US20090211182A1

US20090211182A1 - Modular Element With Photovoltaic Module

Info

Publication number: US20090211182A1
Application number: US12/348,418
Authority: US
Inventors: Bernard Proisy
Original assignee: Photowatt International SA
Current assignee: Photowatt International SA
Priority date: 2008-01-04
Filing date: 2009-01-05
Publication date: 2009-08-27
Also published as: EP2077589A1; FR2926098A1; FR2926098B1; JP2009162046A

Abstract

The invention relates to a modular construction element used to close a building roof, in particular a flat roof, comprising a first face inclined with respect to a horizontal plane, having at least one transparent or translucent portion suitable for allowing natural light to illuminate the inside of the building; a second face inclined with respect to a horizontal plane, of opposite orientation to the first face, having at least one solar panel comprising at least one photovoltaic module; and at least part of the faces of the modular element comprising at least one thermal and/or acoustic insulation layer.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a modular construction element used to close a building roof, in particular a flat roof. The invention further relates to a roof comprising at least one modular element according to the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

Conventionally, building roofs, for example of warehouses or factories, take the form of flat roofs. In certain cases, it may happen that these roofs are closed by roofs of substantially prismatic shape, which are called shed roofs. More precisely, these roofs have translucent portions comprising glass panes arranged so as to be steeply inclined on the north side for the purpose of obtaining diffuse light inside the building, better known by the name “skylight”. Furthermore, these roofs may include a solar collector, placed for example so as to be oriented facing south, this particular orientation enabling the solar collector to be more effective. Such a roof is known in particular from document DE 25 59 226.
However, the construction of such a roof having several separate construction components is complicated and its design by architects depends on the dimensions of the building. This is because the integration of solar panels on such a structure is complicated if it is desired to ensure cooling, insulation and positioning conditions that allow the panel to operate satisfactorily. Consequently it is necessary to provide upstream of the construction of these roofs, that is to say in the design of such a roof, all the components that will constitute it and to assemble all these components on the construction site.
In addition, once the components have been positioned, the sealing and the thermal protection of the roof in its entirety are tricky to achieve given the heterogeneous assembly formed by this roof.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention aims to solve completely or partly these drawbacks by providing a modular construction element that makes it easier to produce such a type of roof and to integrate solar panels. For this purpose, the subject of the invention is a modular construction element used to close a building roof, in particular a flat roof, comprising a wall having a first face inclined with respect to a horizontal plane, having at least one transparent or translucent portion suitable for allowing natural light to illuminate the inside of the building; a second face inclined with respect to a horizontal plane, of opposite orientation to the first face, having at least one solar panel comprising at least one photovoltaic module; and at least part of the faces of the modular element comprising at least one thermal and/or acoustic insulation layer.
Thanks to the arrangements according to the invention, the production of such a modular element allows the number of solar panels and the overall illumination area to be adapted to the dimensions offered by the building roof, while still ensuring thermal and/or acoustic protection on the roof. The term “overall illumination” comprises direct illumination, diffuse illumination and albedo illumination.
According to one embodiment of the invention, the modular construction element comprises sealing means designed to allow continuity of sealing between the modular element and the roof when the modular construction element is positioned on the roof.
This feature provides continuity of sealing over the entire contact area in the modular element and the roof when the modular construction element is positioned on the roof.
According to one embodiment, the thermal and/or acoustic insulation means comprise glass wool.
This feature has the benefit of being simple to implement since glass wool is flexible from the mechanical standpoint and is advantageous in terms of weight and cost compared with other materials.
Advantageously, the thermal and/or acoustic insulation means comprise a double-glazing unit.
These arrangements provide acoustic insulation and thermal insulation.
According to one feature of the invention, the first face makes an angle of between 20° and 50°.
Such an inclination of the solar panel provides optimum efficiency of the photovoltaic modules placed on the surface of the solar panel.
According to one embodiment, the second face makes an angle of greater than 60° to a horizontal plane.
This arrangement makes it possible to provide diffuse light inside the building.
Advantageously, the modular elements comprises gutters for recovering the condensation water.
Preferably, the modular construction element includes a cooling passage provided at the rear of the solar panel in the second face.
The invention further relates to a roof comprising a framework having at least one housing and at least one modular element according to the invention accommodated in the housing of the framework.
Thanks to the arrangements according to the invention, a roof of the type described above may be produced simply by constructing a framework having openings forming accommodating housings for at least one element according to the invention and then by positioning such an element in each housing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In any case, the invention will be fully understood with the aid of the following description, with reference to the appended schematic drawings representing, by way of nonlimiting example, one embodiment of this modular construction element:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a modular construction element on the side not exposed to sunlight, with protective glazing;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a modular construction element, in a second angle of view opposite that of FIG. 1, namely on the side exposed to sunlight, with a solar panel;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view in a vertical plane passing through the line III-III of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a photovoltaic skylight with recovery of the heated air; and

FIG. 5 is a schematic cross section of an industrial site equipped with warm-air recovery in winter and cool-air ventilation in summer.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, a modular construction element 1 according to the invention comprises a body having a wall formed by a first face 2 inclined to a horizontal plane, a second face 3 inclined to a horizontal plane and a strip 4. The orientation of the second face 3 is opposite that of the first face 2 so that the two faces 2, 3 have substantially the shape of an inverted V, seen in cross section perpendicular to the plane of the faces. The apex of this inverted V is truncated, the two faces being joined by the flat horizontal strip 4.
The modular element 1 also includes two lateral faces 5 placed transversely with respect to the first and second faces 2, 3 and to the strip 4.
This wall defines a downwardly open space, the edge of the downward-facing opening consisting of the lower edges of the first and second faces 2, 3 and of the lateral faces 5. The edge of the opening is surrounded by a flat outer rim 10.
As illustrated in FIG. 3, the second face 3 is placed so as to be more inclined than the first face 2. Advantageously, the first face 2 makes an angle a of greater than 60° with a horizontal plane. Preferably, the second face 3 makes an angle b of between 20° and 50° with a horizontal plane.
The first face 2 includes square or rectangular openings 6 which accommodate translucent or transparent surfaces 11. The surfaces 11 are made using a transparent or translucent material, for example glass. Preferably, the surfaces 11 comprise a double-glazing unit to improve the thermal and acoustic insulation. Preferably, these surfaces 11 comprise reinforced frosted glass in order to comply with visual and anti-intrusion protection.
Such a material is used for the purpose of illuminating the interior of the building with natural light, depending on the skylight of the shed roof. In addition, the use of a double-glazing unit provides the modular element 1 with good acoustic insulation and also good thermal insulation.
Preferably, the first face 2 is placed so as to be oriented towards the north side in the northern hemisphere. Such an orientation allows the transmission of diffuse light into the building.
As shown in FIG. 1, the portions 11 include a protective mesh 12. The protective mesh 12 is placed on top of the flat 9. This protective mesh 12 is intended for example to prevent break-ins. According to a variant, the portions 11 are equipped with reinforced antibreak-in glass.
As illustrated in FIG. 2, the second face 3 has accommodating locations 13 for a solar panel. As shown in FIG. 2, the second face 3 has four such locations. The accommodating locations 13 are of rectangular shape, the width of each accommodating location 13 being parallel to the horizontal plane. Positioned in this location is a frame for accommodating the solar panel so that the rear of the panel is facing an opening in the wall. More precisely, they are arranged beside one another in a direction parallel to the horizontal plane. A solar panel 15 is placed in each accommodating location 13. Each solar panel 15 comprises a set of photovoltaic modules. Each photovoltaic module comprises at least one photovoltaic cell or a set of photovoltaic cells connected together electrically.
Preferably, the second face 3 is placed so as to be oriented towards the south. Such an orientation provides good photovoltaic efficiency.
In a version with simple natural convective cooling, the second face 3 comprises, near each solar panel 15, two openings, namely 16 and 17 respectively, of approximately rectangular shape. The length of each opening 16, 17 is approximately parallel to a horizontal plane. More precisely, the wall has an opening 16 located at the top and an opening 17 located at the bottom of each solar panel, so that the two openings 16, 17 and the solar panel 15 are aligned. It should be noted that the length of each opening 16, 17 is approximately equal to the width of the solar panel 15 close to where they are located. A fine-mesh grille 18 is placed on each opening 16, 17 in order to prevent the penetration of insects or other pests.
As shown in FIG. 3, an additional face 20 is placed to the rear of the solar panel 15. The additional face 20 is approximately parallel to the second face 3. These arrangements make it possible to provide a passage 21 to the rear of the solar panel 15. The passage 21 is connected to the two openings 16, 17 situated near the solar panel 15.
It is important to recall that during the operation of the solar panels 15 the photovoltaic cells placed in sunlight heat up. Since the heat reduces the efficiency of the photovoltaic cells, it is necessary to prevent them heating up inopportunely. Thus, the arrangement of such a passage 21 has the considerable advantage of allowing ventilation to the rear of the photovoltaic panels 15, this ventilation taking place by natural convection. This ventilation enables heat exchange between the solar panel 15 and the ambient air and consequently cools the solar panels 15.
According to a more elaborate alternative embodiment of the invention, shown in FIG. 4, the modular element 1 may include a system of connections 28 between the passages 21 located to the rear of the solar panels 15 and the interior of the building. These arrangements make it possible to take advantage of the air heated by the solar panels 15. The air thus heated in the passages 21 would be injected into the interior of the building, heating it up in winter for example. FIG. 5 shows symbolically and by way of example a cross section of industrial premises equipped with an alternative embodiment of the invention with recovery of the heated air for ventilation in winter. FIG. 5 also shows symbolically the cooling of the building by the circulation of fresh air 29 in summer and the expulsion of the hot air 30 to the outside.
The additional face 20, the strip 4, the first face 2 and the lateral faces 5 of the modular element 1 form an assembly having an internal surface 22 and an external surface 23. The internal surface 22 is intended to be oriented towards the interior of the building once the modular element 1 has been placed on a building roof 24. The external surface 23 is intended to be in contact with the exterior of the building.
Thermal insulation means are placed on the internal surface 22 of the assembly as defined above, with the exception of the openings 16, 17 of the second face 3.
The thermal insulation means comprise a thermally insulating material. It should be clearly understood that the choice of thermally insulating material will preferably be glass wool 25, which is advantageous in terms of weight and cost compared with other materials and is also flexible from the mechanical standpoint and is simple to use.
The glass wool 25 has sufficient thickness to ensure both good acoustic insulation and good thermal insulation.
The positioning of the modular construction element 1 on the flat roof 24 defines a contact surface 26 between the modular element 1 and the flat roof 24 at the rim 10. Sealing means are provided over the entire contact surface 26, i.e. at the interface between the modular element 1 and the flat roof 24. In particular, these sealing means comprise a gasket 27. This gasket 27 is intended to provide continuity of sealing between the modular element 1 and the flat roof 24 when the modular construction element 1 is positioned on the roof. This gasket 27 is intended to prevent any loss of heat from the interior to the exterior of the building or any ingress of water via the roof into the building.
According to a variant, the first face 2 is equipped with gutters, which are not shown in FIG. 1, 2 or 3. Symbolically, the gutters for recovering condensation water are shown in FIG. 4 by evacuation holes located at the bottom of the double wall to the rear of the photovoltaic modules. The gutters are placed near the solar panels 15 and preferably beneath the solar panels 15. Their purpose is to recover water that condenses on the surface of the solar panels 15.
In order to place such a modular construction element on a flat roof of a building, a framework (not shown in the drawing) is used. The framework comprises a housing in which the modular element is placed. The framework is intended to close the roof of the building.
Although the invention has been described in conjunction with particular exemplary embodiments, it is obvious that the invention is in no way limited thereby and that it comprises all the technical equivalents of the means described and also their combinations if these fall within the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A modular construction element used to close a building roof, in particular a flat roof, comprising a wall having:

a first face inclined with respect to a horizontal plane, having at least one transparent or translucent portion suitable for allowing natural light to illuminate the inside of the building;

a second face inclined with respect to a horizontal plane, of opposite orientation to the first face, having at least one solar panel comprising at least one photovoltaic module; and

at least part of the faces of the modular element comprising at least one thermal and/or acoustic insulation layer.

2. The modular construction element as claimed in claim 1, comprising sealing means designed to allow continuity of sealing between the modular element and the roof when the modular construction element is positioned on the roof.

3. The modular construction element as claimed in claim 1, in which the thermal and/or acoustic insulation means comprise glass wool.

4. The modular construction element as claimed in claim 1, in which the thermal and/or acoustic insulation means comprise a double-glazing unit.

5. The modular construction element as claimed in claim 1, in which the first face makes an angle of between 20° and 50°.

6. The modular construction element as claimed in claim 1, in which the second face makes an angle of greater than 60°.

7. The modular construction element as claimed in claim 1, in which the modular element comprises gutters for recovering the condensation water.

8. The modular construction element as claimed in claim 1, in which a cooling passage is provided at the rear of the solar panel in the second face.

9. A roof comprising a framework having at least one housing and at least one modular element as claimed in claim 1 accommodated in the housing of the framework.