FR3151343A1 - Glazing with thermoelectric device - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a glazing comprising at least one glazed wall (2) and at least one thermoelectric device (1, 10) arranged on the glazed wall (2). The invention also relates to the use of such glazing for generating electricity, and/or for generating heat or cooling. Figure for the abstract: figure 1.

Description

Glazing with thermoelectric device Field of invention

The present invention relates to glazing, in particular for buildings, comprising a thermoelectric device and the use of such glazing to produce electricity, generate heat or generate cooling.

Technical background

Glazing, particularly that used in windows and building facades, can have poor thermal insulation, leading to the creation of thermal bridges at the location of the glazing.

Double glazing, consisting of two panes separated by a cavity filled with gas, typically air or argon, is traditionally used in windows and building facades for its thermal and acoustic insulation performance.

However, the thermal insulation of such double glazing may still prove insufficient.

In addition, the glazing can incorporate electrical devices requiring an electricity supply, such as electric blinds.

Solutions have been developed to try to produce electricity from building glazing. These solutions are based on the integration of photovoltaic cells into the glazing. For example, document US 2008/0000195 relates to an insulating double glazing unit comprising at least one photovoltaic cell between the two panes of the double glazing unit and a frame in fluid communication with the inter-pane space. Document WO 2019/081784 describes a double glazing unit in which one or more photovoltaic modules are mounted on the spacer of the glazing unit using a part allowing the orientation of said modules in an inclined position.

The production of electricity through the incorporation of photovoltaic cells in glazing is however dependent on the amount of light reaching the cell, which can be very variable, or even zero during certain periods. In addition, such a solution does not remedy thermal bridges.

There is therefore a real need to provide glazing capable of generating electricity efficiently and reliably and which can also improve the thermal insulation of the rooms it delimits.

The invention firstly relates to glazing comprising at least one glazed wall and at least one thermoelectric device arranged on the glazed wall.

In embodiments, the glazing comprises at least two glass walls forming a cavity between them, in which the at least one thermoelectric device is preferably inside the cavity.

In embodiments, the glazing comprises at least one spacer, at least one thermoelectric device being disposed on said spacer.

In embodiments, the glazing comprises at least one spacer, at least one thermoelectric device constituting at least in part said spacer.

In embodiments, the at least one thermoelectric device comprises a thermoelectric module or is a coating deposited on the glass wall.

In embodiments, the at least one thermoelectric device comprises a plurality of pairs each comprising a first n -type semiconductor material and a second p -type semiconductor material, preferably connected by means of an electrically conductive material.

In embodiments, the plurality of pairs are disposed between two plates of electrically insulating material, preferably ceramic.

In embodiments, the glazing comprises at least one heat dissipating element.

In embodiments, the glazing comprises at least two thermoelectric devices, preferably at least two thermoelectric modules.

In embodiments, the glazing further comprises at least one energy storage system, preferably at least one battery.

In embodiments, the glazing further comprises at least one electrical device, preferably selected from the group consisting of blinds, LED-based lighting solutions, films with variable light transmission by electrochromic effect, sensors, preferably integrated sensors, such as sensors for measuring carbon dioxide, oxygen of a rare gas, humidity, brightness or temperature, and combinations thereof.

The invention also relates to the use of glazing as described above to generate electricity.

The invention also relates to the use of glazing as described above to generate heat or cooling.

The present invention makes it possible to meet the need expressed above. More particularly, it provides glazing making it possible to produce electricity efficiently, reliably, sustainably and without depending on sunlight, the quantity of which at a given position varies enormously over time. The system according to the invention is also easy to maintain. In addition, the glazing according to the invention can make it possible to produce heat on one side of the glazing, which can thus make it possible to limit the effects of thermal bridges and improve the thermal insulation of the room containing the glazing, or produce cooling, in particular in the event of a sharp increase in the temperature of the glazing such as, for example, during prolonged exposure of the glazing to the sun in summer, which makes it possible, for example, to reduce the degradation due to overheating of certain elements of the glazing such as the seals.

This is achieved through the use of a thermoelectric device directly integrated into the glazing capable of generating electricity when there is a temperature difference between each of the two sides of the glazing. Indeed, the temperature differential between the sides of the glazing, as is often observed, with regard to facade glazing, between the interior of the room they delimit and the external environment, creates a heat flow through the thermoelectric device resulting in the generation of a potential difference in the thermoelectric device via the Seebeck effect. Furthermore, this effect is reversible and the use of the Peltier effect allows heat to be displaced, in order to generate either heat or refrigeration, from the application of an electric current to the thermoelectric device.

Brief description of the figures

represents a schematic view of an example of glazing according to the invention.

represents a schematic view of another example of glazing according to the invention.

Detailed description

The invention is now described in more detail and in a non-limiting manner in the following description.

Glazing

The invention relates to glazing comprising at least one glazed wall.

Preferably, the glazing comprises at least two glass walls. Advantageously, the glass walls are parallel or essentially parallel to each other.

In embodiments, the glazing according to the invention may comprise exactly one glazed wall (monolithic glazing), exactly two glazed walls (this is then preferably glazing called “ double glazing ”), or exactly three glazed walls (this is then preferably glazing called “ triple glazing ”), or at least three glazed walls.

For the purposes of the present invention, a " glazed wall " means any structure comprising (or consisting of) at least one glass sheet or a glazed assembly. By " glazed assembly " is meant a multilayer glazed element of which at least one layer is a glass sheet. Thus, the glazed walls may for example independently comprise a single glass sheet or a glazed assembly, for example consisting of laminated glazing (as described in more detail below).

The glass sheet can be made of organic or mineral glass. It can be made of tempered glass.

The glass wall(s) (or one of the glass walls) may comprise (or consist of) a glass assembly comprising at least one glass sheet which may be as described above. The glass assembly is preferably laminated glazing. By " laminated glazing " is meant at least two glass sheets between which is inserted at least one interlayer film generally made of viscoelastic plastic. The interlayer film made of viscoelastic plastic may comprise one or more layers of a viscoelastic polymer, potentially derived from recycled or natural sources, such as poly(vinyl butyral) (PVB), an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA), or a polyethylene terephthalate (PET), more preferably PVB. The interlayer film may be made of standard PVB or acoustic PVB (such as single-layer or three-layer acoustic PVB). Acoustic PVB is generally made up of three layers: two external layers of standard PVB and an internal layer of PVB with added plasticizer so as to make it less rigid than the external layers. The interlayer film advantageously has a thickness of 0.1 to 6 mm, preferably 0.38 to 4 mm (the interlayer film preferably being formed by the superposition of unitary interlayer films of 0.38 mm each). The use of glazed walls comprising laminated glazing makes it possible to improve the acoustic insulation of the glazing, the acoustic insulation being further increased when the interlayer film is made of acoustic PVB. In addition, the presence of an interlayer film made of viscoelastic plastic makes it possible to avoid the scattering of broken glass in the event of breakage of the glazed wall.

Preferably, the glass wall or at least one of the glass walls is made of laminated glass, advantageously, the glass walls (when there are several) are made of laminated glass.

Each glazed wall comprises two main faces opposite each other corresponding to the faces of the glazed wall having the largest surface areas. Advantageously, the glazed walls independently have a thickness (between their two main faces) greater than or equal to 1.6 mm, for example a thickness of 1.6 to 24 mm, preferably 2 to 12 mm, more preferably 4 to 10 mm, for example 4 or 6 mm. When the glazing comprises several glazed walls, the glazed walls of the glazing may all have the same thickness or have different thicknesses.

Preferably, when the glazing comprises several glazed walls, all the glazed walls of the glazing have an identical height and width. The glazing according to the invention can have any possible shape, and preferably has a quadrilateral shape, in particular a rectangular or essentially rectangular shape. Alternatively, the glazing can have a circular shape, or essentially circular, or an elliptical shape, or essentially elliptical, or a trapezoidal shape or essentially trapezoidal.

When the glazing comprises at least two glazed walls, the glazed walls define a cavity between them. For the purposes of the present invention, the cavity is defined as being the volume between two glazed walls.

Particularly preferably, when the glazing comprises at least two glazed walls, the glazing comprises a spacer, making it possible to fix the length of the spacing between the glazed walls. The length of this spacing (i.e. the thickness of the cavity between the glazed walls) may be from 0.1 to 40 mm, preferably from 6 to 30 mm, more preferably from 10 to 30 mm, for example 16 mm, 20 mm, or 22 mm, or 27 mm.

The spacer of the glazing may for example comprise an interlayer in the form of a frame. In particular, the spacer may form a frame comprising a single interlayer folded at the corners (for example at the four corners), the two ends of this interlayer being preferably connected to each other by a connector, preferably rectilinear (present for example approximately at the center of one of the sides of the frame). Alternatively, the spacer may form a frame comprising several (for example four) interlayer sections, advantageously rectilinear, assembled together to form the frame. Preferably, these interlayer sections are assembled together by means of connectors, preferably right-angled connectors (the right-angled connectors forming the corners of the frame). The interlayer may be assembled with the connectors in a conventional manner, for example by interlocking. Preferably, the spacer has a number of sides identical to the number of edges of the glazing, and more preferably a shape identical to that of the glazing. Preferably, each side of the spacer is parallel to an edge of the glazing.

Advantageously, the spacer is positioned in the cavity, more particularly in a peripheral zone. By " peripheral zone of the cavity (or of the glazing) " is meant an area of the cavity (or of the glazing) adjacent to the edges of the glazed walls and preferably of width (i.e. in a direction orthogonal to the edge of the glazed walls, in the plane of the glazed walls) less than or equal to 20 cm, more preferably less than or equal to 10 cm, more preferably less than or equal to 5 cm.

Preferably, the glass walls are fixed to the spacer, more preferably by gluing.

A seal may also be present, preferably arranged on the external face of the spacer (i.e. the face of the spacer closest to the edge of the glass walls), more preferably the seal extends from this face to the edge of the glass walls. This seal may be made with a sealant (called a " sealing sealant ") based on polyurethane, polysulfide, and/or silicone and/or hybrid polymer.

Preferably, the cavity of the glazing comprises a gas. The gas may be air and/or argon, and/or krypton and/or xenon. The use of argon, krypton or xenon, in addition to or instead of air, makes it possible to improve the thermal insulation of the glazing. Alternatively, the cavity may be under vacuum. Alternatively, the cavity may comprise a silica or cellulose aerogel.

The glazing according to the invention comprises at least one thermoelectric device. By “ thermoelectric device ” is meant any device capable of directly converting thermal energy into electrical energy. The thermoelectric device according to the invention is more particularly arranged on the glazed wall (or on at least one of the glazed walls).

When the glazing comprises a cavity, the thermoelectric device is advantageously positioned in the cavity of the glazing (or in one of the cavities of the glazing if the glazing comprises more than two glazed walls). Alternatively, the thermoelectric device may be positioned on a glazed wall outside the cavity, in particular when the thickness of the cavity is very small, for example in the case of vacuum glazing.

Preferably, the glazing comprises at least two glass walls and the thermoelectric device is positioned in the cavity of the glazing, in contact with at least one glass wall.

According to a first variant, the thermoelectric device(s) (or one or more of the thermoelectric devices) may form in part or in full the spacer, or a portion of the spacer. Thus, the spacer, or a portion thereof, may consist of the thermoelectric device(s) (the thermoelectric device directly connecting the two glass walls). Alternatively, the spacer, or a portion thereof, may be formed of one or more thermoelectric devices and one or more additional materials, for example to adjust its thickness according to the desired spacing of the glass walls.

The additional material(s) of the spacer may be present in the form of one or more blocks assembled with one or more faces of the thermoelectric device. More particularly, to form the spacer, the thermoelectric device may have one of its faces assembled with at least one block of additional material(s) (the opposite face of the device preferably being fixed on one of the glazed walls of the glazing); or the thermoelectric device may have two or more of its faces each assembled with at least one block of additional material(s).

Advantageously, the additional materials are materials with high thermal conductivity. Examples of suitable additional materials are aluminium, copper, steel, ceramics (technical ceramics), refractory materials such as graphite and graphene, conductive and semi-conductive polymers, rare earth oxides and combinations of these.

In this text, the term " conductive material " preferably means a material having an electrical conductivity greater than or equal to 10 ⁶ S/m, and the term " semiconductor material " preferably means a material having an electrical conductivity between that of a conductive material and that of an insulating material, and preferably a material having an electrical conductivity between 10 ^-8 and 10 ⁶ S/m. The electrical conductivity can for example be measured according to standard NF EN 2004-1.

The use of one or more additional materials described above to form, in addition to the thermoelectric device, the spacer, makes it possible to ensure good thermal conductivity between the two glazed walls of the glazing connected by said spacer.

The spacer formed by the thermoelectric device(s) and optionally additional materials is preferably fixed to the glass walls by gluing, very advantageously by means of a material having good thermal conductivity. This fixing can for example be carried out by means of a metal paste, such as a silver paste, or another type of paste with high thermal conductivity. The use of a material that is a good thermal conductor, such as a silver paste, makes it possible both to bond the elements but also to ensure, or even improve, the thermal conductivity between the elements. The thermoelectric device and the additional materials can be assembled together by gluing, preferably a gluing as described above, in particular by means of a metal paste, for example a silver paste.

In this variant, the thermoelectric device(s) may form (in whole or in part) the spacer over the entire length of the spacer, or may form (in whole or in part) one or more portions of the spacer. When the thermoelectric device(s), optionally supplemented with one or more additional materials, form one or more spacer portions, said portions may be assembled with the other spacer portions (which may be as described below in relation to the second variant) for example by interlocking.

According to a second variant, the thermoelectric device(s) (or one or more of the thermoelectric devices) are positioned on the spacer of the glazing. This has the advantage of providing a support for the thermoelectric device. Preferably, the thermoelectric device is placed on the internal face of the spacer, i.e. on its face that faces the cavity of the glazing. The thermoelectric device(s) may be present on the spacer (in particular its internal face) over its entire length or substantially its entire length, or on one or more portions of the spacer. The thermoelectric device may optionally be fixed to the spacer (in particular on at least one interlayer section, and/or on at least one connector of the spacer, such as a straight connector and/or a right-angle connector), for example by gluing, by mechanical fixing (for example by means of screws or clip-on or easily removable elements) and/or by magnetic fixing.

The thermoelectric device is attached to at least one of the glass walls. It can be fixed to the glass wall(s) by gluing, in particular using a material that is a good thermal conductor, for example using a metal paste, such as a silver paste. When the thickness of the thermoelectric device is identical to that of the cavity, it can be fixed to the two glass walls forming the cavity. The thermoelectric device can be assembled with one or more additional parts, preferably one or more blocks, in particular by gluing (preferably with a material that is a good thermal conductor, such as with a metal paste, for example a silver paste), in particular when the thickness of the thermoelectric device is less than the thickness of the spacer, to secure the thermoelectric device to the two glass walls and in particular to ensure good thermal conductivity between the glass walls. Thus, the thermoelectric device may have one of its faces assembled with one or more parts (or blocks), in particular the face of the thermoelectric device opposite that which is fixed to one of the glass walls. These parts (or blocks) are preferably made of one or more materials as described above in relation to the additional materials of the spacer. These parts (or blocks) may be fixed to the glass walls of the glazing by gluing, preferably using a material that is a good thermal conductor, for example using metal paste, for example silver paste.

An example of glazing according to such an embodiment is shown in . In this example, the glazing is double glazing, and a thermoelectric device 1 is fixed to one of the glazed walls 2 by means of a good thermal conductor material 3, for example a metal paste, such as a silver paste. The face of the thermoelectric device 1 opposite that fixed to the glazed wall 2 is fixed to an additional material block 4, such as an aluminum block. The additional material block 4 makes it possible to connect, in particular thermally, the thermoelectric device 1 to the second glazed wall 2. The additional material block 4 is fixed to the second glazed wall 2 of the glazing by means of a good thermal conductor material 3, for example a metal paste, preferably a silver paste. The thermoelectric device 1 (fixed to the additional material block 4) is arranged on the spacer 5 of the glazing. The thermoelectric device 1 is connected to electrical wires 6 for transporting the electricity produced by, or supplied to, the thermoelectric device 1. The electrical wires 6 are advantageously passed through a conduit 7 formed in the spacer 5. Preferably, the conduit 7 is filled with polyisobutylene. The electrical wires 6 also pass through the seal 8 present on the periphery of the glazing.

Alternatively, the thermoelectric device(s) (or one or more of the thermoelectric devices) may be positioned on the spacer and attached to at least one of the glass walls, without any parts or blocks completing the thickness up to the opposite glass wall. The thermoelectric device may in particular be in the form of a coating of thermoelectric material arranged on one of the glass walls.

An example of glazing according to this latter embodiment is shown in . In this example, the glazing comprises in its cavity 9 a thermoelectric device 10. This thermoelectric device 10 is a coating deposited on the inner face of a glazed wall 2 (by magnetron for example). The thermoelectric device 10 advantageously comprises a transparent thermoelectric material such as a stack of metal oxides (for example metal oxides as mentioned below). This has the advantage of not reducing the clear view of the glazing. The thermoelectric device 10 is connected to electric wires 6 preferably passing through a conduit 7 located in the spacer 5 (this conduit 7 being advantageously filled with PIB), then through the seal 8.

The spacer can be any spacer conventionally used in glazing with multiple glass walls.

Preferably, the glass walls are attached to the spacer by gluing, for example by a polyisobutylene (PIB)-based glue.

The spacer interlayer may be made of metallic material, such as aluminum and/or stainless steel, and/or polymeric material, such as polyethylene, polycarbonate, polypropylene, polystyrene, polybutadiene, polyisobutylene, polyester, polyurethane, polymethyl methacrylate, polyacrylate, polyamide, polyethylene terephthalate, polybutylene terephthalate, acrylonitrile, butadiene styrene, acrylonitrile styrene acrylate, styrene-acrylonitrile copolymer, or a combination thereof, optionally reinforced with glass and/or carbon fibers and/or natural fibers.

The connectors, whether straight or right-angled, are preferably made of a polymer material, more preferably of a polymer material as mentioned above.

According to a third variant, the thermoelectric device(s) (or one or more of the thermoelectric devices) may be present in the cavity of the glazing and fixed to at least one of the glazed walls of the glazing at any location on the glazed wall. Preferably, the thermoelectric device(s) are located in a peripheral zone of the glazed wall. The thermoelectric device(s) may advantageously be transparent, so as to avoid reducing the clear view of the glazing. The thermoelectric device(s) may be fixed to the glazed wall by gluing (in particular by gluing as described above) or deposited on the glazed wall in the form of a coating. The thermoelectric device(s) (or some of them) may optionally be assembled with blocks of additional material making it possible to connect the thermoelectric devices with the glazed wall opposite that on which they are located, as described above. In some embodiments, the thermoelectric device(s) (or some of them) may have a thickness identical to that of the glazing cavity and be fixed to each of the opposing glass walls delimiting the cavity.

In embodiments, the three variants described above can be combined in any possible way, that is to say that the glazing can comprise several thermoelectric devices, each of which can independently be according to one of the three variants described above.

The thermoelectric device(s) may be any type of thermoelectric device known to those skilled in the art. They may have any suitable dimensions.

The thermoelectric device(s) comprise at least one thermoelectric material. The thermoelectric performances of the materials can be characterized by the merit factor ZT. Advantageously, the thermoelectric materials used in the invention have a merit factor ZT at room temperature (in particular at 300 K) greater than or equal to 0.5.

Preferably, the at least one thermoelectric device according to the invention comprises, and more preferably consists of, a thermoelectric module (also called a thermoelectric cell).

The thermoelectric modules according to the invention preferably comprise a plurality of pairs of two different semiconductor materials. Each pair comprises a first n- type semiconductor material and a second p -type semiconductor material (also called each branch), these semiconductor materials being connected to each other using an electrically conductive material (also called a junction). By " n-type semiconductor " is meant an extrinsic semiconductor doped with electron donor atoms and by " p-type semiconductor " is meant an extrinsic semiconductor doped with electron acceptor atoms.

The semiconductor materials are preferably selected from the group consisting of alloys comprising bismuth, tellurium and/or selenium, lead, silicon, antimony, germanium, copper, aluminum, these alloys possibly being doped, in particular doped with sodium, potassium, thallium, indium, selenium, antimony and/or tellurium, and/or these alloys possibly comprising nanostructures, metal oxides, possibly doped, conductive and semiconductive polymers, and combinations thereof. More particularly, as an alloy that can be used in the invention, mention may be made of bismuth telluride (Bi ₂ Te ₃ ), lead telluride (PbTe), lead telluride comprising nanostructures, indium-doped tin telluride, bismuth selenide telluride (Bi ₂ Te ₃ -Se), bismuth telluride telluride (Bi ₂ Te ₃ -Te), antimony telluride (Sb ₂ Te ₃ ), silicon-germanium alloy (SiGe), silicon nitride (Si ₃ N ₄ ), skutterudite, CoSb ₃ alloy, Mg ₂ Si alloy, Heusler alloys, lead sulfide (PbS), zinc antimonide (ZnSb) and mixtures thereof. As a metal oxide that can be used in the invention, mention may be made in particular of antimony-doped tin oxide (ATO), aluminum-doped zinc oxide (AZO) and indium tin oxide (ITO) and mixtures thereof. As a polymer that can be used in the invention, mention may be made in particular of the PEDOT-PSS polymer mixture (mixture of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) and sodium poly(styrene sulfonate) (PSS)), composite polymer materials comprising nanocrystals and mixtures thereof. The semiconductor materials may comprise, or consist of, any mixture of the materials mentioned above.

Among these materials, metal oxides have the advantage of being transparent and their use is particularly suitable when the thermoelectric device is located on a part of the glazing that will be visible to a user when the glazing is installed. The p- and n- type semiconductor materials can be based on an identical semiconductor material (the p- and n- type semiconductor materials then differing only in their doping). Alternatively, the p- and n- type semiconductor materials can be based on different semiconductor materials.

In the thermoelectric module, the pairs are also connected together in pairs by an electrically conductive material, more particularly the n- type semiconductor material of a pair is connected to the p-type semiconductor material of an adjacent pair. In a particularly preferred manner, each branch of n- type semiconductor material has at one of its ends a junction connecting it to a branch of p -type semiconductor material and at the other end a junction connecting it to another branch of p -type semiconductor material, and each branch of p -type semiconductor material has at one of its ends a junction connecting it to a branch of n- type semiconductor material and at the other end a junction connecting it to another branch of n- type semiconductor material (with the exception of the first and last branches of the circuit). Thus, advantageously, the pairs are electrically connected in series.

Preferably, the couples are connected in thermal parallel. Thus, in operation, each of the couples has at one end of the branches of semiconductor material which form a cold side and at the other end of the branches, a hot side.

The conductive material establishing the connection between the p- and n- type semiconductor materials is preferably a metal, such as copper.

The thermoelectric device, preferably the thermoelectric module, preferably comprises at least two plates made of electrically insulating material between which the couples are arranged. By " insulating material " is preferably meant a material having an electrical conductivity less than or equal to 10 ^-8 S/m. In a particularly preferred manner, the plates are in contact with the junctions made of conductive material and are not in contact with the n- and p- type semiconductor materials. The electrically insulating material of the plates may in particular be chosen from the group consisting of ceramic, glass, rubbers, porcelain, and combinations thereof. Advantageously, the electrically insulating material is ceramic.

The thermoelectric device may alternatively be a coating (or film) of thermoelectric material. Preferably, the coating may comprise, or consist of, a stack of thin layers of semiconductor materials, in particular as described above, more particularly a stack of thin layers of p -type and n- type semiconductor materials. More preferably, the coating may comprise, or consist of, a stack of thin layers of metal oxides, in particular as mentioned above. The use of metal oxides makes it possible to obtain a transparent thermoelectric device, which makes it possible to prevent the presence of said thermoelectric device on the glazed wall from causing a reduction in the clear view of the glazing. The coating may have a thickness of 1 nm to 15 µm, for example a thickness of 1 nm to 1 µm. The thermoelectric device may comprise a chip, in particular on its face opposite that attached to the glass wall. The thermoelectric device may be formed on the glass wall by any deposition technique, for example by magnetron sputtering.

The glazing preferably comprises at least one heat dissipating element. The presence of the heat dissipating element helps to create a heat flow through the thermoelectric device to generate an electric current. Advantageously, the heat dissipating element is in contact with one of the faces of the thermoelectric device or connected to one of the surfaces of the thermoelectric device via a material that is a good thermal conductor. When the glazing comprises several glazed walls, the heat dissipating element can be placed in the cavity of the glazing or can be placed, preferably, outside the cavity of the glazing (the heat extraction then being carried out outside the glazing, which is more efficient than extracting this heat in the cavity of the glazing where space is restricted). Preferably, the heat dissipating element is positioned in a peripheral zone of the glazing, so as to optimize the extraction of heat from the thermoelectric device to the outside of the glazing. The heat dissipating element can be any known heat sink. For example, it may comprise a body (in particular metallic) with spaced fins. In particular, the heat dissipating element may comprise a body comprising a surface, preferably flat, made of a material that is a good thermal conductor, in contact with the thermoelectric device and fins offset at the periphery of the glazing. Preferably, the heat dissipating element is made of a material chosen from the group consisting of aluminum, copper, graphite, boron carbide, titanium, ceramics, such as aluminum oxide, zinc, nickel, molybdenum, and combinations thereof. More preferably, the heat dissipating element is made of aluminum. The heat dissipating element may also be any ventilation system or any cooling system, for example a water-flow cooling system.

Advantageously, the thermoelectric device (preferably the thermoelectric module) is connected to electrical wires, preferably two electrical wires (connected to both ends of the electrical circuit formed by the pairs electrically connected in series).

Preferably, the thermoelectric device (preferably the thermoelectric module) is arranged such that the branches of the pairs of semiconductor materials (which are parallel to each other) are perpendicular to the glass walls.

The thermoelectric device may be configured to operate according to the principle of the Seebeck effect. The thermoelectric device may thus use the temperature differential existing for example between the two sides of the glazing (thus forming a hot source and a cold source on each side of the thermoelectric device, respectively) to generate a potential difference in the device. Alternatively, or additionally, the thermoelectric device may be configured to operate according to the principle of the Peltier effect. In this configuration, when an electric current is applied to the thermoelectric device, a heat transfer is carried out between the faces of the device. More particularly, when the thermoelectric device comprises (or is) a module as described above, heat is, for each couple, absorbed at one junction and released at the opposite junction. The thermoelectric device may in particular be configured to produce heat and/or to produce cooling.

The glazing may comprise a plurality of thermoelectric devices, in particular a plurality of thermoelectric modules, more preferably as described above. In particular, the glazing may comprise at least two thermoelectric devices, or at least three, or at least four, or at least five, or at least eight, or at least ten, thermoelectric devices. Each of the thermoelectric devices may be as described above. The glazing may in particular comprise one or more thermoelectric devices in the form of thermoelectric modules and one or more thermoelectric devices in the form of coatings; or only thermoelectric devices in the form of thermoelectric modules; or only thermoelectric devices in the form of coatings.

In particular, the glazing may comprise one, or at least one, thermoelectric device configured to operate according to the Seebeck effect (i.e. configured to generate electricity) and one, or at least one, thermoelectric device configured to operate according to the Peltier effect (i.e. configured to produce heat or to produce cooling, preferably to produce cooling). The use of a thermoelectric device configured to generate cooling (in addition to a thermoelectric device configured to generate electricity) makes it possible to limit the damage caused to the seals of the glazing over time by excess heat, and also makes it possible to maintain the thermoelectric devices at temperatures compatible with their proper operation.

The glazing according to the invention may comprise at least one energy storage system, for example selected from the group consisting of batteries, supercapacitors, mechanical springs, encapsulated phase change materials, or combinations thereof. The energy storage system may be positioned at any suitable location on the glazing, preferably in a peripheral portion of the glazing. Advantageously, the thermoelectric device(s), or at least some of them, are connected to an energy storage system, making it possible to store the electricity produced by the thermoelectric devices.

The thermoelectric device(s), or at least some of them, may also be connected to one or more energy storage devices, such as a battery, located outside the glazing.

The thermoelectric device(s), or at least some of them, may also be connected to the electrical grid, making it possible to supply the grid with the electricity produced by said thermoelectric devices.

The glazing according to the invention may comprise at least one electrical device. The electrical device may be selected from the group consisting of electric blinds, LED-based lighting solutions, films with variable light transmission by electrochromic effect, sensors, in particular integrated sensors allowing the monitoring and/or communication of environmental elements or quantities in the cavity and/or outside the cavity (such as CO ₂ , O ₂ or rare gas contents, humidity level, brightness, temperature, etc. ), and combinations thereof. The blind may be any type of blind. It may be positioned in the cavity of the glazing (or in one of the cavities, if the glazing comprises more than two glazed walls) or outside the cavity. The glazing may comprise several electrical devices, in particular each selected from the devices mentioned above. Advantageously, the electrical appliance(s), or at least some of them, are at least partly powered by the electricity produced by at least one of the thermoelectric devices of the glazing, preferably through the use of an energy storage system. The electricity produced by the thermoelectric devices of the glazing can also power electrical appliances located outside the glazing (preferably located close to the glazing).

The glazing according to the invention can be used in any application using glazing. In particular, the glazing according to the invention can be building glazing. The glazing is preferably intended to provide the interface between the exterior and the interior of the building. It can, for example, be glazing for a facade, window, door, bay window, glazed frame, or shop window or storefront. Alternatively, the glazing can be intended to be placed inside the building.

Use of glazing

The invention also relates to the use of glazing as described above for generating electricity, preferably using the Seebeck effect.

• la fourniture d’un différentiel de température au dispositif thermoélectrique du vitrage (ou à au moins un des dispositifs thermoélectriques du vitrage) ; et
• la génération d’électricité par le dispositif thermoélectrique.

The invention also relates to a method of generating electricity using glazing as described above, comprising the following steps:

• providing a temperature differential to the thermoelectric device of the glazing (or to at least one of the thermoelectric devices of the glazing); and
• the generation of electricity by the thermoelectric device.

The provision of the temperature differential may be active or passive. In particular, the thermoelectric device may use a temperature differential existing between each side of the glazing. This may in particular be the temperature difference existing between the external environment and the interior of a room when the glazing constitutes an interface between said room and the external environment, or the temperature difference existing between two different rooms when the glazing constitutes an interface between said two rooms. The temperature differential used by the thermoelectric device may also take place between the glazed wall supporting the thermoelectric device, in particular when it is heated by exposure to the sun (hot source) and the air around the thermoelectric device (cold source). Alternatively, a temperature differential can be created using a ventilation or cooling system.

The temperature differential (i.e. the temperature difference between the hot source and the cold source supplied to the thermoelectric device) can range from 1 to 100°C.

The glazing can be exposed to temperatures ranging from -20°C to +80°C.

The invention also relates to the use of glazing as described above for generating heat and/or cooling, preferably using the Peltier effect.

• la fourniture d’un courant électrique au dispositif thermoélectrique du vitrage (ou à au moins un des dispositifs thermoélectriques du vitrage) ; et
• la génération d’un transfert de chaleur par le dispositif thermoélectrique.

The invention also relates to a method of producing heat and/or cooling using glazing as described above, comprising the following steps:

• the supply of an electric current to the thermoelectric device of the glazing (or to at least one of the thermoelectric devices of the glazing); and
• the generation of heat transfer by the thermoelectric device.

Claims (13)

Glazing comprising at least one glazed wall (2) and at least one thermoelectric device (1, 10) arranged on the glazed wall (2). Glazing according to claim 1, comprising at least two glazed walls (2) forming a cavity (9) between them, in which the at least one thermoelectric device (1, 10) is preferably inside the cavity. Glazing according to claim 2, comprising at least one spacer (5), at least one thermoelectric device (10) being arranged on said spacer. Glazing according to claim 2 or 3, comprising at least one spacer (5), at least one thermoelectric device (1) constituting at least in part said spacer (5). Glazing according to one of claims 1 to 4, in which the at least one thermoelectric device (1, 10) comprises a thermoelectric module or is a coating deposited on the glazed wall (2). Glazing according to one of claims 1 to 5, in which the at least one thermoelectric device (1, 10) comprises a plurality of pairs each comprising a first n -type semiconductor material and a second p -type semiconductor material, preferably connected by means of an electrically conductive material. Glazing according to claim 6, in which the plurality of pairs is arranged between two plates made of electrically insulating material, preferably ceramic. Glazing according to one of claims 1 to 7, comprising at least one heat dissipating element. Glazing according to one of claims 1 to 8, comprising at least two thermoelectric devices (1, 10), preferably at least two thermoelectric modules. Glazing according to one of claims 1 to 9, further comprising at least one energy storage system, preferably at least one battery. Glazing according to one of claims 1 to 10, further comprising at least one electrical device, preferably chosen from the group consisting of blinds, LED-based lighting solutions, films with variable light transmission by electrochromic effect, sensors, preferably integrated sensors, such as sensors for measuring carbon dioxide, oxygen of a rare gas, humidity, brightness or temperature, and combinations thereof. Use of glazing according to one of claims 1 to 11 for generating electricity. Use of glazing according to one of claims 1 to 11 for generating heat or cooling.