Wall assembly with photovoltaic panel

Abstract

A wall assembly including a power generation subassembly having one or more body elements and one or more photovoltaic power generation modules. Each photovoltaic power generation module includes one or more photovoltaic panel with photovoltaic cells for converting light energy into electricity, being adapted to operate at an operating temperature within a range of operating temperatures, and means for attaching the photovoltaic panel to the body element. The wall assembly also includes one or more loop circuits adapted to permit flow of a heat transfer medium therethrough. Each loop circuit is at least partially engaged with the power generation subassembly for transfer of heat energy therebetween via conduction for moderating the operating temperature of the photovoltaic cells.

1 . A wall assembly comprising:
 a power generation subassembly comprising:
 at least one body element comprising at least one engagement portion; 
 at least one photovoltaic power generation module, comprising: 
 at least one photovoltaic panel comprising at least one photovoltaic cell for converting light energy into electricity, said at least one photovoltaic cell being adapted to operate at an operating temperature within a range of operating temperatures; 
 means for attaching said at least one photovoltaic panel to said at least one body element; 
   at least one loop circuit adapted to permit flow of a heat transfer medium therethrough;   said at least one photovoltaic panel being at least partially engaged with said at least one engagement portion of said at least one body element; and   said at least one loop circuit being at least partially engaged with said at least one body element at said at least one engagement portion for transfer of heat energy therebetween via conduction for moderating the operating temperature of said at least one photovoltaic cell.   
     
     
         2 . A wall assembly according to  claim 1  in which:
 said at least one body element additionally comprises at least one support portion thereof adjacent to said at least one engagement portion thereof; and 
 said at least one loop circuit is at least partially engaged with at least a preselected part of said at least one support portion, for moderating heat energy transfer through said at least one body element. 
 
     
     
         3 . A wall assembly according to  claim 2  in which:
 said at least one support portion of said at least one body element is positioned adjacent to said at least one photovoltaic panel; and 
 said at least one loop circuit is at least partially engaged with said at least one body element in at least a predetermined part of said at least one support portion, for moderating heat energy transfer through said at least one body element. 
 
     
     
         4 . A wall system comprising:
 at least one power generation subassembly comprising:
 at least one body element comprising at least one engagement portion; 
 at least one photovoltaic power generation module, comprising: 
 at least one photovoltaic panel comprising at least one photovoltaic cell for converting light energy into electricity, said at least one photovoltaic cell being adapted to operate at an operating temperature within a range of operating temperatures; 
 at least one regulator, for regulating the electricity generated by said at least one photovoltaic cell; 
 means for attaching said at least one photovoltaic panel to said at least one body element; 
   a heat exchange subassembly comprising:
 a heat pump subassembly for moderating an indoor fluid's temperature, comprising a heat exchanger having a heat exchange fluid circulatable therein; 
 at least one circuit in fluid communication with at least one pump, for circulating a heat transfer medium through said at least one circuit; 
 said at least one circuit comprising:
 at least one end portion positioned proximal to the heat pump subassembly for heat exchange between the heat transfer medium in said at least one end portion and the heat exchange fluid in the heat exchanger; 
 at least one loop circuit in fluid communication with said at least one end portion; 
 
   said at least one photovoltaic panel is at least partially engaged with said at least one engagement portion of said at least one body element; and   said at least one loop circuit is at least partially engaged with said at least one body element at said at least one engagement portion for transfer of heat energy therebetween via conduction for moderating the operating temperature of said at least one photovoltaic cell.   
     
     
         5 . A wall system according to  claim 4  in which:
 said at least one body element comprises at least one support portion thereof adjacent to said at least one engagement portion thereof; and 
 said at least one loop circuit is at least partially engaged with at least a preselected part of said at least one support portion, for moderating heat energy transfer through said at least one body element. 
 
     
     
         6 . A wall system according to  claim 5  in which:
 said at least one support portion of said at least one body element is positioned adjacent to said at least one photovoltaic panel; and 
 said at least one loop circuit is at least partially engaged with said at least one body element in at least a predetermined part of said at least one support portion, for moderating heat energy transfer through said at least one body element. 
 
     
     
         7 . A structure comprising said at least one wall system according to  claim 6  comprising a plurality of power generation subassemblies, and in which:
 the heat exchange subassembly comprises a plurality of said loop circuits; and 
 each said loop circuit is connected in series to at least one other of said loop circuits located adjacent thereto. 
 
     
     
         8 . A structure comprising said at least one wall system according to  claim 6  comprising a plurality of power generation subassemblies, and in which:
 the heat exchange subassembly comprises a plurality of said loop circuits; and 
 each said loop circuit is connected in parallel relative to at least one other of said loop circuits located adjacent thereto. 
 
     
     
         9 . A structure according to  claim 8  comprising at least one manifold for receiving the heat exchange medium from said loop circuits respectively at substantially the same pressure, to permit the heat exchange medium to flow into said at least one manifold at substantially equal rates of flow. 
     
     
         10 . A structure according to  claim 9  in which each said loop circuit additionally comprises at least one pressure equalizing means. 
     
     
         11 . A method of forming the wall assembly of  claim 1 , comprising:
 (a) providing a formwork assembly for defining said at least one body element adjacent to said at least one photovoltaic panel;   (b) introducing workable concrete into the formwork assembly;   (c) allowing the concrete in the formwork assembly to cure, to form said at least one body element; and   (d) removing the formwork assembly after the concrete has substantially cured.   
     
     
         12 . A wall system comprising:
 at least one power generation subassembly comprising:
 at least one body element comprising at least one engagement portion; 
 at least one photovoltaic power generation module, comprising:
 at least one photovoltaic panel comprising at least one photovoltaic cell for converting light energy into electricity, said at least one photovoltaic cell being adapted to operate at an operating temperature within a range of operating temperatures; 
 at least one regulator, for regulating the electricity generated by said at least one photovoltaic cell; 
 means for attaching said at least one photovoltaic panel to said at least one body element; 
 
   a heat exchange subassembly comprising:
 at least one pump; 
 at least one circuit in fluid communication with said at least one pump; 
 said at least one pump being adapted for circulating a heat transfer medium through said at least one circuit; 
 said at least one circuit comprising:
 at least one end portion positioned proximal to said at least one pump; 
 at least one loop circuit in fluid communication with said at least one end portion; 
 
   said at least one photovoltaic panel is at least partially engaged with said at least one engagement portion of said at least one body element; and   said at least one loop circuit is at least partially engaged with said at least one body element at said at least one engagement portion for transfer of heat energy therebetween for moderating a temperature of said at least one body element, for controlling heat transfer therethrough.   
     
     
         13 . A wall system according to  claim 12  in which:
 said at least one body element comprises at least one support portion thereof adjacent to said at least one engagement portion thereof; and 
 said at least one loop circuit is at least partially engaged with said at least one engagement portion and with at least a preselected part of said at least one support portion, for moderating heat energy transfer through said at least one body element. 
 
     
     
         14 . A wall system according to  claim 13  in which:
 said at least one body element additionally comprises at least one support portion adjacent to said at least one photovoltaic panel; and 
 said at least one loop circuit is at least partially engaged with said at least one body element in at least a predetermined part of said at least one support portion, for moderating heat energy transfer through said at least one body element. 
 
     
     
         15 . A wall system according to  claim 14  in which the heat exchange subassembly additionally comprises a supplemental loop circuit in which a supplemental heat exchange medium is circulatable, for heat exchange between the supplemental heat exchange medium and the heat exchange fluid in the heat exchanger.