US 12,258,545 B2
Sustainable curtain wall
Kyoung Hee Kim, Charlotte, NC (US)
Assigned to The University Of North Carolina At Charlotte, Charlotte, NC (US)
Filed by The University Of North Carolina At Charlotte, Charlotte, NC (US)
Filed on Oct. 14, 2020, as Appl. No. 17/070,124.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/972,841, filed on Feb. 11, 2020.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/915,077, filed on Oct. 15, 2019.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/915,088, filed on Oct. 15, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2021/0108166 A1, Apr. 15, 2021
Int. Cl. C12M 1/00 (2006.01); E04B 2/96 (2006.01); E06B 3/66 (2006.01); E06B 7/28 (2006.01)
CPC C12M 21/02 (2013.01) [E04B 2/96 (2013.01); E06B 3/6612 (2013.01); E06B 7/28 (2013.01)] 17 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
12. A microalgae system, comprising:
a microalgae storage tank adapted to store microalgae cultures; and
a microalgae curtain wall including
photobioreactors adapted to receive the microalgae cultures from the microalgae storage tank and to grow microalgae,
an interior glass panel,
an exterior glass panel offset from the interior glass panel forming a gap therebetween,
transoms holding the interior glass panel and the exterior glass panel therebetween, the transoms suspending the photobioreactors in the gap between the interior glass panel and the exterior glass panel, wherein the transoms include at least one upper photobioreactor support bracket and at least one lower photobioreactor support bracket with vertically slotted holes that hold and suspend the photobioreactors therebetween;
mullions holding the interior glass panel and the exterior glass panel therebetween and positioned at sides of the photobioreactors; and
mounting bracket assemblies configured to secure the microalgae curtain wall to a building support structure, each mounting bracket assembly holding a portion of an associated mullion adjacent to an associated transom, each mounting bracket assembly comprising an ‘L’ shaped bracket, a first bracket, and a sliding bracket, wherein the ‘L’ shaped bracket of each mounting bracket assembly includes a vertical portion configured to be secured to the building support structure by one or more fasteners and a horizontal portion extending out from the vertical portion,
wherein each of the transoms and the mullions include glass support brackets for the interior glass panel and the exterior glass panel, forming a seal therewith, and wherein the transoms, the mullions, the interior glass panel, and the exterior glass panel form an insulated glass structure, and
wherein the microalgae curtain wall is an integrated system configured as a window for a building, and the photobioreactors are arranged in an array forming open vision areas interspersed within the array that are adapted to allow a view out and daylight penetration into the building.