GB2279453A

GB2279453A - A ventilator powered by solar radiation

Info

Publication number: GB2279453A
Application number: GB9312010A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Philip Rowland Wolfe; Geoffrey Carter
Original assignee: INTERSOLAR GROUP Ltd
Current assignee: INTERSOLAR GROUP Ltd
Priority date: 1993-06-10
Filing date: 1993-06-10
Publication date: 1995-01-04
Anticipated expiration: 2013-06-10
Also published as: GB2279453B; GB9312010D0

Abstract

A ventilator powered by electricity generated by solar radiation comprises at least one cover means (2) for cooperating with a ventilatable structure eg a building, said at least one cover means allowing flow of gas therethrough eg by louvres (9) out of and/or into at least a portion of the ventilatable interior(s) of said structure. The at least one cover means is adapted to receive solar radiation. The ventilator also comprises at least one solar generator (11), for generating electricity in response to said received solar radiation. At least one displacer means (24) displaces gas out of and/or into at least a portion of the ventilatable interior(s) of said structure (optionally via said at least one cover means). The operation of said at least one displacer means is aided and/or enabled by at least said generated electricity. The at least one displacer means optionally is adapted to cooperate with at least one distribution means (23) (25) for distributing gas from and/or to said at least one displacer means, for gas displacement by said at least one displacer means. Within the cover is preferably an orientable planar photovoltaic generator (11). The generator (11) may utilise amorphous silicon. Under generator (11) is a barrier felt seal (12). <IMAGE>

Description

SOLAR VENTILATOR The present invention relates to utilising solar ventilation, e.g. to replace active or passive ventilator(s) of ventilatable structures. A ventilatable structure may be embodied in any suitable manner, e.g. a building, equipment, shipping container, or vehicle, for air, and/or land, and/or water. Structural surfaces (e.g.

boundary surfaces) of ventilatable structures may comprise notional or real apertures (called "seat apertures" herein) for cooperating with active and/or passive ventilators (e.g. air bricks or roof tiles). Some seat apertures may be boundary apertures or any suitable apertures in e.g. boundary surfaces of chimneys, doors, roofs, walls, windows, etc. A said ventilator may be seated on, and/or in, and/or over, and/or under at least one seat aperture.

It has been found in accordance with the present invention that solar ventilator apparatus (e.g. an integral element, a module, or a unit) may cooperate with ventilatable structures whereby conventional active and/or passive ventilator(s), for instance conventional air bricks or conventional roof tiles, will not be required or may remain in situ according to different embodiments of the invention. This cooperation may be on, and/or in, and/or over, and/or under at least one seat aperture.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, solar ventilator apparatus (optionally an integral element, a module, or a unit) comprises: at least one cover means for cooperating with a ventilatable structure, said at least one cover means allowing flow of gas (e.g. air) therethrough out of and/or into at least a portion of the ventilatable interior(s) of said structure, said at least one cover means being adapted to receive solar radiation; at least one solar generator, for generating electricity in response to said received solar radiation; and at least one displacer means for displacing gas (e.g. air) out of and/or into at least a portion of the ventilatable interior(s) of said structure, optionally via said at least one cover means, operation of said at least one displacer means being aided and/or enabled by at least said generated electricity, said at least one displacer means optionally being adapted to cooperate with at least one distribution means for distributing gas from and/or to said at least one displacer means, for gas displacement by said at least one displacer means.

A second aspect of the invention is a method of ventilation, comprising utilising solar ventilator apparatus of the first aspect of the invention.

A third aspect of the present invention is a solar generator (optionally an integral element, or module, or a unit) comprising: at least one said cover means recited in the first aspect of the invention; and at least one solar generator recited in the first aspect of the invention.

A fourth aspect of the present invention is a method of generating electricity, comprising utilising at least one solar generator of the third aspect of the invention.

The present invention may be embodied and utilised in any suitable manners. At least some of the components may cooperate together in any suitable manners, e.g. as an integral element, a module, or a unit.

The solar ventilator apparatus may extract and/or intract gas. Some examples of the solar ventilator apparatus are replacements of existing ventilators and/or cooperate with existing ventilators. Some replacements are for bricks or tiles, for instance for roofs, roof ridges, or walls. At least a portion of such a replacement may be an integral element, a module, or a unit. Some cooperators are for air bricks or ventilator roof tiles. At least a portion of such a cooperator may be an integral element, or a module, or a unit. At least a portion of the solar ventilator apparatus may be substantially flexible and/or substantially rigid. In some embodiments, the solar ventilator apparatus may be used as an integral element, a module, or a unit, suitable for e.g. cladding corresponding to a roof ridge tile, roof tile, wall brick, wall tile, etc.In some other embodiments, the solar ventilator apparatus may comprise at least one said distribution means, etc. The solar ventilator apparatus may be powered completely or partly by said generated electricity. Some examples of other means for providing electricity to the solar ventilator apparatus are: primary or secondary battery means, convection means, wind energised electricity generating means, and electricity mains supply means. The solar ventilator apparatus may comprise at least one processor means for solar radiation, independent of e.g. at least one said cover means and/or part of e.g. at least one said cover means. Solar radiation processor means may be selected from e.g.: filter means, lens means, reflector means, etc.

At least a portion of at least one said cover means may be permanently and/or removably located relative to at least one said seat aperture or other suitable aperture.

At least a portion of at least one cover means may be substantially flexible and/or substantially rigid. At least a portion of at least one cover means may be oriented and/or orientable relative to at least a portion of solar radiation. At least a portion of at least one cover means may have any suitable transmission property(s) for at least a portion of solar radiation. For example, at least a portion of at least one cover means may be at least partly transparent to solar radiation.

The at least one cover means may have any suitable configuration, e.g. appropriate to a roof (for instance roof ridge tile, or roof tile) or wall (for instance a wall brick or wall tile). At least one cover means may have at least one substantially planar shape or any other suitable shape. A single substantially planar shape or other suitable shape (e.g. a curved shape) may be appropriate to a cover means embodied e.g. as a roof ridge tile, roof tile, wall brick, or wall tile, etc., or for cooperating with e.g. a roof ridge tile, roof tile, wall brick, or wall tile, etc. At least two substantially planar shapes or other suitable shapes (e.g.

planar andor curved shapes) may be angularly disposed relative to each other so as to be appropriate to e.g. a cover means corresponding to at least a portion of a ridge of a pitched roof or at least a portion of a roof or wall, corner or edge, etc. The at least one cover means may house and/or support the solar generator(s).

At least a portion of the at least one cover means may be at least partly an entrance barrier to animal and/or inanimate matter from outside the ventilatable structure, for instance at least partly to prevent or resist entry of animals (e.g. bats, birds, mice, insects), detritus (e.g. plant or tree material), or rain.

At least a portion of at least one cover means may comprise barrier openwork selected from e.g.: combed, fretted, or mesh barriers, etc.

At least a portion of the at least one solar generator may be permanently and/or removably located relative to at least said one cover means. At least a portion of at least one solar generator may be oriented and/or orientable relative to at least a portion of said at least one cover means. The solar ventilator apparatus may comprise adjustment means for said orientation or orienting, or any other purpose. For example, the at least one cover means may comprise adjustment means for said orientation or orienting, or any other purpose. At least a portion of at least one solar generator may be responsive to visible and/or other radiation. In general, at least a portion of at least one solar generator may allow direct and/or indirect reception of solar radiation.

At least a portion of at least one solar generator may comprise at least one photovoltaic generator, e.g. as a panel (for instance constituting an array). At least one photovoltaic generator may be responsive to solar radiation in the intensity range substantially 50 to substantially 150,000 lux, and/or have e.g. an efficiency of at least substantially 2.5% for radiation receptor surface of that photovoltaic generator. At least one photovoltaic generator may comprise a plurality (e.g. an array) of photovoltaic areas, members, or sites. There may be at least one photovoltaic generator deposition comprised by a substrate or superstrate. A photovoltaic generator may comprise at least one photovoltaic material, e.g. silicon. In general, photovoltaic materials may be in any suitable physical state, e.g. liquid or solid.

Photovoltaic materials may be crystalline or noncrystalline, etc.; and may comprise inorganic and/or organic material(s). One method of providing at least one photovoltaic generator utilising amorphous silicon comprises: providing a substrate, at least a portion of which may be substantially flexible and/or substantially rigid; printing electrical contact(s) onto the substrate; depositing (e.g. by glow discharge decomposition of silane(s)) amorphous silicon onto the electrode sites; cutting the deposited amorphous silicon to provide amorphous silicon sites; providing at least one rear electrode onto the amorphous silicon sites; cutting the at least one rear electrode; and encapsulating the resultant substrate, which thereby contains a plurality of photovoltaic areas or members or sites in any suitable predetermined disposition.The substrate may be selected according to the requirement embodiment(s) of at least one photovoltaic generator.

Any initially deposited electrode may comprise tin oxide, etc. Any rear electrode may comprise aluminium, etc. In general, any suitable materials may be utilised in making at least one photovoltaic generator. A photovoltaic generator may be a thin film device, comprising photovoltaic material in a total thickness range substantially 1 to substantially 10 (e.g. substantially 2 to substantially 8) microns, etc. At least a portion of a solar generator may be substantially flexible or substantially rigid. At least a portion of a photovoltaic generator may be substantially flexible or substantially rigid.

At least a portion of at least one said displacer means may be permanently and/or removably located relative to said at least one cover means, etc. At least one said displacer means may comprise at least one suitable displacer means selected from e.g.: displacers comprising bellows means; displacers comprising rotatable (e.g. axial or tangential) fans, e.g.: displacers comprising radial flow fans e.g. comprising rotatable radial fan blades for centrally receiving ventilatable gas and discharging that gas tangentially via gaps between the fan blades; displacers comprising oscillatable vanes (which may be at least partly flexible or rigid), energisable by electro motive energy, e.g. piezo electric crystal means for displacing gas; diaphragm means for displacing gas; ionisers for polarising ventilatable gas to provide gas flow; motor means (e.g. electromagnetic motors, permanent magnet motors, or wind driven motors, for instance linear, reciprocating, or rotational motors); piezo electric crystal means for displacing gas; piston means for displacing gas; high tension voltage generator means for displacing gas.

The displacer means may be an integral element, a module, or a unit attached or attachable e.g. to the material or fabric of the ventilatable structure, or be assembled with the at least one cover means and solar generator(s), etc.

The solar ventilator apparatus of the present invention may comprise at least one said distribution means for distributing gas from and/or to said at least one displacer means, for gas displacement by said at least one distribution means. At least a portion of at least one distribution means may be located or locatable on, and/or in, and/or over, and/or under at least one said seat aperture. At least a portion of at least one distribution means may be permanently and/or removably located. At least one distribution means may comprise at least one manifold means for communication with at least one said displacer means. At least one distribution means may comprise at least one duct means for passage of ventilatable gas.At least one distribution means may communicate with at least one portion of the ventilatable interior(s) of a ventilatable structure, e.g. communicate with at least a portion of the interior of a roof (and e.g. thereby comprise roof ducting and/or attic ducting), and/or at least a portion selected from landing(s), passage(s), room(s), etc. The at least one duct means may comprise ducting selected from ceiling ducting, floor ducting, room ducting, wall ducting, etc. At least a portion of at least one said distribution means may cooperate with logistics for the ventilatable structure, e.g. for passing and/or securing of logistics selected from e.g. electricity cables, control means, gas ducting, heating ducting, water ducting, etc. At least a portion of at least one duct means may be substantially flexible and/or substantially rigid. Ducting may have any suitable configuration.Ducting may be utilised in providing air conditioning, cooling, or heating, etc.

At least a portion of at least one distribution means may be concealed and/or visible in and/or by the ventilatable structure and/or ventilation facility(s).

The present invention may comprise at least one seal means for providing any suitable sealing in utilising e.g the solar ventilator apparatus and/or any of its components (e.g. a solar generator).

Solar ventilator apparatus of the present invention may comprise at least one logistic for maintenance and/or use of a ventilatable structure.

In general, the present invention includes equivalents and modifications arising from all the disclosures herein of the present invention, for example of the accompanying drawings.

In the accompanying drawings, which are by way of example of the present invention: Fig. 1 shows one embodiment of roof ridge tile solar ventilator apparatus.

Fig. 2 shows one alternative solar generator for Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 shows in greater detail the gas displacer/distribution apparatus shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 shows the fastening of the gas displacer/ distribution apparatus of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 shows another embodiment of gas displacer/distribution apparatus.

Fig. 6 shows the fastening of the gas displacer/ distribution apparatus of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 shows one embodiment of a roof tile replacement module or unit, for use as solar ventilator apparatus.

Fig. 8 shows one embodiment of a wall brick replacement module or unit, for use as solar ventilator apparatus.

Fig. 9 shows one embodiment of a solar ventilator module or unit for use over existing air bricks or air tiles.

Fig. 10 shows a cover for the module or unit of Fig. 7.

Fig. 11 shows schematically some examples of methods of solar ventilation corresponding to Figs. 1 to 10.

In Fig. 1, a roof ridge tile solar ventilator apparatus 1 comprises a suitably transparent cover or cowling 2 for being seated on a roof ridge 3 (shown in Fig. 3) of a ventilatable structure (e.g. a building), and fastened thereto by nails or screws utilising holes 4 comprised by cover 2. The seating corresponds to a seat aperture that would exist upon removal of cover 2. Any other suitable fastening means may be used. The arced upper exterior 5 of cover 2 aids cleaning by rain of the exterior of cover 2. One or both of the flanking sides 6, 7 of cover 2 may comprise a respective optional gas outlet comb 8 comprising louvres 9 which resist entry of rain.

The openwork constituted by louvres 9 allows passage therethrough of discharged gas. Louvres 9 also provide a barrier for resisting entry of bats, birds, mice, plant material, tree material, etc. Within the interior of cover 2 will be an oriented and/or orientable planar photovoltaic generator 11 comprising photovoltaic areas (not shown) for receiving solar - radiation transmitted thereto by cover 2. Electrical connections to generator 11 are not shown. Under generator 11 is a barrier felt seal 12 through which the above mentioned nails or screws will pass. Seal 12 has four slits 13 (two are shown in Fig. 1 but four are shown in Fig 2) Under seal 12 is a gas displacer/distribution apparatus 21 comprising four gas outlet ports 22 (two are shown in Fig. 5 but four are shown in Fig 3) for cooperating with respective slits 13.

Ports 22 (Fig. 4) are gas outlets of four fan ducts 23 comprising four respective fans 24 to be driven by electricity obtained from generator 11. The apparatus 21 also comprises four corresponding gas inlet ducts 25 to fans 24. Ducts 25 have four respective gas inlet couplings 26 that communicate (not shown) with at least a portion of e.g. the interior of the roof, and/or at least a portion selected from landing(s), passage(s), rooms(s), etc.

In Fig. 2, a suitably transparent roof ridge cover or cowling 32 (which is one alternative to cover 2 of Fig. 1) has flanking sides 36, 37, each of which has an upper section to house a tilt adjustable photovoltaic generator 41, and has upper and lower optional gas outlet combs 38 of louvres 39, corresponding to comb 8 and louvres 9 of Fig. 1. Provided within the interior of cover 32 is the orientated and/or orientable planar photovoltaic generator 41 (corresponding to generator 11 of Fig. 1). Fig. 2 also shows a barrier felt seal 12 (as in Fig. 1).

Fig. 3 shows the screw fastening to the roof ridge 3 of the gas displacer/distribution apparatus 21 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 shows the fastened apparatus 21 having four gas outlet ports 22 engaged with slits 13 of barrier felt seal 12.

Figs. 5 and 6 show a barrier felt seal 52 (corresponding to barrier felt seal 12 of Fig. 1) having two slits 53 that will engage two respective gas outlet ports 62 of an alternative gas displacer/distribution apparatus 61 comprising the two ports 62, two corresponding fan ducts 63 comprising two respective fans 64, two gas inlet ducts 65, and two gas inlet couplings 66, in similar manner to the gas displacer/distribution apparatus 21 of Fig. 1.

In Fig. 7, a roof tile replacement module or unit 71 for use as solar ventilator apparatus comprises a suitably transparent cover or cowling 72 for being seated on a roof ridge (e.g. roof ridge 3 of Fig. 3) and fastened thereto by nails or screws utilising holes 74 comprised by cover 72, or by any other suitable fastening means. The seating corresponds to a seat aperture that would exist upon removal of cover 72. The ramped upper exterior 75 of cover 72 aids cleaning by rain of the exterior of cover 72. The taller side portion 73 of the ramped exterior 72 comprises a gas outlet comb 78 of louvres 79, corresponding to comb 8 and louvres 9 of Fig. 1.Within the interior of cover 72 there will be an oriented or orientable planar photovoltaic generator 81 (corresponding to generator 11 of Fig. 1), under which is a barrier felt seal 91 having a slit 92 that will engage two respective gas outlet ports 102 of an alternative gas displacer/distribution apparatus 101 comprising the two ports 102, two corresponding fan ducts 103 comprising two respective fans 104, and a manifold 105 comprising two gas outlet couplings 106. Alternatively, gas displacers as described in Figures 1 and 3 to 6 with their associated coupling may be utilised.

In Fig. 8, a wall brick replacement module or unit 121 for use as solar ventilator apparatus comprises a suitably transparent cover or cowling 122 for being seated in a seat aperture 171 of a wall 172 (not shown in Fig. 8 but shown in Fig. 9) and fastened thereto by nails or screws utilising holes 124 comprised by cover 122, or by any other suitable fastening means. The platelike exterior 125 of cover 122 aids cleaning by rain of the exterior of cover 122. Cover 122 comprises an oriented or orientable planar photovoltaic generator 131 (corresponding to photovoltaic generator 11 of Fig. 1).

Cover 122 comprises a gas outlet slot 132 in which is to be received a gas outlet comb 128 comprising louvres 129, corresponding to comb 8 and louvres 9 of Fig. 1. Behind comb 128 is an alternative gas displacer/distribution apparatus 141 comprising two gas outlet ports 142, two corresponding fan ducts 143 comprising two respective fans 144, and two gas inlet ports 145. Behind ducts 145 is a second comb 128 comprising louvres 129, constituting a gas inlet to the distribution apparatus 141. A top plate 146 enables the two combs 128, outlet ports 142, fan ducts 143, fans 144, and inlet ducts 145 to be a modular or unit assembly.

Fig. 9 shows a solar ventilator module or unit 151 for use over an existing air brick or air tile 150 comprised by wall 172. Module or unit 151 is an alternative to the wall brick replacement module or unit 121 of Fig. 8. In Fig. 9, a suitably transparent ramped cover or cowling 152 has a gas outlet 155 which may have an optional gas outlet comb 78 (Fig. 8). Within the interior of cover 152 is an oriented or orientable planar photovoltaic generator 81 mounted over an alternative gas displacer/distribution apparatus 161 comprising any suitable number of respective gas outlet port(s) 162 communicating with a central fan duct 163 comprising any suitable number of fan(s) 164 and a central gas inlet port 165. Apparatus 161 also comprises a rear housing 166 that has gas inlet ports 167. Apparatus 161 is a modular or unit assembly.A mounting plate 171 is provided for screw fastening the rear housing 166 and the cover 72 to the wall 172. Mounting holes 183 (Fig. 10) are provided in the cover 152 for the screw fastening of the module or unit 151 to the wall or roof 172, but alternative methods of fastening may be utilised, e.g. nails, adhesives, clips etc.

Fig. 10 shows the exterior of cover 152 and hence the external aspect of the module or unit 151 described above, and identifies some possible positions for the above mentioned fixing holes 183. Cover 152 has any suitable number of window portion(s) 184 for the photovoltaic generator 81.

Fig. 11 shows schematically various components of Figs. 1 to 10 so as to illustrate some examples of methods of solar ventilation.

The present invention as exemplified in the drawings may be embodied in any suitable manner in accordance with the disclosures given above before the first reference to the drawings. For example, any suitable fan or other gas displacer means may be utilised. Conveniently, a fan may be a said radial flow fan. There may be any suitable number of photovoltaic generator(s)etc,

Claims

CLAIMS 1. Solar ventilator apparatus, comprising: at least one cover means for cooperating with a ventilatable structure, said at least one cover means allowing flow of gas therethrough out of and/or into at least a portion of the ventilatable interior(s) of said structure, said at least one cover means being adapted to receive solar radiation; at least one solar generator, for generating electricity in response to said received solar radiation; and at least one displacer means for displacing gas out of and/or into at least a portion of the ventilatable interior(s) of said structure (optionally via said at least one cover means) operation of said at least one displacer means being aided and/or enabled by at least said generated electricity, said at least one displacer means optionally being adapted to cooperate with at least one distribution means for distributing gas from and/or to said at least one displacer means, for gas displacement by said at least one displacer means.
2. Solar ventilator apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said apparatus is adapted to replace existing ventilators and/or cooperate with existing ventilators.
3. Solar ventilator apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein said apparatus is adapted to replace bricks or tiles, or said apparatus is adapted to cooperate with air bricks or ventilator roof tiles.
4. Solar ventilator apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein at least a portion of at least one said cover means is oriented and/or orientable relative to at least a portion of solar radiation.
5. Solar ventilator apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein at least a portion of at least one said cover means is at least partly transparent to solar radiation.
6. Solar ventilator apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein said at least one cover means has a configuration appropriate to a roof or wall.
7. Solar ventilator apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein said at least one civer means houses and/or supports said at least one solar generator.
8. Solar ventilator apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein at least a portion of said at least one cover means is at least partly an entrance barrier to animal and/or inanimate matter from outside said structure.
9. Solar ventilator apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein at least a portion of said entrance barrier comprises barrier openwork.
10. Solar ventilator apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein at least a portion of at least one said solar generator is oriented and/or orientable relative to at least a portion of said at least one cover means.
11. Solar ventilator apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein said at least one displacer means comprises at least one fan.
12. Solar ventilator apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 11, comprising at least one said distribution means.
13. Solar ventilator apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein at least one said distribution means ducts is adapted to communicate with at least a portion of the ventilable interior(s) of said structure.
14. A solar ventilator apparatus as claimed in claim 1, substantially as hereinbefore described.
15. A solar ventilator apparatus as claimed in claim 1, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.
16. A method of ventilation, comprising utilising solar ventilator apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 15.
17. A solar generator, comprising: at least one said cover means according to claim 1; and at least one said solar generator according to claim 1.
18. A solar generator as claimed in claim 17, substantially as hereinbefore described.
19. A solar generator as claimed in claim 17, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.
20. A method for generating electricity, comprising utilising at least one solar generator as claimed in any one of claims 17 to 19.