Thermal insulation system for a building with air circulation and its control method

Abstract

The present invention relates to a thermal insulation system for a building (1) comprising a wall (2), a thermal insulation layer (3), a compartment (4) between the wall (2) and the thermal insulation layer (3), means for supplying air (5) to the compartment (4) and means for exhausting air (6) from the compartment (4), as well as means for controlling the airflow in the compartment (4). Figure 1 to be published

Description

Title of the invention: Thermal insulation system for a building with air circulation and its control method Technical field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of thermal insulation of a building, in particular the insulation of building walls from the outside.

[0002] A significant portion of consumption in the residential and tertiary sectors is due to heating. In order to limit this consumption, several policies encourage and require, in particular, the improvement of the thermal performance of buildings. This improvement is generally achieved through better thermal insulation of buildings.

[0003] This thermal insulation allows for a significant saving on energy consumption for heating in winter. But in summer, particularly during heat waves, this insulation limits the evacuation of heat produced inside the building. This results in periods where the interior temperature can remain high for a long time.

[0004] External thermal insulation can make a positive contribution in the short term. In this case, the building benefits from the thermal inertia of the interior walls to limit the rise in temperature. However, with this thermal insulation, once the walls are warm, this benefit disappears. It also takes longer to cool the walls.

[0005] The RE2020 environmental regulation aims to limit the environmental impact of buildings, in particular by limiting their energy consumption. Thermal insulation helps limit consumption in winter. But the RE2020 regulation also requires taking into account periods of heatwaves by limiting the temperature in buildings with limited consumption, i.e. without the use of air conditioning.

[0006] This awareness is all the more important as, with global warming, more frequent and longer periods of heat waves are expected. It is therefore important to have energy-efficient building cooling solutions. Prior art

[0007] Active wall solutions exist to improve the heating performance of a building.

[0008] For example, the Trombe wall (sometimes called the Trombe-Michel wall) is a so-called "passive" solar heating system. Implemented and tested by Professor Félix Trombe and the architect Jacques Michel in the 1950s-1970s, this device draws part, through the greenhouse effect, of the free energy of the sun. However, this system is focused on the heating aspect, and not the cooling aspect.

[0009] Furthermore, the company CMEG & THERMACOME offers the “P2P Actif” technology which integrates a heating system into the facades with a network of hot water tubes and parietodynamic ventilation (preheating of the building’s renewal air). However, this system is focused on the heating aspect, not the cooling aspect.

[0010] Patent application US2013081786 proposes variable insulation by sliding two layers and replacing gas with liquid in order to vary the thermal resistance of the walls. This approach makes it possible to respond to cooling by reducing the thermal resistance of the walls at night. This allows partial evacuation of heat from the building. However, the impact of the system is localized in time: cooling only takes place during the period of low thermal resistance. In addition, implementation on all the facades of a building seems complex, due to the need to slide the layers, and due to the replacement of gas with liquid.

[0011] Patent applications WO2014 / 0732384, WO2014 / 0732385 and WO2014 / 0732386 describe the insulation of a building wall with a space between two wall parts, which can be filled with a vacuum, or with a heat-conducting fluid. However, this system is focused on the heating aspect, and not the cooling aspect. Summary of the invention

[0012] The invention aims to improve the heating and cooling of a building in a simple and efficient manner. For this purpose, the present invention relates to a system for thermally insulating a building comprising a wall, a thermal insulation layer, a compartment between the wall and the thermal insulation layer, means for supplying air to the compartment and means for discharging air from the compartment, as well as means for controlling the circulation of air in the compartment. The insulation layer provides insulation, and the circulation of air in the compartment allows the building to be cooled in a simple and efficient manner.

[0013] Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for controlling such a thermal insulation system.

[0014] The invention relates to a thermal insulation system for a building comprising at least one wall of said building, a thermal insulation layer arranged on said at least one wall outside said building, at least one compartment being formed between each wall and said thermal insulation layer, and each wall being made of a material whose thermal inertia is greater than the thermal inertia of the material of said thermal insulation layer. Said thermal insulation system further comprises air supply means for supplying each compartment with air from outside said building, air exhaust means for exhausting air from each compartment to the outside of said building, and means for controlling said air supply means and said air exhaust means between a closed position obstructing the passage of air and an open position allowing the circulation of air in each compartment.

[0015] According to one embodiment, at least one compartment has the shape of a thin blade or a channel.

[0016] Advantageously, at least one channel is formed by a groove arranged in said thermal insulation layer and / or a groove arranged in said wall, and / or by a rib formed in said thermal insulation layer, and / or a rib formed in said wall.

[0017] According to one implementation, said thermal insulation system comprises at least one temperature sensor outside and / or inside said building and / or inside said compartment, said control means being configured to control the opening and closing of said air supply means and said air exhaust means as a function of the measured temperature.

[0018] According to one aspect, said thermal insulation system further comprises means for forced circulation of air in each compartment, in particular at least one fan, a pump or a turbine, said forced circulation means being arranged within said air supply means.

[0019] According to one configuration, said thermal insulation system further comprises a Canadian well or a hydraulic Canadian well, said air supply means being connected to said Canadian well or said hydraulic Canadian well.

[0020] Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for controlling a thermal insulation system of a building, said thermal insulation system comprising at least one wall of said building, a thermal insulation layer arranged on said at least one wall outside said building, at least one compartment being formed between said at least one wall and said thermal insulation layer, air supply means for supplying each compartment with air from outside said building, air exhaust means for exhausting air from each compartment to the outside of said building, and said wall being made of a material whose thermal inertia is greater than the thermal inertia of the material of said thermal insulation layer. For this method, the following steps are implemented: a. Said air supply means and said air exhaust means are controlled in the closed position to maintain the temperature in said building; and b. Said air supply means and said air exhaust means are controlled in the open position to circulate air in each compartment to cool the temperature in said building.

[0021] According to one embodiment, the temperature in said building is cooled when the outside temperature of the building is lower than the inside temperature of the building, and as long as the inside temperature of the building remains higher than a predefined threshold.

[0022] According to one implementation, the temperature in said building is cooled during the night in summer.

[0023] Advantageously, forced air circulation means equipping the thermal insulation system are controlled to cool the temperature in said building.

[0024] Other characteristics and advantages of the system and method according to the invention will appear on reading the following description of non-limiting examples of embodiments, with reference to the figures appended and described below. List of figures

[0025] [Fig.l]

[0026] [Fig.l] illustrates a thermal insulation system according to a first embodiment of the invention.

[0027] [Fig.2]

[0028] [Fig.2] illustrates a thermal insulation system according to a second embodiment of the invention.

[0029] [Fig.3]

[0030] [Fig. 3] illustrates, for an example, temperature curves as a function of time, respectively of the outside temperature, of the inside temperature of a building equipped with a thermal insulation system according to the prior art, and of the inside temperature of a building equipped with a thermal insulation system according to the invention. Description of the embodiments

[0031] The present invention relates to a thermal insulation system for a building, the aim of which is to improve the thermal insulation of the building, in order to improve the thermal performance of the building. The invention also aims to be able to cool the building when the temperature inside the building is high. The building can be of any type: house, residential building, office building, warehouses, commercial building, factory, leisure building, etc.

[0032] In the present application, the term “interior” designates the space formed within the building, whereas the term “exterior” refers to what surrounds the building.

[0033] The thermal insulation system according to the invention comprises: - At least one wall of the building, limiting the volume of the building (in other words, it is an external wall: one side of the wall is directed towards the inside of the building, and the other side of the wall is directed towards the outside of the building), for example a wall, or a roof of the building, - A thermal insulation layer arranged on the building wall on the exterior side of the building, the thermal insulation layer is made of a material which has a thermal inertia lower than the thermal inertia of the building wall material (The thermal inertia of a material is its resistance to temperature change when a disturbance of its thermal equilibrium occurs), - At least one compartment (empty space containing no material except structural support elements) between each wall and the thermal insulation layer, - Air supply means for supplying each compartment with air from outside the building, for example, but not limited to, in the form of an opening provided with a grille and a shutter, - Air evacuation means for evacuating air from each compartment to the outside of the building, for example, but not limited to, in the form of a chimney equipped with a grille and a shutter, - Means for controlling the air supply means and the air exhaust means between a closed position obstructing the passage of air and an open position allowing the circulation of air in each compartment.

[0034] The thermal insulation layer forms an envelope of the wall, limiting the transfer of calories between the interior and exterior of the building. Due to the difference in thermal inertia between the materials of the wall and the thermal insulation layer, the wall can store heat or coolness.

[0035] Each compartment delimits a volume which: - Either stores still air, when the air supply and air exhaust means are closed, in this case, the air contributes to the thermal insulation of the building, by limiting the transfer of calories between the interior and exterior of the building, - Either there is a circulation of air coming from the outside from the air supply means to the air exhaust means, when these supply means and the exhaust means are open, in this case, the circulation of air contributes to the cooling of the wall, and a fortiori to the re cooling of the interior of the building.

[0036] Thus, the system according to the invention plays a role of insulation and cooling according to needs, in a simple manner, in particular without complex equipment (for example without mobile element or without water or liquid circuit which imposes in particular sealing constraints and construction constraints), and efficiently (with limited energy consumption).

[0037] Advantageously, the control means can be configured to simultaneously open the air supply means and the air exhaust means, to generate air circulation in each compartment.

[0038] Advantageously, the control means may be configured to simultaneously close the air supply means and the air exhaust means, for the storage of still air.

[0039] According to one implementation of the invention, the wall may be made of concrete or concrete block, bricks, or any similar material.

[0040] According to one aspect of the invention, the material of the thermal insulation layer may in particular be chosen from synthetic insulators (plastic), natural insulators (plant or animal products, such as sheep's wool) and mineral insulators (such as glass wool), or any similar material.

[0041] Further, depending on the relative arrangement of these components, the thermal insulation system may include airflow conveying conduits for conveying air from one component to another.

[0042] According to one embodiment, at least one compartment may have the shape of a thin blade. In other words, at least one compartment may be formed by a narrow spacing (for example of the order of a few mm to a few cm) between the wall and the thermal insulation layer. According to a non-limiting example, this spacing may be achieved by means of at least one spacer arranged between the wall and the thermal insulation layer.

[0043] Alternatively, at least one compartment may have a channel shape, preferably a substantially vertical channel. For this, the wall and the thermal insulation layer may comprise protruding or hollow shapes creating empty spaces between them. By way of non-limiting examples, at least one channel may be formed by a groove in the thermal insulation layer, and / or a groove in the wall, and / or by a rib in the thermal insulation layer, and / or a rib in the wall.

[0044] According to one embodiment of the invention, the system may comprise at least one temperature sensor outside and / or inside the building and / or inside the compartment. The control means may then be configured to open or close the air supply means and the air exhaust means. depending on the measured temperature. For example, if the indoor temperature of the building is higher than the outdoor temperature, while remaining higher than a predefined threshold (for the comfort of the building users, for example 19°C), then the control means are configured to allow air circulation in each compartment by opening the air supply means and the air exhaust means.

[0045] According to one embodiment, the thermal insulation system may comprise a Canadian well or a hydraulic Canadian well. A Canadian well, also called an air-ground exchanger or Provençal well, is used to supply a building with air by circulating it beforehand in a buried conduit, which, depending on the climatic conditions, cools or preheats it using the thermal inertia of the ground. The air serves as a heat transfer fluid while the tube serves as a heat exchanger while channeling the air to the building. A Canadian hydraulic well, also a Canadian water well, is an improvement of the Canadian well in which water circulates in a buried conduit to cool or heat the air in the building. For this embodiment, the air outlet of the Canadian well or the hydraulic Canadian well is connected to the air supply means of the thermal insulation system.Thus, the air circulates successively in the Canadian well, in the supply means, in the compartment, then in the evacuation means. In this way, it is possible to supply each compartment with air at a controlled temperature, in particular at a low temperature when the outside temperatures are high.

[0046] According to one aspect of the invention, the air supply means may be located in the lower part of the wall (for example at floor level). This configuration promotes the circulation of air in each compartment.

[0047] According to another aspect of the invention, the air evacuation means may be located in the upper part of the wall (for example at ceiling level). This configuration promotes the circulation of air in each compartment, since hot air rises.

[0048] Alternatively, depending on construction constraints, and / or in the event of the possible presence of a Canadian well or a hydraulic Canadian well, the air supply means and the air exhaust means may be arranged at different levels.

[0049] According to one implementation of the invention, the thermal insulation system may comprise means for forced circulation of air in the compartment, so as to generate the movement of air within the compartment. For example, the means for forced circulation of air may comprise at least one fan, a vacuum pump, a suction turbine, or a compressor, the means for forced circulation of air being arranged within the air supply means. For example, the fan can be a tangential fan or a centrifugal fan.

[0050] To ensure their opening and closing, the supply means and the discharge means may comprise valves, for example solenoid valves, controllable valves, or any similar system.

[0051] According to one embodiment option, the control means may comprise computer means, such as a computer or a calculator to ensure the opening and closing of the supply means and the discharge means. Alternatively, the control means may comprise a thermostat which automatically opens or closes the supply means and the discharge means depending on the temperature.

[0052] According to one embodiment, the control means can be connected to a weather forecast service, in particular by an online service, and can adapt the opening and closing of the supply and discharge means according to the weather forecasts. This embodiment makes it possible to limit the necessary instrumentation and / or to compensate for sensor failures.

[0053] The invention also relates to a method for controlling such a thermal insulation system according to any one of the variants or combinations of variants described above. For this control method, the following steps can be implemented: - The air supply means and the air exhaust means are controlled in the closed position to maintain the temperature in the said building, so that the air is still in each compartment; and - The air supply means and the air exhaust means are controlled in the open position to circulate air in each compartment to cool the temperature in the said building.

[0054] The phase of maintaining the temperature in the building can be implemented at least during at least one of the following situations: - When the outside temperature is higher than the inside temperature, and the inside temperature is higher than a first predefined threshold (in particular for the comfort of the building's users, for example 19°C), to avoid bringing outside heat into the building already at a desired temperature; - When the outside temperature is lower than the inside temperature, and the inside temperature is lower than a predefined threshold, to avoid cooling a building that is not at a desired temperature.

[0055] As a non-limiting example, this temperature maintenance phase can be ensured during the winter, and during the day in summer.

[0056] The cooling phase of the temperature in the building can be implemented operates at least when the outside temperature is lower than the inside temperature, and the inside temperature is higher than a predefined threshold.

[0057] As a non-limiting example, this cooling phase can be provided during the night in summer.

[0058] For the embodiment for which the thermal insulation system comprises a Canadian well or a hydraulic Canadian well, the cooling phase can be carried out when the interior temperature is higher than a predefined threshold, independently of the exterior temperature. Indeed, the Canadian well or the hydraulic Canadian well ensures a substantially constant air temperature, for example between 12 and 16°C, which can be used for cooling the wall and therefore the building.

[0059] As a non-limiting example, this cooling phase for this embodiment can be ensured during the summer day and night.

[0060] [Fig.l] illustrates, schematically and in a non-limiting manner, a building equipped with a thermal insulation system according to a first embodiment of the invention. [Fig.l] is a view in a vertical section. The building 1 comprises two vertical walls 2. The thermal insulation system further comprises a thermal insulation layer 3, and a compartment 4 arranged between the wall 2 and the thermal insulation layer 3. The compartment 4 may have the shape of a thin blade between the wall 2 and the thermal insulation layer 3. In addition, the thermal insulation system comprises air supply means 5, arranged in the illustrated embodiment at ground level. Furthermore, the thermal insulation system comprises air exhaust means 6, arranged, in the illustrated embodiment at the level of the roof of the building.In this figure, the arrows indicate the circulation of air when the supply means 5 and the discharge means 6 are opened by the control means (not shown). In this case, the air circulates successively in the supply means 5, each compartment 4, and the discharge means 6.

[0061] [Fig. 2] illustrates, schematically and in a non-limiting manner, a building equipped with a thermal insulation system according to a second embodiment of the invention. [Fig. 2] is a view in a vertical section. Elements identical to [Fig. 1] are not re-detailed. The thermal insulation system further comprises a Canadian well 7, which has a chimney 8 and a buried pipe 9, the outlet of which is connected to the air supply means 5. In this figure, the arrows indicate the circulation of the air when the supply means 5 and the evacuation means 6 are opened by the control means (not shown). In this case, the air circulates successively in the chimney 8 of the Canadian well, in the pipe 9 of the Canadian well, the supply means 5, each compartment 4, and means of evacuation 6. Examples

[0062] The characteristics and advantages of the method according to the invention will appear more clearly on reading the application example below.

[0063] The case study is a 36m2 apartment, consisting of one room, whose adjoining walls with the neighbors are considered adiabatic. In fact, we assume identical thermal behavior of the neighboring apartments, which implies an absence of heat transfer. The air volume is 90 m3. We consider the following configuration: - The exterior walls with a surface area of ​​25 m2 are formed of a 18 cm thick concrete wall, insulated from the outside with 4 cm of polystyrene, the insulation being spaced from the wall to form a compartment in the form of a thin blade, - The adjoining walls (walls, floor and ceiling) with a surface area of ​​102 m2 are made of 9 cm thick concrete, - Windows with a surface area of ​​6 m2 have a heat loss coefficient of 2 W / m2 corresponding to average performance double-glazed windows, - Continuous ventilation of the room at 20 m3 / h, - The apartment is occupied by two people between 6 p.m. and 8 a.m., i.e. a thermal power of 150 W.

[0064] The interior temperature in the apartment is then simulated for two situations, for the temperatures recorded in Paris during the summer of 2022 (between June 21 and August 30): - The first situation according to the prior art: with only passive insulation from the outside (without controlled air circulation), - The second situation according to an embodiment of the invention (with controlled air circulation): the insulated wall receives a flow of air (at the outside temperature) between the structural part and the thermal insulation layer so as to cool it when the outside temperature is lower than that of the room. When the circulation of this air flow is controlled, the exchange coefficient is h = 10 W / m2 / K.

[0065] [Fig.3] is a graph of the temperature T in °C as a function of day D. The Text curve illustrates the variation of the outside temperature. The Taa curve illustrates the inside temperature of the apartment for the situation according to the prior art. The T1NV curve illustrates the inside temperature of the apartment for the embodiment of the invention.

[0066] It can be observed that when the insulation is passive (according to the prior art), the temperature The indoor temperature is not very dependent on variations in the outdoor temperature. During the heatwave period (between the 20th and 30th day), the indoor temperature ends up rising and hardly drops again due to the heat stored in the concrete walls and trapped behind the thermal insulation layer or in the party walls.

[0067] In the second configuration according to the invention, where the insulation is active (controlled air circulation), the short night periods are sufficient to evacuate the heat stored during the day. During the heatwave period, where the air circulation in each compartment is not activated because the outside temperature is too high, the room heats up. But the temperature is controlled, because it was initially lower, and falls again at the slightest drop in temperature.

[0068] Finally, active insulation means that temperatures never exceed 23°C (TIXV curve) inside the apartment, whereas passive insulation reaches almost 29°C (Taa curve) inside the apartment at the end of summer.

[0069] Therefore, the invention allows the insulation and cooling of the air in the apartment according to needs, in a simple and efficient manner.

Claims

Claims

1. Thermal insulation system for a building (1) comprising at least one wall (2) of said building, a thermal insulation layer (3) arranged on said at least one wall (2) outside said building, at least one compartment (4) being formed between each wall (2) and said thermal insulation layer (3), and each wall being made of a material whose thermal inertia is greater than the thermal inertia of the material of said thermal insulation layer, characterized in that said thermal insulation system further comprises air supply means (5) for supplying each compartment (4) with air from outside said building, air exhaust means (6) for exhausting air from each compartment (4) to the outside of said building (1),and means for controlling said air supply means (5) and said air exhaust means (6) between a closed position obstructing the passage of air and an open position allowing the circulation of air in each compartment (4).,

2. Thermal insulation system according to claim 1, wherein at least one compartment (4) has the shape of a thin blade or a channel.

3. Thermal insulation system according to claim 2, wherein at least one channel is formed by a groove arranged in said thermal insulation layer (3) and / or a groove arranged in said wall (2), and / or by a rib formed in said thermal insulation layer (3), and / or a rib formed in said wall (2).

4. Thermal insulation system according to one of the preceding claims, wherein said thermal insulation system comprises at least one temperature sensor outside and / or inside said building (1) and / or inside said compartment (4), said control means being configured to control the opening and closing of said air supply means (5) and said air exhaust means (6) as a function of the measured temperature.

5. Thermal insulation system according to one of the preceding claims, wherein said thermal insulation system further comprises means for forced circulation of air in each compartment (4), in particular at least one fan, a pump or a turbine, said forced circulation means being arranged within said air supply means (5).

6. Thermal insulation system according to one of the preceding claims- preceding, wherein said thermal insulation system further comprises a Canadian well (7) or a hydraulic Canadian well, said air supply means (5) being connected to said Canadian well (7) or said hydraulic Canadian well.

7. A method of controlling a thermal insulation system of a building (1), said thermal insulation system comprising at least one wall (2) of said building, a thermal insulation layer (3) arranged on said at least one wall (2) outside said building (1), at least one compartment (4) being formed between said at least one wall (2) and said thermal insulation layer (3), air supply means (5) for supplying each compartment (4) with air from outside said building (1), air exhaust means (6) for exhausting air from each compartment (4) to the outside of said building (1), and said wall (2) being made of a material whose thermal inertia is greater than the thermal inertia of the material of said thermal insulation layer (3), characterized in that the following steps are implemented: a.Said air supply means (5) and said air exhaust means (6) are controlled in the closed position to maintain the temperature in said building (1); and b. Said air supply means (5) and said air exhaust means (6) are controlled in the open position to circulate air in each compartment (4) to cool the temperature in said building (1).

8. A method of controlling a thermal insulation system according to claim 7, wherein the temperature in said building (1) is cooled when the outside temperature of the building (1) is lower than the inside temperature of the building (1), and as long as the inside temperature of the building (1) remains higher than a predefined threshold.

9. A method of controlling a thermal insulation system according to one of claims 7 or 8, wherein the temperature in said building (1) is cooled during the night in summer.

10. Method for controlling a thermal insulation system according to one of claims 7 to 9, in which forced air circulation means equipping the thermal insulation system are controlled to cool the temperature in said building (1).

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