Energy efficient building

Abstract

A solar engine, which is vertically aligned along an interior portion of a building, is heated by solar radiation. The solar engine includes a warm air chamber at an upper portion of the solar engine and a hollow core positioned below the warm air chamber. Habitable spaces are positioned around the outside of the core toward an exterior of the building. Solar radiation on the warm air chamber creates a high temperature zone in the warm air chamber that induces a stack effect in which air rises through the core due to the lower temperatures in the core, and results in a negative pressure in the core. Air enters at a lower portion of the building and is pulled through the core by the solar engine. If the windows on the outside of the habitable spaces are opened, the negative pressure in the core causes passive cross ventilation from the outside of the building through the habitable spaces and into the core, where the air rises to the warm air chamber and then out of the building. This allows the habitable spaces to be naturally cooled and ventilated with no energy costs. Solar radiation may be directed into the warm air chamber and core using a reflector at the top of the building. One or more wind turbines and generators positioned around the top of the core convert the moving air from the core into electrical energy to power the building.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]The present invention generally relates to building energy systems, and more particularly to controlling ventilation and temperature and generating power in buildings using the stack effect.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]Conventional building designs rely on powered building-mechanical systems to bring ventilation into habitable spaces from the outside of the building. These conventional designs typically include powered louvers positioned on the outer surfaces of the building that open to allow air to enter the habitable spaces for ventilation, heating, and cooling. Typically, powered fans draw the outside air through the louvers and into the habitable spaces, and then expel the air from the habitable spaces to the outside of the building. This conventional approach requires large energy consumption to drive the louvers and power the fans. A need exists for improved energy efficiency in buildings.SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION[0003]Methods and systems consis...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0003]Methods and systems consistent with the present invention improve building energy efficiency. A solar engine, which is vertically aligned along an interior portion of a building, is heated by solar radiation. The solar engine includes a warm air chamber at an upper portion of the solar engine and a hollow core or void positioned below the warm air chamber. Habitable spaces are positioned around the outside of the core toward an exterior of the building. Solar radiation on the warm air chamber creates a high temperature zone in the warm air chamber. This creates a stack effect in which air rises through the core due to the lower temperatures in the core, and results in a negative pressure in the core. Air enters at a lower portion of the building and is pulled through the core by the solar engine. If the windows on the outside of the habitable spaces are opened, the negative pressure in the core causes passive cross ventilation from the outside of the building through the habitable spaces and into the core, where the air rises to the warm air chamber and then out of the building. This allows the habitable spaces to be naturally cooled and ventilated with no energy costs.

[0004]The habitable spaces may also be ventilated by drawing air out from the core and into the habitable spaces. In this case, mechanical units in the habitable spaces draw air, which is moving upward through the core, into the habitable spaces. The air from the core ventilates the habitable spaces and is expelled to the exterior of the building. Habitable spaces in a lower portion of the building may generate high internal loads and may require cooling in the interior zones. As air passes through the core along the interior surfaces of the habitable spaces it is preheated by energy transfer with the surrounding conditioned space. The preconditioning of the air by drawing it through the core as opposed to the exterior of the building saves considerable heating energy. Further, air from the core provides more consistent ventilation compared to air brought in through louvers located outside the building, which are susceptible to changing wind conditions and often cannot pull in air since the suction forces of the wind may outweigh the external static pressure of the louver fan.

[0005]The stack effect may be enhanced by providing one or more solar reflectors in the warm air chamber. Solar radiation reflects from the solar reflector down into the warm air chamber and core. The solar radiation may be directed farther down into the core through the use of additional reflector or reflective surfaces within the core. The introduction of solar energy into the core further heats the air in the core, resulting in a higher air velocity through the solar engine and enhancing the stack effect. The introduction of light into the core may also beneficially illuminate the interior portions of the habitable spaces located around the core. This allows for reduced energy consumption for illuminating the habitable spaces.

[0006]Further, one or more wind turbines positioned in the solar engine may be used to convert the wind energy of the air moving upward through the solar engine into electricity to power the building. Thus, methods and systems consistent with the present invention reduce the amount of energy required to ventilate a building and also generate electricity that may be used to power the building.

Problems solved by technology

This creates a stack effect in which air rises through the core due to the lower temperatures in the core, and results in a negative pressure in the core.

Habitable spaces in a lower portion of the building may generate high internal loads and may require cooling in the interior zones.

The preconditioning of the air by drawing it through the core as opposed to the exterior of the building saves considerable heating energy.

Further, air from the core provides more consistent ventilation compared to air brought in through louvers located outside the building, which are susceptible to changing wind conditions and often cannot pull in air since the suction forces of the wind may outweigh the external static pressure of the louver fan.

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