J. M. ROBIN1, B. FLAMENT2, C. VASILE3,

1Robin Sun SARL, BP 90216 — F.67005 Strasbourg, T/F: +49 (0) 7853.17347,

robinsun@web. de

2,3 HVAC Department, National Institute of Applied Sciences (INSA)

24, Bd de la Victoire, F — 67084 Strasbourg Cedex, flament@mail. insa-strasbourg. fr

1) Introduction.

The facades are often presented like a very significant potential market for solar thermal systems.

One of the barriers to the solar installations development is related to the difficulty of architectural integration of the collectors. In the field of photovoltaic, solutions of integration are currently available in double-glazing with inserted photovoltaic cells. The aim of the article is to present a new product, the glass collector, which is designed to be in the solar thermal field the equivalent of photovoltaic double glazing systems.

The motivations which led to the development of the glass collector were to obtain a whole component integrated in the facades. The glass collector has to:

• combine at the same time an active and passive role in the collecting of solar energy,

• easy assembly, like double glazed windows, instead of walls,

• offer free dimensions for the architects,

• use an already existing process to reduce the costs.

The glass collector is currently in the pre-industrialization phase.