Unitized Building Integrated Photovoltaic Conversion Module Adapted With Electrical Conduits
An energy conversion device is adapted to be housed within a unitized curtain wall unit as part of an exterior shell or façade of a building structure. The device can be a photovoltaic module that includes integrated wiring conduits within an associated curtain wall unit.
1 . A unitized curtain wall unit adapted for use in an exterior shell of a building structure and comprising:
a rigid frame having a glazing material adapted to mount an energy conversion device within the unitized curtain wall unit;
a first vertical frame member of said rigid frame adapted to define a vertical mullion within the exterior shell when mated with a second vertical frame member of an adjacent second unitized curtain wall unit;
said vertical mullion being adapted with an integrated conduit and a clip to carry electrical cabling and/or tubing for said energy conversion device in a vertical direction within the exterior shell;
wherein said vertical mullion is configured so that an electrical or other transport connection can be completed to a second energy conversion device or a control module located above or below the glazing material within the exterior shell.
2 . The unitized curtain wall unit of claim 1 wherein said energy conversion devices are photovoltaic devices and said electrical cabling carries both power and control signals.
3 . The unitized curtain wall unit of claim 1 wherein said tubing carries a fluid and/or a gas.
4 . The unitized curtain wall unit of claim 1 wherein said rigid frame includes a horizontal stack joint adapted to mate with an adjacent unitized curtain wall unit situated above or below in the building shell.
5 . The unitized curtain wall unit of claim 1 wherein horizontal stack joint is adapted to carry said electrical cabling and/or tubing for said energy conversion device in a horizontal direction within the exterior shell.
6 . The unitized curtain wall unit of claim 1 wherein said vertical mullion carries electrical cabling within a first portion of a mullion cavity and other tubing or conduits for transporting materials within a separate second portion of said mullion cavity isolated from said first portion.
7 . The unitized curtain wall unit of claim 1 wherein grommets and/or other flexible bushings are used within holes or ports in said vertical mullion for routing said electrical cabling or tubing.
8 . The unitized curtain wall unit of claim 2 wherein said vertical mullion is comprised of Underwriter Laboratories (UL) rated materials.
9 . The unitized curtain wall unit of claim 1 wherein said electrical cable and an electrical connector is pre-assembled into said vertical mullion for connection to a second vertical mullion within said exterior shell.
10 . The unitized curtain wall unit of claim 1 further including an integrated raceway portion connected to said rigid frame member which is adapted to couple electrical wiring for a control module to be paired with said energy conversion device.
11 . The unitized curtain wall unit of claim 1 including a pocket portion within said rigid frame member adapted to receive an edge connection and electrical wiring for said energy conversion device.
12 . The unitized curtain wall unit of claim 1 , wherein said unit includes vision and spandrel areas; and
said at least one of said vision areas can be configured to include at least one energy conversion device; and
and at least one of said spandrel areas can be configured to include at least one energy conversion device.
13 . The unitized curtain wall unit of claim 1 wherein said building structure is one of a commercial structure, a residential structure, a parking structure, a hospital, an airport terminal, a train station terminal and/or a sea port terminal.
14 . A unitized curtain wall unit adapted for use in an exterior shell of a building structure and comprising:
a rigid frame having a glazing material adapted to mount a photovoltaic energy conversion module within the unitized curtain wall unit;
a first vertical frame member of said rigid frame adapted to define a vertical mullion within the exterior shell when mated with a second vertical frame member of an adjacent second unitized curtain wall unit;
said vertical mullion being adapted with an integrated conduit and a clip to carry electrical cabling for said photovoltaic energy conversion module in a vertical direction within the exterior shell;
wherein said vertical mullion is configured so that an electrical connection can be completed to a second photovoltaic energy conversion module and/or a control module located above or below the glazing material within the exterior shell.
15 . The unitized curtain wall unit of claim 14 further including a photovoltaic energy conversion module integrated and mounted in said glazing material.
16 . The unitized curtain wall unit of claim 14 , wherein said photovoltaic energy conversion modules utilize amorphous, monocrystalline or polycrystalline silicon based cells.
17 . The unitized curtain wall unit of claim 14 , further including one or more flux concentrators attached to said rigid frame.
18 . The unitized curtain wall unit of claim 14 wherein a plurality of first photovoltaic energy conversion devices are arranged with a first spatial density in vision areas of said unit, and a plurality of second photovoltaic energy conversion devices are arranged with a second spatial density in spandrel areas of said unit; and further wherein said second spatial density is different from said first spatial density.
19 . The unitized curtain wall unit of claim 14 wherein said electrical cabling can also be routed in intermediate horizontal members situated between vision and spandrel areas within the unit.
20 . A unitized curtain wall unit adapted for use in an exterior shell of a building structure and comprising:
a rigid frame having a glazing material adapted to mount a photovoltaic energy conversion module within the unitized curtain wall unit;
a first vertical frame member of said rigid frame adapted to define a vertical mullion within the exterior shell when mated with a second vertical frame member of an adjacent second unitized curtain wall unit;
said vertical mullion being adapted with an integrated conduit and a clip to carry electrical cabling for said photovoltaic energy conversion module in a vertical direction within the exterior shell;
wherein said vertical mullion is configured so that an electrical connection can be completed to a second photovoltaic energy conversion module and/or a control module located above or below the glazing material within the exterior shell;
a second horizontal frame member adapted to define a horizontal stack joint within the exterior shell when mated with a second horizontal frame member of an adjacent third unitized curtain wall unit;
wherein said horizontal stack joint is configured so that an electrical connection can also be completed to a third photovoltaic energy conversion module and/or a control module located adjacent the unit within the exterior shell;
wherein said unitized curtain wall unit is configured to be physically interconnected to one or more adjacent unitized curtain wall units within the exterior shell to form an electrically isolated power generating system integrated within a façade for the building structure.
21 . (canceled)