Building Integrated Power Generating System
AssigneeArchitectural Glass and Aluminum Corporation, Inc.
InventorsJoe Brescia, Mark Tofflemire
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A power generating system is integrated within an exterior shell or façade of a building structure. The energy generating devices (which can be photovoltaic), control units and associated power/signal wiring are incorporated and integrated within individual unitized curtain wall units making up the façade. Electrical power can be more advantageously generated from surface areas of building structures previously untapped for solar energy harvesting.
Claims30
A building integrated power generating system comprising:
- a plurality of unitized curtain wall units adapted as part of an exterior shell for at least a portion of a building structure;
- a plurality of energy conversion devices integrated within said plurality of unitized curtain wall units;
- wherein said plurality of energy conversion devices are adapted to transform a first type of energy form into an electrical energy form;
- said plurality of unitized curtain wall units further defining and forming a plurality of integrated electrical conduits adapted to carry electrical wiring for said plurality of unitized curtain wall units;
- wherein the power generating system is integrally incorporated within said plurality of unitized curtain wall units.
A building integrated photovoltaic power generating system comprising:
- a plurality of interconnected unitized curtain wall units defining an exterior shell for a building structure;
- a plurality of photovoltaic energy conversion devices integrated within said plurality of interconnected unitized curtain wall units;
- wherein at least some of said photovoltaic energy conversion devices can be oriented substantially vertically with respect to said building structure at least during certain periods;
- said plurality of interconnected unitized curtain wall units further defining and forming a plurality of integrated electrical conduits adapted to carry electrical wiring for said plurality of interconnected unitized curtain wall units;
- wherein the photovoltaic power generating system is integrally incorporated within said plurality of interconnected unitized curtain wall units.
A building integrated photovoltaic power generating system comprising:
- a plurality of interconnected unitized curtain wall units defining an exterior shell enclosing a majority of a surface area of a building structure exposed to solar radiation;
- wherein said unitized curtain wall units do not function as structural support elements for said building structure;
- a plurality of individually controlled single-crystalline based photovoltaic energy conversion devices integrated within said plurality of interconnected unitized curtain wall units;
- wherein said photovoltaic energy conversion devices are each controlled with individualized integrated control units optimizing a power output of such devices;
- further wherein said photovoltaic energy conversion devices are oriented substantially vertically with respect to said building structure;
- said plurality of interconnected unitized curtain wall units further defining and forming a plurality of integrated vertical electrical conduits adapted to carry electrical wiring for said plurality of interconnected unitized curtain wall units along a first axis having a first direction;
- a horizontal raceway coupled to said plurality of interconnected unitized curtain wall units and adapted to carry said electrical wiring for said plurality of interconnected unitized curtain wall units along a second axis in a second direction that is substantially perpendicular to said first direction;
- wherein substantially all elements of the photovoltaic power generating system are integrally incorporated within said exterior shell.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.