Compound solar collector building construction

Abstract

A compound construction matrix harvests energy incident on all peripheries of a building by providing compound components having anterior and posterior portions with respect to radiation, the anterior portions being generally transparent and the posterior portions being selectively translucent, transparent or opaque, the compound components being arranged in communicating relation to form walls and roofs having multiple internal cavities and passages between cavities which permit light and air to flow freely within the matrix, allowing light incident form any angle to be reflected from cavity sidewalls toward posterior portions to form overlapping incidence on translucent conversion surfaces and to pass through tinted conversion means for direct gain, and allowing air in each cavity to expand freely in any direction from sunlit to shaded portions and through apertures toward shaded portions of adjacent cavities, to thereby form a dynamic airstream passing over translucent conversion surfaces and non-transparent conversion surfaces, seeking equilibrium surface temperatures throughout the matrix and removing energy developed in each cavity, the temperature of the air stream being modified by the thermal properties of the material of fabrication of the matrix and coatings and devices placed in matrix cavities, all cavities forming a single vessel, chambered manifold extending about the periphery of a building and performing all functions of a solar collector e.g. retention, conversion and distribution of incident energy while also providing the structural walls and light transmissive skin of the building.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.