Flat solar chimney for passive reduction of building cooling loads

Abstract

A flat solar chimney in accordance with the invention reduces a building's cooling load by dissipating the solar energy outside the building. What Applicants have done is construct an outer wall having an inner air space before the building structure. The solar light is absorbed by the outside layer which includes a porous metal layer. The heated high surface area foam metal creates a convective air flow in the channel that extends vertically with openings at the bottom and top. This flow dissipates the absorbed heat and is totally external to the building's interior. In a further embodiment of the invention, a plurality of rectangular slats either horizontally or vertically disposed act as venetian style blinds. The dynamic blinds allow visual function or the solar chimney as per need.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.