Solar window and solar wall for cooling an environment

Abstract

A window for cooling an environment including first and second panes disposed opposite from one another; a frame coupled to the first and second panes forms an air gap between the first pane, the second pane, and the frame; and first and second reflective coatings disposed on first surfaces of the first and second panes. The first surfaces face the air gap, and the reflective coatings are configured to reflect infrared radiation into the air gap to generate heat. The window further includes first and second antireflective coatings respectively disposed on second surfaces of the first and second panes. The second surfaces face away from the air gap, and the antireflective coatings are configured to transmit radiation into the air gap. The window further includes an adsorption-cooling systems configured to collect heat from the air gap to cool air in an environment adjacent to the second pane.

1 . A window configured to cool an environment adjacent to the window comprising:
 first and second panes disposed opposite from one another;   a frame coupled to the first and the second panes to form an air gap between the first pane, the second pane, and the frame;   first and second reflective coatings respectively disposed on first surfaces of the first and the second panes, wherein the first surfaces face the air gap, and the reflective coatings are configured to reflect infrared radiation into the air gap to generate heated air in the air gap;   first and second antireflective coatings respectively disposed on second surfaces of the first and the second panes, wherein the second surfaces face away from the air gap, and the antireflective coatings are configured to transmit visible light and infrared radiation into the air gap; and   an adsorption-cooling system configured to collect heat from the air gap to cool air in an environment adjacent to the second pane.   
     
     
         2 . The window of  claim 1 , wherein the adsorption-cooling system includes an adsorption-desorption chamber configured to house an adsorption unit, a condenser, and a heat-exchanger unit. 
     
     
         3 . The window of  claim 2 , wherein the adsorption unit is configured to adsorb a refrigerant in gas form in the adsorption-desorption chamber to cool the heat-exchanger unit, which is configured to be at least partially submerged in the refrigerant in liquid form, to cool the environment. 
     
     
         4 . The window of  claim 3 , wherein:
 the adsorption unit includes a pipe and an adsorbent coupled to the pipe,   an ambient-temperature heat-transfer fluid is configured to flow in the pipe to cool the adsorbent to effect adsorption of the refrigerant in gas form and enhance evaporation of the refrigerant into gas to cool the heat exchanger unit, and   the cooled heat exchanger unit is configured to cool the environment.   
     
     
         5 . The window of  claim 4 , wherein:
 if the ambient-temperature heat-transfer fluid is configured not to flow in the pipe, then a heated heat-transfer fluid heated in the air gap is configured to flow in the pipe to heat the adsorbent to effect desorption of the refrigerant into gas form, and   if the heated heat-transfer fluid is configured to flow in the pipe, then the ambient-temperature heat-transfer fluid is configured to flow in the condenser to condensate the refrigerant from gas from into liquid form.   
     
     
         6 . The window of  claim 5 , further comprising: an electrical generator disposed in the air gap configured to convert electromagnetic radiation to electricity; wherein the adsorption-cooling system further includes a set of pumps configured to pump the ambient-temperature heat-transfer fluid, the heated heat-transfer fluid, and a heat-transfer fluid in the heat-exchanger unit, and wherein the electrical generator is coupled to the set of pumps to provide power to the set of pumps to drive the set of pumps. 
     
     
         7 . The window of  claim 6 , wherein the heat exchanger unit includes a radiator configured to adsorb heat from the environment to cool the environment. 
     
     
         8 . The window of  claim 6 , further comprising a circuit configured to control the operation of the set of pumps. 
     
     
         9 . The window of  claim 6 , wherein the electrical generator includes a set of photovoltaic panels 
     
     
         10 . The window of  claim 9 , further comprising a set of louvers in the air gap, wherein the set of photovoltaic panels is coupled to the set of louvers. 
     
     
         11 . The window of  claim 10 , wherein the louvers in the set of louvers are octagonal. 
     
     
         12 . A window configured to cool an environment adjacent to the window comprising:
 first and second panes disposed opposite from one another;   a frame coupled to the first and the second panes to form an air gap between the first pane, the second pane, and the frame;   first and second reflective coatings respectively disposed on first surfaces of the first and the second panes, wherein the first surfaces face the air gap, and the reflective coatings are configured to reflect infrared radiation into the air gap to generate heated air in the air gap;   first and second antireflective coatings respectively disposed on second surfaces of the first and the second panes, wherein the second surfaces face away from the air gap, and the antireflective coatings are configured to transmit visible light and infrared radiation into the air gap; and   an adsorption-cooling system configured to collect heat from the air gap to cool air in an environment adjacent to the second pane, wherein the adsorption-cooling system includes a first adsorption-desorption chamber and a second adsorption-desorption chamber, and the first and the second adsorption-desorption chambers are configured to operate a cooling cycle temporally out of phase with each another.   
     
     
         13 . The window of  claim 12 , further comprising a heat-collection unit configured to collect heat from the air gap and transfer the heat to a heat-transfer fluid in the heat collection unit for use by the first and the second adsorption-desorption chambers to cool the environment. 
     
     
         14 . The window of  claim 12 , wherein the first adsorption-desorption chamber includes a first adsorption unit, a first condenser, and a first heat-exchanger unit, and the second adsorption-desorption chamber includes a second adsorption unit, a second condenser, and a second heat-exchanger unit. 
     
     
         15 . The window of  claim 14 , wherein the adsorption-cooling systems include a radiator coupled to the first and the second heat-exchanger units. 
     
     
         16 . The window of  claim 14 , wherein the first adsorption unit is configured to adsorb a refrigerant in gas form in the first adsorption-desorption chamber to cool the first heat-exchanger unit to cool the environment, and wherein the second adsorption unit is configured to adsorb a refrigerant in gas form in the second adsorption-desorption chamber to cool the second heat-exchanger unit to cool the environment. 
     
     
         17 . The window of  claim 16 , wherein:
 the first-adsorption unit includes a first pipe and a first adsorbent coupled to the first pipe,   an ambient-temperature heat-transfer fluid is configured to flow in the first pipe to cool the first adsorbent to effect adsorption of the refrigerant in gas form and enhance evaporation of the refrigerant into gas to cool the first heat-exchanger unit,   the first cooled heat-exchanger unit is configured to cool the environment, and wherein:   the second-adsorption unit includes a second pipe and a second adsorbent coupled to the second pipe,   the ambient-temperature heat-transfer fluid is configured to flow in the second pipe to cool the second adsorbent to effect adsorption of the refrigerant in gas form and enhance evaporation of the refrigerant into gas to cool the second heat exchanger unit,   the second cooled heat-exchanger unit is configured to cool the environment.   
     
     
         18 . The window of  claim 17 , wherein:
 if the ambient-temperature heat-transfer fluid is configured not to flow in the first pipe, then a heated heat-transfer fluid heated in the air gap is configured to flow in the first pipe to heat the first adsorbent to effect desorption of the refrigerant into gas form,   if the heated heat-transfer fluid is configured to flow in the first pipe, then the ambient-temperature heat-transfer fluid is configured to flow in the first condenser to condensate the refrigerant from gas from into liquid form, and wherein:   if the ambient-temperature heat-transfer fluid is configured not to flow in the second pipe, then a heated heat-transfer fluid heated in the air gap is configured to flow in the second pipe to heat the second adsorbent to effect desorption of the refrigerant into gas form, and   if the heated heat-transfer fluid is configured to flow in the second pipe, then the ambient-temperature heat-transfer fluid is configured to flow in the second condenser to condensate the refrigerant from gas from into liquid form.   
     
     
         19 . The window of  claim 14 , further comprising: an electrical generator disposed in the air gap configured to convert electromagnetic radiation to electricity; wherein the adsorption-cooling system further includes a set of pumps configured to pump the ambient-temperature heat-transfer fluid, the heated heat-transfer fluid, and a heat-transfer fluid in the first and the second heat-exchanger units, and wherein the electrical generator is coupled to the set of pumps to provide power to the set of pumps to drive the set of pumps. 
     
     
         20 . The window of  claim 19 , further comprising a circuit configured to control the operation of the set of pumps. 
     
     
         21 . The window of  claim 19 , wherein the electrical generator includes a set of photovoltaic panels 
     
     
         22 . The window of  claim 19 , further comprising a set of louvers in the air gap, wherein the set of photovoltaic panels is coupled to the set of louvers. 
     
     
         23 . The window of  claim 22 , wherein the louvers in the set of louvers are octagonal. 
     
     
         24 . A wall configured to cool an environment adjacent to the wall comprising:
 a pane configured to receive radiation;   a wall disposed adjacent to the pane;   a frame coupled to the pane and the wall to form an air gap between the pane, the wall, and the frame;   a reflective coating disposed on a first surface of the pane, wherein the first surface faces the air gap, and the reflective coating is configured to reflect infrared radiation into the air gap to generate heated air in the air gap;   an antireflective coating disposed on second surfaces of the pane, wherein the second surface faces away from the air gap, and the antireflective coating is configured to transmit visible light and infrared radiation into the air gap; and   an adsorption-cooling system configured to collect heat from the air gap to cool air in an environment adjacent to the wall.   
     
     
         25 . The wall of  claim 24 , wherein the adsorption-cooling system includes an adsorption-desorption chamber configured to house an adsorption unit, a condenser, and a heat-exchanger unit. 
     
     
         26 . The wall of  claim 25 , wherein the adsorption unit is configured to adsorb a refrigerant in gas form in the adsorption-desorption chamber to cool the heat-exchanger unit, which is configured to be at least partially submerged in the refrigerant in liquid form, to cool the environment. 
     
     
         27 . The wall of  claim 26 , wherein:
 the adsorption unit includes a pipe and an adsorbent coupled to the pipe,   an ambient-temperature heat-transfer fluid is configured to flow in the pipe to cool the adsorbent to effect adsorption of the refrigerant in gas form and enhance evaporation of the refrigerant into gas to cool the heat exchanger unit, and   the cooled heat exchanger unit is configured to cool the environment.   
     
     
         28 . The wall of  claim 27 , wherein:
 if the ambient-temperature heat-transfer fluid is configured not to flow in the pipe, then a heated heat-transfer fluid heated in the air gap is configured to flow in the pipe to heat the adsorbent to effect desorption of the refrigerant into gas form, and   if the heated heat-transfer fluid is configured to flow in the pipe, then the ambient-temperature heat-transfer fluid is configured to flow in the condenser to condensate the refrigerant from gas from into liquid form.   
     
     
         29 . The wall of  claim 28 , further comprising: an electrical generator disposed in the air gap configured to convert electromagnetic radiation to electricity; wherein the adsorption-cooling system further includes a set of pumps configured to pump the ambient-temperature heat-transfer fluid, the heated heat-transfer fluid, and a heat-transfer fluid in the heat-exchanger unit, and wherein the electrical generator is coupled to the set of pumps to provide power to the set of pumps to drive the set of pumps. 
     
     
         30 . The wall of  claim 29 , wherein the heat exchanger unit includes a radiator configured to adsorb heat from the environment to cool the environment. 
     
     
         31 . The wall of  claim 29 , further comprising a circuit configured to control the operation of the set of pumps. 
     
     
         32 . The wall of  claim 24 , further comprising a window.