Solar power building block

Patent · Tue Apr 20 04:00:00 EST 1982

OSTI ID:5168177

Charlton, W T

A building unit for exterior walls and the like comprising a molded block of glass having a recess in the side face which is to face the exterior, the recess having a side wall and an open outer end on which a fresnel lens is disposed, the inner end of the recess having a solar cell disposed therein so that sunlight passing through the fresnel lens impinges on the solar cell for the generation of electric power together with a battery disposed within a cavity molded in the block connected by a circuit to the solar cell for storing the generated electric power for subsequent use as needed in a residence or the like. A further embodiment has attached to the interior wall a black painted duct containing vertical radiant fins. This unit contains a ''window'' through which the concentrated radiation is directed by the lens arrangement of the side walls and front lens to create a highly energetic radiant impingement upon the black duct heating it. Air flowing vertically in the duct is used for heating of interior air or removal of superheated interior air by using the force of the rising air for an '' air cooling'' effect.

• Assignee: EDB-82-140154
• Patent Number(s): US 4326012
• OSTI ID: 5168177
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
140909* -- Solar Thermal Utilization-- Miscellaneous Solar Applications-- (1980-)
141000 -- Solar Collectors & Concentrators
AIR FLOW
BLACK COATINGS
BUILDING MATERIALS
COATINGS
DIRECT ENERGY CONVERTERS
ELECTRIC BATTERIES
ELECTROCHEMICAL CELLS
ENERGY TRANSFER
EQUIPMENT
FLUID FLOW
FRESNEL LENS
GAS FLOW
GLASS
HEAT TRANSFER
HEATING
LENSES
MATERIALS
MIRRORS
PHOTOELECTRIC CELLS
PHOTOVOLTAIC CELLS
POWER GENERATION
SOLAR ABSORBERS
SOLAR CELLS
SOLAR EQUIPMENT
SPACE HEATING
STORAGE
THERMAL INSULATION
WALLS