WO2019180470A1

WO2019180470A1 - Hot air facade mounted solar panel

Info

Publication number: WO2019180470A1
Application number: PCT/HR2019/000005
Authority: WO
Inventors: Mladen Stupnišek
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2018-03-19
Filing date: 2019-03-13
Publication date: 2019-09-26
Anticipated expiration: 2020-09-19
Also published as: HRPK20180464B3; HRP20180464A2

Abstract

The panel is intended for cladding the poorly insulated walls of residential and non-residential buildings to achieve a better energy performance status. Thin aluminum sheet metal, by folding and welding formed into a compact framework (1) of selected decorative facade color, provides high-quality facade and thick heat insulation (15) contributes to low energy construction. In addition to this basic function of the facade panel, this construction contains also the function of hot air solar collector for room heating in the winter period as well as room ventilation and facade ventilation in the summer period. Absorbed solar heat is transferred through thin facade absorptive aluminum sheet metal (1) to air in an air duct (18), which air is lifted upwards and passes through an upper intermediate tube (7) in a room. From the room, the colder air enters through a lower intermediate tube (26) into the air duct (18), achieving natural thermosyphonic air circulation in the function of the so-called passive hot air solar collector. Air circulation can be intensified by an integrated fan (28) driven by electricity of a photovoltaic solar module (17), which is at the same time sun-exposed, or is connected to the electrical network of the building via a thermostat (21) and a panel temperature sensor (19), whereby the function of the so-called active hot air solar collector is accomplished.

Description

HOT AIR FACADE MOUNTED SOLAR PANEL

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Field of the invention

The present invention relates to a new design of solar facade mounted panel for residential and non- residential buildings comprising decorative facade made of sheet metal, heat insulation appropriate for low energy construction and a system for direct hot air solar heating as well as building ventilation and facade ventilation. According to the international patent classification, the invention falls within field F24J2/04: Use of solar heat, collectors having working fluid conveyed through collector.

Technical problem

Owing to insufficient heat insulation, residential and non-residential buildings consume too much energy for their heating in the winter period and in the summer period for the cooling thereof. The costs are thereby too high for households and for the society since energy becomes more expensive and restricted. For this reason, apart from the application of enhanced heat insulation, solar collectors, both photovoltaic and thermal, mounted on a roof, are being developed and applied, and recently also the so-called solar facades. However, due to high costs and long period of amortization, such application of solar energy is not being developed quickly enough.

State of the art

In addition to the development of separate solar collectors, solar collectors (converters) integrated into facades (Building Integrated Solar Collectors, Solar Facades) are being developed, which facades also include efficient heat insulation of a wall, decorative facade and facade ventilation during summer. These are in essence, the so-called ventilated facades with mounted solar collectors for solar heating during sunny weather. Separate panels of solar facades are affixed to the existing building wall as an additional element of a building, unlike the so-called solar walls which include also exterior building wall and fall within the group of the so-called Trombe walls. They were developed decades ago and applied in the construction of smaller detached buildings, in which the exterior building wall was at the same time also heat insulation. Solar facades are mounted to the exterior building wall, whereby they insulate it thermally and absorb solar radiation during sunny weather. There are 3 types of solar facades according to the type of integrated solar collectors: photovoltaic, thermal and hot air. Photovoltaic and thermal solar collectors require also additional infrastructure within the building, which additionally increases costs of application. They enable facade ventilation rather than room ventilation. In hot air solar facades, heat is transferred directly in the building, without the need for interior infrastructure, therefore, the total costs are lower than those in the application of photovoltaic and thermal solar facades. The main characteristic of the existing constructions of facade hot air solar panels is that they have a rectangle frame made of designated aluminum profiles, whereby on sun- exposed exterior side of the panel, a transparent glass plate is affixed and thereunder an air duct and an absorptive plate. Air from a room flows through the air duct and is heated by heat from the absorptive plate, which heat is obtained by the passing of solar radiation through the transparent glass plate. The transparent plate serves to prevent the loss of heat by wind, but this also reduces the passing of solar radiation to the absorptive plate. The absorbed heat heats the air in the air duct and such air is lifted upwards by natural heat buoyance and enters the building room through an upper intermediate tube whereas the colder air at the bottom of the room spontaneously moves through a lower intermediate tube into the air duct. By doing so, natural air circulation and heat transfer in the function of the so- called passive hot air solar collector is accomplished, without forced circulation. Hot air facade mounted solar panel (EP2520870) comprises two parts for adjusting two connective air tubes at the total height of story with floors for the purposes of complete facade cladding. The particularity of this panel is that under the absorptive plate there is a thermal accumulation layer for retaining the accumulated heat to prolong the heating. It is representative that this panel construction provides for only minimum thickness of heat insulation, for retention of accumulated heat in the panel, but not for heat insulation of the building wall. The air duct system with two three-way valves enables, apart from heating of internal air, both room ventilation and facade ventilation. The mentioned panels are affixed to the building wall by exterior supporting substructure, which also increases the total price of facades.

Disclosure of the invention

In comparison with the existing constructions of hot air facade mounted solar panels, the devised panel has no transparent glass plate on the sun-exposed side, no profile aluminum frame and does not require the exterior supporting structure. The main characteristic is that an absorptive plate (thin decorative facade aluminum sheet metal) is on the exterior sun-exposed side, but is folded vertically two times on all rectangle edge sides and is assembled into a compact facade framework (1) by welding. The framework (1) is connected dilationally with a lower and upper supporting profile tape (20 and 13), through which welded aluminum intermediate air tubes (26 and 7) pass, which are embedded through two bores in a building wall (6) and fix the panel from the interior side of the building wall by screw clamps (25 and 9). Tubular dampers (24 and 10) are embedded on the interior sides of the intermediate air tubes and a one-way damper (11) is embedded in the upper intermediate air tube, which prevents the flow of air in the opposite direction, when the outside temperature is lower than the room temperature. In the lower intermediate air tube (26), there are damper partitions (27) and a fan (28) for increasing the air circulation and the intennediate air tube ends with an air distributor (29), whereas the upper intermediate air tube (7) ends with an air collector (14). By doing so, uniform air flow across the whole width of an air duct (18) is achieved. Within the compact panel framework (1), there is non-combustible heat insulation (15) of the required thickness, appropriate for low-energy construction, in a vapor-permeable protective foil (16) and the air duct (18), which passes from a lower holed panel opening (31) with a lower leverage damper (30) and ends at an upper holed panel opening (3) with an upper leverage damper (4). The leverage dampers (4 and 30) are driven by linear actuators (12 and 23) from the interior side of the wall by means of connective rods. Two tubular air dampers (10 and 24) and two leverage dampers in the panel (4 and 30) enable the following panel functions, shown in drawing 2: a. Solar room heating by circulation of internal air, b. Room ventilation by circulation of solar heated external air, c. Room ventilation by circulation of external air, d. Facade ventilation by circulation of external air. Combinations are also possible by simultaneous opening of two air inlet openings. The devised panel, therefore, has a multiple function, which is: high-quality decorative facade with adequate properties of absorbing solar radiation and transferring heat to circulating air, non-combustible heat insulation adequate to low-energy construction, hot air solar room heating, room ventilation and facade ventilation adjusted to weather conditions and needs. Thereby, high energy performance status of a building is achieved. Unlike the mentioned hot air facade mounted solar panel (EP2520870), this panel has an integrated fan (28) in the lower intermediate tube (26) to intensify the air circulation and heat transfer in order to be able to apply also the so-called active solar heating in addition to natural, so-called passive, solar heating. Fan actuation can be achieved in two ways, by direct connection to a photovoltaic solar module (17), which is sun-exposed simultaneously with the panel, or by connection to the internal electrical installation, together with temperature measuring by a sensor (19) on the panel and application of a thermostat (21). The photovoltaic solar module can be mounted directly to the front side of the facade panel or separately on some other sun-exposed place for individual panels or jointly for more facade panels. The leverage dampers (4 and 30) and tubular dampers (10 and 24) can be operated mechanically or electromechanically, depending on the number of panels and the manner of operating thereof, whereby flexible adjustment to every residential facility and need is achieved. Panel affixing by means of aluminum air tubes (7 and 26) and screw clamps (9 and 25) with ring plates (8 and 22) is carried out from the interior side of the building wall so that on the exterior side of the wall, no supporting substructure is required and the panel cannot be demounted from the exterior side of the building wall. Panel height can be adjusted to any height of residential story, including ceiling thickness, and panel width can be adjusted to any wall width and openings (windows) in it. Apart from facades, the panel can be applied also on steep building roofs.

Table 1 : Comparison of basic characteristics of the mentioned hot air panels

Brief description of the drawings

Drawing 1 presents a cross-section of a building wall which has a hot air facade mounted solar panel with integral parts thereof and pertaining reference signs. The devised panel, affixed to the building wall (6) comprises a thin decorative absorptive sheet metal, folded vertically two times on all four rectangle sides, forming a compact panel framework (1), In the panel framework, there is non combustible heat insulation (15) in a vapor-permeable protective foil (16) and an air duct (18) and a temperature sensor (19). On the lower side of the framework, there is a lower holed panel opening (31) with a lower leverage damper (30), which is connected via a connective rod with a lower linear actuator (23) for opening and closing the lower panel opening. On the upper side of the panel framework, there is an upper holed panel opening (3) with an upper leverage damper (4), which is connected via a connective rod with an upper linear actuator (12) for opening and closing the upper panel opening. The lower part of the panel is dilationally connected with a lower panel supporting profile tape (20), through which a lower intermediate air tube (26) is affixed, which passes through a lower hole in the building wall (6). On the interior side of the wall, the lower intermediate air tube has a lower panel screw clamp (25) with a lower ring plate (22) and a lower tubular damper (24). The upper part of the panel is dilationaliy connected with an upper panel supporting profile tape (13), through which an upper intermediate air tube (7) is affixed, which passes through a hole in the building wall (6), on the interior side of the wall has an upper panel screw clamp (9) with an upper ring plate (8). In the upper intermediate air tube (7), there is an upper tubular damper (10) and a oneway damper (11). The lower intermediate air tube (26) has an integrated damper partitions (27) and a fan (28) and is continued by an air distributor (29), which distributes the air from tubes over the whole width of an air duct (18) and is directed through an air collector (14) into the upper intermediate air tube (7). On the upper part of the panel, a photovoltaic solar module (17) is affixed as well as a distance gasket (2) towards the second panel above the first panel. A seal (5) is mounted to the entire interior part of the panel framework (1) and leans against the building wall (6).

Drawing 2 presents 4 basic examples of the positions of panel tubular dampers and leverage dampers for the following panel functions:

2a: Solar room heating by circulation of internal air: open lower tubular damper (24) and upper tubular damper (10).

2b: Room ventilation by circulation of solar heated external air: open lower leverage damper (30) and upper tubular damper (10), 2c: Room ventilation by circulation of external air: open lower leverage damper (30) and lower tubular damper (24)

2d: Facade ventilation by circulation of external air: open lower leverage damper (30) and upper leverage damper (4).

Detailed description of at least one embodiment of the invention

Hot air facade mounted solar panel has basic functions; high-quality aluminum facade of selected decorative color and good heat insulation of a wall appropriate for low energy performance buildings. Apart from the basic function, hot air facade mounted solar panel also serves for hot air solar heating of a building as well as building ventilation and facade ventilation in the following ways:

1. Solar room heating by circulation of internal air, drawing 2a.:

An upper tubular damper (10) and a lower tubular damper (24) are opened and other dampers (4 and 30) are closed. Air in an air duct (18) is heated through a sun-exposed absorptive sheet metal of a panel (1), it is lifted upwards by natural thermosyphonic buoyance and passes through an air collector (14) and an upper intermediate air tube (7), an upper tubular damper

(10) and a one-way damper (11) into a heated room. Cold air from the room passes through a lower tubular damper (24), a lower intermediate air tube (26) and an air distributor (29) into an air duct (18) and is included in the spontaneous circular air circulation. The one-way damper

(11) prevents the air circulation in the opposite direction, when the air in the panel is colder than the air in the room. Air circulation can be intensified by a fan (28) directly connected with a photovoltaic solar module (17) or by connection to the electrical network of the building via a thermostat (21), which is connected with a panel temperature sensor (19).

2. Room ventilation by circulation of solar heated external air, drawing 2b.:

A lower leverage damper (30) and the upper tubular damper (10) are opened and other dampers (4 and 24) are closed. External air enters through a lower holed panel opening (31), passes through the air duct (18), where it is heated through the sun-exposed absorptive facade sheet metal and passes through the air collector ( 14), the upper intermediate air tube (7), the open upper tubular damper (10) and the one-way damper (11) and heated in such way enters the room.

3. Room ventilation by circulation of external air, drawing 2c. :

The lower leverage damper (30) and the lower tubular damper (24) are opened and other dampers (4 and 10) are closed. External air enters through the lower holed panel opening (31 ), passes through the air distributor (29), the lower intermediate air tube (26) and the open lower tubular damper (24) and enters the room without being heated.

4. Facade ventilation by circulation of external air, drawing 2d.:

The lower leverage damper (30) and an upper leverage damper (4) are opened and other dampers (10 and 24) are closed. External air enters through the lower holed panel opening (31), passes through the air duct (18) and an upper holed panel opening (3) outside the panel, cooling the sun-exposed facade.

Manner of the invention applicability

Hot air facade mounted solar panel can be mounted on a sun-exposed wall of a poorly heat insulated residential or non-residential building for accomplishing high-quality facade and heat insulation, but also for utilizing solar energy for direct solar room heating, room ventilation as well as for facade ventilation during summer. It is necessary to make two bores on a building wall, one at the bottom of a room and one at the top of a room. A lower intermediate air tube (26) is embedded through the lower bore of the wall (6) and from the interior side of the wall a lower screw clamp (25), a lower linear actuator (23) and a lower tubular damper (24) are mounted. At the same time, an upper intermediate air tube (7) is installed through the upper bore of the wall and an upper screw clamp (9), an upper tubular damper (10) and a one-way damper (11) are mounted from the interior side of the wall. The panel is affixed by means of screw clamps (9 and 25) on intermediate air tubes (7 and 26) by clamping to ring plates (8 and 22) from the interior side of the building wall. The panel can be used as a “passive” one, without additional intensifying of air circulation or as an“active” one by intensified air circulation by means of a fan. The fan (28) for intensifying of air circulation through the panel can be operated by a direct connection to a photovoltaic solar module (17) or connected to die electrical installation of the building via a thermostat (21), connected with a panel temperature sensor (19). This panel can be used throughout the whole calendar year in four described ways by opening the adequate dampers mechanically or electromechanically. In the winter period, hot air solar room heating is applied by circulation of internal air, description in drawing 2a, and room ventilation by circulation of solar heated external air can also be applied, description in drawing 2b. In the winter period, apart from heating of internal air, external air can be introduced simultaneously through a lower holed panel opening (31) for required room ventilation, by combining two panel functions (2a + 2b). In the summer period, it is necessary to apply facade ventilation by circulation of external air, description in drawing 2d, and, when necessary, room ventilation by circulation of external air can be also applied, description in drawing 2c. In the summer period, apart from facade ventilation, external air can be introduced also for room ventilation simultaneously through the open lower tubular damper (24), by combining two panel functions (2c + 2d). Apart from facades, the panel can be applied also on steep building roofs.

List of used reference signs

1. Facade panel framework

2. Distance gasket of the panel

3. Upper holed panel opening

4. Upper leverage damper

5. Panel seal on the wall

6. Building wall

7. Upper intermediate air tube

8. Upper ring plate

9. Upper panel screw clamp

10. Upper tubular damper

11. One-way damper

12. Linear actuator of the upper leverage damper

13. Upper panel supporting tape

14. Air collector

15. Heat insulation

16. Protective foil of heat insulation

17. Photovoltaic solar module

18. Air duct of the panel

19. Panel temperature sensor

20. Lower panel supporting tape

21. Thermostat

22. Lower ring plate

23. Linear actuator of the lower leverage damper

24. Lower tubular damper

25. Lower panel screw clamp

26. Lower intermediate air tube

27. Damper partitions

28. Fan

29. Air distributor

30. Lower leverage damper

31. Lower holed panel opening

2a. Solar room heating by circulation of internal air

2b. Room ventilation by circulation of solar heated external air 2c. Room ventilation by circulation of external air

2d. Facade ventilation by circulation of external air

Claims

1. Hot air facade mounted solar panel comprising a framework, connected with a facade plate, affixed to a building wall (6 ), in which there is an air duct (18 ), connected with two intermediate air tubes (7 and 26) with damper devices, which enter a room through the building wall, characterized in that the facade plate is folded vertically two times on all four sides and assembled into a compact facade framework (1), which has a lower air opening (31) and an upper air opening (3) and is connected with embedded intermediate air tubes (7 and 26) by supporting profile tapes (13 and 20) and within the panel framework there is thick heat insulation (15),

2. Panel according to claim 1, characterized in that the facade framework (1) is made of thin aluminum sheet metal painted with selected decorative paint obtained by painting, plastifying or eloxing,

3. Panel according to claim 2, characterized in that the folded sides of the facade framework (1) can be connected by welding, by means of rivets or screws,

4. Panel according to claim 1 , characterized in that intermediate air tubes (7 and 26), connected with panel supporting tapes (13 and 20), carry the panel by screw clamps (9 and 25), and by ring plates (8 and 22) affix the panel with a seal (5) to the building wall (6),

5. Panel according to claim 4, characterized in that a fan (28), damper partitions (27) and a lower tubular damper (24) are embedded in a lower intermediate air tube (26) and in the panel, the intermediate air tube ends with an ah distributor (29),

6. Panel according to claim 4, characterized in that an upper tubular damper (10) and a one way damper (11) are embedded in an upper intermediate air tube (7) and in the panel, the intermediate air tube ends with an air collector (14),

7. Panel according to claim 4, characterized in that tubular dampers (10 and 24) are opened mechanically or electromechanically,

8. Panel according to claim 1, characterized in that air openings (3 and 31) are opened by leverage dampers (4 and 30), via connective rods by means of linear actuators (12 and 23), mechanically or electromechanically,

9. Panel according to claim 1, characterized in that for heat insulation (15), non-combustible mineral wool protected against erosion by a vapor-permeable waterproof foil (16) is applied,

10. Panel according to claim 5, characterized in that a fan (28) can be actuated directly by a connector to a photovoltaic solar module (17) or by a connector to the electrical network of the building via a thermostat (21), connected with a panel temperature sensor (19),

11. Panel according to claim 1 , characterized in that the panel can be applied for covering of exterior building walls by high-quality decorative facade with non-combustible heat insulation, adequate to low energy construction, for solar room heating by circulation of internal air (2a), room ventilation by circulation of solar heated external air (2b), room ventilation by circulation of external air (2c) and facade ventilation by circulation of external air (2d), by opening the referenced dampers.