Modular removable building integrated thermal electric roofing system

Abstract

An improved modular, removable system of building-integrated solar panel photovoltaics for easy residential and commercial roof installation for generating electrical and thermal energy.

Claims

1. A modular, removable roofing installation system for optimally capturing solar thermal energy, the modular, removable roofing installation system comprising: a plurality of removable solar panel modules, each solar panel module comprising a plurality of slate modules mounted on a plurality of metal battens, a plurality of inverters for converting DC electricity fed from the plurality of slate, modules to AC electricity, a thermal tubing containing liquid mounted beneath the plurality of slate modules on the plurality of metal battens, wherein the plurality of metal battens are mounted on a plurality of horizontal battens that are mounted onto a plurality of vertical battens, wherein each solar panel module comprises a roof-attaching latch mounted to a backing of the plurality of vertical battens, wherein the roof-attaching latch couples to a corresponding roof surface latch mounted to a roof to removably attach each solar panel module to the roof; a plurality of metal fasteners, each metal fastener coupled to two adjacent removable solar panel modules of the plurality of removable solar panel modules; a pump and thermal control unit comprising a circulation pump that is operatively connected to the thermal tubing for circulating the liquid through the thermal tubing; a heat exchanger that is operatively connected to the thermal tubing for extracting the thermal energy, the heat exchanger being housed in a storage tank; a heat pump connected to the heat exchanger for maintaining the temperature of the liquid in the storage tank to a certain threshold temperature; whereby the plurality of slate modules and the thermal tubing operate simultaneously to generate electricity and domestic hot water respectively; and wherein the system may be removed and re-installed on a second roof by disconnecting the pump and thermal control unit, disconnecting the thermal tubing from the heat exchanger and the circulation pump, and removing the plurality of removable solar panel modules.

2. The modular, removable roofing installation system of claim 1 wherein each of the plurality of slate modules includes at least one photovoltaic cell.

3. The modular, removable roofing installation system of claim 1 wherein each of the plurality of slate modules is electrically connected in series to form a string.

4. The modular, removable roofing installation system of claim 3 wherein the plurality of inverters feed AC electricity to a utility grid.

5. The modular, removable roofing installation system of claim 1 wherein the plurality of metal battens collects the solar energy, converts into thermal energy and delivers to the liquid running in the thermal tubing.

6. The modular, removable roofing installation system of claim 1 wherein the circulation pump is powered by a separate photovoltaic panel.

7. The modular, removable roofing installation system of claim 1 wherein the heat exchanger extracts the thermal energy from the liquid in the thermal tubing resulting in heating up the domestic water supply and providing domestic hot water.

8. The modular, removable roofing installation system of claim 1 wherein the thermal tubing may be made of material selected from a group consisting of: copper, aluminum or cross-linked polyethylene (PEX).

9. The modular, removable roofing installation system of claim 1 wherein the liquid, in the thermal tubing may be selected from a group consisting of: water and glycol.

10. The modular, removable roofing installation system of claim 1 wherein the heat pump maintains the temperature of the liquid in the storage tank when the temperature goes below/above a certain level.

11. The modular, removable roofing installation system of claim 1 wherein the horizontal and vertical battens may be composed from a material selected from a group consisting of: wood and fiberglass.

12. The roofing installation system of claim 1 wherein the plurality of slate modules is cooled as the thermal energy is extracted by the heat exchanger, thereby making the plurality of slate modules operate at high efficiency in converting the solar energy to DC electricity.

13. A method of installing a modular, removable roofing installation system comprising: a. removably mounting a plurality of removable solar panel modules on a roof, each solar panel module comprising a plurality of slate modules mounted on a′plurality of metal battens, a plurality of inverters for converting DC electricity fed from the plurality of slate modules to AC electricity, a thermal tubing containing liquid mounted beneath the plurality of slate modules on the plurality of metal battens, wherein the plurality of metal battens are mounted on a plurality of horizontal battens that are mounted onto a plurality of vertical battens, wherein each solar panel module comprises a roof-attaching latch mounted to a backing of the plurality of vertical battens, wherein the roof-attaching latch couples to a corresponding roof surface latch mounted to roof to removably attach each solar panel module to the roof; b. coupling each metal fastener of a plurality of metal fasteners to two adjacent removable solar panel modules of the plurality of removable solar panel modules; c. mounting a pump and thermal control unit comprising a circulation pump proximate to the solar panel modules; d. connecting the circulation pump to the thermal tubing for circulating the liquid through the thermal tubing; e. connecting a heat exchanger to the thermal tubing for extracting the thermal energy, the heat exchanger being housed in a storage tank; f. connecting a heat pump to the heat exchanger for maintaining the temperature of the liquid in the storage tank to a certain threshold temperature; g. electrically connecting each of the plurality of slate modules in series to form a string; and h. connecting the plurality of inverters to each string for converting the DC electricity from the plurality of slate modules to AC electricity.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein each of the plurality of slate modules includes at least one photovoltaic cell.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein the method of installing the roofing installation system is initiated at the bottom of the slope roof.

16. The method of claim 13 wherein the plurality of metal battens collects the solar energy and converts into thermal energy by running the liquid in the thermal tubing throughout the roof.

17. The method of claim 13 wherein the thermal energy is extracted by the heat exchanger resulting in heating up the domestic water supply and providing domestic hot water.

18. The method of claim 13 wherein the plurality of slate modules is cooled as the thermal energy is extracted by the heat exchanger, thereby making the plurality of slate modules operate at high efficiency in converting the solar energy to DC electricity.

19. The method of claim 13 wherein the heat pump maintains the temperature of the liquid in the storage tank when the temperature goes below/above a certain level.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of embodiments of an improved system of modular building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) for easy residential and commercial roof installation, which description should be considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic of the removable BITERS system.

(3) FIG. 2 illustrates a schematic of the BITERS system.

(4) FIG. 3 illustrates a block diagram for the pump and thermal control system.

(5) FIG. 4 illustrates a layout of a system.

(6) FIG. 5 illustrates a top isometric view of an attaching purlin.

(7) FIG. 6 illustrates a front view of an attaching purlin.

(8) FIG. 7 illustrates a side view of a removable BITERS mounting latch.

(9) FIG. 8 illustrates a top isometric view of a removable BITERS mounting latch.

(10) FIG. 9 illustrates a side view of the removable BITERS mounting latch with a mounting notch.

(11) FIG. 10 illustrates a top view of the BITERS Sunslate Removable Modular System in an unconnected configuration.

(12) FIG. 11 illustrates a top view of the BITERS Sunslate Removable Modular System in a connected configuration.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

(13) While several variations of the present invention have been illustrated by way of example in particular embodiments, it is apparent that further embodiments could be developed within the spirit and scope of the present invention, or the inventive concept of an improved system of modular building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) for easy residential and commercial roof installation. However, it is to be expressly understood that such modifications and adaptations are within the spirit and scope of the present invention, and are inclusive, but not limited to the following appended claims as set forth.

(14) As illustrated in FIGS. 1-6, 10 and 11, the subject invention is a system 1 of modular building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) for easy residential and commercial roof installation. This system 1 is installed on and in the roof, attic, and basement spaces for optimally capturing solar energy and converting it to electrical and thermal energy. In embodiments of the subject invention, the modular BIPV products would be composed from Sunslates™ 33 and TallSlates™ 7 BITERS® (Building Integrated Thermal Electric Roofing System) products.

(15) As illustrated in FIGS. 1-3, 10 and 11, the modular BITERS system 1 consists of three major units: A) a plurality of removable BITERS modules 2 which each consist of a photovoltaic system with pre-installed micro inverters 3 and a thermal collector 4 for installation on a roof; B) a Pump and Thermal Control System 5 for installation in an attic or basement space; and C) an energy storage tank 6 for installation in an attic or basement space next to the Pump and Thermal Control System 5.

(16) Each removable BITERS module 2 consists of the Photovoltaic modules which generate the solar electric through a TallSlates™ system 7 or Sunslates system 33. Each TallSlates™ 7 or Sunslates system 33 includes at least one photovoltaic cell. Each removable BITERS module 2 would be around 0.5 to 1.5 kw in size. A Y2 kilowatt would have ten (10) TallSlates™ 7 or Sunslates system 33 modules. The TallSlates™ 7 modules 33 are about 54 watts and the Sunslates system 33 modules are about 23 watts. The modular BITERS system 1 solar energy conversion efficiency ranges from 25% to 50%, or higher, subject to sunlight and geographic location.

(17) Right beneath the TallSlates™ 7 or Sunslates system 33 modules, the thermal collector 4 is composed of thermal tubing 23 containing liquid, mounted on a plurality of metal battens 24. The thermal tubing 23 extends on a longitudinal channel 25 of each of the plurality of metal battens 24. The plurality of metal battens 24 is mounted horizontally onto the plurality of horizontal wooden battens 28, which are mounted on a plurality of vertical wooden battens 29. A plurality of link channel brackets 26 having a hook is fastened vertically between a pair of the plurality of metal battens 24 using a latch. The thermal tubing 23 loops through the removable BITERS module 2 from top to bottom. Each of the TallSlates™ 7 or Sunslates system 33 modules is electrically connected in series to form a string 27. The number of the plurality of TallSlates™ 7 or Sunslates system 33 modules in the string 27 may vary according to the roof design. The plurality of TallSlates™ 7 or Sunslates system 33 modules and the thermal tubing 23 operate simultaneously to generate electricity energy and domestic hot water (thermal energy) respectively.

(18) In other embodiments of the subject invention, the thermal system 4 could also use a plurality of purlins 30 to hold the thermal tubing 23 beneath the TallSlates™ 7 or Sunslates system 33. These purlins 30 would be mounted between the plurality of horizontal wooden batten 28. In a further embodiment, heat pipes could also be mounted vertically on the plurality of metal battens 24 as well as vertically on the plurality of purlins 30. In embodiments of the subject invention, the pluralities of horizontal 28 and vertical batten 29 holding the thermal collector 4 and the TallSlates™ 7 or Sunslates system 33 can be composed of wood or fiberglass, with fiberglass being the preferred material.

(19) Each removable BITERS module 2 will contain a roof-attaching latch 31 securely mounted onto a vertical batten 29 comprising the plywood or fiberglass backing 40. The other portion 36 of the roof-attaching latch will be mounted onto a roof 41 at a designated attachment position. FIGS. 7-9 illustrate possible embodiments of the latch 31. FIG. 9 is another type of latch 31 which has a locking bend 32 on latch 31 and on latch 36, which would be recommended in high wind areas.

(20) As illustrated in FIGS. 10 and 11, dummy sun slate covers the Sunslates system 33 BITERS modules 2 to make them more aesthetically pleasing and to protect the connections between the modules from adverse weather conditions. The Sunslates system 33 BITERS modules 2 are connected with a plurality of metal fasteners 34 with hooks 35 that overlap each adjacent Sunslates system 33 BITERS modules 2 and connected them.

(21) As illustrated in FIG. 3, the Pump and Thermal Control System 5 is one removable unit for installation in the attic or basement, which consists of a first set of temperature and pressure gauges 8 attached to the thermal collector input 4, a second set of temperature and pressure gauges 9 is attached to the thermal collector return 11, a pump 12 to circulate the Pump and Thermal Control System 5, a fill valve 13 to help fill the System 5, a drain valve 14 which helps drain the System 5, a check valve 15 to make sure air is going on right direction, a flow sight glass 16 to ensure the liquid is flowing at the right direction, an air eliminator 17 to release the air from the System 5, an expansion tank 18 and a pressure relief valve 19 for safety. In variations of the subject invention, the Pump and Thermal Control System 5 or the pump 12 can be directly powered by the TallSlates™ 7 or Sunslates systems 33.

(22) Each Pump and Thermal Control System 5 can support three to four TallSlates™ 7 or Sunslates systems 33.

(23) Each removable BITERS module 2 may be mounted on a residential or commercial roof by a crane or a forklift. All the BITERS module 2 are installed on the roof and connected to each other before the TallSlates™ 7 or Sunslates systems 33 are made operational. The pluralities of metal batten 24, and horizontal 28 and vertical batten 29 are aligned between BITERS modules 2. Each BITERS module 2 may be attached to the roof with the roof-attaching latches 31 securely mounted onto the back side of each BITERS module 2 and attached to roof surface latches 36 that are installed on the roof at a designated attachment position.

(24) Once the plurality of BITERS modules 2 are mounted on the roof, the micro-inverters 3 of each module 2 are connected to the electrical grid 21. In other embodiments of the subject invention, BITERS module 2 may be connected to a battery system (not shown).

(25) After the micro-inverters 3 of each module 2 are connected to the electrical grid 21, the Pump and Thermal Control System 5 is installed in the attic or basement. To install the Pump and Thermal Control System 5, a user attaches the thermal collector 4 input 9 to the first set of temperature and pressure gauges 8, attaches the thermal collector 4 output 11 to the second set of temperature and pressure gauges 9, connects the pump 12 to a cold water supply 22, the drain valve 14, and the heat exchanger 20 to the tank 6. Once the pressures and temperatures are checked out, the Pump and Thermal Control System 5 is installed and is operational.

(26) The system 1 can also be easily uninstalled and moved to a new roof structure. To remove, the Pump and Thermal Control System 5 is detached from the attic or basement. The thermal collector 4 input 9 is detached from the first set of temperature and pressure gauges 8, the thermal collector 4 output 11 is detached from the second set of temperature and pressure gauges 9, the pump 12 is detached from the cold water supply 22, the drain valve 14, and the heat exchanger 20 is detached from the tank 6. After Pump and Thermal Control System 5 is detached, the micro-inverters 3 of each module 2 are disconnected from the electrical grid 21.

(27) Each removable BITERS module 2 may be removed from the residential or commercial roof by a crane or a forklift.