Abstract:
Disclosed is a heat collection system for a roof, the system including a roof deck, a membrane upwardly adjacent of the roof deck; a fluid channel disposed between the membrane and the roof deck, the fluid channel having a defined entry port and a defined exit port, the entry port and the exit port being disposed in fluid communication via the fluid channel.

Description:
FIELD 
     The disclosure is generally directed to a heat collection system, and more particularly directed to a heat collection system for a roof. 
     BACKGROUND 
     During daylight hours an upper exposed surface of a roof can heat up to temperatures well in excess of a temperature of the ambient air. Currently, this heat/energy goes unused by current roofing systems. With energy cost and demand being at a relative high, a roofing system that could harness this cleanly produced heat/energy would obviously be desirable. 
     SUMMARY 
     Disclosed is a heat collection system for a roof, the system including a roof deck, a membrane upwardly adjacent of the roof deck; a fluid channel disposed between the membrane and the roof deck, the fluid channel having a defined entry port and a defined exit port, the entry port and the exit port being disposed in fluid communication via the fluid channel. 
     Also disclosed is a method for collecting heat within a roofing system, the method including providing a roof deck; providing a membrane upwardly adjacent of the roof deck, providing a fluid channel disposed between the membrane and the roof deck, the fluid channel having a defined entry port and a defined exit port, the entry port and the exit port being disposed in fluid communication via the fluid channel, importing a fluid into the fluid channel via the entry port, moving the fluid from the entry port to the exit port, warming the fluid via solar ray collection by the membrane during the moving, and exporting the fluid from the exit port to a desired environment, the fluid being of a higher temperature at the exit port than the entry port. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
       Referring now to the Figures, exemplary embodiments are illustrated, wherein the elements are numbered alike: 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic cross-section of a heat collection system in accordance with a first exemplary embodiment; 
         FIG. 1A  is an enlarged schematic cross-sectional view of the heat collection system of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 2  is plan view of the heat collection system of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is another schematic cross-section of the heat collection system of  FIG. 1 ; and 
         FIG. 4  is plan view of the heat collection system in another exemplary embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , a heat collection system  10  for a roof  12  is illustrated. This exemplary embodiment of the system  10  is layered to include a roof deck  14 , an air barrier film or membrane  16 , a rigid roof insulation board  18 , a second air barrier film or membrane  20 , a rigid cover board  21  (such as 0.25 inch gypsum), and a waterproofing membrane  22 . Though the system  10  is shown to include the two barrier films/membranes  16  and  20 , the insulation board  18 , and the cover board  21  between the deck  14  and the membrane  22 , it should be appreciated that this Application is not limited to the presence of such elements between the deck  14  and membrane  22 . It should also be appreciated that the deck  14 , and roof  12  in general, may include any desirable slope or grade. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 1A , the membrane  22 , and the roofing components disposed between the membrane  22  and the roof deck  14 , are mechanically attached to the roof deck  14  via batten bars  24  and mechanical fasteners  26 . As is shown in  FIGS. 2-3 , this mechanical fastening is made along the membrane  22  in desirable patterns. These patterns will be discussed in detail hereinbelow. 
     Referring first to  FIG. 2 , the membrane  22  is shown to be fastened in a manner that creates a serpentine pattern  28 . This pattern  28  is created by fastening the batten bars  24  to the membrane  22  in the alternating fashion shown in the figure. While these batten bars  24  obviously function to mechanically fasten the membrane  22  (and the rest of the roofing components) to the roof deck  14 , the alternating manner in which the batten bars  24  extend from opposing sides  30   a  and  30   b  of the roof  12  further creates a fluid channel  32  under the membrane  22 . By fastening the batten bars  24  such that they are alternatingly disposed to extend in rows  34   a  (extending from side  30   a  towards but not entirely to side  30   b ) and  34   b  (extending from side  30   b  towards but not entirely to side  30   a ), the channel  32  is created in a serpentine pattern  28  along the unfastened regions of the membrane  22 . In the exemplary embodiment of  FIGS. 1 and 1A , this channel  32  is shown to be delimited by a lower surface of the membrane  22  (at an upper extent of the channel  32 ) and an upper surface of the board  21  at a lower extent of the channel  32  (at an lower extent of the channel  32 ). The channel  32  is laterally delimited by the fastened batten bars  24  (as described above), as well as edges areas  34  of the roof  12  (where the membrane  22  is also fastened). 
     In order to facilitate the above discussed channels  32 , the membrane  22  may be constructed of a material that is more flexible/resilient than at least the roofing component (such as the cover board  21 ) that delimits the lower extent of the channel  32 . For example, the membrane may be constructed of material such as but not limited to EPDM, TPO, PVC, CPA, Hypalon, and modified bitumen. Such flexibility/resiliency in the membrane  22  would be beneficial to keeping the channel  32  open during a fluid flow therein. 
     In an exemplary embodiment, the above-discussed fluid flow is air flowing from an entry port  40  to an exit port  42 . In the exemplary embodiment of  FIG. 2 , air is imported into the system  10  at entry port  40 , and air is exported from the system  10  at exit port  42 . In between import and export, the air travels in a serpentine pattern as is represented in  FIG. 2  by airflow  44 . While traveling along this pattern through the air channel  32 , the air is warmed (at least during the day) by solar rays collected by the membrane  32 . This warming takes place via convection, wherein the heated membrane (heated by the solar rays) transfers its heat to the air moving thereunder. In this manner, air that enters the system  10  at the entry port  40  will be at a higher temperature when it leaves the system at the exit port  42 . The serpentine pattern  28  of the channel  32  increases a length of the airflow path, which increases surface area exposure of the air to warming membrane  22  as the air travels from the entry port  40  and exit port  42 . A dark coloration at least an upper exposed surface of the membrane  22  increases solar ray collection by the membrane  22 , which in turn allows for a more efficiently warmed fluid in the channel  32 . 
     Referring again to the exemplary embodiment of  FIG. 2 , the entry port  40  and the exit port  42  are shown at substantially opposite ends  44   a  and  44   b  of the roof  12 . In this embodiment, the entry port  40  is an opening (inclusive of any shape) at an end of the channel  32 , which may, from any surface of the channel  32 , be open to either an interior or exterior of the building upon which the roof  12  is disposed. The exit port  42  is an opening (inclusive of any shape) at an opposing end of the channel  32 , which is very likely to open into an interior of the building upon which the roof  12  is disposed so that the warmed air may be used (though the air may be exported to any desirable area inside or outside the building). The exit port  42  may also open from any surface of the channel  32 . In one exemplary embodiment (such as that shown in  FIG. 3 ), the entry port  40  may be located along an edge of the roof  12 , and open to an exterior of the building via an opening delimited at an upper extent by the membrane  22 , and delimited at a lower extent by the roofing component that delimits the lower extent of the channel  32 . 
     It should be appreciated that air may be imported and circulated through the system  10  via a variety of mechanisms and fluid actuation systems. For example, air may be imported into the channel  32  of the system  10  by dropping a pressure gradient at the exit port  42  relative to the entry port  40 . Such a drop would create suction that would actively import air into the channel  32 . This suction/drop in pressure gradient may be achieved via any desirable system of valves located at an area surrounding or within the exit port  42  or entry port  40 . In addition, the warming of the air via convection may also inherently aid in importing fluid into the system channel  32 . Any known fluid moving devices, such as but not limited to fans, blowers, and/or vacuums, may also be used to move fluid/air throughout the system  10 . Of course, the entry port  40  and exit port  42  may be closeable so that air intake may be selectively chosen when desirable. Once the fluid/air is heated and expelled from the exit port  42 , it may be used for any desirable purposed such as heating space inside or outside the building or drying articles of clothing. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 4 , it should be appreciated that the channel  32  may be configured in any pattern that maximizes length of the channel  32  around and/or across the roof  12 . Such a pattern may be the serpentine pattern discussed above, a coiled pattern  60  as shown in  FIG. 4 , or any other desirable maximizing pattern. This coiled pattern  60  (or any other desirable pattern) may be created in the system  10  via the mechanical fastening (i.e. batten fastening) discussed above. Obviously, the coiled pattern  60  of  FIG. 4  necessitates disposal of the entry port  40  or exit port  42  at a relative center of the roof  12 . In  FIG. 4 , the exit port  42  is disposed at this relatively central position. 
     While the invention has been described with reference to an exemplary embodiment, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.