Patent Application
20130269756
Not Applicable.
Not Applicable.
This invention relates to a roofing installation system, and more particularly to a roofing installation system for optimally capturing solar thermal energy for producing electrical and thermal energy.
Solar cells are well known in the art for producing electrical energy from solar energy and are in wide spread use. The photovoltaic cells have been used for conversion of solar energy directly to electricity. Solar panels are also known to have a hydraulic circuit arranged below the photovoltaic cell and in thermal contact therewith. Such circuits are used to make a part of the solar energy absorbed for various other uses like domestic hot water supply and heating of indoor spaces. Conventional solar panels have low energy conversion efficiency. Conventional flat panel solar panels are expensive, primarily because they contain a large number of silicon solar cells. Because of their low efficiency and corresponding need for increased power, conventional solar panels are typically large and heavy. This reduces their mounting options, or increases the expense and flexibility of mounting. This leaves the user limited in ability to use an optimum number of solar cells. A properly sized and installed solar thermal energy collection system can be a practical alternative for acquiring some of the energy needs. These solar panels comprise of photovoltaic cells arranged on a flat grid.
For example, U. S. Pat. No. 5,293,447 issued to Fanney on Mar. 8, 1994 discloses photovoltaic solar water heating system. A system for heating water using solar energy comprises a photovoltaic array, a water heater comprising a variable resistive load, and a controller for varying either the load characteristics of the resistive load or the power generating characteristics of the photovoltaic array, or both, to ensure maximum power transfer efficiency. However, this arrangement utilizes the electrical energy produced to heat water and hence cannot fulfill the electrical energy demand.
The sun's energy can be collected in a variety of different ways. One is converting sun's energy into thermal energy to heat things, such as water. U. S. Pat. No. 4,738,247 issued to Moore on Apr. 19, 1988 provides roof installations consisting of an array of interfitting members e.g. tiles, strips, slats or the like which interfit to form a roof covering and a set of heat pipes which run parallel to the plane of the roof. Heat is abstracted from the heat pipes and used directly or indirectly, e.g. via a heat pump apparatus. U. S. patent application No. 20080141999 entitled to Hanken on Jun. 19, 2008 provides a solar heating system for mounting under a roof that includes a panel formed of a sheet material and at least one run of tubing held beneath the panel by a plurality of tubing fasteners. The panel assembly facilitates transfer of the trapped heat from the roof and surrounding air into the fluid circulating through the tubing. Such arrangements will not generate sufficient energy to be self sustaining due to less conversion rate and these are not aesthetically pleasing.
U. S. Pat. No. 5,259,363 issued to Peacock on Nov. 9, 1993 teaches a solar roofing panel system for use in residential and commercial buildings employing conventional metal roofing components. The system collects and supplies thermal energy from the sun to heat the interior thereof and also is capable of providing solar generated electricity for powering the normal complement of household appliances. However the system produces thermal and electrical energy, both thermal energy and electrical energy are not produced simultaneously to work in conjunction as well as compensate with each other.
Therefore, there is a need for a thermal electric roofing installation system that eliminates the problem of degradation of conversion rate when the ambient temperature on the roof goes beyond 85 degree Fahrenheit. Further, such a device would effectively utilize the sun's energy, would be self sustaining, aesthetically pleasing, and economical. Such a needed device would simultaneously generate thermal energy and electricity with increased efficiency reducing weight and bulk, improved performance. The present invention accomplishes these objectives.
The present invention is a roofing installation system to generate electricity and to provide domestic hot water supply utilizing solar energy. The roofing installation system comprises a plurality of horizontal wooden battens mounted onto a plurality of vertical wooden battens, which are mounted over a slope roof. A plurality of metal battens is mounted on the plurality of horizontal wooden battens. A plurality of link channel brackets having a plurality of hooks is fastened vertically between a pair of the plurality of metal battens using a latch. A plurality of slate modules is mounted on the plurality of metal battens. Each slate module is made to slide through the plurality of link channel brackets till a bottom portion of the slate module fits into the plurality of hooks. An adjacent pair of slate modules is placed on both the edges of each of the plurality of link channel brackets, leaving a central grooved portion. This central grooved portion may act as a drainage channel for the water falling on the slate modules. Each of the plurality of slate modules is connected in series to form a string. The plurality of metal battens may have ridges provided on the surface. The ridges may engage with a right angled protruded portion at a top end of each of the plurality of plurality of link channel brackets which holds the plurality of link channel brackets in position. Any of the slate modules can be removed by swinging the plurality of hooks towards the centre of the link channel bracket. A flange, which is protruding from the bottom side of the link channel bracket, may act as a location guide when placing the plurality of link channel brackets. The installation procedure of the roofing installation system should start at the bottom of the slope roof.
Each of the plurality of metal battens includes a longitudinal channel. A thermal tubing containing liquid or glycol is mounted on the plurality of metal battens along the longitudinal channels, beneath the plurality of slate modules. A circulation pump is connected to the thermal tubing for circulating the liquid through the thermal tubing. A heat exchanger, housed in a storage tank, is connected to the thermal tubing for extracting the thermal energy from the liquid in the thermal tubing and thereby providing domestic hot water. The present invention further comprises a heat pump utilized to maintain the temperature of the liquid in the storage tank to a certain threshold temperature and an inverter connected to the string for converting DC electricity fed from the plurality of slate modules to AC electricity.
The present invention provides a roofing installation system for supporting solar electric modules with thermal tubing over a slope roof. The plurality of slate modules generates DC electricity as the solar energy hits a surface of the plurality of slate modules. The inverter converts the DC electricity to AC electricity and feeds to a utility grid. The plurality of metal battens transfers thermal energy to the running liquid in the thermal tubing. The thermal energy is extracted by the heat exchanger resulting in heating up the domestic water supply and providing domestic hot water.
Another embodiment of the present invention comprises a thermal system having a plurality of storage tanks This embodiment is preferred in areas where severe climatic changes occur. In this embodiment at least one storage tank is placed between the heat pump and the domestic hot water supply. When the heat energy extracted from the thermal tubing reach saturation level the heat pump transfers the heat energy to the second storage tank. As the second tank reaches the maximum capacity, the heat energy is released thereby providing domestic hot water. However, if more heat is needed, the heat pump provides heat energy to the thermal tubing.
As the thermal energy is extracted by the heat exchanger, the plurality of slate modules is cooled thereby making the plurality of slate modules operate at high efficiency in converting the solar energy to DC electricity. In the preferred embodiment, a thermal system and an electric system operate simultaneously to generate domestic hot water and electricity respectively.
In the present invention, a thermal system and an electric system work in conjunction as well as compensate with each other. The electric system includes the plurality of slate modules 24 mounted on the roof (not shown). As shown, the plurality of slate modules 24 generates DC electricity as the solar energy hits on the surface of the plurality of slate modules 24 (block 28). The inverter is connected to at least one string 26 of the plurality of slate modules 24. The inverter converts the DC electricity generated by the plurality of slate modules 24 to AC electricity (block 30) and feeds the AC electricity to the utility grid (block 32).
The thermal system includes the thermal tubing 20 connected to the heat exchanger housed in the storage tank (block 36). The circulation pump is connected between the thermal tubing 20 and the heat exchanger for circulating the liquid running through the thermal tubing 20 (block 44). The thermal tubing 20 may be cross-linked polyethylene (PEX), brass, copper, or aluminum tubing and the liquid running through the thermal tubing 20 may be water or glycol. The plurality of metal battens 16 transfers thermal energy through running the liquid in the thermal tubing 20 throughout the roof (not shown). The thermal energy is extracted by the heat exchanger (block 36) resulting in heating up the domestic water supply and providing domestic hot water (block 38). The heat pump is connected to the heat exchanger to maintain the temperature at a certain threshold level (block 40). When the temperature of the liquid in the storage tank is above a certain level, the heat pump reduces the heat to a required level and when the temperature is below a certain level the heat pump provides sufficient heat to maintain the required temperature (block 42). The heat pump is utilized to release the heat in the summer months when more heat is stored in the liquid and to maintain the temperature level when temperature drops below certain level in some winter months.
The separate photovoltaic module for powering the circulation pump (block 46) ensures an independent working of the thermal system in case there are technical problems in the electric system which could prevent the thermal system from operating. Another advantage of using a separate photovoltaic module is that the liquid flowing through the thermal tubing 20 could vary according to the intensity of the solar energy which results in extracting more heat. If more heat is extracted from the roof, the attic cools off thereby generating more domestic hot water and cooling off the plurality of solar electric roof tiles and reduces the air conditioning load.
As the thermal energy is extracted by the heat exchanger, the plurality of slate modules 24 is cooled thereby making the plurality of slate modules 24 operate at high efficiency in converting the solar energy to DC electricity and provides a thermal system that provides sufficient amount of hot water supply for domestic purposes. Thus the thermal system of the present invention eliminates the problem of degradation of conversion rate of solar energy to electric energy when the ambient temperature on the roof (not shown) goes beyond 85 degree Fahrenheit. Moreover, the roofing installation system 10 provides AC electricity thereby reducing heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) power consumption. In the preferred embodiment, the thermal system and the electric system operate simultaneously to generate domestic hot water and electricity respectively. With the present system, the roof (not shown) becomes aesthetically pleasing as the thermal part is not exposed to the exterior.
Referring to
Another embodiment of the invention may include a thermal system on a large roof with multiple roof plains as shown in
While a particular form of the invention has been illustrated and described, it will be apparent that various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, it is not intended that the invention be limited, except as by the appended claims.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 13420484 | Mar 2012 | US |
| Child | 13916095 | US |
