Energy Channeling Sun Shade System and Apparatus

Abstract

An invention is disclosed that shades a building from solar energy gain while simultaneously channeling intercepted energy in the form of heat and electricity for useful purposes. The invention is mounted optimally on exterior building surfaces having some direct exposure to the sun. The invention may be installed on the building surface so that it integrates with the building envelope to provide cladding against the weather in addition to shade. The invention includes modular units, each having several louvers that track the movement of the sun to provide optimal shading, and optionally, lighting when the module is implemented as a skylight to allow daylight to pass through into the building interior. Each louver contains photovoltaic cells, a heat dissipating substrate to which photovoltaic cells are mounted, and an optional concentrator lens and/or reflector used to channel solar energy using inexpensive materials. Alternatively, the invention includes of stationary, modular units with reflective surfaces on the foreground that channel solar energy onto fixed solar receivers in the background. The effect is to avoid solar gain to the building surface and to concentrate solar flux onto solar receivers.

1 . A shading system that is attachable to, or that may be integrated with, a building envelope in order to intercept and channel solar energy gain for heating/cooling, electrical applications, and daylighting, the system comprising one or more shading unit modules affixable to the building individually or together to intercept, channel, and transmit solar energy that otherwise strikes the building directly, wherein the one or more shading modules are arranged to provide one or more of: 
 a. forming a contiguous shield, or cladding, against weather elements;    b. optimizing the amount of solar energy intercepted and transmitted by the shading system;    c. channeling electricity generated through the interception and redirection of solar energy; and    d. channeling heat generated in the creation of electricity and/or through the interception and redirection of solar energy.    
     
     
         2 . The shading system as described in  claim 1 , wherein each module is a rack assembly with a stationary, uncurved reflective surface that redirects solar energy onto opposite opaque panels in the form of solar receivers attached to rails.  
     
     
         3 . The shading system as described in  claim 2 , wherein each of the opaque panels is in the form of a solar receiver containing one or more photovoltaic cells, one or more thermally conductive materials that dissipate heat, or a combination of both.  
     
     
         4 . The shading system as described in  claim 1 , wherein each module is an encasement with a translucent or transparent top surface and a translucent, transparent, or opaque bottom surface.  
     
     
         5 . The shading system as described in  claim 1 , wherein each module includes louvers and/or opaque sheets of material, both of which intercept solar energy to provide shade.  
     
     
         6 . The shading system as described in  claim 5 , wherein each louver is arranged to intercept solar energy to provide shade while using the solar energy to generate electricity and heat by means of a solar receiver in the louver.  
     
     
         7 . The shading system as described in  claim 6 , wherein the solar receiver includes one or more photovoltaic cells mounted to a substrate that dissipates heat by means of pipes or ducts carrying a flowing liquid or gas.  
     
     
         8 . The shading system as described in  claim 5 , wherein each louver intercepting solar energy to provide shade includes a concentrating reflector that redirects solar energy onto a solar receiver.  
     
     
         9 . The shading system as described in  claim 5 , wherein each louver intercepting solar energy to provide shade by redirecting solar energy onto a lens and onto a concentrating reflector.  
     
     
         10 . The shading system as described in  claim 5 , further comprising an assemblage to attach the one or more modules and one or more corresponding control mechanisms, and wherein each louver intercepting solar energy to provide shade includes a reflective underside to redirect diffuse skylight toward the building interior when the louvers are in an open position.  
     
     
         11 . The shading system as described in  claim 5 , wherein the opaque sheets of material include light blocking material or solar receivers having photovoltaic cells mounted to a substrate that dissipates heat by means of pipes or ducts carrying a flowing liquid or gas.  
     
     
         12 . The shading system as described in  claim 1 , wherein each module includes an electrical wiring harness that is located within the walls of the module and that provides interconnects among one or more solar receivers within the module as well as interconnects to other modules within the shading system.  
     
     
         13 . The shading system as described in  claim 1 , wherein each module includes pipes or ducts located within walls of the module to conduct heat dissipating fluid through one or more solar receivers thereof and to connect to other modules within the shading system to conduct the same fluid.  
     
     
         14 . The shading system as described in  claim 1 , wherein each module includes one or more mechanisms to connect louvers within the module to one or more control modules.  
     
     
         15 . The shading system as described in  claim 1  further comprising mechanical linkages, screws, pulleys, sprockets and gears to drive one or more louvers of one or more shading unit modules by means of one or more motors and rotating the louvers about a single axis that runs the length of the louver and that has either latitudinal or longitudinal orientation.  
     
     
         16 . The shading system as described in  claim 15  further comprising a circuit board with logic to control the one or more motors driving the opening and closing of the louvers, the logic being based on solar gain signal processing or calculations for solar positioning per time of year and geographic location.  
     
     
         17 . The shading system as described in  claim 1  arranged for attachment to the building and integration with the building envelope to provide cladding by means of interlocking and weatherproof seams between each of the one or more modules.  
     
     
         18 . The shading system as described in  claim 1  arranged for attachment to the building and integration with the building envelope to provide cladding by means of flashing that flashes to cladding material on a wall or a roof of the building to provide a weatherproof installation and interlocks with one or more shading unit modules.  
     
     
         19 . The shading system as described in  claim 1  arranged for attachment to the building by means of rack mounts that are affixed or ballasted through the use of masonry blocks or containers filled with an antifreeze solution.