WO2013189504A1

WO2013189504A1 - Low energy nano-based air solar reactor (lenasor) for zero-energy-use green buildings

Info

Publication number: WO2013189504A1
Application number: PCT/EG2012/000022
Authority: WO
Inventors: Nazar Mohamed HASSAN
Original assignee: Hassan Nazar Mohamed
Priority date: 2012-06-20
Filing date: 2012-06-20
Publication date: 2013-12-27

Abstract

The concept of the solar chimney has been adopted to judiciously convert any high-rise building into a zero-energy-use building. The invention comprises a nano-based air solar reactor designed to absorb and store thermal solar energy at temperatures above 280° C, and effectively supply it through a number of adept systems to perform useful work. The air solar reactor is a mechanical assembly that has the main objective to create an air updraft when fitted into the vertical air shaft of a high-rise building and perform as a solar chimney to produce electric power. The air solar reactor is also designed with the capability to operate an absorption chiller, a hot-water system, and a small water desalination unit.

Description

Low Energy Nano-Based Air Solar Reactor (LENASOR) for zero-energy-use green buildings

I. TECHNICAL FIELD:

[0001] This invention relates to the production of electric power, heat energy and other useful work from solar energy to meet all the energy and water needs of a high-rise building, using a similar concept of a solar chimney.

II. BACKGROUND ART:

[0002] The classic solar chimney is an expensive fixed giant construction that comprises a large solar collector and an elongated enclosed vertical structure. Energy from the sun heats the air in the vertical structure to create an updraft that could be used to drive a turbine to produce electric power or useful work. A solar chimney operates with an overall efficiency of less than 3%.

[0003] Examples of solar chimneys as shown in the prior art, are given in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3979597, 4275309, 4331042, 4433544, 5381048, 6016015, 6089021, 6772593, 7026723, and 2008/0156315, the disclosures of which are incorporated by reference herein.

[0004] The present invention provides improvement over the solar chimneys and their applicability of the prior art. The present invention collects and stores heat energy and supplies it partially into an air shaft utilizing a flexible mechanical assembly of a nano-based air solar reactor. In one embodiment, the system of the present invention can be easily fitted into the air shaft of a high-rise building to supply all its energy and drinking water needs both during day and night times.

III DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION:

In a first embodiment, the air solar reactor of the present invention comprises a flexible mechanical assembly that consists of a (1) dome-like double-glazed modified solar flat-bed collector connected to a (4) reservoir of heat transfer oil and a series of (6) shell-type heat exchangers. Solar radiation enters the dome-like space and is absorbed by the heat transfer oil in the (2) piping structure that has been covered with a nano-based paint to increase its heat absorptivity by at least 10 folds. The outer surface of the dome maybe corrugated to increase the heat absorption ability of the system. The collected heat energy is transferred and distributed into the oil inside the heat exchanger elements, which are connected in series to the oil reservoir located inside the dome structure. When the mechanical assembly is placed inside the (13) air shaft of a high-rise building, air is heated and an updraft is created through the air solar reactor. The updraft comprises a stream of moving air that could be used to perform useful work.

The (6) heat exchanger elements are hollow from the inside to allow for an (5) oil return system with a submersible pump to operate and pump the heating oil back into the top of the (4) oil reservoir through a return pipe, which is fitted to the lowest part of the heat exchanger element further away from the oil reservoir in the dome. The (9) inner walls of the hollow part of the heat exchanger elements are also covered with nano-based paint to prevent heat energy from flowing into the inner hollow region of the heat exchangers. The direction of the heat energy flow will hence be from the center and radially outwards, towards the walls of the air shaft of the building.

The total weight of the air solar reactor is distributed by fixing the upper end of each heat exchanger element to the (10) ceiling slab of every other floor within the high- rise building. The dome-like structure is supported by the set of structure columns supporting the building.

In another embodiment, the dome-like solar collector maybe fitted with a (1 1) water desalination unit that evaporates brackish water to supply the building with drinking water.

In another embodiment, the dome-like solar collector maybe fitted with a water heating coil to supply heat energy to both an (12) absorption chiller and the hot water system of the building.

The present invention therefore has the primary object of providing a nano-based air solar reactor that could absorb and store solar energy, and supply it as heat energy through different settings when connected to a high-rise building both during day and night.

The invention has the further object of providing a solar chimney effect when placed inside the air shaft of a high-rise building. The invention has the further object of providing an improved device for harnessing the energy of the sun to do useful work.

The invention has the further object of providing a high-rise building with all its energy and drinking water needs.

The invention has the further object of improving on the efficiency of a solar chimney.

IV. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING:

FIGURE (1) provides a cut-away perspective view of the mechanical assembly of the low-energy air solar reactor that combines a dome-like solar collector, a heat transfer oil reservoir and a series of shell-type heat exchangers.

FIGURE (2) provides a cut-away 3D perspective view of the of the low-energy air solar reactor embedded into a vertical structure that resembles a typical air shaft of a building.

FIGURE (3) provides a 3D section of a high-rise building fitted with an air solar reactor (without heat exchangers) in operation, to indicate the moving air direction through the building air shaft and through the air solar reactor.

Claims

CLAIMS THAT WHICH IS CLAIMED IS:

1. An air solar reactor comprising:

a) A first member having a dome-like double-glazed glass solar collector

enclosure, and means to allow solar radiation to enter the enclosure;

b) A second member having a piping structure located inside the enclosure and covered with nano-based paint, as an effective thermal solar energy collection means;

c) A third member having a hollow heat transfer oil reservoir located inside the enclosure and connected to the piping structure of 1(a);

d) A fourth member having a plurality of shell-type heat exchangers connected in series to one another, the first heat exchanger been connected to the bottom of the heat transfer oil reservoir through a set of pipes;

e) A fifth member having a set of submersible pumps and a return oil pipe

connecting the oil sump of the last heat exchanger with the top of the heat

• transfer oil reservoir.

2. The air solar reactor of claim 1 , further comprising an air passage through the hollow heat transfer oil reservoir and outside the dome-like enclosure to the atmosphere.

3. The air solar reactor of claim 1 , wherein the dome-like enclosure have a nano- based thermal proof inner floor surface.

4. The air solar reactor of claim 1, further comprising a water desalination unit to evaporate brackish water.

5. The air solar reactor of claim 1, further comprising a water heating coil connected to an absorption chiller.

6. The set of heat exchangers of claim 1 (d), further comprising a nano-based paint on the inner hollow walls to force the heat flow direction radially outwards.

7. A solar chimney comprising the air solar reactor of claim 1, fitted into an

enclosed vertical structure and/or the air shaft of a high-rise building.

8. The solar chimney of claim 5, wherein the enclosed vertical structure have a

nano-based thermal-proof inner surface.