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This invention relates to hybrid cool roof systems, specifically Cool Roof systems and Solar Roof systems. The invention will be more than just a hybrid cool roof, the Advanced Cool Roof system occupies the space of a typical roofing system while providing cool natural light, a night-skylight, a fire suppression apparatus, hot water and improved building energy efficiency.
A Cool Roof reduces the amount of solar heat that a roof absorbs and helps maintain the temperature inside the structure that resides below the roof. This is typically achieved by reflecting ambient and radiant heat. Attics under a typical roof get hot and this energy is exhausted via roof vents. The heat and visible light that is reflected or rejected, could instead be utilized and reduce a buildings energy cost.
A Solar Roof absorbs solar heat that the roof receives, of which typically has a roof pitch or tilt towards the equator, by attaching a heat exchanger assembly or panels onto the exterior upper covering of a roof or as cladding on a roof. This type of system typically adds stresses to the roof structure and may not be esthetically pleasing. The heat exchanger's efficiency varies with surface area, heat absorbing medium, and the length of time allowed for heat transfer. Wind can cool or remove heat away from exterior type heat exchangers and reduce its potential effectiveness. The said absorbed heat is typically utilized for water heating or interior temperature conditioning.
Energy prices and greenhouse gas emissions are of concern to large populations and countries. Green energy design and standards are becoming more desired by consumers, giving rise to a large economic market. This invention greatly improves the way in which water is stored and heated in small and mobile homes. The additional features of natural light, fire suppression, and vaulted ceilings are desirable to owners and occupants.
The Advanced Cool Roof system has a preferred embodiment utilizing copper piping containing water as the heat exchanger, and a specially designed water tank or plurality of tanks for heat storage. Additionally, insulation and glazing are assembled to create skylights that allow cool natural light to enter the interior space. Said heat exchanger and skylights may be contained between the rafters or trusses, and thereby embody the roof of which is desired to be pitched or tilted towards the equator. Furthermore, the heat exchange system takes advantage of thermal syphoning to transfer energy to the storage tank or plurality of tanks, and may include fire sprinkler heads directed toward the interior space as to release the system water to suppress a fire. This system functions without the need of electricity, using solar energy to heat water and illuminate the skylights, using the natural phenomena of thermal syphoning to transfer heat into a storage tank, and using gravity to discharge a tanks' volume of water from said fire sprinkler heads.
The Advanced Cool Roof can make up the entire roof of a building or vehicle, or be integrated into a portion of said roofs. This system reduces the amount of solar radiation that enters a building or vehicle via the roof and utilizes this energy.
Thermal energy is stored in a water tank or a plurality of tanks which are located under the roof's upper covering and at the roof peak, as to take advantage of thermal syphoning and to be more aesthetically pleasing than exterior mounted systems. The base of the water tank or plurality of tanks, acts as a collar beam and purlin, therefore putting little or no additional stress on the structure, and injunction with the skylight and heat exchanger assembly, improves the roof's load-bearing capacity. Additionally, the base of the tank can be defined as the interior surface of the roof or the ceiling.
The water tank or plurality of tanks, have upper and lower connections for the heat exchanger. The upper connections are angled parallel to the roof pitch as to allow easy construction and maintenance of the heat exchanger, while maximizing thermal syphoning. Below the heat exchanger are insulation foam boards that create an air gap. Said foam boards and air gap greatly reduce the amount of heat that radiates through the roof and increases the amount of time for the heat exchanger to absorb and transfer the heat to the water tank or plurality of tanks. Alternatively, denim insulation padding or any insulation available on the market can be used while taking into consideration its proximity or contact with to the heat exchanger.
Additionally, openings in said foam board insulation allows for skylight glazing options. Use of Pittsburg Corning™ Glass Blocks can make for faster assembly and maintenance. The said blocks can slide in and out of place, provide safety concerning over head glazing, and include published specification ratings to inform about the transfer rate of radiant heat. An alternative option for said glazing is to use sheets of glass at ⅜-¾ inch thickness, securely seated in the upper and lower insulation foam boards, creating an insulating air gap that spans between rafters.
Furthermore, LED lighting can be integrated into said skylight to illuminate said skylight glazing and the interior space below said roof. Heat inherently radiates upward from the interior space, and can be absorbed by the heat exchanger and transferred to the water tank or plurality of tanks. The heat exchange system is made up of piping and fittings that may accommodate fire sprinkler heads. Fire sprinkler heads connected to these fittings, protrude from the ceiling and are spaced adequately to provide fire suppression for the interior space of said roof system.
The heat exchanger, fire sprinkler head attachments and various skylight glazing options, together fit between roof rafters or trusses. Therefore the system occupies the space of a typical roofing system while providing cool natural light, a fire suppression apparatus, and improved building energy efficiency. This system assembly embodies a vaulted roof or ceiling, creating a desirable open interior space. The exterior upper covering consists of a glazing material such as tempered glass, polycarbonate, or other transparent waterproofing material, in junction with additional roofing elements like flashing and composite shingles applied to the roofing deck, to create a waterproof covering.
The Advanced Cool Roof can be varied as a fire extinguishing advanced cool roof or a skylight advanced cool roof, and works for new and existing buildings. The water tank or plurality of tanks generate hot water for use in showers, sinks, interior heat radiators and the like. By expanding the system into the exterior walls (i.e. South wall) below the roof, additional energy can be captured in winter months or excess heat can be released via the north roof and walls.
The heat exchanger pipes can be an ‘open system’ that contains the potable water, or be a ‘closed system’ that never mixes with the potable water. The closed system piping passes through the tank and radiates heat into the water, allowing for the use of propylene glycol, yet creating the need for a dedicated fire suppression line connected to the tank.
Due to the potential for the system to produce steam and increase system pressure, a pressure relief valve or output line is included. Said output can allow steam to be used to heat a sauna area, heat a bench seat in a sauna or bathroom, or utilized by a small turbine to produce electricity. Additional components for the system can be implemented for various applications, like during winter months there is a potential for water in pipes to freeze and burst. Therefore, valves are implemented to allow the system to be drained for maintenance or extreme cold temperatures. The invention can be integrated with a wood or gas stove to alternatively heat water as a boiler. This application can produce steam to generate electricity in said small turbine, heat interior radiators and also keeping pipes from freezing.
The roof area directly above the tank or plurality of tanks, is typically used as work space for maintaining the system, which can also be performed from the eave and rake edges of the roof as well. This roof area can also accommodate electrical solar panels and create a fully sustainable dwelling.
Tank 4 is mounted between the rafters 21 by attaching the tanks base beam 10 to the rafters 21, structurally creating collar beams 10 between the rafters 21. When attaching sister rafters 22 to the rafters 21, they may be recessed from the rafters 21 interior surface so that the skylight platform 23 can be fitted and attached. The skylight platform 23 is attached to the sister rafters 22 and carries the skylight glazing blocks 26. The sister rafters 22 meet with the tanks' base collar beams 10 as to distribute the tanks' 4 load downward to the supporting wall or walls.
The skylight glazing blocks 26 can be wrapped with a LED light strip 33. The LED strip 33 can be fitted in any pattern that allows any number of desired glazing blocks 26 to be illuminated.
The roof framing consists of the rafters 21, a ridge beam 40, sister rafters 22 and collar tie beams 10. The roof forms an angle or roof pitch that is desired to be between ten degrees and seventy degrees tilt, with the heat exchanger 17 facing toward the equator and having a tilt or pitch similar to the roof framing. If the advanced cool roof 3 is installed at a tilt of zero to ten degrees, then a ridge beam 40 would probably not be used and the tank collar beam 10 may extend to the supporting walls 38 as rafters or trusses.
The heat exchanger 17 may consist of copper piping that is filled with water supplied from the tanks 4 lower connection 6 and supply line 18. This supply line 18 delivers water to the heat exchangers' 17 multiple pipes via a single large pipe or manifold. The supply line 18 can include tee fittings 19 that allow the attachment of fire sprinkler heads 20, and said fitting 19 can be incorporated it the heat exchanger pipes, as to accommodate for fire sprinkler head 20 coverage area or esthetics.
The exterior upper covering of the advanced cool roof 3 consists of a roofing deck 29 and may be coupled with glazing 28. The roof deck 29 can be any desired plywood that is ideal for roofing or even sheet metal type roofing. The upper glazing 28 is desired to be tempered glass at any desired thickness, yet can be any type of transparent and waterproof glazing such as polycarbonate.
The upper and lower edges, or peak and eave edges, of the upper glazing 28 should be attached using roofing elements such as a waterproof sealant 31 like silicone 31, fasteners 34 and metal flashing 32. The roof deck 29 is coupled with additional roof elements like tar paper and shingles, of which overlaps the peak edge of the upper glazing 28 and underlaps the eave edge of the upper glazing 28.
The interior paneling 24 is for esthetic purposes and is not required, yet can be any type of desired finish which is typically plywood or sheet rock, and is attached to the rafters 21.
A buildings 1 water supply, like municipal water, is connected to the tank 4 at the supply connection 8 and fills the storage area 14. Water flows freely out of the tanks' 4 lower connection 6 and to the sprinkler heads 20, as well as to the heat exchanger 17 and back into the tank 4 through its upper connections 5.
Solar radiation 42 passes through the upper glazing 28 and reaches the heat exchanger 17 and skylight glazing blocks 26. Said solar radiation 42 heats up the heat exchanger 17 pipes, as well as illuminate the glazing blocks 26 and the buildings' 1 interior space. The heat exchanger 17 delivers the heated water into the tank 4 through the tanks' upper connections 5. Throughout the day the tank water 14 is heated and flows via thermal syphoning. A pump may be fitted to circulate heat exchanger 17 water and potentially improve its efficiency. Said tank water 14 exits the tank 4 through its output connection 7 and is delivered to the source of demand, like a shower or sink.
If the tank water 14 heats up enough to create steam and pressure, then this steam and pressure is allowed to exit through the pressure relief connection 12. This connection 12 can exhaust to the buildings exterior, or plumbed to be utilized for heating a bathroom fixture, a steam room, or used for any such steam or pressure function.
Additionally, a water catchment system 39 can be installed to capture water for use by the advance cool roof 3. The interior ceiling 43 can be created using plywood or sheetrock. Similar to the interior paneling 24, the water catchment system 39 and the interior ceiling 43 is not required for the advance cool roof 3 to function.
The interior ceiling 43 height, or distance below the ridge beam 40, is controlled by the tank 4 dimensions. The tank 4 height can be decreased and allow for the ceiling height to be closer to the ridge beam 40. The shape of the interior ceiling 43 improves how natural light is spread throughout the interior space.
The amount of natural light that enters the skylight glazing blocks 26 or skylight glazing sheets 27 can be controlled by using a sliding cover. If so desired, the quantity of skylights that are installed can be reduced, thereby decreasing the amount of natural light, as well as allow for additional heat exchanger 17 pipes that would otherwise pass directly over the skylight. This reduction in skylights affects the interior esthetics by reducing the quantity of openings in the skylight interior covering 24, as well as allow additional locations to position fire sprinkler heads 20.
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Near the upper connections 5 of the tank 4, two fire sprinkler heads 20 are shown in two of many possible locations and options. Fittings 19 can be incorporated into a heat exchanger 17 pipe, or into the supply line 18, allowing the connection of fire sprinkler heads 20 that have sufficient coverage.
The pressure relief connection 12 can be positioned left or right of the ridge beam 40 to allow for direct exhaust of steam through a pipe exiting near the roof peak. It is preferable to plumb this connection to be distributed and allow utilization of steam else where, and further reduce a buildings 1 energy cost.
The upper and lower edges of the upper glazing 28, also known as the peak and eave edges, are indicated to be fastened with lag bolts 34 and to be flashed using a roof sealant like silicone 31 and metal flashing 32.
The end walls 38 on the roofs rake edge, continues up to the ridge beam 40 and is shown with the addition of supports that accept the tank purlin beams 11. The interior ceiling 43 is mounted to said purlin beams 11 of which the heat exchanger supply line 18 may passthrough.
The lower skylight insulation board 25 can be mounted directly on the skylight platform 23, and the skylight glazing blocks 26 can slide done the opening in the foam board 25. The upper skylight insulation board 25 is mounted on top of the skylight platform mounts 22, or sister rafters 22. The LED lighting 33 is installed between the two skylight insulation boards 25 and illuminate said glazing blocks 26.
The tank 4 is shown with the tank base collar beam 10, for attachment to the rafters 21 of the roof framing. The shell of said wooden tank 4 is made with half an inch plywood that is reinforced and assembled with two-by-four wood segments, such as the base collar beam 10. The tank base 9 is constructed firm using two-by-four's to distribute weight. Said tank base 9 may be molded as part of a plastic tank shell 4, or separate as a tank platform 9 with base collar beams 10 with said tank 4 on top. The face of the tank that includes the upper connections 5, is reinforced using three blocks to resist movement or stress during maintenance of the heat exchanger pipes 17.
The heat exchanger 17 is shown with four pipes that connect to the tank 4 at the upper connections 5. Said heat exchanger 17 is supplied with water from the supply pipe line 18 which originates from the tank 4 lower connection 6. Included in the heat exchanger 17 supply line 18, is a fitting 19 that allows for the connection of a fire sprinkler head 20.
A vehicle 2 may be self propelled like a motorhome or towed like a recreational vehicle, or by any other means that would make it mobile. The advanced cool roof 3 is shown in a shed style roof which consists of a ridge beam 40 with rafters 21 connected to only one side of said ridge beam 40.
The preferred side of the vehicle 2 of which the ridge beam 40 is installed, would be the side closest to the center of the street when traveling forward, yet either side is viable. The vehicle size may vary in length and so is shown using dashed lines. The advanced cool roof 3 is supported on the vehicle 2 walls 38. The front and back walls are not shown for clarity and would include framing to allow the attachment of tank purlin beams 11.
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The advanced cool roof 3 upper glazing 28 is fastened using lag bolts 34. Said glazing 28 allows solar radiation to pass through and be utilized for heating water inside the heat exchanger 17, and to illuminate the skylight glazing blocks 26 and the vehicle 2 interior space. The upper roof deck 29, not shown for clarity, continues from the top edge of the upper glazing 28 to the ridge beam 40. The mating edges of the upper glazing 28 and the roof upper deck 29, as well as the outside edges of said glazing 28 and deck 29, are flashed with a waterproof sealant 31 and metal flashing 34.
The drawing shows tank 4 with inlet and outlet connections that allow it to function. This includes a tank water supply inlet 8, a hot water outlet 7, a tank pressure relief outlet 12, a water level switch inlet 13, lower outlet connections 6 and upper inlet connections 5. The heat exchanger 17 heats water that is supplied from the tank 4 via the supply line 18 connected to the tanks' 4 lower connection 6, and transfers the heated water back into the tank 4 via the upper connections 5.
The drawing also shows two fire sprinkler heads 20 attached in two of many possible locations. The fire sprinkler heads are attached to the heat exchanger 17 pipe and the heat exchanger supply 18 pipe with a tee fitting 19. Two fire sprinkler heads 20 would not normally be installed so close together because the sprinkler coverage would overlap more than necessary.
The skylight platform 23 is installed from the interior side of the vehicle, or the underside of the roof 3, and is mounted to the skylight mounts 22. The insulation accommodates the skylight glazing blocks 26 and the skylight LED string 33.
The skylight mount 22 is shown recessed from the rafters 21 interior surface and the skylight platform 23 can be seated flush with the rafters 21 interior surface, and esthetically covered with the interior skylight covering 24. By not recessing the skylight mount 22, the skylight platform 23 can be allowed to overlap the rafters 21 interior surface and thereby remove the need for use of a skylight interior upper covering 24. The skylight platform mounts 22 help distribute a portion of the tank weight and water weight.