US-12627257-B1 - Thermal management for building-integrated photovoltaics

Abstract

A wall system for a building (such as an exterior façade for a building) may include a plurality of structural members, a plurality of vent openings in the structural members, and a photovoltaic panel attached to the structural members. The vent openings facilitate providing airflow from an exterior of the building to a thermal relief region between the photovoltaic panel and the building, to cool the photovoltaic panel for improved efficiency and lifespan of the photovoltaic panel. In some embodiments, the photovoltaic panel may be supported in a cassette for attachment to a frame of a wall system, and the vent openings may be in a frame of the cassette or the frame of the wall system. The vent openings may further be configured to pass moisture therethrough, to release moisture from within the wall system.

Inventors

• Ed Coosaia, Jr.
• Akram Maradni
• Jean-Christophe Giron

Assignees

• Energy Facade Systems LLC

Dates

Publication Date

20260512

Application Date

20251008

Claims (20)

1. 1 . A wall system for enclosing a portion of a building, the wall system comprising a frame structure, one or more infills supported by the frame structure, and a system for providing airflow to the one or more infills, wherein: the frame structure comprises a first horizontal frame element and one or more vertical frame elements connected to the first horizontal frame element; the one or more infills are attached to the first horizontal frame element and spaced apart from the one or more vertical frame elements along a horizontal direction; the first horizontal frame element comprises an interior region extending from a first side of the first horizontal frame element adjacent to the one or more infills, along a direction away from the one or more infills; the one or more infills are attached to the first side of the first horizontal frame element; the first side of the first horizontal frame element comprises a first vent opening extending between the interior region and a region outside of the wall system and the building, wherein the first vent opening is configured to allow flow of matter between the interior region and the region outside of the wall system; and a second side of the first horizontal frame element adjacent to the first side comprises a second vent opening positioned between the one or more infills and the one or more vertical frame elements along the horizontal direction, wherein the second vent opening is configured to allow flow of matter between the interior region and a first thermal relief region between the one or more infills and the one or more vertical frame elements.
2. 2 . The wall system of claim 1 , wherein the first horizontal frame element comprises an interior structural element extending through the interior region.
3. 3 . The wall system of claim 2 , wherein the interior structural element comprises a third vent opening positioned to allow flow of matter between a first subregion of the interior region and a second subregion of the interior region.
4. 4 . The wall system of claim 1 , wherein a third side of the first horizontal frame element adjacent to the first side and opposite the second side comprises a third vent opening positioned between the one or more infills and the one or more vertical frame elements, wherein the third vent opening is configured to allow flow of matter between the interior region and a second thermal relief region, wherein the first horizontal frame element is positioned between the first thermal relief region and the second thermal relief region.
5. 5 . The wall system of claim 4 , further comprising a second horizontal frame element positioned above or below the first horizontal frame element, wherein: the second horizontal frame element is attached to at least one of the one or more vertical frame elements; the one or more infills are attached to a first side of the second horizontal frame element and spaced apart from the one or more vertical frame elements along the horizontal direction; the first side of the second horizontal frame element comprises a fourth vent opening; a second side of the second horizontal frame element comprises a fifth vent opening; and the fourth vent opening and the fifth vent opening are configured to facilitate flow of matter between the second thermal relief region and the region outside the wall system.
6. 6 . The wall system of claim 1 , wherein each infill of the one or more infills comprises a photovoltaic panel.
7. 7 . The wall system of claim 6 , wherein the one or more infills comprises two infills spaced apart from each other along a vertical direction.
8. 8 . The wall system of claim 7 , wherein at least part of the first vent opening is positioned between the two infills, along the vertical direction.
9. 9 . The wall system of claim 1 , wherein the first vent opening and the second vent opening are configured to facilitate airflow between and among: (a) the region outside the wall system; (b) the interior region of the first horizontal frame element; and (c) the first thermal relief region.
10. 10 . The wall system of claim 8 , further comprising a second horizontal frame element positioned above or below the first horizontal frame element, wherein: the second horizontal frame element is attached to at least one of the one or more vertical frame elements; the one or more infills are attached to a first side of the second horizontal frame element and spaced apart from the one or more vertical frame elements along the horizontal direction; the first side of the second horizontal frame element comprises a third vent opening; a second side of the second horizontal frame element comprises a fourth vent opening; and the third vent opening and the fourth vent opening are configured to facilitate flow of matter between the first thermal relief region and the region outside the wall system.
11. 11 . The wall system of claim 1 , wherein the first vent opening comprises a seal for resisting passage of moisture while facilitating airflow therethrough.
12. 12 . The wall system of claim 1 , wherein: the second vent opening is positioned to receive condensation from the first thermal relief region, into the interior region of the first horizontal frame element; and the first horizontal frame element further comprises a third vent opening into a second thermal relief region, wherein the first horizontal frame element is positioned between the first thermal relief region and the second thermal relief region.
13. 13 . The wall system of claim 1 , further comprising a panel adapter structure, wherein the panel adapter structure connects the one or more infills to the first horizontal frame element, and wherein the panel adapter structure comprises the first vent opening, wherein the first vent opening extends through at least part of the panel adapter structure.
14. 14 . A wall system for enclosing a portion of a building, the wall system comprising: a cassette configured to be attached to a side of a building, wherein the cassette comprises a frame structure; and one or more adapter structures configured to connect the cassette to the building, wherein when the cassette is connected to, and supported by, the building, the wall system forms a thermal relief region positioned between an infill carried by the cassette and an adjacent portion of the building; wherein: the frame structure of the cassette comprises (a) one or more first vent openings positioned and configured to allow flow of matter between an interior region of the frame structure of the cassette and the thermal relief region, and (b) one or more second vent openings connected to the interior region; the one or more adapter structures comprise one or more third vent openings positioned and configured to allow flow of matter between (a) an external region outside the wall system and the building, and (b) the interior region of the frame structure of the cassette, via the one or more second vent openings; and the wall system facilitates receiving or expelling airflow through the one or more third vent openings, via the one or more second vent openings, the interior region, the one or more first vent openings, and the thermal relief region.
15. 15 . The wall system of claim 14 , wherein the frame structure of the cassette comprises a fourth vent opening positioned below at least one of the one or more first vent openings, wherein the fourth vent opening is positioned and configured to facilitate receiving moisture from the one or more first vent openings via the interior region, and to release the moisture from the wall system to the external region.
16. 16 . The wall system of claim 14 , further comprising the infill, wherein the infill comprises a photovoltaic panel.
17. 17 . The wall system of claim 14 , wherein the wall system comprises a plurality of cassettes, wherein an upper cassette of the plurality of cassettes is positioned above the one or more adapter structures, and a lower cassette of the plurality of cassettes is positioned below the one or more adapter structures.
18. 18 . A method of providing airflow to a building-integrated photovoltaic panel, the method comprising: forming a horizontal frame element; forming a plurality of openings in the horizontal frame element; attaching the horizontal frame element to a building; attaching a photovoltaic panel to a first side of the horizontal frame element, wherein the photovoltaic panel has an exterior side configured to face away from a building and a backside facing an opposite direction from the exterior side, and wherein attaching the photovoltaic panel to the first side of the horizontal frame element comprises positioning the plurality of openings in the horizontal frame element between the backside of the photovoltaic panel and an interior of the building; forming one or more exterior airflow vents, wherein the one or more exterior airflow vents open to (a) an external region, wherein the exterior side of the photovoltaic panel faces the external region and (b) an interior region of the horizontal frame element within the horizontal frame element, via at least one opening in the horizontal frame element of the plurality of openings in the horizontal frame element; and positioning the one or more exterior airflow vents to pass airflow between the external region and a thermal relief region adjacent to the backside of the photovoltaic panel via the plurality of openings in the horizontal frame element.
19. 19 . The method of claim 18 , comprising forming a cassette, wherein the cassette comprises the horizontal frame element and the photovoltaic panel.
20. 20 . The method of claim 18 , further comprising forming one or more vertical frame elements, attaching the one or more vertical frame elements to the building, and attaching the horizontal frame element to the one or more vertical frame elements.

Description

BACKGROUND Many conventional buildings, such as high-rises or other buildings, include internal structures that support an externally facing outer wall, which is commonly called a façade. Conventional façades may include window wall systems, curtain wall systems, hybrid wall systems, or other wall systems. Conventional façade/wall systems include one or more frames made from a metal or vinyl material. The frames support a glass or opaque infill that is attached by a process commonly called “glazing.” Conventional façades or other wall systems may include a weather-tight enclosure that forms a barrier between the external environment and the building environment. In such systems, even if external elements (e.g., moisture) enter the system, the external elements may be blocked by a barrier within the system that prevents the elements from entering the building envelope. In such systems, the area where external elements may enter can be deemed a “wet” area, while the area within the building envelope that is protected by the barrier may be called a “dry” area. Some buildings may include photovoltaic panels that convert sunlight to energy. Such systems may be called “building-integrated photovoltaic” systems (“BIPV” systems). One factor that impacts the efficiency and lifespan of photovoltaic panels is heat. The lifespan of a photovoltaic panel (e.g., the span of time in which it converts sunlight to energy at an acceptable rate) is substantially reduced when the panel is exposed to long periods of high heat, so thermal management is an important design consideration. Conventional BIPV systems and solar farms are installed in open environments where natural ventilation mitigates panel degradation. SUMMARY Representative embodiments of the present technology include a wall system for enclosing a portion of a building. The wall system may include a frame structure, one or more infills supported by the frame structure, and a system for providing airflow to the one or more infills. The frame structure may include a first horizontal frame element and one or more vertical frame elements connected to the first horizontal frame element. The one or more infills may be attached to the first horizontal frame element and spaced apart from the one or more vertical frame elements along a horizontal direction. The first horizontal frame element may include an interior region extending from a first side of the first horizontal frame element adjacent to the one or more infills, along a direction away from the one or more infills. The one or more infills may be attached to the first side of the first horizontal frame element. The first side of the first horizontal frame element may include a first vent opening extending between the interior region and a region outside of the wall system and the building, wherein the first vent opening is configured to allow flow of matter between the interior region and the region outside of the wall system. A second side of the first horizontal frame element adjacent to the first side may include a second vent opening positioned between the one or more infills and the one or more vertical frame elements along the horizontal direction. The second vent opening may be configured to allow matter to flow within the system envelope that is exposed to exterior elements (e.g., the “wet” area), which may include the interior region within the first horizontal frame element and a first thermal relief region located between the one or more infills and the one or more vertical frame elements. Another representative wall system for enclosing a portion of a building may include one or more horizontal frame elements configured to be attached to a side of the building, one or more cassettes configured to be supported by the one or more horizontal frame elements, and one or more adapter structures configured to connect the one or more cassettes to the one or more horizontal frame elements. When the one or more cassettes are connected to, and supported by, the one or more horizontal frame elements, the wall system may form a thermal relief region positioned between an infill of the one or more cassettes and an adjacent portion of the building. The system may have a plurality of vents for receiving or expelling airflow in or out of the thermal relief region. Representative embodiments of the present technology may further include methods of providing airflow to a BIPV, and optionally, removing moisture weeping from behind the BIPV. For example, a method may include forming openings in structural members, attaching a BIPV to the structural members, and forming an exterior vent to pass airflow between an external region adjacent to a front side of the BIPV and a thermal relief region adjacent to the backside of the BIPV, e.g., via vent openings in the structural members. Other features, embodiments, and advantages will appear hereinafter. The features described herein can be used separately or together, or in vario