Energy efficient translucent structure

Abstract

Invention pertains to construction and installation methods for construction and renovation of production, public and residential buildings, in particular, to translucent barriers, therein windows, stained glass, glass facing, indoor winter gardens, atriums, clerestories, greenhouses, doors, indoor baffles and other structures both indoor and outdoor. Therein also may be integrated a solar panel, and electric heating elements, dehumidifier. The engineering advantage of the invention is an improved heat insulation design, protection from both outdoor cold and excessive heat from the sun, an improved resistance to fluctuations of temperature, improved noise cancellation, absence of a condensate at the glass surfaces, increased glazing area without traditionally associated heat loss, absence of a freezing of reveals, improved reliability regarding breaking in, reduced integrity loss risk resulting from fire (fire resistance), reduced convection and consequently increased isolation properties due to greater spacing between glass sheets, increased containment, simplicity of installation and replacement (repair) of IGU modules without disruption outer shell of the building (heating contour of the building) due to partial disassembly of the structure, increased resistance to potential impacts in transportation and installation. Translucent structure according to invention contains at least four glass sheets, joined together in at least two independent IGU modules (IGUs), each containing at least two parallel glass sheets distanced 10-1000 mm, the glass sheets in IGUs are glued together by a spacer frame and a sealant, and IGUs themselves are joined together by a thermo insulation reinforced frame, creating a sealed chamber in between IGUs.

Claims

1. A dismountable transparent solar collector, comprising at least two independent IGU modules, wherein each said IGU module contains at least two parallel glass sheets glued together by a spacer frame and a sealant; and said IGU modules are integrated by a thermo insulation reinforced profile having a T-shaped form in the cross-sectional view with two narrow protrusions and a wide central part, wherein said reinforced profile and the IGU modules create a sealed chamber with a width of 10-1000 mm between two neighboring IGU modules; wherein said profile in the narrow protrusions is attached to the end surfaces of said neighboring IGU modules by means of the sealant, and wherein said profile in the wide central part from each side is attached to the glass sheets of said neighboring IGU modules by means of a gasket, in such a way to create possibility for replacement of one of the IGU modules and for restoration of the functional solar collector after such replacement.

2. The structure according to claim 1, wherein the sealed chamber is filled with air, noble gas, CO.sub.2 or with a partial vacuum.

3. The structure according to claim 1, wherein a space between two parallel glass sheets inside at least one said IGU module is filled with air, noble gas or CO.sub.2.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

(1) The invention is more understood after the description without restrictions and illustrated by referenced drawings showing:

(2) FIG. 1Transverse section of a translucent structure of 4 glass sheets (two single chamber IGUs);

(3) FIG. 2Transverse section of a translucent structure of 5 glass sheets (one is single chamber and another one is a dual-chamber IGU);

(4) FIG. 3Transverse section of a translucent structure of 6 glass sheets (two dual-chamber IGUs);

(5) FIG. 4Transverse section of a translucent structure with two sealed chambers.

(6) For all of the figures: 1a glass sheet; 2a IGU; 3a spacer frame; 4a sealant; 5a frame of a thermo isolation reinforced profile; 6a sealed chamber; 7a gasket.

IMPLEMENTATION

(7) Translucent structure, containing at least four glass sheets (1), joined together in at least two independent IGU modules (2), each containing at least two parallel glass sheets (1) distanced 10-1000 mm, altogether the glass sheets (1) in IGUs (2) are glued together by a spacer frame (3) and a sealant (4), and IGUs (2) themselves are joined together by a frame of thermo insulation reinforced profile (5), creating in between the IGUs a sealed chamber (6).

(8) Sealed chamber (6) may be filled with air, noble gas, carbon dioxide or a partial vacuum.

(9) Argon, Xenon, Krypton, Sulfur Hexafluoride may be used as a noble gas.

(10) Sealed chamber (6) may be 10-1000 mm thick.

(11) The space between the two parallel glass sheets inside IGU (2) may be filled with air, noble gas, carbon dioxide.

(12) The thermo insulation reinforced profile (5) is made of polyamide, aluminum or a composite material, selected from the following groups: fiberglass, carbon fiber and other.

(13) The thermo insulation reinforced profile (5) is either not hollow, hollow, or semi hollow with internal chambers.

(14) Glass sheets (1) are regular, mass specific, laminated, treated with deposition (armored, triplex, tempered, solar protective, self cleaning, energy saving, stained/dim and other).

(15) Glass sheets (1) may be any conventional thickness (1.2-50 mm).

(16) IGUs (2) may have one or more chambers with optimal spacing between the glass sheets. More widely used are dual chamber IGUs.

(17) The sealed chamber may have blinders, various purpose shades, various devices (solar panel, thermometer), and dehumidifier.

(18) The sealed chamber (6), predominantly at the sides, may have electric heating elements.

(19) The translucent structure may be fabricated in the following way. Glass sheets (1) with the help of a spacer frame (3) and a sealant (4) are glued together into IGUs (2). Then it is assembled into a frame of a thermo insulation reinforced profile (5), whereas connection of its elements is conducted at corners by inserting dehumidifiers into the frame of thermo insulation reinforced profile (5) gluing together or heat welding. Between the IGU (2) and the frame of the thermo insulation profile (5) a gasket (7) is introduced. IGUs (2) are inserted into the reinforced thermo insulation frame (5). The space between the edge of IGU (2) and the protrusion of the frame of the thermo insulation profile (5) is sealed (4).

(20) In the other option of fabrication of the translucent structure, namely in staged assembly at the location of installation, there is no reveal; the translucent structure is attached to the bearing frame, serving as thermo insulation reinforced frame.

(21) Similarly they fabricate a design consisting of three IGUs, each comprising two glass sheets at least. In this case in between three IGUs (2) joined together by two reinforced insulating frames (5) creating two sealed chambers (6) between them. Heat insulation of such a translucent structure exceeds heat insulation of non transparent walls (Russian Construction Standards SNiP 23-02-2003), enabling construction of full glass walls avoiding heat loss. This is very urgent for both business and public buildings, since it allows making best use of daylight.

(22) The design is used as a wall (immovable, non-opening) glasswork and opening (windows and doors) glazing, which may be introduced into a solid glass facing.

(23) The main installation methods for walled mostly glass facing is using modular translucent design, installing it into the hole without additional profile or by means of integration into bearing structure. Altogether the bearing structure may be of aluminum, steel, alloys, wood, composites (fiberglass, carbon fiber) and other materials and their combinations, used as supporting structures including various glazing facing systems.

(24) The main installation method for the opening glass structure (window and door) is installation of the clear structure into a door-frame, fixed inside the opening of the window or the doorway posts.

(25) Altogether, the profile material for the sash frame is not limited in selection. It may as well be of aluminum, wood, plastic, composite materials (fiberglass, carbon fiber) and other materials and their combinations, used for fabrication of sashes and doors.

(26) Opening translucent structure has various ways of opening sashes: with turn, tilt, tilt-and-turn, slide opening mechanisms.

(27) If aluminum is used for profile, then several layers of thermo barriers are used, of polyamide and other insulation material, in between the aluminum profile chambers, such thermo barriers may be from 1 to 4 pcs in a profile.

(28) Moreover there is an option of consecutive assembly and installation, of at least two independent IGUs each of which is installed into a separate profile. They are connected by compression and gluing with creation of a sealed chamber between them. The spacing between the IGU modules makes 10-1000 mm. In this case thermo insulation frame is represented by a bound bearing profile framework. This method of assembly and installation is best for mostly external glazing, when there are large glazing areas and for multiple story buildings (various glass facing systems)

(29) In addition, translucent structures of the proposed design are applicable for modernization, insulation of the existing glazing and such, representing a single glass sheet or a single IGU. Additional IGUs are installed to the existing structure of an installed IGU, consisting of at least two glass sheets creating space of 10-1000 mm between the existing glass sheets and additional IGU. Altogether, there is no need in disassembly or removal of the old glazing. In other words, modernization and insulation is conducted without breaking the heating contour of the building. This is different from a traditional way of modernization by complete replacement with more efficient ones.

(30) The table below lists physical properties of the proposed translucent structure.

(31) TABLE-US-00001 TABLE Conventional Proposed Physical Properties IGUs new Design Heat transfer resistance factor, 0.32-1.56 over 1.56 R, m.sup.2 .Math. C./W Heat Transfer Coefficient, U, W/m.sup.2 C. 0.64-3.1 under 0.64 Noise Cancellation, dB 20-38 over 40

(32) Thus, the proposed invention offers a translucent structure, possessing improved heat insulation performance, ensuring better protection from cold and from excessive solar radiation, creating a solar collector effect in a sealed chamber as in a winter greenhouse, reduced convection and a possibility of increased insulation properties due to expanded width of a sealed chamber. Also, it offers an improved durability at the edges, durability in transportation and installation, due to a frame of thermo insulation reinforced profile, modular design that ensures possibility of local repairs without breaking heating contour of the building up to an IGU comprising at least two sheets of glass, differently from conventional non modular translucent structures in one glass sheet or any other IGUs. It also offers an improved containment, and noise cancellation, void of condensate at glass sheets, greater glazing area without heat loss. It also offers a simplified installation without a window frame right into the wall opening, no freezing of ledges, improved resistance to damage and fire.

(33) All of this ultimately implies energy saving, reduced operating costs on heating and air conditioning, reduced capital expenditures due to lower limit on grid connection rates to centralized heating system and installation of a less powerful heating units, eliminating AC system, resulting in a higher level of fire resistance of the design, mitigation of risks of loss of integrity, collapse of the structure resulting from fire, simplified inspection allowing visual (without instruments) analysis of containment, excluding the least misting in between the glass sheets, in possibility of fabrication of turning sashes, bigger size doors, less cost on facility lighting, no need of cleaning of internal space in during service life, reduced use of electric heating of transparent roofs, greenhouses, domes, atriums, clerestories and similar designs, possibility of construction of fully translucent buildings without heat loss, improved comfort of dwelling, in unlimited possibilities for architectural design.

(34) The invention was disclosed here with a reference to a specific implementation. For specialists there may be some other obvious variants of embodiments of the invention that do not change its essence, as it is present in the current description. Accordingly, the invention should be considered limited in volume only by the following claims.