The disclosure is generally directed to a heat collection system, and more particularly directed to a heat collection system for a roof.
During daylight hours an upper exposed surface of a roof can heat up to temperatures well in excess of a temperature of the ambient air. Currently, this heat/energy goes unused by current roofing systems. With energy cost and demand being at a relative high, a roofing system that could harness this cleanly produced heat/energy would obviously be desirable.
Disclosed is a heat collection system for a roof, the system including a roof deck, a membrane upwardly adjacent of the roof deck; a fluid channel disposed between the membrane and the roof deck, the fluid channel having a defined entry port and a defined exit port, the entry port and the exit port being disposed in fluid communication via the fluid channel.
Also disclosed is a method for collecting heat within a roofing system, the method including providing a roof deck; providing a membrane upwardly adjacent of the roof deck, providing a fluid channel disposed between the membrane and the roof deck, the fluid channel having a defined entry port and a defined exit port, the entry port and the exit port being disposed in fluid communication via the fluid channel, importing a fluid into the fluid channel via the entry port, moving the fluid from the entry port to the exit port, warming the fluid via solar ray collection by the membrane during the moving, and exporting the fluid from the exit port to a desired environment, the fluid being of a higher temperature at the exit port than the entry port.
Referring now to the Figures, exemplary embodiments are illustrated, wherein the elements are numbered alike:
Referring to
As shown in
Referring first to
In order to facilitate the above discussed channels 32, the membrane 22 may be constructed of a material that is more flexible/resilient than at least the roofing component (such as the cover board 21) that delimits the lower extent of the channel 32. For example, the membrane may be constructed of material such as but not limited to EPDM, TPO, PVC, CPA, Hypalon, and modified bitumen. Such flexibility/resiliency in the membrane 22 would be beneficial to keeping the channel 32 open during a fluid flow therein.
In an exemplary embodiment, the above-discussed fluid flow is air flowing from an entry port 40 to an exit port 42. In the exemplary embodiment of
Referring again to the exemplary embodiment of
It should be appreciated that air may be imported and circulated through the system 10 via a variety of mechanisms and fluid actuation systems. For example, air may be imported into the channel 32 of the system 10 by dropping a pressure gradient at the exit port 42 relative to the entry port 40. Such a drop would create suction that would actively import air into the channel 32. This suction/drop in pressure gradient may be achieved via any desirable system of valves located at an area surrounding or within the exit port 42 or entry port 40. In addition, the warming of the air via convection may also inherently aid in importing fluid into the system channel 32. Any known fluid moving devices, such as but not limited to fans, blowers, and/or vacuums, may also be used to move fluid/air throughout the system 10. Of course, the entry port 40 and exit port 42 may be closeable so that air intake may be selectively chosen when desirable. Once the fluid/air is heated and expelled from the exit port 42, it may be used for any desirable purposed such as heating space inside or outside the building or drying articles of clothing.
Referring now to
While the invention has been described with reference to an exemplary embodiment, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.
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