Architectural materials having integrated energy storage system

Abstract

The present invention is generally directed to energy storage systems comprising manufactured architectural materials having electrical battery systems embedded therein. The manufactured materials are generally provided as architectural panels, such as panels useful for interior or exterior cladding for buildings, flooring, countertops, or stairs. The panels comprise at least one battery device or battery assembly that is over-formed by and/or bonded with the architectural material. In preferred embodiments, the panels are formed by flowing a viscous architectural material precursor around the battery device or assembly and curing the precursor so as to solidify the architectural material. The panels may be electrically connected in any number of various arrangements, which can be chosen based on the specific application for the energy storage system.

I claim: 
     
         1 . An architectural panel having an integrated energy storage system comprising at least one battery assembly, which includes at least one battery cell, embedded within a manufactured architectural material, the at least one battery assembly comprising an exterior surface, a majority of the exterior surface being over-formed by and/or bonded with the architectural material, the at least one battery assembly comprising electrical connectors operable to connect the at least one battery assembly with an electrical circuit that is external to the panel. 
     
     
         2 . The architectural panel of  claim 1 , wherein the architectural material comprises one or more members selected from the group consisting of synthetic resin materials, concrete, ceramics, glass, quartz, wood chips, sawdust, plaster, gypsum, fiberglass, and carbon fibers. 
     
     
         3 . The architectural panel of  claim 1 , wherein the architectural material is opaque such that the battery cell is not visible through the architectural material. 
     
     
         4 . The architectural panel of  claim 1 , wherein the panel further comprises electronic circuitry associated with the at least one battery assembly that is operable to monitor and/or control at least one aspect of the battery cell status or operation. 
     
     
         5 . The architectural panel of  claim 4 , wherein the electronic circuitry is embedded within the architectural material. 
     
     
         6 . The architectural panel of  claim 1 , wherein the panel further comprises fastening elements configured to secure the panel to a wall mounting structure. 
     
     
         7 . The architectural panel of  claim 1 , wherein the panel comprises a plurality of battery assemblies. 
     
     
         8 . The architectural panel of  claim 1 , wherein the battery assembly comprises a plurality of battery cells electrically connected in series or in parallel. 
     
     
         9 . The architectural panel of  claim 1 , the architectural panel having at least one surface that is configured to be weather resistant. 
     
     
         10 . The architectural panel of  claim 1 , wherein the architectural panel comprises a thickness dimension that is less than 25% of either the length or width dimension of the panel. 
     
     
         11 . The architectural panel of  claim 1 , wherein the battery assembly comprises the electronic circuitry associated with the at least one battery cell that is operable to monitor and/or control at least one aspect of the battery assembly status or operation. 
     
     
         12 . An architectural panel having an integrated energy storage system comprising at least one battery device having an exterior surface a majority of which is in contact and/or bonded with a manufactured architectural material, the at least one battery device being embedded within the architectural material, the panel being formed by flowing a viscous architectural material precursor around the at least one battery device so as to cause the at least one battery device to become embedded within the viscous architectural material precursor, and curing the viscous architectural material precursor so as to solidify the viscous architectural material thereby forming the architectural material. 
     
     
         13 . The architectural panel according to  claim 12 , wherein the at least one battery device comprises at least one battery cell. 
     
     
         14 . The architectural panel according to  claim 12 , wherein the at least one battery device comprises a sleeve that is configured to removably receive at least one battery cell. 
     
     
         15 . A wall structure comprising a plurality of architectural panels according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         16 . The wall structure according to  claim 15 , wherein the plurality of panels are detachably secured to mounting structure. 
     
     
         17 . The wall structure according to  claim 16 , wherein the mounting structure comprises rails and/or crossmembers affixed to a subwall structure. 
     
     
         18 . The wall structure according to  claim 16 , wherein the mounting structure comprises electrical circuitry operable to supply power to and/or deliver power from the battery cells. 
     
     
         19 . The wall structure according to  claim 18 , wherein the plurality of panels are connected to the electrical circuitry in parallel or in series. 
     
     
         20 . The wall structure according to  claim 15 , wherein the wall structure is coupled with electronic circuitry that is operable to monitor the status of and/or control at least one operational aspect of at least one battery cell contained within each panel. 
     
     
         21 . The wall structure according to  claim 15 , wherein the wall structure forms an exterior or interior cladding. 
     
     
         22 . A method of providing power to a building, shelter, facility, structure, or any portion thereof comprising:
 installing a wall onto a surface of the building, shelter, facility, structure, or any portion thereof, the wall comprising a plurality of architectural panels according to  claim 1 ;   connecting the plurality of architectural panels to an electrical circuit coupled with a source of electrical power;   using the source of electrical power to charge the at least one battery cell of at least one of the panels;   selectively disconnecting the at least one panel from the source of electrical power and withdrawing electrical power from the at least one cell embedded within the at least one panel for use within the building, shelter, facility, structure, or any portion thereof.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein installation of the wall comprises detachably securing the plurality of architectural panels to a mounting structure. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein installation of the wall comprises forming an interior or exterior cladding of a building. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 22 , the source of electrical power being a public utility or a stand-alone power system. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the electrical circuit used for charging the at least one battery cell can also be used, at least in part, for conducting power withdrawn from cells for use within the building, shelter, facility, structure, or any portion thereof. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the electrical circuit used for charging comprises a control system for distributing power to and from cells and/or for switching cells from a parallel arrangement to a series arrangement based upon demand. 
     
     
         28 . A method of manufacturing an architectural panel having an integrated energy storage system comprising:
 flowing a viscous architectural material precursor around at least one battery device so as to cause the at least one battery device to become embedded within the viscous architectural material precursor; and   curing the viscous architectural material precursor so as to solidify the viscous architectural material thereby at least partially encasing the battery device within the architectural material.   
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein said flowing comprises introducing the viscous architectural material precursor into a mold. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the battery device is suspended in the mold before the viscous architectural material precursor is introduced around the battery device. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the viscous architectural material precursor comprises one or more members selected from the group consisting of synthetic resin materials, concrete, ceramics, quartz, glass, wood chips, sawdust, plaster, gypsum, fiberglass, and carbon fibers. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the curing comprises polymerizing a synthetic resin material within the viscous architectural material precursor.