U.S. patent application number 09/948497 was filed with the patent office on 2002-03-07 for carbon/carbon heat collection storage and dissipation system.
Invention is credited to Gottlieb, Martha M..
Application Number | 20020026933 09/948497 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 26924412 |
Filed Date | 2002-03-07 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020026933 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Gottlieb, Martha M. |
March 7, 2002 |
Carbon/carbon heat collection storage and dissipation system
Abstract
A carbon/carbon system is provided for collecting, storing
and/or dissipating heat in a building structure. Carbon/carbon
panels are used to collect heat generated by solar energy and other
heating sources. The panels are interconnected either directly to
each other or using heat transfer conduits. The heat collected by
the carbon/carbon panels is transferred to heat storage areas or to
areas for immediate use using heat transfer conduits.
Inventors: |
Gottlieb, Martha M.; (Harbor
Springs, MI) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Felix L. Fischer
Honeywell International Inc.
Ste 200
23326 Hawthorne Blvd.
Torrance
CA
90505
US
|
Family ID: |
26924412 |
Appl. No.: |
09/948497 |
Filed: |
September 6, 2001 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60230636 |
Sep 7, 2000 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
126/628 ;
126/621; 126/623; 126/640 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F24S 60/00 20180501;
F24S 70/10 20180501; F24S 20/67 20180501; Y02P 90/50 20151101; Y02E
10/44 20130101; F24S 20/66 20180501; Y02B 10/20 20130101; F24S
90/00 20180501; F24S 60/30 20180501; C04B 35/83 20130101; F24S
20/61 20180501; Y02E 10/40 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
126/628 ;
126/621; 126/640; 126/623 |
International
Class: |
F24J 002/04; F24J
002/46 |
Claims
1. A building heat collection system comprising: a carbon/carbon
panel on a building surface for absorbing heat; and an energy
storage medium located in the building coupled to the panel for
storing the heat energy collected by the panel.
2. A building heat collection system as defined in claim 1 wherein
a conduit is used for coupling the panel to the storage medium.
3. A building heat collection system as defined in claim 2 wherein
the conduit comprises a plurality of carbonized carbon fibers.
4. A building heat collection system as defined in claim 2 wherein
the conduit is a carbon/carbon strip.
5. A building heat collection system as defined in claim 1 wherein
the panel comprises a plurality of carbon fibers attached to a
panel edge.
6. A building heat collection system as defined in claim 1 wherein
the energy storage medium is a concrete slab.
7. A building heat collection system as defined in claim 1 wherein
the energy storage medium is water stored in a water deposit.
8. A building heat collection system as defined in claim 1 wherein
the energy storage medium comprises ceramic tiles.
9. A building heat collection system as defined in claim 1 wherein
the energy storage medium is a metallic sheet.
10. A building heat collection system as defined in claim 1 wherein
a plurality of carbon/carbon panels is used for absorbing heat.
11. A building heat collection system as defined in claim 10
wherein at least two of said plurality of panels are
interconnected.
12. A building heat collection system as defined in claim 10
wherein at least one of the carbon/carbon panel is located on a
roof of the building.
13. A building heat collection system as defined in claim 10
wherein at least one of the carbon/carbon panel is located on a
wall of the building.
14. A building heat collection system as defined in claim 10
wherein at least one of the carbon/carbon panel is embedded in a
wall of the building.
15. A building heat collection system as defined in claim 1 wherein
a heat spreader panel is coupled to the energy storage medium for
dissipating energy stored at the heat storage medium.
16. A building heat collection system as defined in claim 10
wherein a heat spreader panel is coupled to the carbon/carbon panel
for dissipating energy collected by the panel.
17. A building heat collection system as defined in claim 10
wherein the heat spreader panel is a carbon/carbon panel.
18. A building heat collection system as defined in claim 10
wherein the carbon/carbon panel is coupled to surfaces of the
building for heating such surfaces.
19. A building heat collection system as defined in claim 1 wherein
the energy storage medium is coupled to surfaces of the building
for heating such surfaces.
20. A building heat collection system comprising: a plurality of
carbon/carbon panels positioned on the roof and walls of the
building for absorbing heat; and an energy storage medium located
in the building coupled to the panels for storing the heat energy
collected by the panels.
21. A building heat collection system as defined in claim 20
wherein at least one the panels absorbs heat generated outside of
the building.
22. A building heat collection system as defined in claim 20
wherein at least one of the panels has a plurality of carbon fibers
attached to at least one of its edges.
23. A building heat collection system as defined in claim 20
wherein at least one of the panels absorbs heat generated inside
the building.
24. A building heat collection system as defined in claim 20
wherein at least two of the panels are coupled to each other using
heat transfer conduits.
25. A building heat collection system as defined in claim 20
wherein at least two of the panels are coupled to the heat storage
medium.
26. A building heat collection system as defined in claim 20
wherein a heat spreader is coupled to a carbon/carbon panel.
27. A building heat collection system as defined in claim 20
wherein a heat spreader is coupled to the storage medium.
28. A building heat collection system as defined in claim 27
wherein the heat spreader is a carbon/carbon panel.
29. A building heat collection system as defined in claim 20
wherein the plurality of carbon/carbon panels is coupled to means
internal or external of the building for dissipating the collected
heat.
30. A building heat collection system as defined in claim 20
wherein the energy storage medium is coupled to means internal or
external to the building for dissipating the stored heat.
31. A building heat collection system comprising: a carbon/carbon
panel on a building surface for absorbing heat, and a heat spreader
coupled to the panel for dissipating the heat collected by the
panel.
32. A building heat collection system as defined in claim 31
wherein the heat spreader is a carbon/carbon panel.
33. A building heat collection system as defined in claim 31
wherein an energy storage medium is coupled to the carbon/carbon
panel used for absorbing heat.
34. A building heat collection system as defined in claim 31
wherein an energy storage medium is coupled to the heat
spreader.
35. A building heat collection system comprising: a carbon/carbon
panel on a building surface for absorbing heat, and receiving means
associated with the building for receiving and dissipating the
collected heat.
36. A building heat collection system as defined in claim 35
wherein the receiving means is a heat spreader panel.
37. A building heat collection system as defined in claim 35
wherein the receiving means is a concrete slab.
38. A building heat collection system as defined in claim 35
wherein the receiving means is water located in a water
deposit.
39. A building heat collection system as defined in claim 35
wherein the receiving means is a metallic panel.
40. A building heat collection system as defined in claim 35
wherein the receiving means is a driveway of the building.
41. A building heat collection system as defined in claim 35
wherein the receiving means is a carbon/carbon panel.
42. A building heat collection system as defined in claim 35
wherein an energy storage means is coupled to the carbon/carbon
panel for receiving at least some of the collected heat.
43. A building heat collection system as defined in claim 35
wherein an energy storage means is coupled to the heat receiving
means.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the priority of copending
application Ser. No. 60/230,636 filed on Sep. 7, 2000 having the
same title as the present application.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention is directed to a carbon/carbon heat
collection, storage and dissipation system for commercial,
residential and industrial applications. Specifically, this
invention is directed to an invention which uses carbon/carbon
panels to collect solar or heat energy and deliver it to storage
areas or other areas for immediate use.
[0003] Current systems using solar energy for heating commercial,
residential and industrial buildings utilize complex designs, and
complex means for transferring the energy from the collection
source to a storage area. Moreover, these systems require that
solar panels be always directly exposed to the sun. A system is
thereby needed that will be able to collect solar energy or heat
energy generated by the sun even if not directly exposed to the sun
and direct such energy to storage areas or to areas for immediate
use.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] A carbon/carbon system is provided for collecting, storing,
and/or dissipating heat in a building structure. Carbon/carbon
panels are stored in areas in the building for collecting heat
energy. These panels are directly exposed to the sun or embedded
into the walls or other structural members of the building such as
the roof. The panels collect the heat energy generated by the sun
and transmit it to storage areas such as concrete slabs or water
stored in deposits or other panels such as metallic or
carbon/carbon panels. These storage areas will be insulated for
storing the collected heat energy. The collected heat is also
directed to areas for immediate use such as to spreader plates
located throughout the building for heating the building.
[0005] The carbon/carbon panels are connected directly to each
other or interconnected using heat transfer conduits which are
bundles of carbonized carbon fibers. Other types of heat transfer
conduits, for example metal cables, are used to interconnect the
panels. The conduits are used to transfer the heat from the panels
to the heat storage areas or to areas for immediate use.
[0006] The panels are also used in place of insulation in the walls
of the building. During the summer, such panels will absorb the
heat energy external to the building and transfer it to a storage
source or to areas for immediate use. Similarly, during winter when
the building is heated, the heat generated inside the building is
absorbed by the carbon/carbon panels as it tries to escape to the
outside through the walls. Again the collected heat is transferred
either to energy storage areas or to areas for immediate use.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] FIG. 1 is a top view of a unidirectional carbon/carbon panel
having an interface conduit extending from opposite edges of the
panel.
[0008] FIG. 2 is a top view of a carbon/carbon panel formed from
woven tape layers and having an interface conduit extending from
its warp and welt directions.
[0009] FIG. 3 is a top view of a heat transfer conduit connected to
an edge of a carbon/carbon panel.
[0010] FIG. 4 is a top view of two carbon/carbon panels connected
to each other along their edges.
[0011] FIG. 5 is a schematic view of a carbon/carbon heat
collection, storage and dissipation system of the present
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0012] A carbon/carbon system is provided for collecting, storing
and/or dissipating heat in a building structure. The system uses
carbon/carbon panels to collect, store and/or dissipate the heat.
The panels are connected to each other or are interconnected with
heat transfer conduits or pipes to form the system.
[0013] Carbon/carbon panels are produced by numerous methods. In
one method, panels are formed by laying up layers of
carbon/phenolic prepregs. These prepreg layers are in tape or sheet
form. The prepregs consist of carbon fibers impregnated with a
phenolic resin. The prepregs are unidirectional or in a woven form.
Unidirectional prepregs are formed by impregnating fibers aligned
in a single direction with a resin to form a tape or sheet. Woven
prepregs consist of fibers woven to form a fabric that is then
impregnated with a resin. The woven fabrics consist of a first set
of fibers woven perpendicularly with a second set of fibers forming
a fabric consisting of fibers running in the warp and in the welt
directions.
[0014] To form a carbon/carbon panel, the prepreg layers are laid
one on top of the other. If unidirectional prepreg tape is used,
the prepregs are laid such that the fibers from all the laid layers
are aligned in a single direction. Alternatively, the layers are
aligned in various directions. It is not uncommon for prepreg tape
layers to be laid at 90.degree. or 45.degree. to each other. The
same occurs with the woven tape. Of course, the woven tape already
consists of fibers that are 90.degree. to each other.
[0015] Once the prepreg layers are laid up to form a panel, the
panel is autoclave cured, carbonized and then repeatedly
re-impregnated with pitch or phenolic resin. Carbonization occurs
up to five times before a desired high carbon/carbon density is
achieved.
[0016] Alternatively, carbon/carbon panels are formed by producing
preforms of carbon fiber pultrusions that are then densified with
carbon by either chemical vapor deposition or chemical vapor
infiltration. This densification process is performed until the
matrix is so dense that no more carbon is deposited on the fibers.
The pultrusions for example, are carbon fiber cloth or carbon fiber
mat pultrusions.
[0017] The heat transfer conduits or pipes used to transfer heat
from the panels are formed by bundling carbon fibers and
carbonizing the bundle using chemical vapor deposition or chemical
vapor infiltration. A heat transfer conduit is a unidirectional
strip, of a carbon/carbon panel. The heat transfer conduits are
made of metal or may be made from any suitable material capable of
transferring heat. For example, a heat transfer conduit can be a
metallic cable.
[0018] To interface with the heat transfer conduits, the panels 10
are formed with conduits 12 extending from the panel edges 14 (FIG.
1). These conduits extending from the panels are referred to herein
as the "interface conduits." An interface conduit is typically
formed by bundling together carbon fibers at the end of the panel
and carbonizing the bundle.
[0019] Because the heat absorbed by the panels travels along the
panel fibers, the interface conduits extend along the direction of
the fibers to provide a continuous path 20 along the fibers for the
heat to travel as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.
[0020] If a panel is to receive as well as transfer energy, then an
interface conduit 12, 26 is formed on either end 14, 24 of the
panel along the fiber direction (FIG. 1). Similarly, if the panel
consists of fibers aligned in multiple directions, then interface
conduits are formed along each direction.
[0021] When a carbon/carbon panel is formed using unidirectional
prepregs laid in a single direction, an interface conduit 12 is
formed by bundling the ends of the fibers forming an end of the
panel (FIG. 1). Preferably, the interface conduits are formed to
have either circular or rectangular cross-sections. However, other
cross-sectional shapes will also suffice. If woven prepregs are
used to form the panel, then the ends of the fibers running along
the warp direction and forming an edge of the panel are bundled to
form an interface conduit 16 along the warp direction as shown in
FIG. 2. An interface conduit 18 is formed along the welt direction.
The laid prepregs and bundles are then autoclave cured, carbonized
and repeatedly re-impregnated with pitch or phenolic resin to form
the carbon/carbon panel with interfacing conduits.
[0022] An alternate way of forming a panel with interfacing
conduits is to form the panel with prepreg layers (tape or woven)
that do not have resin extending all the way to the ends of the
fibers. In other words, an end section of each prepreg layer is not
impregnated with resin, thereby consisting of a section of
non-impregnated fibers. The length of the non-impregnated fibers
should be slightly longer than the length of the desired interface
conduit. The layers with the non-impregnated fiber-ends are laid to
form the panel. The panel is then autoclave cured and carbonized as
described above. The non-impregnated fibers are then bundled and
carbonized by either chemical vapor deposition or chemical
infiltrations to form the interface conduit.
[0023] In another embodiment, a preform of the panel with a single
or multiple interfacing conduits is made from a carbon fiber
pultrusion. The entire structure is then densified with carbon by
chemical vapor deposition or chemical vapor infiltration.
Alternatively, a panel with interfacing conduits is cut out from a
larger carbon/carbon panel.
[0024] If the panels are formed without interface conduits, the
heat transfer conduits 28 are connected directly to the panel edges
30 along the fiber direction (FIG. 3). Such conduits are as wide as
possible to provide a continuous path to as many carbon fibers in
the panel as possible. In this regard, the energy that is collected
by the panel is directed along its fibers to the connected
conduits. Moreover, multiple conduits are connected to a single
edge of a panel for distributing the heat collected by the panel to
multiple locations. The conduits are connected to the panel using a
thermally conductive adhesive or a mechanical arrangement.
[0025] Instead of using conduits to interconnect the panels, the
panels are connected directly to each other. For example, two
panels 32, 34 are connected to each other along their edges 36, 38
(FIG. 4). The panels are connected to each other using a thermally
conductive adhesive or a mechanical arrangement. To allow for the
transfer of energy from one panel to the other, the panels are
connected such the fiber ends 40 of one panel, interface with the
fiber ends 42 of the other panel. In this regard, heat traveling
along the fibers of the first panel can continue traveling along
the fibers in the second panel.
[0026] To further enhance a carbon/carbon panel's absorption of
heat generated by the sun, carbon fibers 17 are attached to at
least an edge of the carbon-carbon panel (FIG. 5). These fibers are
attached with a thermally conductive adhesive. The fibers act as
flexible conduits for absorbing the heat generated by the sun.
[0027] Once formed, the carbon/carbon panels are positioned in
areas of a building structure where they are able to collect heat
energy. For example, they may be placed on the roof of the building
for exposure to direct sunlight. Alternatively, they may be placed
on the structure in areas of heat accumulation. For example,
carbon/carbon panels 44 may be placed on the roof 46 of building
48, underneath the roof tiles 45.
[0028] Once in position, if more than one panel is used, the panels
are interconnected using heat transfer conduits. Alternatively, the
panels are connected directly to each other. Heat transfer conduits
50 are also used to couple the panels to energy storage areas 52.
Heat transfer conduits are connected to the interface conduits
extending from the panels or directly to the panel edges using a
thermally conductive adhesive or a mechanical arrangement.
[0029] The energy storage areas 52 for example, are insulated
concrete, water stored in an insulated deposit or carbon/carbon or
metallic plates stored in an insulated area for later use. For
example, the heated water is later routed through the building for
heating the building. Instead of directing the collected heat
energy to storage areas, the energy is directed to the concrete
foundation slab of the building or to ceramic tiles within the
building to immediately heat the building or to a concrete driveway
for melting the snow and ice that accumulated during the
winter.
[0030] The energy stored is transferred from the energy storage
areas 52 to a single or multiple heat spreader panels 54. This is
accomplished using one or multiple heat transfer conduits 56. The
energy is also transferred directly from the carbon/carbon panels
44 collecting the energy to a single or multiple heat spreader
panels 54. This is accomplished using one or multiple heat transfer
conduits 58. The heat spreader panels will dissipate the energy in
the areas in which they are located.
[0031] The heat spreader panels are also carbon/carbon panels.
Carbon/carbon heat spreader panels consist of fibers having
different lengths such that the ends of individual fibers are at
different locations along the panel. Heat transferred to such heat
spreader panels, travels along the fibers to the fiber ends from
where it is "spread" into the surrounding location.
[0032] Carbon/carbon panels 60 are also embedded in the building
walls and can be used instead of insulation. When it is hot
outside, the panels will absorb the heat energy external to the
building. The heat energy will then be transferred using heat
transfer conduits or other abutting panels to the energy storage
areas for later use or to other areas such as heat spreader panels
for immediate use.
[0033] Similarly, the embedded carbon/carbon panels would absorb
any heat generated in the building and also transfer it to the
energy storage areas or to areas for immediate use. For example, if
the building is heated in the winter, the heat generated within the
building will be absorbed by the panels as it tries to escape to
the outside through the building walls. The heat absorbed will be
routed to the energy storage areas or to other areas for immediate
heating. Thus, by positioning the panels within or on the building
walls, the panels will prevent the heat from entering the building
in the summer and the heat from escaping from the building in the
winter.
[0034] The present system is also formed in modules. For example, a
module of multiple carbon/carbon panels with integral conduits is
formed for interfacing with other modules or panels and conduits or
for interfacing with the energy storage locations. Moreover, the
entire system is formed as a single unit. Modifications to the
invention as disclosed in the preferred embodiment disclosed herein
may be made without departing from the scope and intent of the
present invention as defined in the following claims.
* * * * *