Nicholas M Holt

US Patent:

20090275279, Nov 5, 2009

Filed:

May 4, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/114774

Inventors:

NIcholas Holt - NEW YORK NY, US
Christopher B. Cooper - Brooklyn NY, US

Assignee:

SKIDMORE OWINGS & MERRILL LLP - New York NY

International Classification:

F24F 7/00

US Classification:

454237

Abstract:

A solar engine, which is vertically aligned along an interior portion of a building, is heated by solar radiation. The solar engine includes a warm air chamber at an upper portion of the solar engine and a hollow core positioned below the warm air chamber. Habitable spaces are positioned around the outside of the core toward an exterior of the building. Solar radiation on the warm air chamber creates a high temperature zone in the warm air chamber that induces a stack effect in which air rises through the core due to the lower temperatures in the core, and results in a negative pressure in the core. Air enters at a lower portion of the building and is pulled through the core by the solar engine. If the windows on the outside of the habitable spaces are opened, the negative pressure in the core causes passive cross ventilation from the outside of the building through the habitable spaces and into the core, where the air rises to the warm air chamber and then out of the building. This allows the habitable spaces to be naturally cooled and ventilated with no energy costs. Solar radiation may be directed into the warm air chamber and core using a reflector at the top of the building. One or more wind turbines and generators positioned around the top of the core convert the moving air from the core into electrical energy to power the building.