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US 7,847,181 B2Granted
Building integrated photovoltaic conversion system implemented with integrated control management units
AssigneeArchitectural Glass and Aluminum Corporation, Inc.
InventorJoe Brescia
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 system components—energy generating devices (which can be photovoltaic), control units and associated power/signal wiring are incorporated and operated within individual unitized curtain wall units making up the façade.
Claims19
A building integrated power generating system comprising:
- a plurality of unitized curtain wall elements defining at least a portion of an exterior shell for a building structure;
- wherein said unitized curtain wall elements are adapted to be hung from and situated in front of the building structure
- a plurality of energy conversion devices integrated and contained within said plurality of unitized curtain wall elements;
- each of said plurality of energy conversion devices being coupled to an associated power control module that is adapted to optimize a power output of at least one of such plurality of energy conversion devices;
- wherein a plurality of associated power control modules for said plurality of energy conversion devices are also integrated and contained within said unitized curtain wall elements;
- wherein the power generating system is integrally incorporated and contained within said plurality of unitized curtain wall elements.
3 more elements
A building integrated photovoltaic power generating system comprising:
- a plurality of interconnected unitized curtain wall units defining at least a portion of an exterior shell for a building structure;
- wherein said unitized curtain wall units are adapted to be hung from and situated in front of the building structure;
- each of said plurality of interconnected unitized curtain wall units having an integrated photovoltaic energy conversion device contained therein;
- a control module associated with and coupled to each integrated photovoltaic energy conversion device, which control module is adapted to optimize a power output of such photovoltaic energy conversion device within a solar power generating array;
- said control module also being integrated and contained within said interconnected unitized curtain wall units and including electrical wiring for transmitting a power output from an associated integrated photovoltaic energy conversion device to a separate control unit within said solar power generating array.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.