Advanced device designed for regulating the temperature of a room
A phase-change material integrated into metallic radiation walls in existing buildings addresses the challenge of retrofitting temperature regulation systems, offering efficient thermal regulation with reduced power consumption and space needs.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- FR · FR
- Patent Type
- Utility models
- Current Assignee / Owner
- VINCI ENERGIES CONTRACTING IDF
- Filing Date
- 2024-04-18
- Publication Date
- 2026-05-15
AI Technical Summary
Existing temperature regulation systems integrated into building slabs during construction are difficult to implement in existing buildings, particularly during renovations, due to the need for replacing floor slabs with forced-air ducting systems.
A device utilizing metallic radiation walls with a phase-change material layer, integrated into existing buildings, which absorbs and releases heat to regulate room temperature, facilitated by a metallic radiation wall with a phase-change material layer, allowing for easy integration and efficient thermal regulation.
The system provides effective thermal inertia and reduced power consumption for temperature control, minimizing space requirements and carbon footprint, while maintaining consistent room temperatures.
Smart Images
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Abstract
Description
Title of the invention: Improved device for regulating the temperature of a room
[0001] The invention relates to a device for regulating the temperature of a room.
[0002] The technology is already known in the state, in particular from document FR 2 952 999, a device for regulating the temperature of a room comprising means for supplying forced air connected, by means of air ducting, to means of air diffusion intended to diffuse the forced air into the room.
[0003] More specifically, in document FR 2 952 999, the air ducting means consist of air ducts integrated into a concrete slab intended to separate two floors of a building. The slab forms a floor or ceiling of the room whose temperature is to be regulated. Thus, the air supplied through the ducting means can heat the slab, which will itself exchange heat with the room air by conduction and radiation.
[0004] It should be noted that the mass of the slab gives it thermal inertia, which promotes the temperature regulation of the room. Thus, the slab absorbs excess energy when the room reaches a desired temperature and, when the room temperature tends to drop, releases this energy back into the room, mainly by radiation, due to its thermal inertia.
[0005] The integration of this type of technology is essentially done during the construction of the building, the slab equipped with the means for piping forced air can either be prefabricated and then assembled on site or be manufactured on site.
[0006] However, the technology described in document FR 2 952 999 is much more difficult to implement in an existing building, for example, a building that one wishes to renovate. Indeed, in this case, it would be necessary to consider replacing the floor slabs of the existing building to integrate the forced-air ducting systems, which is a deterrent.
[0007] The invention aims in particular to provide a device for regulating the temperature of a room which benefits from a thermal inertia effect and which, where appropriate, is easy to integrate into an existing building which one wishes, for example, to renovate.
[0008] To this end, the invention relates to a device for regulating the temperature of a room, comprising means for supplying forced air connected, by means of air ducting, to means of air diffusion intended to diffuse the forced air into the room, characterized in that the ducting means air spaces are delimited by a metallic wall, called a radiation wall, equipped with an internal surface covered by a mass of phase-change material intended to be in contact with the pulsed air, and an external surface intended to delimit the room.
[0009] In the preceding and following, a phase change material, or PCM, is a material capable of changing state between a liquid phase and a solid phase within a temperature range of 10 °C to 80 °C.
[0010] The phase-change material can store and release large amounts of energy while remaining at a relatively constant temperature. Indeed, when the material changes phase, it absorbs or releases a significant amount of heat, while maintaining a relatively constant temperature. Thus, the phase-change material has a thermal inertia effect because, on the one hand, it can absorb excess energy when the room reaches a desired temperature and, on the other hand, when the room temperature tends to decrease, it releases this energy back into the room, primarily by radiation.
[0011] The temperature of the supply air circulating in the air ducting system can thus be regulated, according to the seasons, over a relatively wide range of values, preferably between 6°C and 50°C, without risk of the room air temperature becoming too high, since the phase-change material absorbs excess heat. Using a relatively wide temperature range limits the power required to heat the supply air and therefore reduces the carbon footprint of the room temperature control device. Indeed, the phase-change material releases heat even when the supply air heating system is not operating.
[0012] The phase change material has a relatively high density, so that it is compact, space-saving and can be spread over the radiation wall by forming a relatively thin layer.
[0013] The metallic radiation wall facilitates heat diffusion by radiation. Furthermore, the radiation wall, being metallic, has sufficient rigidity to support the mass of phase-change material while being relatively thin, thus minimizing its size.
[0014] The radiating wall covered by the mass of phase-change material forms an assembly that is easy to integrate into an existing building. The relative thinness of the metallic radiating wall and the compactness of the mass of phase-change material limit the space required for air ducting, thus facilitating the integration of the room temperature control device into an existing building.
[0015] Other optional characteristics of this device for regulating the temperature of a room will be stated below, which can be taken alone or in combination.
[0016] The melting point of the phase change material is between 15° and 23°C, preferably between 17° and 22°C. This range of values for the melting point of the phase change material is particularly suitable for the temperatures generally required in an inhabited building.
[0017] The phase-change material comprises at least one organic component, chosen in particular from paraffins. This type of material is generally less sensitive to supercooling than a phase-change material comprising inorganic components. Alternatively, the phase-change material comprises at least one inorganic component chosen in particular from hydrated salts, especially from alloys of organic salts and water.
[0018] The phase-change material is housed in a casing, preferably made of aluminum, the casing containing the phase-change material covering the inner surface of the radiating wall. Because the phase-change material is housed in a casing, it is easy to position on the radiating wall. Furthermore, the aluminum casing is relatively thin, so its size is negligible. In addition, aluminum facilitates heat transfer.
[0019] The forced air supply means comprise an air handling unit connected to the ducting means by forced air flow control means. These flow control means contribute to the thermal regulation of the room.
[0020] The flow control means comprise at least one flow control valve arranged in a forced air circulation duct connected to the piping means via a diffusion plenum.
[0021] The air ducting means define a substantially prismatic, or internal, air circulation channel that is substantially rectangular in shape. Such a shape of air circulation channel is easy to integrate into a room, particularly into a ceiling of the room.
[0022] The air ducting means are also delimited by side walls substantially perpendicular to the radiating wall, so that the surfaces external to the air circulation channel of the radiating wall and the side walls substantially delimit a basic prism, called the external prism, substantially rectangular, a long side of this external base, formed by the radiating wall, having a length between 90 and 120 cm, and a short side of this external base, formed by each side wall, having a length between 5.5 and 15 cm. Such dimensions are particularly well suited for integrating the device intended for temperature regulation into a room in an existing building.
[0023] The radiation wall is intended to form a ceiling of the room.
[0024] The invention also relates to a building comprising a room, characterized in that it is equipped with a device for regulating the temperature of this room as defined above.
[0025] According to another optional feature of this building, the air ducting means are further delimited by a slab, preferably made of concrete, separating this room from a floor of this building extending above this room. Brief description of the figures
[0026] The invention will be better understood upon reading the following description, given solely by way of example and made with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
[0027] [Fig-1] is a schematic view of part of a building according to the invention equipped of a device according to the invention for regulating the temperature of a room in this building;
[0028] [Fig.2] is a section along line II-II of [Fig.1]. Detailed description
[0029] Figure 1 shows a building according to the invention, designated by the general reference 10, comprising a concrete slab 12 separating two floors respectively lower 14 and upper 16.
[0030] Figure 1 also shows a room 18 located on the lower floor 14 of the building. The slab 12 therefore separates this room 18 from the upper floor 16 extending above this room 18.
[0031] Figure [Fig.1] also shows a wall 20 delimiting the room 18, forming for example a facade of the building 10.
[0032] Building 10 is equipped with a device 22, according to the invention, for regulating the temperature of room 18.
[0033] Referring to [Fig.1], it can be seen that the device 22 includes means 24 for supplying forced air connected, by means 26 for air ducting, to means 28 for air diffusion intended to diffuse the forced air into the room 18. These means for air diffusion 28 are conventional and include, for example, an air diffusion grille 29.
[0034] In [Fig.1], the direction of air circulation in the device 22 is indicated by arrows F.
[0035] The forced air supply means 24 include a downstream air diffusion plenum 30 connected to an upstream end 26A of the air ducting means 26. This diffusion plenum 30 allows for a uniform distribution of the forced air into different means of air ducting the building, in particular other than the means of air ducting 26 shown in [Fig.1].
[0036] Preferably, the internal surface of the downstream diffusion plenum 30 is coated with an insulating material 32.
[0037] The forced air supply means 24 also include an air handling unit 34 comprising conventional means for air cooling and heating, for example an air / water exchanger or a heat pump, air filtration means and means for air circulation, for example a fan.
[0038] In the illustrated example, the air handling unit 34 is connected to the downstream air diffusion plenum 30 via an upstream air diffusion plenum 36. The upstream 36 and downstream 30 diffusion plenums are connected to each other by means 38 for regulating the flow of forced air comprising at least one flow regulating valve 40 arranged in a forced air circulation duct 42 connecting the upstream 36 and downstream 30 diffusion plenums.
[0039] It will therefore be noted that the duct 42 for circulating forced air is connected to the upstream end 26A of the air ducting means 26 via the downstream air diffusion plenum 30.
[0040] It should also be noted that the air treatment unit 34 is connected to the piping means 26 by the means 38 for regulating the flow of forced air.
[0041] Preferably, as in the illustrated example, the upstream diffusion plenums 36 and downstream 30 as well as the duct 42 are housed in a false ceiling 44 delimiting the top of the room 18.
[0042] Referring to Figures 1 and 2, it can be seen that, in the illustrated example, the air ducting means 26 define a substantially prismatic, or internal, air circulation channel that is substantially rectangular in shape. The air handling unit 34 can, if necessary, be installed outside the building, for example on a platform located at the top of the building.
[0043] Referring to Figures 1 and 2, it can also be seen that the air channeling means 26 are delimited by a metallic wall 46, called a radiation wall, and, preferably, as in the illustrated example, by the concrete slab 12. Thus, the radiation wall 46 extends substantially parallel to the concrete slab 12, the pulsed air being intended to circulate between this concrete slab 12 and the radiation wall 46.
[0044] The radiation wall 46 is, for example, made of steel, preferably galvanized. Alternatively, the radiation wall 46 may be made of another metallic material, for example aluminum or a suitable alloy.
[0045] The radiation wall 46 is provided with an internal surface 461 covered by a mass of phase-change material 48 intended to be in contact with the air pulsed, and of an external surface 46E intended to delimit the room 18. Preferably, as in the illustrated example, the radiation wall 46 is intended to delimit the top of the room 18 and thus form a ceiling of the room 18.
[0046] Referring to [Fig.2], it can be seen that the channeling means 26 are also delimited by side walls 50 extending between the radiating wall 46, forming a ceiling, and the concrete slab 12. These side walls 50, substantially perpendicular to the radiating wall 46, are preferably metallic, for example in a material similar to that of the radiating wall 46. Preferably also, the internal surface 501 of the side walls 50 is coated with an insulating material 52.
[0047] The phase-change material 48 is housed in a casing 54, preferably made of aluminum. Thus, the casing 54 containing the phase-change material 48 covers the inner surface 461 of the radiation wall 46.
[0048] Preferably, the melting point of the phase-change material 48 is between 15° and 23°C. More particularly, the melting point of the phase-change material 48 is between 17° and 22°C.
[0049] Preferably, the phase-change material 48 also comprises at least one organic component, chosen in particular from paraffins. This type of phase-change material is generally less sensitive to supercooling than a phase-change material comprising inorganic (mineral) components.
[0050] By way of example, the phase change material 48 is a material sold under the trade name RUBITHERM® RT21 or RT21HC by the company Rubitherm Technologies GmbH.
[0051] Since the risks of supercooling of the phase change material are limited in the most frequently envisaged applications, alternatively, the phase change material comprises at least one inorganic component chosen in particular from among hydrated salts, especially from among alloys of organic salts and water.
[0052] The assembly formed by the radiation wall 46 and the mass of phase-change material 48 covering the internal surface 461 of this radiation wall 46 has an overall thickness EG of between 0.5 and 5 cm. This overall thickness EG takes into account the very limited thickness of the walls of the enclosure 54 in which the phase-change material 48 is housed. In the illustrated example, the thickness EP of the radiation wall 46 is equal to 0.2 cm and the thickness EM of the mass layer of phase-change material 48 is equal to 1.3 cm, so that the overall thickness EG is equal to 1.5 cm. Furthermore, in the illustrated example, the distance D between the concrete slab 12 and the mass layer of phase-change material 48 is equal to 4 cm.
[0053] Furthermore, referring to [Fig. 2], it can be seen that the surfaces 46E, 50E external to the air circulation channel of the radiating wall 46 and the lateral walls 50 substantially define a base prism, referred to as the external base, which is substantially rectangular. A long side of this external base, formed by the radiating wall 46, has a length L preferably between 90 and 120 cm, and a short side of this external base, formed by each lateral wall 50, preferably has a length H between 5.5 and 15 cm.
[0054] The temperature of room 18 is therefore regulated by the pulsed air diffused into room 18 through the grid 29 as well as by the radiation emitted by the wall 46 carrying the phase change material 48.
[0055] The air supplied by the supply means 24 can be cold or hot, depending on the season. Heat transfer effects by conduction and convection also contribute to heating the room 18. Furthermore, the heating of the room 18 can continue even when the supply means 24 for the forced air are stopped, particularly when the air handling unit 34 is stopped, thanks to the heat emitted by radiation from the phase-change material 48.
[0056] The invention is not limited to the embodiment presented, and other embodiments will be obvious to those skilled in the art. In particular, it is possible to arrange the conduit means 26 in the room 18 so that the radiating wall 46 extends in various orientations, notably vertically parallel to a wall delimiting the room 18. Furthermore, the slab 12 may be made of a material other than concrete, for example, any other material used to separate levels or floors in a building. List of references
[0057] 10: building 12: concrete slab 14: lower floor 16: upper floor 18: room 20: wall 22: device for regulating the room temperature 24: means of supplying forced air 26: Air ducting means, 26A: Upstream end of air ducting means, 28: Air diffusion means, 29: Air diffusion grille 30: downstream air diffusion plenum 32: insulating material 34: Air handling unit 36: Upstream air diffusion plenum 38: means of regulating the flow of forced air 40: valve 42: sheath 44: false ceiling 46: Metallic radiation wall 46E: external surface of the metallic radiation wall 461: Internal surface of the metallic radiation wall 48: mass of phase-change material 50: side wall 50E: external surface of the side wall 501: internal surface of the side wall 52: insulating material 54: envelope D: distance between the slab and the mass layer of phase-change material EG: overall thickness EM: thickness of the phase change material layer EP: thickness of the metallic radiation wall F: direction of airflow H: length of the shorter side of the external base L: length of the longest side of the external base
Claims
Demands
1. Device (22) for regulating the temperature of a room (18) comprising means (24) for supplying forced air connected, by means (26) of air ducting, to means (28) of air diffusion intended to diffuse the forced air into the room (18), characterized in that the means (26) of air ducting are delimited by a metallic wall (46), said to be a radiation wall, provided with an internal surface (461) covered by a mass of phase change material (48) intended to be in contact with the forced air, and an external surface (46E) intended to delimit the room (18).
2. Device (22) according to claim 1, wherein the melting point of the phase change material (48) is between 15° and 23°C, preferably between 17° and 22°C.
3. Device (22) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the phase-change material (48) comprises at least one organic component, selected in particular from paraffins or at least one inorganic component selected in particular from hydrated salts, in particular from alloys of organic salts and water.
4. Device (22) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the phase change material (48) is housed in an envelope (54), preferably made of aluminum, the envelope (54) containing the phase change material (48) covering the inner surface (461) of the radiation wall (46).
5. Device (22) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the assembly formed by the radiation wall (46) and the mass of phase-change material (48) covering the internal surface (461) of this radiation wall (46) has an overall thickness (EG) of between 0.5 and 5 cm, for example equal to 1.5 cm.
6. Device (22) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the means (24) for supplying forced air comprise an air handling unit (34) connected to the piping means (26) by means (38) for regulating forced air flow.
7. Device (22) according to claim 6, wherein the flow control means (38) comprise at least one flow control valve (40) arranged in an air circulation duct (42) pulsed connected to the piping means (26) via a diffusion plenum (30).
8. Device (22) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the air channeling means (26) delimit a substantially prismatic basic, said internal, substantially rectangular air circulation channel.
9. Device (22) according to claim 8, wherein the air channeling means (26) are also delimited by side walls (50) substantially perpendicular to the radiation wall (46), so that the surfaces (46E, 50E) external to the air circulation channel of the radiation wall (46) and the side walls (50) substantially delimit a base prism, referred to as the external base, substantially rectangular, a long side of this external base, formed by the radiation wall (46), having a length between 90 and 120 cm, and a short side of this external base, formed by each side wall (50), having a length between 5.5 and 15 cm.
10. Device (22) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the radiation wall (46) is intended to form a ceiling of the room (18).
11. Building (10) comprising a room (18), characterized in that it is equipped with a device (22) for regulating the temperature of this room (18) according to any one of claims 1 to 10.
12. Building (10) according to claim 11, in which the air ducting means (26) are further delimited by a slab (12), preferably made of concrete, separating this room (18) from a floor (16) of this building (10) extending above this room (18).