water, electricity, heating, cooling, etc. These modules can be slid into place from underneath the collector when it is a building-integrated system, and when it is a retro-fit system, the collector can tip-over on a hinge for module insertion and removal. This protects the longevity and value of the collector, since servicing modules and adapting system functionality is quick and easy, normally not requiring removal of the collector itself.
  • the invention enables placing an electrolyzer unit between two collectors, and it snaps into proper alignment by spring-mechanism means, where it will receive inputs as light beams without need for making attachments.
  • Other plug-in units can be employed similarly, to generate hot water or steam, warm air, cooling, or electricity.
  • the invention has the advantage that it can be used to create a self-sufficient (off-grid) hot water system at lower cost than existing non-integrated systems, by means of a DC powered pump, a battery, and a charge controller fitted into the collector assembly, thereby generating it's own pumping power, which pumps the water through the circuit, without need for mounting hardware and wiring /long piping lengths to remotely install these items.
  • the invention has the advantage that it provides a marketable use for simple single-layer TV cells, and does not require using specialized high-intensity PV cells in order to get high efficiency conversion, nor does it require using multi-junction or multi-layered cells, within a collector that never-the-less converts a large portion of the solar spectrum to electricity.
  • This invention has the advantage that there are both a concentrating mechanism and 2 layers of barrier between the TV cells and the ambient, so that if the outer barrier is broken, there is still a layer of protection via a trough protecting the valuable TV cells.
  • the invention has the unique advantage that by sliding in a pre-fitted pool water heat exchanger plug-in (during the swim season only), one saves materials & money over other heat exchangers for pools, because only the pool water side of the heat exchanger needs to be supplied, along with an attached selective absorber surface.
  • pool heating requires two sided heat exchangers, the second one comprising serpentine tubing or a heavily insulated waterproof shell
  • the same collector may be used in the other seasons for other purposes by changing out the plug-in unit for a different one or operating valves to change the destination of the hot water flow.
  • This invention has the advantage that no specially fabricated vacuum nor a tungsten emitter is required to achieve the isolation of concentrated IR radiation for irradiating a TV or TV conversion devise, as in evacuated tube collectors or TV inventions by Lewis Fraas and Dr. Andreev.
  • the invention uses instead a lower concentration of IR radiation, with no vacuum, and a dual cooling system that recycles some of the waste heat.
  • the invention has the advantage over other concentrating collectors that it operates within loose optical tolerances, so that in case manufacturing defects, weather, earthquake, or installation slightly warps or bends any concentrator part(s), it can still work fine, while in other designs tight tolerances are required for sun tracking.
  • the invention has the advantage that it facilitates cogeneration at optimal ratios and with minimal equipment.
  • Co-generation has been well documented as the most energy efficient manner to channel energy from an energy resource to end uses.
  • cogeneration equipment often produces heat and electricity in less than an ideal ratio for a building's needs.
  • cogeneration of heat and electricity is easily achievable and can be configured to provide the optimal ratio of heat to electricity, by design during installation, and by means of optical transference between energy converters after installation.
  • the DC current generated can be used directly for making hydrogen or powering DC pumps or DC fan motors, eliminating the equipment and power losses involved in rectifying DC current from AC current for electrolysis and inverting DC current to AC current for pumps and balance-of-system fan motors. Also, because of the ability of the invention to adjust somewhat the ratio of power-to-heat output, it can dynamically change the outputs to more closely match changing building energy demands as well. Both of these functional features increase efficiency of the system.
  • This invention has the advantage that multiple solar collectors of both liquid-medium type and thermo- or photo-voltaic type can be positioned on a building roof truss or wall framing and bolted down rapidly, using the included mounting flanges, thus simplifying and speeding up the process of installation of combined function solar systems, while providing a weatherproof and consistent covering for the area it occupies.
  • the invention has the advantage that most of its conversion devises are easy to access/ replace from inside the attic or building, when installed in a new-build configuration with a substantial attic or under-roof space.
  • 7-V) Easy to fabricate The invention's housing can be composed of standard building materials such as steel and glass, since it operates below 100° C.
  • the invention has the advantage that it's concentrator is relatively easy to fabricate, having mostly flat optics, with in one instance a single axis of curvature, as compared to the reliance on much curvature and often compound curvature of other concentrating collectors.
  • the invention has the advantage that it's absorbers are medium temperature, and can be made by the same known manufacturing techniques used in inexpensive flat plate collector manufacture.
  • the invention has the advantage that complete loss of cooling is very improbable as it has a physical heat sink and reliable blade-less pumps. Either a fan or pumped-liquid cooling is required, but failure of either active devise still leaves passive cooling, for a margin of safety. Blade-less pumps are much less likely to fail, and a physical heat sink only fails when physically removed from contact with the heat source.
  • the invention has the advantage that it has a sealed concentrator trough and sealed light channels, keeping the optics free of foreign debris.
  • the invention has the advantage that it's appearance is elegant, uniform, and low profile ( ⁇ 50 cm high), unlike other tracking collectors and other combinations of PV and Hot Water collectors required to accomplish similar output results.
  • the invention can be mounted either directly on a roof truss frame or on top of an existing roof covering, making installation simple, and making it good for a wide range of applications.
  • the invention has the advantage that it uses relatively low concentration ratios of solar light, (2-40 suns) which reduces the danger of fire compared to higher density concentrators.
  • the invention has the advantage that it is suitable for use of a combination of two types of solar cells (Perovskite and GaSb cells) that have together proven to achieve maximum conversion efficiency at minimum cost- currently measured at 27% for GaSb Infrared conversion and 16.8% conversion efficiency for visible light for Near-infrared-transparent Perovskite cells.
  • the typical transmittance of state-of-the-art tubular, domed skylights varies widely, depending on lighting requirements, but for commercial applications it is typically well under 50%, and that light varies greatly in intensity through the solar day.
  • the day-lighting plug-in for A.T. collectors provides a higher transmittance percent, and more consistent density of lighting. All glare is removed by the crest channel, which blocks direct sun rays from traversing through to the inside.
  • the invention has the advantage that it can make use of single-junction TV cells, that can be made without use of toxic gases, as are required for multi-junction thermophotovoltaic cells.
  • the invention has the advantage that it can be made to deliver maximum power generation at times when the connected grid is experiencing a critical shortage of supply power, by means of a storage devise and radio frequency or line signal control of the meter and SCRIMPESS control system. This makes the invention attractive to utility companies as a means of regulating their grid peaks and ebbs, preventing brown-outs and black-outs.
  • the invention has the advantage that it provides opportunity for a Hydrogen Electrolyzer or hydrogen evolution reaction system to plug right into the collector, enabling the electrolyzer to attain high efficiency by using the heat and the electricity generated within the collector body, and if needed, a light beam as well for photocatalysis, thereby avoiding heavy copper wire to traverse a distance to a remote electrolyzer, as would be needed for high amperage DC current, avoiding heat losses in transmitting of heat to a remote electrolyzer, and avoiding floor space taken up by a remote electrolyzer.
  • collectors is suitable for photocatalysis, thus skipping one energy-conversion process in between sunlight and water cracking, with its associated entropy.
  • Having means for the integration of an electrolyzer allows the invention to produce hydroxy gas ( H2 + 02) directly from DC current, avoiding the need for power inverters, thus creating a thermal fuel source more economically as a means to store and transport energy.
  • electrolysis efficiency is independent of voltage and proportional to current provided, the inclusion allows for connecting the arrays at very low voltage (5-13 Volts) and high current density, using only very short lengths of thick copper wire. Being a modular system, one electrolyzer can run off of two or more neighboring collector systems and get high current density with very little heat and current loss over the relatively short wires.
  • the invention has the advantage that it provides for an electrolyzer to be installed above the roof covering, which is safer than having an electrolyzer installed in a garage or basement, because if a leak and a fire starts, the burning hydrogen will move rapidly upward into the sky, and only very slowly spread to the lower parts of the building.
  • the invention has the advantage that it allows two or more liquid medium heat exchangers or PV converters to be mounted in exposure alternately to the same light beam, thus providing a variety of alternating output options.
  • This invention optionally houses a TV conversion devise, such as an array of TV conversion cells (TV), using a geometry that allows said array to be irradiated by concentrated IR radiation, in a separate location from where the PV cells are irradiated.
  • TV TV conversion cells
  • auxiliary reflectors direct sunlight from obtuse angles into light channels 2a and 2b, these channels use acute angled compound parabolic reflectors, thus directing more than 76% of the light onto the evacuated tube absorbers. Without tracking reflectors, CPC reflectors need to be obtuse enough to capture sunlight from wide incident angles, and such tubes placed in their apexes would lose more of the light rays due to obtuse parabolic optical characteristics.
  • the invention will provide warmth in the attic space. When properly insulated from the outside at the roof line, this warmth will enhance a radiant heating system placed in a floor or in suspended radiant panels, as the ceiling will have less heat loss, and will maintain a given radiant temperature with less input from the floor radiator.
  • DOAS Dedicated Outdoor Air System
  • This invention has the unique advantage that it radiates concentrated light onto an absorber surface intermittently, achieving faster heatup times than systems that use non-concentrated light or heat exchangers and buffer tanks between the main absorber and the heat-delivery fluid loop, while allowing fluid to be heated to a determined maximum temperature and no higher.
  • This invention has the advantage that it can supply hot water with built-in temperature regulation and heat storage, by means of phase-change materials. In many cases, this regulated temperature water heater can be used directly, as a hot water on-demand system, saving money on installation costs, as it avoids the need for a large hot water storage tank, with its associated floor-space, mixing valve, plumbing-in cost, tank cost, insulation, drain pan, drain, and heat loss.
  • This invention has the advantage that it can be built up in modules, over time, and the collector modules can be upgraded by easily adding plug-ins, drop-ins, and accessories.
  • This method of design enables self-financing by customers who cannot afford the whole system they want at the first purchase date.
  • a Jet-Cooling system works using water as the main working fluid. This facilitates using the resulting steam for steam electrolysis or steam photocatalysis in an attached or nearby processing unit, thereby producing hydrogen and oxygen gases as means for energy storage while cooling a building's air supply, from the same stream of free solar energy. This combination has both cost-saving and space-saving consequences. 8) General Description of the Invention
  • a SCBU' Small Capture and Battery Unit, See 'Crest Channel Drop-in 2' , including a solar collector, battery charge control circuit, and heat-enhanced battery
  • a long connector cable for connecting the SCBU to a UCPS
  • a UCPS a portable power supply unit
  • this unit Form this unit as a trapezoidal prism, with the wider part facing up, with a shape, size, and features that enable it to drop into the crest channel of an A.T. unit.
  • the upper face When installing, position the upper face preferably so that it's width is perpendicular to average incident angle of the sun, using the included extendable feet, and cover it preferably with a solar panel 24, or a device that enables hydrogen generation, the latter of which is to be connected through an A.T. unit to a system for storing and using the electricity or hydrogen thus generated productively.
  • the 'SCBU' is formed as a drop-in unit with side-walls 6, enclosing a control circuit and a battery compartment, the latter whose bottom joins together the said sidewalls.
  • the SCBU bottom plate is formed to be supported on a structural support assembly 9 when set into an A.T., and attached to the A.T. endplates by means of steel bolts that screw into the included bolt anchors 9a.
  • the SCBU contains a battery charge controller E3, and a series of batteries 7.
  • a conductive battery cage E15 that extends from a conductive attachment to a graphitic heat transfer plate under the photovoltaic cell-array. This cage extends around an upper group of batteries, and transfers heat to them when the sun is shining.
  • the batteries inside the cage are specially formulated to increase their charge when heated, and to discharge more fully when cooled. They are connected to an intelligent circuit which prefers to discharge these batteries after the solar day has ended.
  • this crest channel with pipes for water, hydrogen and oxygen, Ila, b, and c, communicating with a raceway lower down in the A.T., so that the entire crest channel unit can be fitted with a unit that makes hydrogen and oxygen from water.
  • the SCBU assembly is installable in and removable from a main A.T. collector body by bolting and un-bolting the end-connector bolts 61.
  • the UCPS (portable power supply unit) is a highly reliable, modular design DC-AC inverter system, designed with advanced power electronic and microprocessor technology. It is designed as either a 120V AC or a 220 VAC system, accepting 24 VDC input from a capacitor bank or batteries, and offering the following features:
  • Features of the UCPS include:
  • An AC mode (Default) selects AC input power is the main source.
  • DC power is the secondary source.
  • the switching time is 0 seconds.
  • An AC Ratio mode enables DC and AC inputs at the same time.
  • the percentage of AC and DC load can be assigned to the inputs in a ratio from 10% up to 100%. For example, if AC is set 70%, then the remaining 30% of input is DC.
  • a DC mode enables DC power to be the main source.
  • AC input is the secondary source.
  • THD is ⁇ 3%
  • Max efficiency is 91%.
  • the switching time between AC and DC power is 0 seconds.
  • the UCPS is shaped with lip on the top which enables the unit to sit adjacent to a wall with the lip sitting on top of a rail installed either on a window sill or on a strip attached to said wall, the lip being preferably 4.5 centimeters wide. It includes multiple USB, AC, and DC LED lighting connection features, and a handle for carrying, one unit is designed with built-in ultracapacitors for electrical storage, the other is fitted with connections to connect to ultracapacitors or batteries. One the end of the unit are connectors that enable the unit to be connected to other similar units, to gang up to four units together for increased power.
  • the features, modes of operation, and protection functions listed above are known to someone who is an expert in the art of inverters, uninterruptible power supplies and scaling of inverter modules.
  • the electronic Circuits of the SCBU and UCPS circuitry has these unique features:
  • Electricity from the crest PV panel and the combined side channel thin films are fed in parallel via a set of diodes into a battery charge controller circuit that uses pulse width modulation to control the charging process. Since they are fed in parallel, the currents' product is the sum of the currents and the average of the voltages. So it will produce approximately 20 VDC @ 19 Amps, or 384 Watts peak power from the trio of panels, to charge the batteries integrated into the Chinchilla or A.T., or to feed out through the connecting cable to the UCPS.
  • the battery + solar output drives a high-frequency ferrite-core inverter circuit, to make 230 VAC at preferably 50,000+ HZ.
  • This circuit is inexpensive, uses relatively small components, and produces an output sufficient to drive the UCPS unit.
  • the invention uses the output from the thermocouples in the heat sinks to drive a DC circuit that adds an appropriate DC offset voltage to the 230 VAC before it travels down the cable. In this way, the feed cable from the SCBU to the UCPS will carry 230 VAC at preferably 50,000 or more Hz with a small direct current zero-offset. Subsequently, after the electricity passes safely through a cable from the A.T. or SCBU to the UCPS Power Supply unit, it feeds into a circuit that makes 220 VAC @ 50 Hz for supplying normal household loads.
  • the invention employs a bridge rectifier. Then the electricity is fed through a DC-DC converter and regulator circuit to produce 310 VDC, and then is fed to either a bank of ultra-capacitors to store the charge, or, when a load is present, to an H-Bridge transistor AC-DC inverter using MOSFETS, as is practiced in the art. Circuitry is also used to allow the electricity in the ultracapacitors to supply the H-Bridge inverter when the solar input is insufficient.
  • This H-bridge circuit requires a 50Hz signal to drive the hi and low side of the MOSFETS. TO produce said signal, the DC offset is tapped at the bridge rectifier circuit by a low-pass filter circuit, and fed to a small 50-Hertz oscillator. The oscillator output is then fed as a signal to switch the MOSFETS.
  • the "Chinchilla" of drawing 1 can become a drop-in unit for a larger solar collector, which includes heat absorbers to heat either water or oil.
  • the middle of the three units shown is a transitional version, intended for low budget CHP systems. It is also intended that customers can return this device as trade-in for the third version (see 8C below).
  • the middle version can be converted into a third version.
  • This middle version has the same overall shape as the Aladin Transformer, described below, but without a central optical channel, and with a very narrow plug-in slot.
  • Drawing 3b shows how the middle and third versions can be installed.
  • the invention For the light capturing portion of the collector, the invention employs a quasi-semi-hexagonal prism shape, with a wide bottom side, made where the prism is sliced in half, that faces down, two narrower sides that slope upwards from the roof plane at approximately a 44° angle, and a narrowest top side that is parallel to the bottom.
  • the shape may be stretched in width to allow the top-facing facet to be wide enough to accommodate a given solar panel.
  • this shape Preferably position this shape with its length oriented along the north-south slope of a roof section.
  • the body of the collector has sealed ends and two quasi-parabolic reflectively-surfaced troughs attached axially underneath and inside it's lateral edges, each trough spanning approximately one-quarter of the full width of the collector.
  • On either side of the collectors are preferably located triangular prism-shaped auxiliary reflectors which reflect light into one or two adjacent second devices.
  • the collector extends in height not more than 75 centimeters and the auxiliary reflectors are not more than 20 centimeters in height, thereby offering free passage of light rays from the top edge of one collector down to the bottom edge of an adjacent collector.
  • the collector body is preferably about 110 centimeters wide, and 180 centimeters long.
  • the auxiliary reflectors are approximately half as wide as the collector body and approximately 180 centimeters long.
  • the collectors are preferably placed in a static position perpendicular to both the sun's average azimuthal angle over time, and inclined at the sun's average inclination angle during the season in which the system operates at fullest load.
  • the sides of the collector that slope upwards from the roof plane are coated on an interior surface with a transparent material, preferably with semi-transparent Perovskite photovoltaic cells and conductors, and then coated with a transparent aerogel, preferably made from cellulose.
  • the top-facing surface will be part of a drop-in unit that fits into the crest of the second device body, hereafter called the "crest channel", so that it can be easily replaced along with the drop-in unit, during upgrade operations.
  • This drop-in unit has sides that slope inwards towards an apex, terminating at a narrow bottom strip with an axial slot, which sides are fitted with wall units with reflective surfaces so that light entering the collector through the sides may be reflected downward further into the collector, the wall units preferably contain small heat pipes that transfer heat from the central channel to the top two corners of the A.T.
  • a control board E5 is installed in the bottom-front end of the central channel of A.T.s, and sits on two ledges at either end of the control board, in a raceway that traverses across the central channel.
  • This board includes connectors for conduits of heat transfer fluid to pass to and from the evacuated tubes in the 2a and 2b channels, electronic circuits to process signals from temperature sensors, a plug for a daughter board that controls an optional e-chromic coating P32 on the channel dividers 10a and 10b, a LAN interface circuit, a logic circuit that controls status lights, electric power connectors that receive electricity from any photovoltaic films or batteries via the crest channel battery charge controller E3 in the A.T. and send it through wires to an output, and connectors to secure in place any tubes carrying water, hydrogen, and oxygen to the crest channel. It also includes connectors for wires to a flow sensor in case a water heat exchanger is plugged in.
  • the A.T.s sit flush on the surface of an existing roof or support frame, and have stop-flanges 17a on either side for the lateral edges of an intra-collector plug-in topped with auxiliary reflectors to sit on.
  • the invention is able to be inset, and has flanges 17a on either side of the collector that are connected onto the roof frame, or on a special truss system, thus forming part of the roof structure, while the collector body penetrates through to the under-roof space.
  • the position of the flanges is the only difference between the flush-mounted and inset-mounted versions, auxiliary reflector assemblies sit directly on top of these flanges. See Accessory 5: Truss System, for inset version details.
  • the flanges of the collectors are preferably attached or bonded to inter-collector cover plates, creating an integrated weather shield.
  • the plug-ins IV-XI are for use with building-integrated inset collectors. Version 3: CHP only
  • the assembly can be either flush-mounted on a roof or roof-integrated, that is inset into a roof.
  • the assembly consists of the Crest channel "drop-in" unit and the sections 2A and 2B, plus a small channel in the center where pipes can connect the thermal transfer fluid to the sections 2A and 2B. See drawing 3a.
  • Channels 2a and 2b Create metal flange plates 17 flanking the outer laterality of the collector body including flanges for roof-inset of the collector and plates covering the body of the collector. By unbolting and reversing the plates to upside-down orientation, the flanges become a base for reflector-mounting attachment. Attach to the upper groove of these metal edges 17 glass covers sloping at approximately 45° from the horizontal, thus accepting the early and late hours of solar beam radiation respectively and directly, as well as the other hours of solar beam radiation via auxiliary reflectors. Support these glass covers at the upper edge, placing support rods 35 inside, secured at each end to the end-plates of the collector body. Said support rods also connect to the drop- in units in the crest channel 4.
  • Said reflective walls act as collimating walls 10a and 10b. Make said walls reflective on both sides, and preferably add micro-prismatic structures to the upper portion lateral side of said walls, formed to deflect light rays downward by about 20°.
  • a bifacial PV panel accessory is employed in the central channel, then coat the walls with a one-way reflective nanolayer that transmits most of the visible light spectrum through the wall and into the adjacent channel, but substantially reflects infrared light from outside the channel off of said surface.
  • an infrared-transparent Perovskite-based multi-layer formulation known in the art of solar films attached to the surfaces of said glass cover plates. Place a photovoltaic panel or an electrolyzer glass window covering on top of channel 4. Attach all solar electrical outputs to a power management & battery charge controller E3, which accepts the electricity generated thereupon into a system for processing and using the electricity.
  • a power management & battery charge controller E3 which accepts the electricity generated thereupon into a system for processing and using the electricity.
  • a moldable solid insulating material 20 such as aerogel or foam containing nano-ceramic beads.
  • a moldable solid insulating material 20 such as aerogel or foam containing nano-ceramic beads.
  • Form said material to have a flat bottom and sides, and encase said material with hard and durable walls 17 and 18 on the inner and outer lateral sides, joining with a hard and durable bottom plate 23.
  • Channels 3a and 3b are adjacent to channels 2a and 2b on the inside of planar dividing walls 10a, 10b.
  • the drawing sheet 1 shows one example of a plug-in unit and a drop-in unit, in exploded view.
  • the drop-in unit provides more reflective walls for channels 3a and 3b when inserted into the crest channel.
  • Channel 4 (crest channel): form this channel with a V-shape that opens upward, and is able to be fitted with drop-in units that are easily mounted and unmounted from the A.T.
  • each of the collector channels place collector end plates 19 (see Drawing sheet 2) with reflective inside surfaces. Below the line of the roof-inset mounting-edge of the collector, make these end walls bend inward to converge toward the center of the collector body. Make one end bend to form an acute angle with the top of the collector of at least 36°. The other end may bend to make a 45° angle with the top of the collector.
  • Near the distal extremity of each channel place one or more diametrical baffle reflectors 21 or vaulted linear transmissive Fresnel lenses 22 (Drawing 2b). These diametrical baffle reflectors are employed to prevent illumination from being occluded during low and high declinations of the sun. Each baffle reflector is angled relative to the declination of the sun at the times in which the respective channel receives sunlight, adjusted for the latitude of the installation.
  • the ALADIN TRANSFORMER collectors are designed to be installed with the long dimension sloping up and down on a sloped roof or similarly in an armature-frame when attached to a wall or a flat deck of a boat. This means that the variable declination of the sun will generally be accepted even at acute angles to the axis of the collector body.
  • sunshine at the beginning and ending of the solar day noon will strike the end panels at quite different angles, causing light to be occluded at the very end portions of the collector, where some sun-rays may be blocked by the end-plates. Therefore the end reflector panels are broken into three sections by baffle reflectors, these being angled differently in the central channel than in the AM (2a) and PM(2b) channels. These baffles divide up and distribute the light that does enter more evenly across the end-portion of the collector channels.
  • angles are chosen to accommodate the average declination during the period that a channel is designed to collect solar energy, based on the approximate latitude where the collector will be sold for installation.
  • these baffle reflectors 21a, b, c, and d are placed diametrically to the axis of the collector, near the ends of the collector, in order to prevent light from escaping the collector when it enters at the most acute angles (extremes of declination). Be sure that the baffles form a diverging, collimating angle when paired with the end reflector panels. Place the central section end reflector panel at the top end of the collector at a more acute angle from the top collector surface than the end reflectors in channels 2a and 2b.
  • the result of this design is that light is gathered into receiving channels from a channel of sky approximately 135° horizontal by 105° vertical, when the collector is installed on a lengthwise slope of between 16° and 46° from the horizontal, preferably aligned to North in the Southern Hemisphere, and to South in the Northern hemisphere.
  • ALADIN TRANSFOR ER collectors should be spaced approximately 50 centimeters apart in order to capture solar beam radiation light from 1.2 hours after sunrise until 1.2 hours before sunset. In the space between collectors, it is preferable to install auxiliary reflectors 28 to increase the amount of light captured, and to alter the capture of the light in the collectors between the heat generating and the electricity generating portions of the collector. This latter function is optional, and is facilitated by adjusting the angles slightly with a device shown in drawing 2h.
  • the preferred embodiment includes auxiliary reflectors that include stationary bifurcated reflective surfaces, with a center-peaked quasi-equilateral triangular cross-section, and micro-prismatic texturing of the reflective surfaces that bends light downwards towards the solar collectors, preferably at graduating angles that approximate a virtual parabolic curved reflector.
  • the height of the auxiliary reflector system is calculated to allow sunlight to pass over the surface after 1.2 hours past dawn, and until 1.2 hours before sunset.
  • the back ends of the reflector panels have baffle reflectors attached at the sectional end of the main reflector assembly, to be placed at the North end of the slope.
  • a method of fabrication for the reflective panel surfaces is to use a sheet of transparent polycarbonate, laser-etch parallel curved quasi-longitudinal grooves that form quasi-micro-prisms 2f on the bottom side, then use vacuum deposition to add a layer of aluminum thick enough to be reflective on the underside, followed by painting it with a sealer paint to prevent corrosion.
  • Species of the invention can have two versions of ALADIN TRANSFORMERS, which differ in order to provide for either flush mounting on top of a roof or inset mounting in a roof structure. Also, because the ALADIN TRANSFOR ER accepts a variety of central channel plug-in units, intra-collector plug-in units, and drop-in units, it will function differently depending on which plug-ins and drop-ins are incorporated into a given system.
  • the invention therefore includes drop-in components for the crest compartment of A.T.s, plug-in units that fit into the bottom slot of A.T.s, intra-collector plug-ins that fit between two A.T.s, and accessories that are inserted into A.T.s or are used in the balance-of-system that includes A.T.s. Accessories can be attached or placed on the sides, underneath, or between the A.T.s. All of these items are options especially designed for use with A.T.s that will be used in various configurations, or species of the invention, to create a system for delivering energy end-uses to a building.
  • the various versions, drop-ins, accessories, plug-ins, and intra-collector plug-ins used to compose different species of the invention are described first, and then the species or configurations of these various components are described with reference to this list.
  • This unit can be used either as a stand-alone solar power supply or a drop-in for the crest channel of the Aladin Transformers. It is comprised of a solar panel E17, a crest channel compartment 6, a power and load management circuit E3, a reversible hydrogen fuel cell 4, an outlet connector for 12VDC cable to occupied space 53, and 3 telescoping legs for stand-alone installation 54.
  • the reversible hydrogen fuel cell ('proton battery') acts as an electrolyzer to generate hydrogen ions when excess electricity is generated available at the power management circuit E3.
  • This power management circuit may be fed by up to three PV panels.
  • Hydrogen protons are evolved through a permeable membrane, (Polymer Electrolyte Membrane or Proton Exchange Membrane-PEM) and are stored as protons within a graphene-like carbon medium, for use at times when the energy being generated is insufficient.
  • protons produced by water splitting in a reversible fuel cell are conducted through the cell membrane and directly bond with the carbon storage material with the aid of electrons supplied by the applied voltage, without forming hydrogen gas.
  • this proton-based battery combines a carbon electrode for solid-state storage of hydrogen protons with a reversible fuel cell to provide an integrated rechargeable unit.
  • the successful use of an electrode made from activated carbon in a proton battery is the basis for this new technology, reported in the International Journal of Hydrogen Energy.
  • This proton battery generates heat as it is making electricity.
  • the bottom of the fuel cell is fitted with a heat sink conductively attached to the hydrogen battery, emitting infrared radiation. It can be fitted with a system primarily of optical fibers that carry the IR radiation to a LSC plate attached below the crest compartment. Thus the heat is used to generate useful output from the A.T.
  • a control circuit is added to the power and load management circuit E3, providing integrated load splitting and maximum power point tracking, in order to meet building loads and divert surplus power to charge the battery.
  • a major potential advantage of the proton battery is much higher energy density per weight and size than conventional hydrogen systems, making it comparable to lithium-ion batteries.
  • the losses associated with hydrogen gas evolution and splitting back into protons are eliminated.
  • the storage of additional hydrogen gas can be accommodated with an intra-collector plug-in unit that makes hydrogen gas.
  • Hydrogen can then be stored in a medium such as sodium borohydrate to make it safe and compact, and fed as needed to the proton battery.
  • This is a unit shaped like drop-in 1. However, instead of a reversible hydrogen fuel cell, it is covered with a photovoltaic panel and it's inner volume houses a battery charge controller and a battery bank.
  • the PV panel is preferably formed underneath the glass or aerogel panel, and the top surface can be smooth and treated with a dust-repelling additive.
  • UV illumination facilitates the formation of oxygen vacancies and defects in the perovskite layer, leading to the inferior stability.
  • the PV panel's underneath surface is preferably etched to form a mini-hexagonal pyramid array texture, with groups of hexagons the right size for one perovskite solar cell, and isolated from each other by a margin spacing in the hexagonal etching pattern.
  • These hexagonal pyramids act to absorb light better than a smooth surface, because most light rays that reflect off an initial surface are impinged upon a second surface, and perhaps a third.
  • the outlines of these close-packed hexagons, being at the deepest etch indentation, are then coated with a transparent electrode material, and these provide the means for electricity to be communicated to a charge circuit.
  • the coatings for infrared-transparent perovskite solar cells are applied, including a transparent electrode layer for the other side of the electricity supply circuit.
  • a Bragg intermediate reflective coating is preferably applied, to reflect any leaked visible light back through the Perovskite cells, while letting the infrared pass through.
  • an underside protective heat-transfer coating for durability and heat dissipation can be applied.
  • a battery charge-control circuit board is then positioned underneath the PV panel, with an insulating layer between them, which could be simply an air gap or an insulating material. This board is allowed a space of 1.7 centimeters height to accommodate electrical parts, and 3 mm each for top and bottom insulation sheets.
  • the remaining space inside the drop-in unit is preferably dedicated to storing batteries.
  • a battery bank in this remaining space of the drop-in module can fit approximately 760 AA-size cells, 38 batteries in a stack, and seriesrows of 20 batteries along the length of the module, totaling 100 cm long, delivering 30 volts DC output and 38 times the current capacity of each individual cell.
  • This drop-in is like Drop-in 2, with a photovoltaic panel on the top surface, preferably comprising a glass sheet with it's under-side coated with perovskite cells and then with a graphene or graphitic compound heat conductor plate, and then with a sheet of aerogel.
  • This heat conductor plate joins with a heat pipe assembly that is attached to the side walls of the drop-in 2, at the corner of the drop-in unit, and then preferably meets with a thermoelectric junction, attached solidly thereto, and attached on its other side to a heat sink assembly that dissipates heat out through the corners of the Trapezoidal prism structure.
  • a battery charge controller and M.P.P.T board positioned parallel to the top solar panel.
  • This board is allowed a space of 1.7 centimeters height to accommodate electrical parts, and 3 mm each for top and bottom insulation sheets.
  • a bank of batteries preferably cylindrical batteries the same size as AA batteries in common use today.
  • the space inside the drop-in module can accommodate 32 batteries or super-capacitors in a stack, plus a central battery, and series-rows of 20 batteries or capacitors along the length of the module, totaling 100 cm long. This gives a total of 640 batteries or capacitors, offering 30 Volts DC of power and 32 times the current capacity of each individual cell.
  • the graphene layer folds downward in the longitudinal center of the panel, through a slot cut in the aerogel and the battery charge controller board.
  • This down-folded graphene layer extends to the bottom of the drop-in module, penetrating between batteries of the battery bank, where it communicates with a slot in the bottom apex of the trapezoidal-prism shaped structure.
  • This slot can be fitted with either thermovoltaic cells or the top edge of an Opaque Infrared Concentrator panel, when the SCBU module is installed in a larger light collector unit.
  • Accessory 1 bifacial solar panel (Drawings 7, 9)
  • the bifacial panel is installed vertically, attached in a slot on the bottom of the structural support assembly 9 inside the central channel of an A.T., and is 20 centimeters high and 150 centimeters long. Normally, placing a solar panel inside a closed skylight would produce heating problems, and the PV cells are less efficient when they are hot.
  • the cover glass on channels 3a, b are coated with Perovskite photovoltaic coating preferably on the inside surface, which is substantially infrared transparent.
  • the bifacial panel would use an infrared conversion technology such as GaSb or InP thin films. In that case visible light is converted to electricity at the Perovskite coating and some of the remaining infrared radiation is converted to electricity at the bifacial panel.
  • Accessory 2 Opaque InfraRed Concentrator and optional Light Battery (Drawings 11, 12, 37)
  • A.T. collectors have a connector slot located on the under side of the structural support assembly 9.
  • An Opaque InfraRed Concentrator is one of three optical components that the A.T. is designed to accommodate at this connector slot.
  • an OIRC includes a coated planar trapezoidal-shaped plate of transparent material positioned on a vertical plane, with its length oriented parallel to the central channel's long axis, attached in the slot on the bottom of the structural support assembly 9 inside the central channel of an A.T.
  • the device thickness changes, starting preferably at 0.6cm thick along the top edge and ending at preferably 2.3cm thick along the bottom edge, while the side surfaces are planar.
  • the end edges of the OIRC are coated with reflective coatings and are tapered slightly inward toward the bottom edge.
  • the OIRC preferably communicates at its superior edge with a strip lens and optical fibers or folded graphene film, embedded within the structural support assembly, said fibers extending up and attached to an infrared radiator strip coated on the bottom of a fuel cell or battery that is installed in the crest compartment 7, or if graphene film is used, penetrating through the center of the crest channel drop-in unit to the top where it absorbs remaining radiation after passing through the top PV panel.
  • thermo-photo-voltaic (TV) cell strip infrared light that is generated within the crest channel may pass into the OIRC, staying inside by means of internal reflections until it reaches the bottom edge, whereat it may be used for generating electricity at an included thermo-photo-voltaic (TV) cell strip.
  • This added IR radiation increases the concentration factor in the daytime by adding to the sunlight absorbed, raising the light concentration factor, and also acts as a stand-alone radiant energy when there is little or no solar radiation available.
  • the OIRC and a strip of TV cells together can provide some electricity generation 24 hours per day.
  • the side surfaces of the OIRC have thin films attached, preferably of graphene or activated carbon or both, with at least one outer film that absorbs infrared and near-infrared and at least one inner coating that re-emits it into the OIRC'S transparent plate or conducts heat down to the bottom edge of the transparent plate, preferably as infra-red radiation, which therein becomes mostly trapped within the plate by means of total internal reflection and the opaque outer coatings, until it is radiated out the bottom edge of the device.
  • the outer layers of these films are chosen from materials that preferably have very low emissivity.
  • the P-doped GaSb which is activated by IR radiation.
  • the GaSb may be treated on the upper surface with Tellurium diffusion to enhance the Emission of electrons into the graphene layer on top of the GaSb layer, which is transparent to IR radiation.
  • the IR radiation is concentrated, as it has been trapped between the two layers of activated carbon.
  • the medium between the layers is a Bi-doped oxide glass or transparent plastic, which absorbs light and radiates IR in the right frequency band for activating the GaSb layer. This completes the circuit.
  • the short OIRC 107 ends inside the central channel, being preferably 20 centimeters high and 150 centimeters long.
  • An emitter 103 is attached to the bottom-inferior edge, where it is joined by the inferior edges of two other OIRCs 100, which have bends in them. Below this collimating channel is a short gap and a strip of TV cells.
  • the long version of the OIRC- 5C extends further down the central channel, and just before the bottom-inferior edge, (at the shorter edge of the trapezoid's parallel pair of edges of the plate,) said plate passes through a gap in an armature assembly P22.
  • the gap is just wide enough for the OIRC to pass through, and is stabilized underneath the gap edges, preferably with support rods on either side.
  • a collimating channel 72 is attached, with reflective inside surfaces, and with adjusters 73 on either side to calibrate the channel, thereby calibrating the beam width.
  • a meta-material absorberemitter 89 is positioned within the collimating channel 72 and bridging it, that absorbs and re-emits light as infrared radiation at the best frequency-range for an end-use.
  • a crystalline tungsten layer could be used as the meta-material emitter surface, textured with arrays of nano-scale cylindrical holes at a period of 800 nm, a radius of 380 ran, and a depth of 3.04gm, offering a thermal transfer efficiency of about 75%; in sunlight.
  • thermovoltaic (TV) cellstrip using GaSb or InGaSb cells could achieve approximately 30% conversion efficiency.
  • the light channel of the OIRC is tapered in thickness, so that the top edge is thinner and the bottom edge is thicker. This acts to help collimate light towards the bottom of the OIRC.
  • the bottom edge of the OIRC extends slightly into the plug-in channel where it meets with a collimator optic that is shaped as an inverted trough, with the bottom covered completely by an optional waveguide and a strip of thermovoltaic cells.
  • Adhering to the under side of the thermovoltaic cells is a heat dissipation plate that is insulated on both sides with a thin layer of insulation, preferably aerogel, and the plate terminates into conductive membranes behind the CPC reflector interior side of the AM & PM channels of the Aladin Transformer.
  • On either side of the OIRC are positioned curved parabolic concentrating reflectors whose inner edges converge near the lower edges of the OIRC, so that sunlight rays are reflected onto the absorbing sides of the OIRC.
  • the OIRC coatings are composed from outer to inner as follows: an optional optically transparent hard coating (anti-scratch), a near-infrared transparent Perovskite solar cells layer, a dichroic coating that reflects visible light back through the Perovskite cells and transmits the other wavelengths, and at least one NIR- absorbing dye layer with an additive that causes the dye to re-emit light at a frequency that it cannot absorb, then an inwardly directed transparent/ reflective coating with high inward reflectance in the NIR/IR range up to the wavelength of visible light.
  • This series of coatings on both sides of the plate creates an OIRC that also generates electricity.
  • the Perovskite layer will include a transparent conductive layer with means for conducting the electricity through wire connections to a power management & battery charge controller E3. Also, a germanium emitter layer is optionally positioned above the GaSb or InGaSb cells, along the lower edge of the OIRC, which acts as a waveguide, enhancing the absorption of infrared and near-infrared light in the GaSb or InP TV cells. Accessory 4-S: Auxiliary reflectors (static)... (Drawings 2c, d, e, f, 8, 10, 14, 16, 22, 38)
  • auxiliary reflectors are static.
  • the reflective surface begins adjacent one side of an A.T. and inclines at an angle of about 22.5° above the roof plane, traversing the length of the collector, and forming a triangular prism shape with a peak in the center line between collectors, declining thereafter to the lateral edge of channel 2a of the neighboring A.T. collector, thus filling the gap between these two collectors (54 centimeters wide), so that one side of the auxiliary reflector reflects light into its adjacent collector, and the other reflects light into its adjacent collector.
  • the superior faces of this reflector have highly reflective non-imaging surfaces and are textured with linear micro-prismatic structures that refracts the light 20° downward towards the second device, using linear micro-prismatic structures that impart a deflection of the incoming light.
  • This deflection plus the refraction angle of the glass cover on the AM and PM channels of the A.T. will cause light rays inclined at less than 88° from the horizon to enter the AM and PM channels at angles that are reflected downward by the collimating walls 10a, b sufficiently to reach the quasi-parabolic trough reflector that in turn reflects solar beam rays onto the evacuated tube located inside the AM or PM channel.
  • the auxiliary reflectors are static and shaped as in 4S, except that they are perforated with slotholes to act as a vent for an exhaust fan positioned below the reflector.
  • the surface is shaped with saw-tooth variations, and the part of each saw-tooth facing up, away from the adjacent reflector is open for venting air.
  • the part facing toward an adjacent collector has a reflective surface applied to it. No micro-structures are used in this version.
  • Accessory 4-S This is the same as Accessory 4-S, except that the reflector panels are on hinges, and can be caused to pivot so that the unit opens and the reflector surfaces fold against the AM and PM cover glass of two adjacent AT collectors, exposing thereby a three-panel evaporator.
  • Two of the panels are on the other side of the reflector panels, and the third evaporator is on the bottom of the auxiliary reflector structure, spanning between two AT collectors.
  • These evaporators are preferably of the roll-bond type, with low-profile, and are connected in series to form one evaporator assembly. This assembly is then attached to a heat pump, which can be used for heating or cooling.
  • the Auxiliary Reflectors are shaped as Accessory 4-S, except that the reflector panels are on hinges, and can be caused to pivot so that the unit opens and the reflector surfaces fold against the AM and PM cover glass of two adjacent AT collectors, exposing thereby a two-panel heat exchanger and a condenser solidly attached to the inside bottom plate, which is connected into an absorption cooling system.
  • the reflectors on both sides of the auxiliary reflectors and the internal wall reflectors of A.T.s include a glass cover plate, and deposits, preferably of resin, on the back side that form a series of planar reflective surfaces sloping at larger angles from horizontal than the glass cover. They may also curved towards the A.T. they face as they approach the ends of the reflector panels. Between these planar surfaces are planar surfaces oriented at essentially vertical angles, and of less width than the previously mentioned surfaces.
  • Accessory 5 e-chromic optical coating and actuator circuit (not shown)
  • the walls dividing channel 2a from 3a, and 2b from 3b are coated on the outward-facing surface with a nanoparticle film A5 that modulates transmission of light in response to an electrical signal.
  • This coating is used when the demand profile from the building needs less hot water or hot heat-transfer fluid, and more electricity.
  • the electro-chromic coating is made substantially transparent by applying or removing the electrical signal. Otherwise, the coating is left in its fairly opaque and reflective condition, whereby the channels 2a and 2b conduct light mostly to the evacuated tubes situated therein. It is controlled by a signal from the control board of an A.T. via activator A5b.
  • Accessory 6 temperature-dependent liquid separator (Drawing 45)
  • the heat transfer fluid inside the absorber assemblies is conducted through a sloped conduit and separated into hotter and less hot portions, the hotter portion being fed through a conduit to heat storage or end uses, while the less hot liquid is returned to the absorber assemblies for more heat transfer, (see drawing 38)
  • This separator unit relies on gravity and variable friction rates to diffuse the less hot fluid towards the bottom and the more hot fluid towards the top of the conduit, with exit ports near the top to draw off the hotter fluid and an exit port near the bottom-end to draw off the less hot fluid.
  • This accessory is positioned preferably underneath an Aladin Transformer, and may receive heat transfer liquid from a series of collectors, or from just one collector.
  • Vortex tubes can be used as a type of thermal amplifier, to separate out the hotter fluid for end-use and recirculate the cooler fluid through the heat absorbers.
  • Vortex tubes segregate the hotter, denser molecules from the cooler, sparser molecules. They can create outputs higher in temperature and pressure than the input, drawing energy only from the working fluid itself ! They can also create vacuums at the input, high-thrust jets, and ejection of another reservoir of fluid.
  • the hot fraction and cold fraction outputs can be separated to different ends of the tube, and they can be adjusted to a wide range of ratios, some providing temperature differences in excess of 100°C !
  • Accessory 7 TV cell strip with heat dissipation plate and airduct
  • This accessory is used in conjunction with an A.T. fitted with either a plug-in V slot and pivoting mirror, a plug-in VI, or an intra-collector plug-in 4.
  • Plug-in V alternates a light beam between an absorber panel conductively attached to an intra-collector plug-in, and this accessory, a TV cell strip with heat sink 83.
  • An air duct 90 is positioned along the axis of an A.T. collector, underneath it, so that it encases part of the extending fingers of the TV strip heat sink, thus warming air as is passes around said fingers. It contains an air circulation fan 91, and a temperature sensor 92.
  • the air duct 90 supplies heated air either to the ambient or to an occupied space, depending on user preference, preferably by means of a reversible-direction fan.
  • the duct could fork, and use duct valves to change the destination of the warmed air.
  • thermovoltaic cells are not temperature sensitive, they are used instead of silicon-based photovoltaic cells to convert the concentrated light from an A.T. fitted with an LSC or OIRC. Also, the LSCs used herein produces infrared radiation, that is filtered either in the collimating channel underneath the LSC or by a filter layer on top of the TV strip.
  • the TV strip itself is preferably composed of tellurium-doped GaSb thermovoltaic cells preferably one or three centimeters wide, in a single or triple row, and preferably made with zinc-diffusion and etching to 320 run.
  • the TV strip is a series of individual thermovoltaic cells connected to an electrical circuit, positioned to catch the beam from the pivoting mirror in Plug-in V on one side underneath an A.T. Collector.
  • the back side of this strip of cells is conductively attached to a heat dissipation plate, preferably with a layer of graphene on the interfacing surface, that includes conductively attached fingers extending downward or to the side of the A.T. collector, away from the TV strip.
  • These fingers are cast in aluminum or copper, as one unit with the heat sink, and are coated with an enamel or baked-on paint that helps to emit infrared radiation.
  • Other forms of heat dissipation are envisioned, to deliver the waste heat to the vacuum-tube heat absorbers or other heat-activated devices.
  • Accessory 8 Reflective baffles for auxiliary reflectors. (Drawing 2b)
  • auxiliary reflectors At the up-slope ends of the auxiliary reflectors can be fitted reflective baffles to increase the light directed onto the Aladin Transformers. They fit into the triangular space between the auxiliary reflectors and the Solar Collectors.
  • Accessory 9 Accessory 9: SCRIMPESS control system (Drawings 33, 34, 35)
  • the invention as described includes many controllable functions, including alternating the direction of a light beam by means of moving pivoting reflective panels according to algorithms, opening and closing valves for various thermal and water supply functions, turning fans on and off, processing signals from sensors, monitoring battery storage levels, activating and de-activating an e-chromic coating, and providing user alerts for malfunctions and dangerous situations.
  • A.T. collectors and a smart device, which is connected by means of a LAN connector or a bluetooth transmitter attached next to the LAN connector.
  • Each A.T. collector has a control board integrated in the end of the unit, which also has connector for daughter boards, used according to the chosen plug-in units.
  • This board collects data from temperature sensors and sometimes flow sensors, as well as the status of any valves and information about which plug-in and drop-in is installed in each collector. It also relays commands to plug-ins, accessories, and drop-in units, and turns on and off various components. In some cases these boards can process information for intra-collector plug-ins as well, in tandem with a neighboring control board and a programmable logic controller module.
  • a means can be provided for use of solar heat during summer by plugging into the collector a steamjet ejector-driven cooling system.
  • a computer is used to control the various A.T. collectors, their plug-ins, any intra-collector plug-ins, and accessories.
  • All control components are powered by either a power buss connected to a battery within an A.T. collector, a battery IC-PI 6 installed between collectors, or a battery within the same A.T. Collector.
  • LAN modules include a digital time and date computer, and at least one sensor-based electronic programmed controller, all attached to the LAN of multiple output solar collectors as described herein, with programs that can achieve the following: 1) maximum electrical output during the peak hours of the grid, if the unit is grid-connected 2) light output when an interior building switch provides an 'on' signal for lighting to the internal space, if day-lighting option is employed, 3) heat output when a call for heat exists from logical calculation based on the connected heat storage unit temperature or end use space or floor temperature and time, date, and weather data, 4) method of prioritizing the three functions above, 5) method for dynamically locking and unlocking the system in full electrical production mode, in the case where the sales of the collector is subsidized by the power distribution company, 6) operation independent from the power grid, based solely on the user's program.
  • This information is also channeled via a LAN connector on the lower side of each A.T. collector, through a Local Area Network, controlled by a master computer or logic board. Any actuators used by an A.T. plug-in are wired to this control board also, and signals received from the master computer can cause the control board to move actuators in accordance with commands and algorithms.
  • a master computer or logic board Any actuators used by an A.T. plug-in are wired to this control board also, and signals received from the master computer can cause the control board to move actuators in accordance with commands and algorithms.
  • the invention includes a control method that provides a peer-to-peer network including programmable controller circuits, which may be installed on a power buss located on a nearby wall, for an array of multiple Aladin Transformer units, as well as the balance of system components, capable of deciding which of the outputs are activated, according to complex algorithm.
  • programmable controller circuits which may be installed on a power buss located on a nearby wall, for an array of multiple Aladin Transformer units, as well as the balance of system components, capable of deciding which of the outputs are activated, according to complex algorithm.
  • a collector when a collector is used in a grid-tied of micro-grid electrical system and there is an attached PCM heat storage reservoir and plug-in TV array included, it can decide to heat up the reservoir in the early hours and again in the late hours of the solar day, scheduling it so as to concentrate on making electricity with the PV array during the peak electricity usage times.
  • the control system will determine the priority of each output throughout the whole collector and plug-in system.
  • Such a system will be programmable and able to prioritize outputs contingent upon the values entered by the end user as well as the commissioner of the system.
  • the control method includes using a combination of a storage battery, a digital time and date computer, and a sensor-connected electronic programmed system controller, all attached to a 'SCRIMPESS' system of Aladin Transformer solar collectors with plug-in units, thereby capable of achieving the following:
  • the system controller design includes compatibility with building management software that provides a standardized user-friendly graphical user interface, making it operable by non-technical users. It is further designed to operate in temperatures ranging up to 120° F (installed in attic space, except for the master computer). Its software design makes it easily upgradable and configurable to operate with various configurations of the core units and plug-ins using a multi-task controller board and auxiliary daughter boards or external programmable controller modules. It is operable without PC or internet connection in default mode.
  • the system includes a standard "array control module" providing connection for up to twelve core units, 24 plug-ins, 6 intra-collector plug-ins, and 16 accessories, or alternatively, a network of 6 programmable controller modules. Thereby means are provided for connecting multiple controller modules to a PC so that they can be coordinated when there are more than four units to a system. It is designed to be modularly independent, so that when a plug-in is not present, or off-line, the rest of the system can function normally.
  • Accessory 10 Roof Truss system (Drawings 19, 24, 25)
  • This accessory provides a special roof truss system that optimizes use of materials to support an array of A.T. collectors and any plug-in modules and ducts attached to them, and maximizes accessibility to the underside of the collectors and to the plug-in units for installation, maintenance, upgrades, and replacements.
  • the under-side of the collectors in building-integrated installations, penetrate between the trusses to the inside of the building, hence there is need for a special truss design, to allow proper spacing of the support beams for this, and to make access to the collectors and installation of SCRIMPESS easier, as normal trusses could interfere with access.
  • T1 beams are spaced alternately 1.1 meters and 0.54 meters apart, and T3 cross-beams are spaced 1.8 meters apart.
  • Installation of A.T. collectors T2 on the roof truss system then proves a quick and easy job, by placing the A.T.s between trusses and bolting down the provided flanges onto the truss beams for installation of the collectors from above the roof.
  • the truss system allows room for roof panels between the solar collectors, thereby creating walkways for the installers, and later for maintenance work. This minimizes the amount of dangerous on-roof labor required, since the remainder of the installation can be accomplished from inside the attic space, or the building's occupied space if there is no attic.
  • auxiliary reflector structures, accessory 4 To be installed between the collectors, and easily removed, revealing service walkways, located underneath the auxiliary reflectors, for access to A.T. collectors whenever needed. It provides spring-loaded stops 22 for easy alignment and attachment of intra-collector plugins that sit between and below the trusses (see drawing 11 or 13 for examples). It allows for aesthetic rooftop integration, and maximizes efficient use of materials.
  • This truss design method includes the following features:
  • roof joists of 5 cm width, steel or steel reinforced wood, spaced alternately 1.1 meters apart (cleared spacing), for A.T. collectors to inset into, and 54 cm apart (on-center), for auxiliary reflectors to fit between, and for alignment of intra-collector plug-ins.
  • Accessory 11 Hydronic manifold with valves and mixing system (Drawing 29, 31 )
  • Three versions include 4, 6, or 8 inputs and outputs. Inputs and outputs can be shunted together in order to mix the fluid in various configurations.
  • the inputs can hold thermally-activated valves or auto-valves.
  • Circulation pumps can be attached directly to the manifold, or to individual outputs.
  • Metal brackets enable attaching the assembly to the walls of A.T. collectors with screws.
  • Accessory 12 swimming pool heat exchanger (not shown)
  • This accessory is a variation of the hydronic heating system plug-in IV. It has two water heat exchangers. The lower one is detachable, and fits against a large surface of the PCM heat store. In the swimming pool version, the water conduits of this lower heat exchanger are lined with titanium. The heat exchanger plate fits against the honeycomb surface of the PCM heat store, thus providing large surface area for heat exchange.
  • the heat transfer oil used as a working fluid in the central channel's evacuated tube(s) can then be piped through the secondary swimming pool heat exchanger P46 as well, transiting between plates, and exchanging heat at a high rate, due to the high temperature of the heat transfer liquid.
  • This accessory is removable for repair or replacement at the junction between the heat exchanger P46 and the PCM heat store honeycomb.
  • Accessory 14 dehumidifier system (Drawing 28)
  • the A.T. collectors can drive a liquid desiccant cooling and dehumidification circuit.
  • Lithium Chloride is the world's most powerful desiccant, it has seen little use in the HVAC industry. The reason is that Lithium Chloride is corrosive and great care and expense had to be taken to insure that it did not get carried away by the airstream.
  • AIL Research, Inc. has tested a solar-powered liquid desiccant cooling and dehumidification system.
  • the primary objective of that project was to demonstrate the capabilities of a new high- performance, liquid-desiccant dedicated outdoor air system (DOAS) to enhance cooling efficiency and comfort in humid climates while substantially reducing electric peak demand. In their test, they could not get good results from the solar collector heat source.
  • DOAS liquid-desiccant dedicated outdoor air system
  • the LDAC relied solely on solar heat, with no natural gas backup to ensure that the unit operated throughout the cooling season. A properly designed system that uses solar heat will have backup. Due to this, the system did not achieve peak-cooling capacity for significant hours of operation. Because the system largely has static electrical power draw, this resulted in a low average EER.”
  • the solar field design and LDAC system design were not tightly coordinated by the prime installation contractor (Regenesys). This resulted in a design that did not consider the frequency and duration of stagnation periods for the solar field.
  • the collector design was not designed to withstand more than about two stagnations per year.
  • the collector system was not initially designed to withstand the massive volume of steam from these collectors when stagnation occurred.
  • the solar field required significant redesign. The end result was workable (only) for the demonstration, despite being problematic and suboptimal in operation.”
  • the hot oil coming from collectors could pass through the PCM heat store, and before it reached the melting temperature, there would be little het exchange happening there.
  • the heat transfer oil could supply the LDAP system starting about 2 hours after dawn, then as it got hotter, the phase-change heat store would regulate the temperature, and at the end of the day, the heat store could release stored heat to supply hot oil for another 2-4 hours.
  • erythritol has a melting point of 117.7 C at 0 PSIG, and could prevent the heattransfer fluid from rising much above that temperature, if used as the Phase-change material in the IC-PI 1 heat store.
  • An erythritol charge of 100 liters would provide approximately 4.5 hours of dehumidification at peak load based on the COP of 0.8 for LiCl/H2O LDAP cooling system sized for two 2-bedroom residential units in a duplex. Note that erythritol exposed to air will degrade in latent heat production, but when in an inert atmosphere, the degradation rate is only 0.011 kJ/ (kg h).
  • the same solar collectors could be generating electricity with the light when cooling is not required. This would shorten the payback period significantly, and eliminate the "stagnation periods" that caused havoc with their system.
  • the A.T. collectors generate some amount of electricity all day, enough that the LDAP system controls and pumps could be run without utility power. Therefore, the LDAP operation would be more reliable- operating even if grid power outages occurred, and the EER would be much higher.
  • a geothermal loop can be employed for cooling the desiccant in the conditioner, by over-concentrating the solution in the solar-heated regenerator, and then adding geothermal-chilled water back into the solution at the conditioner. This way roof space is not required for a cooling tower, and is saved for positioning a larger bank of A.T. collectors.
  • Accessory 16 radiant cooling, heating, and air heating system (Drawing 24b)
  • the invention includes a unique design for delivering cooling and heating in a building with high ceilings.
  • This includes radiant hydronic panels R1 suspended from the ceiling, at the periphery of the room, and sloped to face inward, combined with an inflated arched or peaked ceiling filler and air guide system R2, that entrains air via the Coanda effect into a room circulation pattern, thereby preventing stagnation of heated air at the ceiling level or cooled air at the floor level.
  • the radiant panels are fed from a hot water distribution manifold Hl, attached to an intra-collector plug-in and fed either warm or cold water generated from solar energy by the A.T. collectors and their plug-ins and accessories.
  • the inflated arched air guide R2 filled with helium gas to keep it suspended at the ceiling level, fills up much of the high ceiling space, thus removing it from the heating and cooling load, and also insulates against heat loss or gain from the ceiling.
  • this guide by nature of it's arched or peaked shaped underside, guides an air circulation pattern that prevents stagnation of air at the ceiling level. Together with the insulated radiant panels, this system removes a great amount of heating and cooling load from the room wherein it is installed.
  • Accessory 17 Hot oil storage tank (Drawing 16)
  • the invention includes insulated tanks O1 for storing heat transfer fluid, which are hung underneath the roof in the space between A.T. collectors, using flanges integrated into the top side edges of the tanks, said flanges extending on top of the truss beams.
  • Tubular conduits with pumps are used to feed this heat transfer fluid to the A.T. collectors and their plug-ins, as is appropriate for the individual installation design.
  • an A.T. collector with plug-in IV needs extra heat transfer fluid to capture and store all of the solar energy that is absorbed by the evacuated tubes in it's host collector.
  • Accessory 18 daylight channel with rotating PV strip array, (drawing 26, 39)
  • This accessory fits underneath on the Eastern side of an A.T. collector, inset version. It provides a skylight channel N18 for receiving a line-beam of light from a plug-in VIII, IX, or XI, into a channel that communicates to the inside of an occupied space in a building. It has a prism-shaped elongated devise N15 which rotates on an axle and can turn to expose the line-beam of light to either a strip array of PV cells N16, or a reflective panel N17. In the case of the reflective panel, it turns so that the mirror reflects the light down the channel and into the occupied space. In case of the PV strip, it turns to make the PV strip perpendicular to the line-beam of light.
  • the turning is achieved by a digitally-activate actuator motor and gear system, as is known in the art of HVAC systems. It has an electrical transfer collar N19, which attaches to an A.T. control board N20, and sends electrical current there when the PV strip array is illuminated. It attaches to the bottom of the A.T collector and to the side of the Plug-in.
  • Accessory 19 Temperature-Dependent liquid separator (Drawing 45)
  • This accessory fits preferably underneath on the Eastern side of an A.T. collector, inset version. It is used to process hot oil from the evacuated tubes or graphitic absorbers, separating out the hotter oil to send to one enduse, and the less-hot oil to send to another end-use.
  • Plug-ins are devices that can be inserted into the bottom opening of the central channel in Aladin Transformer solar collectors. These plug-ins insert using a method of alignment that includes spring-loaded stops 22. These stops are long rods that protrude from the sides of the plug-in, and can be depressed into a slot in the plug-in when inserting. When the stop-rods reach the indented troughs in the A.T. central plug-in channel walls 18, they snap into the indentations, thus holding the plug-in unit in place in it's proper alignment. Subsequently, the plugin unit can be bolted to the A.T. collector for a stronger bonding between the two units.
  • the exceptions are plugins VI and VII, which are pre-installed at the distribution warehouse in the upper part of the central channel of A.T.s.
  • Plug-in I Evacuated Tubes 3 & 4, and PCM-HgO Heat Regulator (Drawing 4, 14)
  • This component works with A.T. species 1, designed for flush-mount on a roof, and provides compound parabolic reflectors P58 formed as surfaces on a matrix of insulating material shaped to fit in the bottom of the central channel of an A.T. collector, and snap in place with spring-loaded stops P26, embedded in durable walls of the plug-in.
  • the surfaces of the compound-parabolic reflectors act to reflect light onto two evacuated tube heat exchangers 36 and a vertically installed accessory 1 bifacial PV or TV panel E19 attached underneath and along the length of the crest compartment and extending downward to a level quite near the tops of the evacuated tubes 36.
  • a heat store and regulation system containing a matrix of hexagonal elongated compartments P27, arranged similarly to a honeycomb, said compartments being filled with phase-change materials, and interceded by one or two integrated pumped heat transfer fluid circuits that preferably are communicating with the two evacuated tubes in channels 2a and 2b of the A.T., in series with the evacuated tubes 36 of plug-in I.
  • a heat exchanger P25 containing a serpentine heat transfer conduit which has a means for circulating water or liquid solution or refrigerant, causing the transfer of heat to a domestic hot water system, storage cylinder, heat pump, dehumidifier or other end use.
  • the path of the heat transfer fluid in the PCM regulator's two circuits is as follows:
  • the evacuated tube on the eastern side of the plug-in is connected in series with the evacuated tube 12 in channel 2a of the A.T., in a circuit that traverses first through the evacuated tube 12, then through the plug-in evacuated tube 36, then through the pump P38 and the "AM" (yellow) heat exchanger near the top of the heat store, surrounded with PCM conduits.
  • This heat exchanger includes a serpentine circuit for the heat transfer fluid to flow through, consisting of four end-connected paths separated by walls in the channel that is formed between two layers of PCM conduits.
  • This heat exchanger also has extension tubes with fittings P28 for connection to an external heat-transfer fluid circuit.
  • the evacuated tube on the western side of the plug-in is connected in series with the evacuated tube 13 in channel 2b of the A.T., in a circuit that traverses first through the evacuated tube 13, then through the plug-in evacuated tube 36, then through a pump P59 and a (red) heat exchanger P24 near the bottom of the heat store, surrounded with PCM conduits P27.
  • Heat exchanger P24 comprises a serpentine circuit for the heat transfer fluid to flow through, consisting of four end-connected paths separated by walls in the channel that is formed between two layers of PCM conduits.
  • bypass valve there is a temperature-controlled bypass valve. If the temperature of the heat transfer fluid goes above 125°C, the bypass valve opens and lets the HT fluid bypass the heat store and go to another storage unit or end-use.
  • While the two circuits listed above are designed to use a heat transfer oil, there is a similar but larger heat exchanger P25 positioned between PCM conduits, within the central part of the heat regulator, which connects to a water circuit P31 in about the middle of the heat store.
  • This circuit circulates due to either supply water pressure or a pump installed near the bottom of the circuit, next to or inside a water storage tank or end-use supply circuit. Then the water is made available for domestic use, and if depleted, is replenished by a water supply.
  • Temperature sensors P40, P41 are located above and below the PCM heat regulator assembly to provide information to the A.T. control board E5.
  • a flow sensor, E-10 is located in each of the liquid circuits, giving information on flow conditions to the control board.
  • a LAN connector on the side of the A.T. collector enables this temperature and flow information to also be used by a building management software system.
  • Any steam generated in the circuit connected to the water heat exchanger is then passed out of a steam trap P49 positioned near the top part of said circuit, and through a shunt tube P50 either into a tube 48b that leads to the crest compartment of the A.T., where it can be transformed into hydrogen and oxygen by an electrical or magnetic charge, or to the ambient to escape.
  • the hydrogen gas may then be collected for energy storage, and later fed into a fuel cell to generate electricity.
  • Plug-in II OIRC + PCM Heat regulator; (Drawing 8)
  • the PCM heat store is used differently with this plug-in.
  • the AM absorber 52 is connected to and heats the bottom section of the PCM heat store, and the heat conductor switch on the AM side is closed, while the heat conductor switch on the PM side is open, thereby adding waste heat from the T-V cell-bank to the AM absorber, so that conduits P44 can be used for domestic hot water early in the day.
  • the heat conductor switch on the AM side is open, while the heat conductor switch on the PM side is closed, thereby adding waste heat from the T-V cell-bank to the PM absorber, which is connected to and heats the middle section of the PCM heat store, and above it, conduits P31 are used for higher temperature work functions, such as powering an absorption chiller for cooling.
  • the P31 conduit should also connect to a cooling function like a hot water tank, so that the top part of the PCM heat store can have any excess heat transferred to storage that is more permanent, and can continue to cool the T-V cell-bank during the daytime. At night there is no need to cool the T-V cell-bank, as it will be working with lower temperature heat.
  • This will all be controlled by the SCRIMPESS logic system, a digital system that controls all the pumps and switches in the PCM heat store and any connected devices, according to a program that monitors the sensors P40, P41, etc. and makes logical decisions how to manage the flows of energy.
  • both heat conductor switches are normally open, and the heat from the upper part of the PCM heat store irradiates the T-C cell-bank from underneath, thereby converting left-over heat from the day's heat store to electricity.
  • the radiation goes through the T-V cell-bank, leftover IR radiation is mostly reflected back from the emitter panel and mirrors, so that more IR radiation is absorbed. It should be noted that this function depends on a transparent bottom layer on the T-V cellbank, and a partly reflective emitter above the T-V cell-bank.
  • the PCM heat store in this case serves four functions: 1) to regulate the temperature in the system fluids, 2) to add heat storage capacity, 3) to enable use of excess heat at night by the T-V Cell-bank, and 4) to provide two different temperatures of heated fluids to end-uses.
  • This last function is accomplished by having PCM cells P43 surrounding the lower heat exchanger that change phase at around 65°C, while the PCM cells that surround the upper two heat exchangers have a different filling, which changes phase at around 120° C.
  • the heat transfer fluid used is an oil which can tolerate temperatures up to 140°C.
  • Plug-in III “Hydronic” (Drawing 5)
  • This plug-in works with an A.T. version 1, with an accessory 3 forked deflector panel P20 installed. Under this deflector is a gap, and then a curved absorber layer P52 and a heat conductor P51, under which is attached a phase change material (PCM) heat store unit as generally described in Plug-in I, with addition of more PCM conduits on the top part of the heat store.
  • the absorber-emitter layer has a selective absorber surface on its upper face, a conductive film on its lower face, and is shaped to conductively attach to the tops of the PCM conduits underneath it.
  • the glass cover slats 1 on channels la and lb are preferably coated with a translucent layer of perovskite material 15 that is electrically attached to the A.T. control board.
  • the glass cover slats 1 on channels 2a and 2b are coated on the interior surface with a nanolayer that substantially reflects infrared waves back into the collector's central channel. This produces a surface that transmits about 85% of the light through from outside the collector, but reflects about 30% of light rays back on the inside. It also absorbs about 50% of the light illuminating the inside surface, and re-radiates most of it as infrared. It is used to maximize light capture by any LSC or other plug-in units.
  • a heat capture device comprising the following components: On the outside is a transparent aerogel cover 12 formed as a triangular prism. From the interior apexes of this prism, heat absorber plates 12a extend toward the axial center line of the prism, there they join. Said absorber plates are preferably composed of copper with a textured graphitic coating to enhance radiative capture, conductively-attached to said plates are three heat exchange conduits, 13 shaped preferably as hexagonal prisms, aligned to that two of their exterior surfaces are flush with the heat absorber plates, and attached in manner to provide maximum conduction of heat.
  • the above assemblies are conductively attached to heat storage rails 14, embedded in the structure of the AM and PM channel reflector bases.
  • Fluid from graphitic-copper heat absorbers enters on two end-mounted conduits at the bottom end of the A.T. P28b and P29b, where it passes through thermally-activated valves P53, or a fluidic device, such that the higher temperature fluid flows more freely into a junction 'Y' fitting, and then into a pump P38 located at the bottom end of the A.T.. From this pump, fluid is passed into a tube then either into an opening in a heat exchanger with bidirectional serpentine design conduit p23 positioned nearer the top of the heat store, or, before it reaches a threshold temperature, the fluid bypasses the heat store and goes directly to end-uses.
  • a bypass valve is positioned at the Y-junction and is controlled by temperature, so that it opens at about 117°C and closes at about 112°C.
  • the HT fluid traverses several times through the length of the A.T. collector, in bi-directional serpentine fashion, and reaches the other side of said heat exchanger, where it is passed through a tube to a second heat exchanger of similar design positioned close to the bottom of the PCM heat store.
  • the fluid traverses again through two bi-directional serpentine conduits, until it reaches the sides of the PCM heat store, whereat it leaves through two output connectors P28 and P29, and returns to the evacuated tubes.
  • the phase-change material used in the top and bottom sections of the heat store are chosen to have a melting point approximate to the ideal supply temperature - 5°C for the attached end-use device. For absorption cooling, this would be 115-120°C or possibly more.
  • a water heat exchanger containing a bi-directional serpentine heat transfer conduit which has a means for circulating water or liquid solution or refrigerant, causing the transfer of heat to a domestic hot water system or a storage cylinder or heat pump or dehumidifier or other end use.
  • the phase change material in this heat store is chosen to melt at around 65°C, so that water can leave its heat exchanger at about 60°C, regardless of the time of day or solar flux status at the time of circulating.
  • This circuit can be used to heat water from a local water supply to be used for sink taps, showers, bathtubs, and any other domestic uses required. This produces "on-demand" water heating, saving a lot of heat losses, and a lot of space that water storage tanks require.
  • a buffer tank is necessary in some applications, but it would be much smaller than for standard solar hot water systems.
  • Temperature sensors 55, 56, 57, 40, and 41 are conductively attached to various parts of the PCM assembly, and their wires attached to a daughter board E5 attached to the A.T. raceway E5. This daughter board feeds signals to the A.T. control board in order to enable the LAN connection via a BacNet port E7, in order to feed information to an optional building control system.
  • Plug-in IV “hydronic CHP”: 3 rd & 4 th evacuated tubes, Extended PCM store, (Drawing 9)
  • This plug-in works with an A.T. version 2, and includes third and fourth evacuated tubes with internal heat exchangers, positioned axially underneath and to either side of a previously installed accessory 1 bifacial solar panel, and positioned on top of two Quasi-Compound Parabolic reflectors positioned at the bottom of the central light channel. Underneath said QCP reflectors is positioned a PCM heat store with five built-in fluid heat exchangers composed of serpentine conduits designed for circulating heat-transfer fluid or water through their conduits in order to transmit heat, first to the P27 Phase change conduit matrix, and then to water. These heat exchangers are provided with integrated pumps to circulate the respective fluids through them. There are two water heat exchangers (blue). The upper one is fed into a circuit for supplying domestic hot water to the building. The lower one is fed into a circuit for hydronic heating, some process-heat end-use, or, when made with a titanium lining, into a swimming pool water circuit.
  • the lower section of this PCM heat store P48 is detachable, and fits against a large surface of the PCM heat store.
  • the heat exchanger plate fits against the honeycomb surface of the PCM heat store, thus providing large surface area for heat exchange.
  • the heat transfer liquid used as a working fluid in the central channel's evacuated tube(s) is piped through the other three heat exchanger channels.
  • the uppermost channel P23 is for AM channel tube(s)
  • the middle channel P24 is for PM channel tube(s)
  • the lowest channel P46 is for central channel tube(s).
  • the honeycomb structure of the P27- Phase change conduit matrix in between these and the water heat exchangers acts to regulate the temperature, and to extend the availability of heat into evening and night hours. All these heat exchangers are operated by liquid transiting between variegated plates in a serpentine pattern. Temperature sensors are located above and below the PCM heat store assembly to provide information to the A.T. control board E5. Also, a flow sensor, E-10, is located in each of the water circuits, giving information on flow conditions to the control board. A LAN connector on the side of the A.T. Collectors enables this temperature and flow information to also be used by a building management software system.
  • Plug-in V Daylight channel (Drawing 7)
  • This plug-in is an optical conduit that works to entrain incoming solar radiation into from an A.T. version 2 into a building, with an optional bifacial PV panel 5 and an accessory 5 e-chromic coating installed. It provides a channel for conducting light into a building's occupied space.
  • the invention's A.T. collector includes covering channels 3a and 3b with a solar thin-film technology that converts non-visible light to electricity, while allowing the unconverted light to pass through. The visible portion of solar light enters the central channel where it is transmitted through a channel to an interior space as visible light.
  • This plug-in provides this enclosed channel with walls extending downward, which are reflective on their inside surfaces, and are adjustable to various diverging angles and widths.
  • the same light beam can alternatively irradiate a photovoltaic or other energy conversion devise within said channel when daylight is not needed, by means of a preferably-automated pivoting panel inside the channel. Said panel pivots from being essentially parallel to the channel to being essentially perpendicular to said channel. This enables day-lighting and electricity generation to be co-generated, or alternated, depending on the type of PV panel used.
  • a new solar thin-film technology is employed in said PV panel, which allows the non-visible light to be converted to electricity, and the unconverted light to substantially pass through.
  • the invention uses this thin-film technology to continue providing day-lighting to the building while removing and making use of the rays that would only be causing heat gain to the building.
  • the PV panel is attached to hinges, so that it can be raised and lowered by a cord wrapped around a spindle, preferably by means of a motor with a digital interface and a remote control.
  • a cord wrapped around a spindle preferably by means of a motor with a digital interface and a remote control.
  • conduits for heat transfer fluid are attached to anchor tubes on the A.T. control board.
  • anchors On the upper side of the anchors, they are attached to the evacuated tubes in channels 2a and 2b.
  • Plug-in VI LSC, TV strip, Thermal Fluid tanks (Drawing 8)
  • LSC plates There are three LSC plates installed.
  • One LSC 107 is vertically positioned in the center of the A.T.
  • the other two LSCs 100 span from the outside edges of channels 2a and 2b across said channels, and then bend downward to make a V shape that joins at the bottom edge of the central LSC.
  • a convexly curved absorber-emitter strip 89 is attached to all three bottom edges. This meta-material absorber-emitter 89 is positioned bridging the bottom edges of the three LSC plates 100, 107, so that it absorbs and re-emits light as primarily infrared radiation at the proper temperature for an end-use.
  • a crystalline tungsten layer can be employed as the meta-material emitter surface, textured with arrays of nano-scale cylindrical holes at a period of 800 nm, a radius of 380 nm, and a depth of 3.04pm, offering a thermal transfer efficiency of about 85.0% in concentrated sunlight.
  • emitters with durable substrates conductive refractory metal or inter-metallic emitter layers, and refractory metal oxide antireflection la ers.
  • One form has tungsten or TaSo emitter layers and 0.14 micron ZrO 2 or A1 2 O 3 antireflection layers.
  • thermo-voltaic (TV) cell-strip 93 is positioned in close proximity to the emitter, and is wired to the control board E5 of the A.T.. beneath the TV strip is conductively attached a heat exchanger 94.
  • each tank 99 communicating with the bottom of the central channel through holes drilled in the walls 18 of the central plug-in channel. These pipes communicate the thermal transfer fluid with two heat exchangers in the plug-in channel.
  • One pair of pipes acts to cool the TV strip via a pump 96 and a heat exchanger 94 placed just below and in conductive connection to the TV strip 93.
  • the other two pairs of pipes 104 feed thermal transfer fluid to a heat exchanger 98 when auto-valves 97 are open.
  • This heat exchanger is conductively attached to LSC plates 100.
  • the valves 97 are operated by the control board of the A.T. so that they open when there is not enough sunlight to produce dense flux at the 89 absorber-emitter.
  • a V-shaped reflective trough with a slot opening positioned axially along the bottom, with a curved Fresnel lens 101 spanning the edges, which entrains light into a strip lens 105, that in turn refracts the light into a slot opening in the structural support assembly 9, where it passes down and into the vertical LSC plate, entering through its superior edge.
  • This plug-in is preferably paired with a battery that fits underneath an adjacent auxiliary reflector assembly.
  • Plug-in VII Linear lens, forked deflector, slot opening, (Drawings 10, 13a, 16, 22, 26, 38, 39 )
  • This accessory has three parts:
  • a transparent forked panel P20 attached in a slot on the bottom of the structural support assembly 9, with its upper part being planar, and forking soon after leaving the slot into two planar members, with approximately a 40° diversion angle between the two forks. It acts to deflect light traveling through it downward by 20° or more. It employs a series of linear micro-prismatic structures on it's surfaces that impart a deflection of light, on an otherwise planar sheet of plastic or glass.
  • a Linear sheet Lens which also has a series of linear micro-prismatic structures on it's surface, and it is formed into either a peaked panel, similar to a peaked roof, or an axially-curved panel in a shape sometimes known as a barrel vault.
  • This linear lens bridges the central channel at mid-level, and acts to focus light into a narrow slot at the bottom of the central channel of an A.T.
  • a box-framed armature is installed that fits inside the central plug-in channel walls 18 and holds a V-shaped reflective trough with a narrow slot opening along the bottom center of said box armature.
  • the bottom portion of this reflective trough has a micro-prismatic structures on its surface that help to bend light downward toward the slot opening at the bottom.
  • Plug-in VIII OIRC, pivoting reflective panel, (Drawing 13b)
  • an accessory 2-L extended LSC that extends down through a converging V- shaped reflective trough attached to a box-framed armature that fits inside the central plug-in channel walls 18, and through a slot opening in the bottom of said V-shaped channel.
  • a fourth stage of optics comprising a collimating channel 72 composed of two elongated reflector strips that taper outwards, adjusted by collimating channel adjuster screws 73, located so as to move collimator adjustors 74 to focus the beam through a gap below and onto a pivoting reflective panel 75 interfacing the line beam.
  • Reflective panel 75 is positioned by an actuator motor 78 and motor gear 77 and actuator gear 76, to direct the light beam to one of two places: 1) to a plug-in energy conversion device on one side underneath the roof and between two collector bodies, or 2) to a plug-in energy conversion device on the opposite side underneath the roof and between two collector bodies.
  • Said reflective panel pivots within the guided limits of two curved swivel tracks 81.
  • Said energy conversion units are either attached to the collector, or to the underside of the roof, beneath the auxiliary reflectors.
  • a lens 89 or meta-material emitter-lens 89 which transforms the beam into the size, and optionally the frequency band of light, most suitable for reception and use by the chosen plug-in devices used to convert the light beam to an end-use form.
  • This pivoting reflective panel assembly is housed within a housing 86 that is secured to the armature holding the V-shaped reflective trough of Accessory 2-L with housing bolts 87, comprised of two elongated side walls 86, a swivel-mirror base plate 79, and an access door 80 attached by hinges on the bottom of said housing.
  • housing bolts 87 comprised of two elongated side walls 86, a swivel-mirror base plate 79, and an access door 80 attached by hinges on the bottom of said housing.
  • the invention additionally comprises a digital controller means for automating the movement of said movable reflective panel, employing actuator motor 78 in response to real time signals from the user, from sensors, and from a programmable 7-day timer circuit; in other words, signals similar to those found in many modern thermostats.
  • Said panel may also be made to sit perpendicular to the light beam, thereby reflecting the visible light back out of the collector face. This position is provided when a controller is set to "maintenance" mode, which allows the collector to cool down for maintenance or upgrades. It is also called into play when there is a control or collector power outage, or an over-heat condition in the collector.
  • Plug-in IX Pivoting cold mirror with linear lens and TV strip array. (Drawings 26, 39)
  • This plug-in is like Plug-in III, down to the pivoting reflective panel, where it becomes different.
  • the pivoting reflective panel in this plug-in is a "cold mirror" N17, meaning that it passes infrared radiation through, while reflecting visible light.
  • underneath the cold mirror there is no base plate. Instead, there is a lens N2 that has a linear micro-prismatic surface that acts to focus the infrared radiation into a line beam beneath the cold mirror, onto a TV cell strip array with a heat sink attached N4, positioned beneath said line beam.
  • the TV array and lens are held in place by an in-folded duct housing N28, which is firmly attached to a flange on an armature N30 on one side and an L-bracket N29 on the other side.
  • a temperature sensor N7 is attached beside the TV array and heat-sink assembly N4.
  • a pumped oil cooling circuit N27, N12 communicates with a serpentine heat exchanger contained inside the heat sink N4, and gives off heat to a water tank (not shown) which may be used for domestic hot water.
  • this cooling circuit communicates first with heat exchangers N24 in a boiler N23, a mixing manifold N22, and a steam super-heater N25, in order to help produce steam for a jet-cool-dry system or other equipment that uses steam.
  • this plug-in is shown in Drawing 15 as including accessory 3, linear lens and forked deflector, it could instead use accessory 2L, internal-reflecting solar concentrator.
  • the in-folded duct housing N28 has a fan installed somewhere inside of it to circulate air through the heat sink N4.
  • the warm air generated may be either exhausted to the outside air or used for heating an occupied space in a building.
  • a mixing manifold N22 acts to join together heat transfer fluid from evacuated tubes 12 and 13, as well as potentially heat transfer fluid from other A.T. Collectors with plug-ins that generate, store, or distribute said fluid, through pipes N26.
  • the boiler N25 is fed water from a water supply N31, and steam from the boiler is super-heated in super-heater N25, then fed out through pipe N32.
  • Plug-in X Hydrogen Generator (Drawing 42)
  • Plug-in X uses the outer structure of an A.T., without dividing walls between the AM & PM channels and the main interior. Instead, the area where heat absorbers were located in other versions, there are attached gas tanks, one side holding Hydrogen gas, and the other side holding Oxygen gas. these tanks are fed by filters located in the plug-in space, and can also be drawn from through conduits attached where the filter inlets are located. above these gas tanks are located light guides, preferably of the OIRC version. The light guide join in the center of the A.T. with a third light guide that is positioned vertically in the center of the A.T. Thus all light entering the A.T.
  • thermovoltaic or photovoltaic cells Underneath the cells is a water-proof membrane that bends around the strip and spreads out from there to form a top for a water tank which occupies the rest of the plug-in space below.
  • a large heat sink is conductively attached under the cell-strip and membrane, and descends down into the water tank, heating it up.
  • Means for collecting the electricity generated by the cell-strip is included, and wires carry the electricity off to a battery.
  • crest channel support structure 9 Above the crest channel support structure 9, is attached an optical system for concentrating light received from above, through a top glass panel, and channeling it through a slot in the support structure 9, to illuminate the top edge of the vertical light guide positioned just under said support structure.
  • Intra-collector Plug-ins :
  • These intra-collector plug-in units can be used only as part of installations where the A.T. collectors are inset into the roof structure. If the roof truss part of the invention is included in the installation, the snap-in bars provided on the roof joists enable alignment of the intra-collector plug-ins, but they are for alignment purposes only; these units are heavy and must be bolted to a strong plate laid across the top of the roof joists, or supported from underneath, once they are in place and aligned.
  • Intra-collector Plug-in 1 PCM Heat store with heat exchangers, and optional swimming pool heat exchanger. (Drawing 10, 16, 38)
  • This plug-in operates in combination with two A.T.s fitted with plug-ins VIII or IX.
  • a strip array of TV cells is positioned to one side of the plug-in VIII, for example, where the linebeam of light is reflected from its pivoting mirror, and the plug-in described herein is positioned on the other side of the plug-in VIII, such that moving the pivoting mirror can alternate the beam of light from shining on either the TV array or on a evacuated tube containing a heat absorber contained within this plug-in.
  • This enables changing functions on demand, between generating electricity and storing heat by means of heat transfer fluid and phasechange material.
  • the PCM heat store is made in two levels, upper H10 and lower Hl 1.
  • the upper level is narrower, to fit between the sides of two A/T/ collectors.
  • the water heated in this section is preferably used for domestic tap water, while the water heated in the lower level is preferably used for a larger load, such as hydronic heating.
  • Heat transfer fluid is communicated to the upper heat store H10 by means of a pumped piping circuit and preferably two heat exchangers H4, H5 or one heat exchanger and a thermally-activated change-over valve. In between or above these (two) heat exchanger(s) is positioned heat exchanger H8 for a water heating circuit.
  • the upper level includes communicating the heat transfer fluid from the channels 2a evacuated tubes of two adjacent A.T. collectors, fitted with plug-ins VIII or IX, through a manifold and valve unit Hl to the upper level heat exchanger H4, thereby transferring heat to the phase-change heat store H6, consisting of a series of small hexagonal-shaped elongated compartments arranged like a honeycomb, and filled with a material whose phase change temperature is between 64° and 90°C, thereby able to deliver heated water to a use by means of the second heat exchanger H8 below at around 60-70°C.
  • the manifold Hl communicates the heat transfer fluid from the channels 2b evacuated tubes of two adjacent A.T. collectors, fitted with plug-ins VIII or IX, to the upper level heat exchanger H5, thereby transferring heat to the phase-change heat store H6.
  • the lower level includes communicating heat transfer fluid from two evacuated tubes H12 on either lower-level side, first by means of a distribution manifold Hl with thermally-activated valves, attached underneath the plugin, then by means of two heat exchangers H14, H15, through a lower level phase-change material heat store Hll, similar to that in the upper level, but wider, that employs a series of small hexagonal-shaped elongated compartments arranged like a honeycomb, and filled with a material whose phase change temperature is between 92°C and 104° C.
  • the ideal target temperature is 98° C. This prevents the water in a nearby heat exchanger from boiling.
  • This lower level includes a secondary heat exchanger H13 that heats water for hydronic heating or other end-use via a hydronic heating supply circuit H3 using heat from the PCM store.
  • this secondary heat exchanger H13 is lined with titanium and thereby can be also used in summertime for heating swimming pool water during the swimming season by means of change-over valves in the distribution manifold Hl.
  • the pumps and valves in this system are controlled by the control board in an A.T. collector E5, based on temperature and flow information from the temperature sensors H7 and flow sensor H8, as well as user preferences.
  • Intra-collector Plug-in 2 Heat pump (Drawing 15)
  • This optional plug-in operates in combination with two A.T.s fitted with Plug-ins VIII or IX.
  • it provides a compression-expansion circuit heat pump as known in the art, but altered to fit in the intra-collector space underneath the roof covering and to be powered by electricity and hot fluid (to assist in the compression) from A.T. collectors' light beams on either side of it.
  • Hot fluid from four A.T. collectors fitted with evacuated tubes and heat transfer fluid circuits is communicated through a manifold to heat exchangers on the lower side portions of the heat pump where it super-heats the refrigerant fluid after said fluid is evaporated in the heat pumps' evaporator.
  • evaporator-condenser panels are positioned under the auxiliary reflector, version 4-SV, which is vented to allow air passage through it, by means of a series of small fans positioned underneath the condenser coil.
  • This provides auxiliary reflectors that both reflect light into the adjacent A.T. collectors and either help speed the evaporation of refrigerant, or emit heat to the ambient when used as condensers.
  • the heat pump can be reversible, and provide either heating or cooling to the occupied space, operating as a "split unit” heat pump, as is known in the art.
  • Intra-collector Plug-in 3 absorption chiller integration (Drawing 48)
  • this invention optionally includes inserting an intra-collector plug-in between either two or four A.T. collectors in parallel quadrilateral arrangement, underneath the roof covering.
  • the same collectors can also provide an electricity source A16, A17 and batteries A12 to store electricity for some electronic controls and pumps, and below in the building, a specially designed hot water tank containing a generator and an evaporator that chills water are placed, in connection with said plug-in, such that an absorption chiller configuration is realized, as is known in the art of cooling and heating.
  • the invention preheats a heat transfer oil in a pumped circuit including two or four evacuated tubes or graphitic heat absorbers A13, within the Eastern sides of two or four Aladin Transformer collectors starting at 1.2 hours after dawn. After about 1-2 hours of pre-heating, the oil reaches 95° C. After this, a 4-way valve opens and this hot oil is pumped by pump AID and circulates through a piping circuit that enters through a hot water tank A19 and then communicates via a one-way valve All with a semi-conductive cylinder filled with oil which is securely fastened in approximately the center of the hot water tank with hot oil.
  • the generator or generators A7, (A8 if it is a two-stage chiller) are sealed properly for pressurized operation and securely attached inside said cylinder and immersed in hot oil.
  • Generator A7 is preferably shaped on the outside as a turbulated tube.
  • the Pump A2 near the output of the generator is turned off. Then the heat from the generator gradually transfers to the water in the hot water tank.
  • the system can produce hot water to supply a hydronic heating system in the colder parts of the year, and vapor to drive cooling in the hot parts of the year.
  • a lithium-bromide plus lithium-chloride plus water solution is encased in the bottom of one or two generator(s) and an absorber, as is known in the art of absorption chillers.
  • Said absorber Al is attached underneath a condenser container, and these both are attached underneath the roof membrane, and underneath the auxiliary reflector assembly.
  • the hot liquid solution in the generators is sent through a heat exchanger A5 to pass some of its heat to solution returning from the absorber to the generator, and then goes to a top-of-absorber Al spray system as is done in an absorption chiller circuit known in the art.
  • the solution may pass from the high-temperature generator to the low-temperature generator and the vapor may pass the other direction, before going through the heat exchanger and on to a condenser A9. Then water vapor is communicated to a condenser A9, which is firmly attached underneath an auxiliary reflector assembly A20.
  • This condenser A9 is cooled with a cooling water circuit, said circuit being cooled by a combination of air and evaporating water.
  • the air is drawn through the length of the auxiliary reflector assembly by an induction fan A14 placed near the top of said assembly, drawing air out of the assembly's interior volume and pushing it into the ambient, far away from the intake, thus producing little chance of recirculation of the cooled air back to the intake and the bottom end of the auxiliary reflector assembly.
  • a network of tubing A 15 punctuated at intervals with sprayers, including one larger sprayer at the end of the tubing network.
  • This network is fed by a water circuit.
  • An attached net transports dripping warm water, across the section of the Assembly where air is flowing through (cross-current).
  • the water in the tubing network cools as it flows through, and then cools further as it is sprayed into the assembly chamber through an air current.
  • Located at the bottom of the assembly is a shallow basin that catches the un-evaporated water in order to partially replenish the cooling water circuit. Water leaves the basin at a drain in the basin, and goes through a conduit to an elongated water storage tank preferably installed under the eves of the roof adjacent to the auxiliary reflector assembly.
  • a Bernoulli nozzle shape is formed at the mouth of said assembly, to increase flow speed of the entering air.
  • water level is supplemented by the water supply line at A21, then pumped by pump A2 through a piping heat exchanger circuit, first through the absorber Al, and then through the condenser A9, then back into the piping network, which acts as a heat rejector, cooled by the air current in the auxiliary reflector assembly.
  • a type of "cooling tower” is formed inside the auxiliary reflector assembly, and the un-evaporated water that drips to the bottom is cooled by several degrees Centigrade, whereupon it is collected and used to cool the Condenser and the Absorber.
  • Reduced power cooling option When the wet-bulb temperature is low enough, and the sun is covered by clouds or it is dark, optional hinges A18 in the auxiliary assembly act to open up the reflector plates, exposing the cooling tubing network to the ambient environment. Then the induction fan can slow down or stop, and the natural circulation of ambient air will act to allow the water spray to evaporate partially, so the cooling happens with less energy. In this case, the tubing network will be covered by a net that keeps leaves and debris from going inside the network.
  • Snow melters A18 are optionally installed at the junction between the auxiliary reflectors and the A.T.s. and are fed by warm water from the water supply line, which helps to melt away any snow that collects in these areas on the solar collectors and auxiliary reflector faces. This water can be warmed by passing through the heat exchanger (not shown) placed inside or next to the hot water storage tank Al 9.
  • the chilled water circuit after leaving the evaporator A3, is pumped either directly to a unit that acts to cool a building's occupied space, or, by way of a 3-way valve, through a conduit to a chilled water storage tank A22.
  • a similar temperature regulator A24 is placed in the hot water storage tank, preferably in the form of pellets containing phase change materials that change phase at around 60°C.
  • the remainder of the equipment consisting of an evaporator A3 with an internal heat exchanger to produce chilled water or chilled solution, EEV control valves A6, pumps A2, and method for cooling an occupied space such as radiant panels A4 is known in the art of absorption chiller cooling systems.
  • these standard components include a technique to measure the concentrations and pressures inside the generators, absorber, evaporator and Condenser, and to control them precisely using these signals.
  • Intra-collector Plug-in 4 24-hour Power (Drawing 8, 14)
  • This optional feature of the invention provides a power source at night and during times when sunshine is weak, by storing a heat transfer fluid that has been heated in at least two A.T.s, and then upon demand, circulating that fluid through a heater strip attached to an absorber-emitter N8 that irradiates a thermovoltaic cell strip, whereby electricity is generated and used to charge a battery that acts as a power source.
  • the absorber-emitter N8 preferably up-converts the light waves to a frequency band most suitable for efficient conversion to electricity in the thermovoltaic cells N7 included in the invention.
  • This plug-in works especially well with plug-in Is, as described above, installed in two or more adjacent A.T. collectors.
  • the heat exchanger in these plug-ins normally used for heating water is then used instead to heat a heat transfer fluid that remains in liquid phase at the temperature produced by the solar flux.
  • this plugin can be used with any A.T. plus plug-in that generates a hot heat transfer fluid.
  • This heat transfer fluid is circulated through tubes N6 by means of a pump N12 to a storage tank N5 that is surrounded by insulation, and is positioned below the roof covering and attached underneath an A.T. collector.
  • a second A.T. collector is fitted with the same type of tank, but in a mirror image format of the first A.T.
  • Storage tanks N5 are preferably also fed hot heat transfer fluid from other A.T. collectors, by means of a manifold N22 and pipes N26.
  • Thermally activated valves N28 enable the hot fluid to flow into the tanks, substantially blocking fluid that is under temperature.
  • a large battery N1 is formed to substantially fill the space directly underneath an auxiliary reflector assembly. It is fitted with flanges along the sides, that sit on top of the A.T. flanges when installed above the roof. It also has grooves along the upper sides, that allow the snap-in spring rods on roof beams to snap into place, aligning the plug-in unit before bolting it to the A.T. flanges, thereby suspending the battery just underneath the roof covering.
  • This battery extends down, and if necessary can extend a little lower than the bottoms of the A.T. collectors.
  • the battery itself can be one of several types: Lithium-ferro-phosphate batteries and reversible hydrogen fuel cell batteries are the preferred embodiments.
  • the battery charge-controller has a maximum power point tracker circuit as is known in the art of solar electric systems, and a charge monitoring, current regulator, and automatic shut-off circuit as well.
  • the battery, charge-controller, and power conditioner as an assembly is described below as Intra-collector plug-in 6.
  • a heater assembly Nil In a slot formed in the central part of this insulation and underneath the battery charger circuit board is attached a heater assembly Nil.
  • This assembly is comprised of a very dense insulation material, preferably ceramic or aerogel, that is heat resistant and that is able to firmly hold in place some tubes communicating heat transfer fluid to two heater strips on the assembly's bottom face.
  • This strip is coated on the lower surfaces with absorber and emitter thin-film coatings N8, applied so that the emitter coating is at the bottom of said assembly.
  • Tubes N9 for heating the absorber emitter feed into the insulation assembly from both sides, originating from the top level of the heat transfer fluid tanks N5 located on either side of the heater assembly.
  • thermovoltaic tubes feed hot fluid to both ends of the heater strip Nil, preferably a roll-bonded labyrinth heat exchanger, wherein the hot fluid travels the length of the strip heater assembly Nil before leaving to return to the heat transfer fluid tank N5.
  • the absorber and emitter coatings which are conductively attached under the heater strip, are heated substantially evenly, and in turn emit infrared radiation from the emitter's under side.
  • This radiating emitter faces towards a strip of thermovoltaic cells N7, preferably of a thin film structure, across a narrow gap. Most of the radiation is received by the thermovoltaic cells and some of it is converted to electricity.
  • thermovoltaic cells N7 Radiation that is not converted to electricity by the cells is mostly passed through the cells to a heat sink N4 conductively attached below the thermovoltaic cells N7. Inside this heat sink is a serpentine tubing network through which heat transfer fluid is circulated and returned back to the heat transfer fluid storage tanks N5 at the bottom level by the pumps N12 and fluid tubes N10.
  • the circulation pumps and flow sensors N13 and temperature sensors N14 are wired to the control board E5 installed inside the A.T. collectors, with a LAN connector E7 on the side of the A.T. collectors, so that a computer or LAN networked device with a building HVAC management software application can be used to control when the system produces power.
  • Intra-collector Plug-in 6 Battery, Power conditioner & battery charger (Drawing 14, 38)
  • This plug-in can be installed either above the roof, or under the roof covering, in the intra-collector space that between two A.T. Collectors directly underneath an auxiliary reflector assembly. It is comprised of a large battery Nl, formed to substantially fill this space, and is fitted with flanges along the sides, that sit on top of the A.T. flanges when installed above the roof. It also has grooves along the upper sides, that allow the snap-in spring rods on roof beams to snap into place, aligning the plug-in unit before bolting it to the A.T. flanges, thereby suspending the battery just underneath the roof covering.
  • the battery itself can be one of several types: Lithium- ferro-phosphate batteries and reversible hydrogen fuel cell batteries are the preferred embodiments, for two versions at different price points.
  • This battery extends down to the roof covering, when installed above the roof, and can extend a little lower than the bottoms of the A.T. collectors, when installed under the roof covering.
  • the battery, charge-controller has a maximum power point tracker circuit as is known in the art of solar electric systems, and a charge monitoring, current regulator, and automatic shut-off circuit as well.
  • Each species of the invention combines one or more A.T. collectors with one or more plug-ins, accessories, and in some cases intra-collector plug-ins.
  • a species may include special coatings on some components or electronic sensors within the system.
  • the species description does not necessarily include a complete system for delivering end-uses from sunlight.
  • balance-of-system parts are to be included in the complete system, as are known in the art of solar thermal and solar electrical systems for buildings.
  • multiples of the combination described or multiple species combinations are able to be installed in an array, in order to meet the energy demands of a building. In the case of arrays, the SCRIMPESS control system should be added for more elegant user control.
  • This species is a self-installable solar generator, and includes a first unit, called 'SCBU' ( Solar Capture and Electrical Storage Unit), that combines a solar photovoltaic panel, charge controller, DC-to-AC inverter, a battery, and preferably capacitors into one unit, and a second unit, called a 'UCPS', comprised of an Ultra-Capacitor Power Supply, with AC-DC-AC conversion circuitry, connections, controls, and safety features, said unit being portable.
  • 'SCBU' Solar Capture and Electrical Storage Unit
  • Species B1 skylight only side apertures (Drawing 6a & b)
  • This species includes only the skylight portion of an Aladin Transformer, plus a drop-in unit in the crest channel, and static auxiliary reflectors.
  • This species of the invention includes and A.T. collector with Plug-in V "Daylight", to conduct daylight into an occupied space of the building, accessory 4-S Aux reflectors, and Drop-in 1 or 2 for electricity storage and management.
  • a daughter board D12 for electronically controlling the lifting and lowering of a PV panel in the lighting channel may be added to the control board E5 of the A.T. collector. This daughter board communicates with a light switch or lighting control panel in the building.
  • This version of the invention includes Species A units plus a PV ⁇ T ⁇ H unit, which together is called, (A.T., Drawing 4). Purchase of an A.T. will upgrade a Chinchilla, to transform the SCBU into a combined heat and power unit, preferably with optional plug-ins and accessory units.
  • This species of the invention includes an ALADIN TR NSFORMER version 1 (flush-mount), an accessory 1 bifacial solar panel, a plug-in I including two additional evacuated tubes inserted into the central channel from below, 4-S static auxiliary reflectors on either side, and Drop-in 1 or 2 for electricity generation and storage attached in the crest channel.
  • the combination is to be retro-fit on a roof and attached to balance-of system equipment that may include accessories 11 and 13, and other equipment for hydronic heating, electricity distribution, and domestic hot water use.
  • This species of the invention includes an ALADIN TRANSFORMER, with plug-in III, Drop-in 1 or 2, and accessories 3 and 4-S or 4-T. the combination is installed on top of an existing roof.
  • the optional accessories described in accessory 13 and 11 for hydronic heating and cooling may be used, or standard BOS equipment may be used, including electrical distribution and domestic hot water.
  • This species of the invention includes an ALADIN TRANSFORMER, with plug-ins III or IV, Drop-in 1 or 2, and accessories 3 and 4-S or 4-T.
  • the plug-in III provides two more evacuate tubes or graphitic conduits to heat an oil fluid, and it includes extra heat storage over plug-in II.
  • the central channel is fitted with Plug-in IV, including a vertical-positioned bifacial solar panel 5C whose outer surfaces are treated to reject infrared radiation, attached underneath said crest compartment, and two evacuated tubes located near the bottom and on either side of the central channel, under which lie quasi-compound parabolic reflective troughs.
  • the IR radiation in turn is entrained onto the evacuated tubes by the reflective walls of the central channel and the reflector assembly in the bottom of said central channel.
  • this species of the invention includes at least two Aladin Transformers including Luminescent Solar Concentrators Acc. 2L or linear lenses Acc. 3 that entrain the light in the central channels down through a slot opening in the bottom of the A.T. collector body, where it irradiates a pivoting mirror assembly as in Plug-in VIII or IX, including an axially-inclined movable mirror as in Drawings 12a and 12b.
  • An intra-collector plug-in I- a PCM Heat Store is installed between the two A.T. collectors, and on the other sides of the collectors other plug-ins are installed, such as one or two Accessory 7s: TV strip with heat sink and warm air duct.
  • this species includes at least four A.T.s, then accessories 11 and 13 are included, for optimizing the balance of the system. See Drawing sheets 29, 30, 31, 32, and 38 for details on options to include in a radiant heating and cooling system.
  • Species E may be combined with Species I or J, the latter also attached to an external absorption chiller.
  • This species includes the invention's unique Opaque Infra-red-Concentrator unit, which collects solar energy and channels it as infrared to the bottom edge.
  • Species F1 OIRC, TV strip, and Heat recovery: (Drawing 11 )
  • this species includes infra-red transparent Perovskite coatings deposited on the inside of the glass cover plates of an Aladin Transformer. These coatings are then coated with a transparent aerogel coating, preferably made from cellulose material.
  • the central channel is fitted with an Opaque Infrared Radiation Concentrator (Accessory 2), an oil storage tank Accessory 17, and a drop-in unit 3.
  • Accessory 2 Opaque Infrared Radiation Concentrator
  • An oil storage tank Accessory 17 an oil storage tank Accessory 17
  • a drop-in unit 3 The combination is to be retrofitted on a roof or ground-mounted, and communicates hot oil via the oil storage tank Accessory 17 to balance-of system equipment that may include an absorption chiller.
  • thermovoltaic cell-bank It may alternatively be used for process heat in industry as well, offering a higher-temperature output than other species, due to the recycling of waste heat from the thermovoltaic cells back to the evacuated tubes.
  • the heat remaining from the thermovoltaic cell-bank is conducted away via a heat dissipation plate, preferably made from Panasonic Pyrolitic Graphite Sheets attached to copper plate.
  • This plate penetrates the sides of the central channel to communicate with the AM and PM channels, where, curved radiator strips are attached, made of the same or similar material and coated with an infrared-emitting coating that is also reflective. These radiators are embed in the interior walls of the Am and PM channels of the A.T. Thus, remainder heat is effectively transported to the thermal absorber assemblies.
  • Two temperature sensors 20 are placed on the output tubes of the thermal absorber assemblies, and they are used to create control data on the control board of the A.T. Note that sunlight will be absorbed at the OIRC starting from Dawn, and ending at dusk. Thus this provides a pre-warming of the heat exchange fluid in the evacuated tubes or graphitic conduits BEFORE the sun reaches an angle for directly heating them, and they will continue to receive heat throughout the solar day from this source.
  • the interior reflectors separating the AM and PM channels from the central channel can swing on the bottom fulcrum, via a stepper motor. This allows for the control system to choose more heat production or more electricity production.
  • Species F2 PIVOTING MIRROR with OIRC or Linear transmissive Fresnel lens (Drawing 12)
  • the OIRC is extended further down, to interface with a pivoting mirror, as shown in Figure 12b.
  • the optional heat dissipation plates have a different shape, and are made of graphene, so that they are transparent. They follow up along the slope of the plug-in frame that slides into the central channel, then bend down, along the edges of the central channel, and then they penetrate through the side channel bodies to terminate at curved radiator strip-plates near the evacuated tubes.
  • Species F3 This species is like F2, but instead of an ORIC, it uses a fork deflector and LSC. (Drawing 13a)
  • Species F4 This species is like F2, but instead of plug-in III, it uses plug-in VIII, "pivoting reflective panel" (Drawing 13b)
  • This species includes 2 A.T.s with plug-in Is installed, and one intra-collector plug-in 4 installed between them. Also, two heat transfer fluid manifolds N22 (accessory 11) are installed underneath said A.T. collectors. These manifolds can be supplied with hot heat transfer fluid from both the A.T.s wherein the plug-in is installed and from other A.T. collectors. A mixing valve N28 is used in the case of other A.T. collectors or an accessory 18 oil store supplying fluid.
  • the components of a Rankin cycle heat pump are re-configured to make use of the Aladin Transformer collectors' hot oil and DC electricity, as well as the space underneath and between the A.T.s.
  • the auxiliary collectors are used as condensers, in closed position, or as evaporators, in open position-unless there is snow-depending on whether the heat pump is supplying cooling or heating.
  • the auxiliary reflectors are supplied with hinges at the edge nearest the solar collectors, enabling the two reflector plates of the triangular reflector assembly to open in opposite directions until they rest against the glass of the solar collectors on either side.
  • This opening also exposes a heat exchanger network of tubing, and five fans installed on an armature, that are located parallel with and just above the roof's sloping surface and filling the space between the two solar collectors on either side which is a heat exchanger.
  • This action of opening is driven by two actuators, as is known in the art.
  • the actuators are controlled by the system's software algorithm which are linked with snow sensors installed on the roof.
  • the inner sides of the auxiliary reflector plates which are now exposed have attached heat exchangers.
  • the three heat exchangers are connected as one functional unit which acts to circulate a refrigerant and thereby collect heat from the air and sun.
  • the tubing networks are coated with an optical black coating to enhance heat absorption.
  • This open position of the auxiliary reflector is used to function as an evaporator unit when the heat pump is asked by the control system to deliver heat to the inside of the structure on whose roof the device is installed.
  • two special devices are used as a compressor of the refrigerant in the attached Rankin cycle heat pump circuit.
  • One special device is a heat exchanger for liquid refrigerant, solidly attached inside a cylinder which is supplied with circulating hot oil from the solar absorber of the solar collector. Said cylinder is in turn submerged inside a hot water tank. Inside this cylinder is located a turbulated tube that is filled with liquid refrigerant, supplied at an entrance near the bottom, and leaving the turbulated tube at or near its top. The refrigerant does not mix with the hot oil in the cylinder nor with the hot water in the tank.
  • 3 A.T.s are inset into the roof and channel hot oil to one or more O1 oil tanks, positioned below the auxiliary reflectors. They may have different types of plug-ins, which produce the hot oil.
  • the two evacuated tubes are fed with a thermal oil working fluid, which is stored in a small tank below the roof, the pivoting mirror plug-in is used with a cold mirror, such that infrared light passes through to a thermovoltaic cell bank underneath, the visible light is reflected from the mirror onto either the left or the right side of the collector, giving the options of a photovoltaic strip with a fan-forced air channel to cool it, or a daylight channel that passes light into the building.
  • the daylight channel has an optional PV cell strip on a pivoting triangular prism-shaped reflector / absorber, so that when neither hot air nor daylight are in demand, the visible light can be used to make electricity only.
  • This species of the invention includes the base ALADIN TRANSFORMER unit fitted with translucent Perovskite coatings on channel 2a and 2b covers, three LSCs (Luminescent solar concentrators), and Plug-in VI inserted into the central channel from below, which includes a TV strip 93 mounted on a PCM heat store and exchanger, Accessory 4-S or 4-T: auxiliary reflectors, and IC-PI 4, Under-roof mounted battery and generator.
  • LSCs Luminescent solar concentrators
  • Plug-in VI inserted into the central channel from below, which includes a TV strip 93 mounted on a PCM heat store and exchanger, Accessory 4-S or 4-T: auxiliary reflectors, and IC-PI 4, Under-roof mounted battery and generator.
  • this species includes arranging an optical concentrator within the central light channel, including a vertically positioned internal-reflecting solar concentrator 107, consisting of a transparent plate with high internal reflection properties, said plate coated on both planar sides with thin films that cause the light to be absorbed and re-emitted as radiation inside the plate at wavelengths that substantially match the band-gap of the TPV strip used, with mirror surface on end edges of said plate, and an internally emitting coating on the superior edge, such that light is concentrated and channeled to the inferior edge, whereat it is radiated by an emitter from that edge to an absorber-converter device, preferably a TPV cell-strip.
  • the superior edge is optionally also fitted with optical fibers that introduce infrared radiation into the internally emitting coating, originating from a barrel-vault shaped lens positioned on top of the structural support assembly 9, in the crest channel 7.
  • LSCs 100 designed so as to substantially entrain light onto the absorberemitter 103 immediately adjacent to the vertical LSC 107. They are horizontally positioned across channels 2a and 2b, and then bend downward into the central channel, and at the end they curve to become parallel and adjacent to the vertical LSC 107. These two LSCs are coated on the top surfaces with thin films that cause the light to be absorbed and re-emitted as radiation inside the plate at wavelengths that match the band-gap of the TPV strip.
  • the part extending over channels 2a and 2b are coated with a reflective coating, and on the parts extending over the central channel, they are coated with an emissive layer followed by a conductive layer, to which is attached a serpentine heat exchanger 111 that is supplied heat transfer fluid through tubes 104, from an oil tank 99.
  • the TV strip 93 is connected to a cable 110 that transfers the electricity generated by the TV cells to a charge controller 109, and in turn charges a battery 108.
  • Said battery is positioned underneath an auxiliary reflector assembly, on top of the roof covering and between two A.T. collectors.
  • Drawing 1 shows Species A, "Chinchilla”, with SCBU (upper), UCPS (lower), and connecting cable.
  • Drawing lb shows an SCBU, mounted on a sloping roof and mounted on a wall.
  • Drawing 2a shows drop-in 2 in sagittal section view, with battery-heating plates and heat transfer plate under PV.
  • Drawing 2b shows a 3D view of "A.T.”, with drop-in 2 (above) and a plug-in unit (below).
  • Drawings 2c, and 2d show A.T.s in 3D view plus Acc. 4: auxiliary reflectors; closed (c), open (d).
  • Drawings 2e show Acc. 4, auxiliary reflector, with evaporator for heat pump inside.
  • Drawing 2f shows detail of optical construction of an auxiliary reflector panel
  • 2g shows an end-baffle reflector
  • Drawing 2h shows a slope adjusting mechanism for the Auxiliary Reflectors
  • Drawing 3a shows the evolution of the Species A to two other species, ending with the A.T.
  • Drawing 3b shows a building with A.T.s and acc. 4-S: auxiliary reflectors, in 3D view.
  • Drawings 3c shows an alternate upgrade for an SCBU, to generate more power.
  • Drawing 4 shows species Cl, A.T. with drop-in 1 (SCBU), plug-in 1 (evac. tubes +Heat store), and acc. 2
  • Drawing 5 shows species C2, A.T. with drop-in 1, and plug-in III "Hydronic Inset single"
  • Drawing 6a, b shows species Bl; skylight with apertures on two sides
  • Drawing 7 shows species B2; A.T. with plug-in V, "DayLighting + PV" in sagittal section view.
  • Drawing 8 shows species X: 2 A.T.s flush-mounted, plug-in VI, IC-Plug-in 4, acc. 4S and 2S, "24:-hour power "
  • Drawing 9 shows an A.T. species D; with plug-in IV, "3rd & 4th evac. tubes, extended heat store"
  • Drawing 10 shows 2 A.T.s species E; "Hydronics Inset Pair" IC-plug-in 1, plug-ins VIII and IX, acc. 11.
  • Drawing 11 shows species Fl; A.T. flush-mount with Acc. 2 "OIRC” and TV cell-bank in the central channel, and heat dissipation plate penetrating to the side channels.
  • Drawing 12 shows species F2; A.T. Inset-mount with Acc. 2 "OIRC” and TV cell-bank in the central channel, heat dissipation plate, and Plug-in II, "Hydronic Inset single”.
  • Drawing 13a shows species F3; A.T. inset with plug-ins VII & VIII, “pivoting reflective panel” , and an LSC- acc. 3.
  • Drawing 13b shows species F4 A.T. inset with Acc. 2 "OIRC” and TV cell-bank in the central channel, and heat dissipation plate penetrating to the side channels, and plug-in VIII, , “pivoting reflective panel”
  • Drawing 14 shows species G, with two A.T.s inset, plug-in VI, IC-plug-in 4, acc. 4S and 2S. extended LSC (Accessory 3), with hot oil internal storage, TV strip between, battery between, and a hot-air duct between A.T.s; "Night power"
  • Drawing 15 shows species H; two A.T.s with IC-PI 2: "Heat Pump"
  • Drawing 16 shows an A.T. species I, with IC-plug-in 6: "Hot Oil Store”, and plug-in VII
  • Drawing 19 shows a roof array system for mounting A.T.s
  • Drawing 21 shows Accessory 2-LSC; Luminescent Solar Concentrator, exploded view in detail.
  • Drawing 22 shows species K, 2 A.T.s with plug-ins III, IX, IC-plug-in 1, acc. 1, 3, and 17; "Hot water, Oil, air”.
  • Drawing 23 shows Plug-in VI, PV and hot air vent.
  • Drawings 24a and b show roof support truss systems for fitting AT collectors into a roof membrane.
  • Drawing 25 shows roof extension system for fitting maximum number of AT collectors on a roof.
  • Drawing 26 shows an A.T., Species_L with Plug-in VII, Hot oil generator, 2 Hot air generators, Daylight channel.
  • Drawings 27 shows accessory 9: Absorption Chiller, DHW, and Dehumidifier interface system, using a vortex heat amplifier and radiant ceiling cooling & heating
  • Drawing 28 shows accessory 13; dehumidifier system for use with A.T.s
  • Drawing 33 shows accessory 11: SCRIMPESS control system schematic
  • Drawing 34 shows accessory 11: SCRIMPESS control system simple schematic
  • Drawing 35 shows accessory 11: SCRIMPESS control flow chart
  • Drawing 37 shows the end of an OIRC with a CPC modification
  • Drawing 38 shows a row of AT.s with various intra-collector plug-ins and accessories.
  • Drawing 39 shows an AT Species J fitted with Plug-in VII, cold mirror, PV, TV, hot air, and hot oil options
  • Drawing 40a shows a schematic of a two-stage absorption Chiller
  • Drawing 40b shows a method of enhancing a solar-heat-driven absorption chiller with an ejector.
  • Drawing 41 shows the details of the management system for the Thermovoltaic cell-strip E16
  • Drawing 42 shows an AT. with plug-in X, "Hydrogen Generator"
  • Drawing 43 shows the electronic circuit conceptual sequence for the Chinchilla system
  • Drawings 45 shows a thermal separator for separating out the higher-temperature thermal liquid between two streams from thermal absorbers in an AT.
  • Drawings 46 shows an Auxiliary Reflector-Integrated Heat Pump Rankin Cycle, (a) Day cycle, (b) night cycle Drawings 47 shows an Auxiliary Reflector-Integrated Ejector-enhanced water heat pump with two A.T.s.
  • Drawing 48 shows an Auxiliary Reflector-Integrated absorption chiller with two A.T.s.
  • E2 wires connecting crest PV panel to E3
  • E2b cable connecting side cover PV to E3
  • E2c wires connecting Super-capacitors to E3
  • E3 control electronics compartment for battery charging, MPPT, and Hi-Frequency AC converter
  • E5 control board in raceway with piping connections, any daughter boards, pumps, sensor connectors.
  • E6 flat cable receptacle and cable from crest compartment to control raceway
  • E7 power connector ports (24VDC for plug-ins, 24VDC to inverter), BacNet port, and USB port
  • plug-in channel 9b slot for optical fibers, water supply conduit or
  • Translucent PV cell array 52 heat exchanger quasi-cylinder of copper with absorber coating (red)
  • conduits from heat absorber to control board 54 telescoping legs for stand-alone installation
  • AX26 auxiliary reflector assembly
  • AX27 vented reflector panels
  • AX28 evaporator/reflector panels
  • AX29 end plates of aux.
  • reflector AX30 bottom plates of aux.
  • Collimator adjustors 84 Spectral filter for TV strip
  • LSC assembly 64 mirror coating on end edges of LSC
  • NIR transparent Perovskite solar cells 65 High Total Internal Reflection (HTIR) medium
  • optical fiber bundles 71 light rays inside LSC
  • linear focusing lens 110 cable to charge controller Parts of Plug-in V; daylight channel + PV panel (Drawing 7)
  • A2- Pumps A14- induction fan inside top end, aux. reflector

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  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Sustainable Development (AREA)
  • Photovoltaic Devices (AREA)

Abstract

Afin de fournir de l'électricité et de la chaleur pour répondre aux diverses demandes d'énergie d'un bâtiment, l'invention comprend une combinaison de dispositifs optiques, de géométrie de canalisation de lumière, de commande intelligente, d'isolation par aérogel, de matériaux à changement de phase, de procédés de connexion et de mise à niveau, et de procédés de régulation d'un fluide caloporteur, pour produire un système de capture, de traitement et de distribution de l'énergie solaire qui peut être construit à partir de modules. L'invention est extrêmement flexible et offre de nombreuses possibilités d'application. Il peut s'agir, par exemple, d'un réseau PV/éclairage naturel, d'un réseau PV/T, d'un réseau PV/T/Hydrogène, d'un système de refroidissement, de chauffage et de production d'eau chaude à l'énergie solaire, d'un système de traitement chimique, etc. L'invention permet à une structure externe d'abriter plus d'une douzaine de configurations (espèces) différentes, à l'aide de diverses technologies, d'accessoires, d'unités de dépôt et d'unités enfichables qui peuvent rendre la collecte et le traitement de l'énergie solaire plus efficaces dans l'utilisation de l'espace limité des toits et de mieux répondre aux exigences d'un environnement de construction particulier.
PCT/US2023/034783 2022-10-12 2023-10-10 Système d'alimentation en énergie multiprocessus intégré dans un toit à concentration solaire WO2024081208A1 (fr)

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Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20150000726A1 (en) * 2013-06-26 2015-01-01 Hsuan-Yeh Huang Solar panel structure
US20220190773A1 (en) * 2019-04-15 2022-06-16 Solarge Holding B.V. Solar panel
US20220278644A1 (en) * 2020-06-16 2022-09-01 Stella Power Inc. Three-Dimensional Solar Electrical Generation Systems and Methods of Deployment
US20220345076A1 (en) * 2021-04-27 2022-10-27 Portable Solar Inc. Portable system for mounting a solar panel

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20150000726A1 (en) * 2013-06-26 2015-01-01 Hsuan-Yeh Huang Solar panel structure
US20220190773A1 (en) * 2019-04-15 2022-06-16 Solarge Holding B.V. Solar panel
US20220278644A1 (en) * 2020-06-16 2022-09-01 Stella Power Inc. Three-Dimensional Solar Electrical Generation Systems and Methods of Deployment
US20220345076A1 (en) * 2021-04-27 2022-10-27 Portable Solar Inc. Portable system for mounting a solar panel

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