# US 2025/0084355 A1 · Sustainable curtain wall > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2025/0084355 A1 - Document ID: US20250084355A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 18/956,218 - Filed: 2024-11-22 - Published: 2025-03-13 - Earliest claimed: 2019-10-15 - Assignees: The University of North Carolina at Charlotte - Applicants: The University Of North Carolina At Charlotte - Inventors: Kyoung Hee Kim - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20250084355A1 ## CPC - C12M 21/02: {Photobioreactors (culturing algae A01G33/00, A01H4/001, C12N1/12)} - C12M 23/48: {Holding appliances; Racks; Supports (holding devices for laboratory apparatus B01L9/00)} - C12M 41/48: {Automatic or computerized control (automatic analysis G01N35/00)} - E04B 2/96: comprising panels attached to the structure through mullions or transoms {(E04B2/885 takes precedence)} - E06B 3/5427: {the panes mounted flush with the surrounding frame or with the surrounding panes (E06B3/5436 takes precedence; supporting structures for curtain walls E04B2/885)} - E06B 3/6612: {Evacuated glazing units} - E06B 7/02: for providing ventilation, e.g. through double windows; Arrangement of ventilation roses (airflow control members per se F24F13/08) - E06B 7/28: Other arrangements on doors or windows, e.g. door-plates, windows adapted to carry plants, hooks for window cleaners {(edge protecting devices for door leaves E06B3/88; special glazing; emergency glazing; double glazing E06B3/66)} - E06B 9/24: Screens or other constructions affording protection against light, especially against sunshine; Similar screens for privacy or appearance; {Slat blinds}(operating, guiding or securing devices or arrangements for roll-type closures E06B9/56; free-hanging flexible screens A47H23/00) - C12M: APPARATUS FOR ENZYMOLOGY OR MICROBIOLOGY; {APPARATUS FOR CULTURING MICROORGANISMS FOR PRODUCING BIOMASS, FOR GROWING CELLS OR FOR OBTAINING FERMENTATION OR METABOLIC PRODUCTS, i.e. BIOREACTORS OR FERMENTERS} - E04B: GENERAL BUILDING CONSTRUCTIONS; WALLS, e.g. PARTITIONS; ROOFS; FLOORS; CEILINGS; INSULATION OR OTHER PROTECTION OF BUILDINGS (border constructions of opening in walls, floors or ceilings E06B1/00; {electromagnetic shielding H05K9/0001}) - E06B: FIXED OR MOVABLE CLOSURES FOR OPENINGS IN BUILDINGS, VEHICLES, FENCES OR LIKE ENCLOSURES IN GENERAL, e.g. DOORS, WINDOWS, BLINDS, GATES (shades or blinds for greenhouses A01G9/22; curtains A47H; lids for car boots or bonnets B62D25/10; skylights E04B7/18; sunshades, awnings E04F10/00) ## Abstract A microalgae curtain wall includes photobioreactors, an interior glass panel, an exterior glass panel, and transoms. The photobioreactors are adapted to receive sunlight and carbon dioxide to grow microalgae received therein. The exterior glass panel is offset from the interior glass panel forming a gap therebetween. The transoms hold the interior glass panel and the exterior glass panel therebetween. The transoms suspend the photobioreactors in the gap and between the interior glass panel and the exterior glass panel. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A microalgae curtain wall segment, comprising: photobioreactors adapted to receive sunlight and carbon dioxide to grow microalgae received therein; an interior glass panel; an exterior glass panel offset from the interior glass panel forming a gap therebetween, and an upper transom and a lower transom holding the interior glass panel and the exterior glass panel therebetween, the upper transom and lower transom suspending the photobioreactors in the gap between the interior glass panel and the exterior glass panel, wherein the upper transom is adapted to connect to a second lower transom of a second curtain wall segment configured the same as the microalgae curtain wall segment to form a single upper transom assembly. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The microalgae curtain wall segment of claim 1, wherein the lower transom is adapted to connect to a second upper transom of a third curtain wall segment configured the same as the microalgae curtain wall segment to form a single lower transom assembly. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The microalgae curtain wall segment of claim 1, further comprising: a first mullion extending between the upper transom and the lower transom at a first side of the photobioreactors; and a second mullion extending between the upper transom and the lower transom at a second side of the photobioreactors, wherein the first mullion and the second mullion hold the interior glass panel and the exterior glass panel therebetween, and wherein the first mullion is adapted to connect to a second mullion of a third curtain wall segment configured the same as the microalgae curtain wall segment to form a single first side mullion assembly. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The microalgae curtain wall segment of claim 3, wherein the microalgae curtain wall segment, including the upper and lower transoms, the first and second mullions, the interior glass panel, the exterior glass panel, and the photobioreactors, forms a modular, prefabricated component. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The microalgae curtain wall segment of claim 3, wherein the second mullion is adapted to connect to a first mullion of a fourth curtain wall segment configured the same as the microalgae curtain wall segment to form a single second side mullion assembly. ### Claim 6 (depends on 3) The microalgae curtain wall segment of claim 3, wherein each of the upper and lower transoms and the first and second mullions include glass support brackets for the interior glass panel and the exterior glass panel, forming a seal therewith, and wherein the upper and lower transoms, the first and second mullions, the interior glass panel, and the exterior glass panel form an insulated glass structure. ### Claim 7 (depends on 3) The microalgae curtain wall segment of claim 3, further comprising: mounting bracket assemblies configured to secure the microalgae curtain wall to a building support structure, each mounting bracket assembly holding a portion of the associated first mullion or second mullion adjacent to the associated upper transom or lower transom, each mounting bracket assembly comprising an ‘L’ shaped bracket, a slider bracket, and a sliding bracket, wherein the ‘L’ shaped bracket of each mounting bracket assembly includes a vertical portion configured to be secured to the building support structure by one or more fasteners and a horizontal portion extending out from the vertical portion. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The microalgae curtain wall segment of claim 7, wherein the slider bracket includes a base and a slider portion, the base joined to the horizontal portion of the ‘L’ shaped bracket via one or more fasteners such that the slider portion of the first slider extends upward from the base to slidably couple with the sliding bracket. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The microalgae curtain wall segment of claim 8, wherein the sliding bracket includes bracket arms that are spaced apart and receive the associated first mullion or second mullion therebetween, and wherein each bracket arm defines a slot that receives the slider portion of the slider bracket. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The microalgae curtain wall segment of claim 9, wherein each bracket arm of the sliding bracket of each mounting bracket assembly is oriented transverse to both the base and the slider portion of the of the associated slider bracket and is oriented transverse to both the vertical portion and the horizontal portion of the associated ‘L’ shaped bracket. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The microalgae curtain wall segment of claim 9, wherein the sliding bracket is fastened to the associated first mullion or second mullion such that the associated first mullion or second mullion is slidably coupled with slider bracket. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The microalgae curtain wall segment of claim 9, further comprising: inflatable pillows, each inflatable pillow configured to support a photobioreactor relative to at least a portion of the first mullion and the second mullion. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The microalgae curtain wall segment of claim 1, wherein the upper transom and the lower transom include at least one upper photobioreactor support bracket and at least one lower photobioreactor support bracket with vertically slotted holes that hold and suspend the photobioreactors therebetween. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The microalgae curtain wall segment of claim 1, wherein the microalgae curtain wall is an integrated system configured as a window for a building, and the photobioreactors are arranged in an array forming open vision areas interspersed within the array that are adapted to allow a view out and daylight penetration into the building. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The microalgae curtain wall segment of claim 1, wherein the photobioreactors include multiple photobioreactor components joined together by one or more brackets with a gasket therebetween. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The microalgae curtain wall segment of claim 15, wherein each of the photobioreactor components includes a key on opposing sides with the one or more brackets received therein. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The microalgae curtain wall segment of claim 1, wherein the photobioreactors include an array of photobioreactors arranged with at least one of a partially overlapping or interlocking pattern. ### Claim 18 A microalgae system, comprising: a microalgae storage tank adapted to store microalgae cultures; and a microalgae curtain wall including at least one microalgae curtain wall segment, each microalgae curtain wall segment including: photobioreactors adapted to receive sunlight and carbon dioxide to grow microalgae received therein; an interior glass panel; an exterior glass panel offset from the interior glass panel forming a gap therebetween; and an upper transom and a lower transom holding the interior glass panel and the exterior glass panel therebetween, the upper transom and lower transom suspending the photobioreactors in the gap between the interior glass panel and the exterior glass panel, wherein the upper transom is adapted to connect to a second lower transom of a second curtain wall segment of the at least one curtain wall segment to form a single upper transom assembly, wherein each microalgae curtain wall segment is an integrated system configured as a window for a building, and the photobioreactors are arranged in an array forming open vision areas interspersed within the array that are adapted to allow a view out and daylight penetration into the building. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The microalgae system of claim 18, wherein the lower transom is adapted to connect to a second upper transom of a third curtain wall segment of the at least one curtain wall segment to form a single lower transom assembly. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The microalgae system of claim 18, wherein the slider bracket includes a base and a slider portion, the base joined to the horizontal portion of the ‘L’ shaped bracket via one or more fasteners such that the slider portion of the first slider extends upward from the base to slidably couple with the sliding bracket.