US 2013/0199515 A1 · SKYLIGHT ENERGY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

Abstract

Disclosed is a system and method for harvesting solar energy, and more particularly an energy-positive sky lighting system that may provide an integrated energy solution to a variety of commercial buildings. A plurality of skylight modules are provided, each having a plurality of louvers configured to reflect incoming sunlight onto a thermal receiver area on an adjacent louver to heat a working fluid in communication with the louvers (i.e., such that heat transfer is carried out between the thermal receiver and the working fluid), all while allowing control of the amount of daylight that passes through the module. The modules are constructed such that the balance of the solar energy not going into day lighting is captured in the form of thermal heat, which in turn may be applied to building system cooling and heating applications.

Claims34

Dependent claims

An energy management system comprising:

a first louver having a front side;
a second louver having a back side and positioned adjacent said first louver such that said back side of said second louver faces said front side of said first louver;
a receiver tube attached to said back side of said second louver, said receiver tube having an outer surface comprising a thermal collector, and an interior fluid channel;
and
a reflecting diffuser attached to said back side of said second louver;
wherein said front side of said first louver is configured to reflect sunlight impacting said front side of said first louver toward said back side of said second louver, said thermal collector is configured to convert at least a portion of said reflected sunlight into thermal heat and transfer said thermal heat to a working fluid within said interior fluid channel, and said reflecting diffuser is configured to reflect at least a portion of said reflected sunlight to a space below said first and second louvers.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Skylight energy management system

Life of this patent

Skylight energy management system

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims34