Structural wall panels and methods and systems for controlling interior climates

Abstract

Structural wall panels and methods and systems for controlling the interior temperature of a building are provided. The structural wall panels advantageously include a fluid conduit disposed within an interior concrete layer of the structural wall panel where the conduit is adapted to convey a thermal transfer fluid through the interior concrete layer. A thermal insulation layer is provided between the first concrete layer and a second concrete layer, which can be disposed on an exterior surface of the wall. The thermal transfer fluid can be heated and / or cooled to regulate the temperature of the interior concrete layer and thereby control the temperature of the interior of the building. The first concrete layer can have a high thermal mass to increase the efficiency of the system.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0001]1. Field of the Invention[0002]The present invention relates to structural wall panels useful for the fabrication of building structures, and to systems and methods for controlling the climate within building structures. More particularly, the present invention relates to insulated concrete structural wall panels that are temperature-regulated by passing a thermal transfer fluid such as water through the panels. The present invention also relates to methods for regulating the interior temperature of a building structure using temperature-regulated interior walls.[0003]2. Description of Related Art[0004]One of the most significant uses of energy is directed to maintaining a comfortable climate within residential or commercial buildings. Rising energy costs have necessitated the development of low-energy solutions for climate control within the interior of a building. Further, the environmental hazards associated with modern energy production, such as ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0012]According to one embodiment, a unitary structural panel is provided where the panel is adapted for use in the construction of a building. The structural panel can include a thermal insulation layer having mutually opposed first and second major surfaces. A first concrete layer is disposed adjacent to the first major surface of the thermal insulation layer and a second concrete layer is disposed adjacent to the second major surface of the thermal insulation layer. The first concrete layer includes a fluid conduit where the conduit is adapted to convey a thermal transfer fluid through the first concrete layer. Inlet ports and outlet ports are disposed on opposite ends of the conduit to permit the injection and removal of a thermal transfer fluid. According to one aspect, the first concrete layer has a thickness that is greater than the thickness of the second concrete layer. By increasing the thermal mass of the first concrete layer, the structural panel can provide more efficient heating and cooling to the interior of a building.

[0013]According to another embodiment, a unitary structural panel includes a thermal insulation layer having mutually opposed first and second major surfaces. A first concrete layer is disposed adjacent to the first major surface of the thermal insulation layer and a second concrete layer is disposed adjacent to the second major surface of the thermal insulation layer. A fluid conduit is disposed within the first concrete layer where the conduit is adapted to convey a thermal transfer fluid through the first concrete layer. According to one aspect, a metallic layer is disposed between the first major surface of the thermal insulation layer and the first concrete layer. The metallic layer can advantageously reflect radiant thermal energy back toward the first concrete layer to thereby increase the thermal efficiency of the structural panel.

[0016]According to yet another embodiment, a method for controlling the temperature of the interior of a building is provided. The building includes concrete walls having an interior concrete portion and an exterior concrete portion separated by a thermal insulation layer. The method includes adjusting the temperature of a thermal transfer fluid and then moving the thermal transfer fluid through a conduit that is disposed solely within the interior portion of the concrete walls without moving the thermal transfer fluid through the exterior concrete portion. The thermal transfer fluid changes the temperature of the interior portion of the concrete walls, such as by heating or cooling, to thereby control the temperature of the interior portion of the building.

Problems solved by technology

Further, the environmental hazards associated with modern energy production, such as the generation of greenhouse gases, has led to the desire to fabricate buildings having a reduced carbon footprint, i.e., one that consumes less energy for construction and less energy for day-to-day living.

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