Methods and functional elements for enhanced thermal management of predominantly enclosed spaces and the use of concurrently obtained sensor data for secondary applications including insurance related applications
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Solution Overview
Problem
Buildings face challenges in managing energy consumption and temperature regulation due to high energy costs and environmental concerns, particularly in regions with high solar radiation, where conventional air conditioning is costly and inefficient, and existing passive ventilation methods are suboptimal.
Innovation Solution
The use of spatially adjustable functional elements with high reflectivity in the VIS and NIR wavelength ranges and thermal carrier medium filled panels to modulate electromagnetic irradiance and redistribute thermal energy, reducing energy absorption and enhancing thermal management within enclosed spaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If conventional active air conditioning is used to cool buildings, then temperature control is effective, but energy consumption and operating costs increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts harmful solar radiation into beneficial effects by using selective surface coatings that reflect infrared radiation while allowing visible light transmission. This transforms the harmful thermal radiation into a non-heating form, reducing the need for active cooling while maintaining comfortable indoor temperatures
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces intermediate layers with specific optical properties between the solar radiation and the building interior. These intermediate surfaces act as mediators that selectively interact with different wavelength ranges, reflecting thermal radiation while permitting useful visible light to pass through, thereby reducing heat gain without compromising natural lighting
2Stability of the object's composition
If building envelopes are designed with high thermal mass to reduce temperature fluctuations, then temperature stability improves, but the building absorbs more solar radiation during the day
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different optical properties to different parts of the building envelope. External surfaces are designed with high infrared reflectivity to minimize heat absorption, while internal surfaces maintain thermal mass properties for temperature stability. This local differentiation allows the building to benefit from both reduced solar gain and thermal inertia
3Use of energy by moving object
If passive ventilation methods are used to reduce energy consumption, then operating costs decrease, but cooling effectiveness is insufficient in high solar radiation regions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the solar spectrum into different wavelength ranges and applies selective treatment to each segment. Visible light is allowed to pass through for natural illumination, while infrared radiation is reflected to prevent heating. This spectral segmentation enables passive cooling to be more effective by targeting the specific wavelength range responsible for thermal energy transfer
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach effectively reduces temperature variations and energy expenditure by minimizing radiative energy input and dynamically controlling thermal energy distribution, enhancing the thermal management of buildings and reducing the need for external energy for heating and cooling.
Implementation Method 1
The predominantly outside facing surfaces of said functional elements have predominantly relatively high reflectivity at least at the VIS and NIR wavelength range whereby the relative amount of incoming radiative power is reduced, which is absorbed by said functional elements
Implementation Method 2
The predominantly inside facing surfaces of said functional elements have predominantly relatively high reflectivity at least in the NIR and MIR wavelength range, whereby the radiative thermal emissivity of said functional elements is reduced
Implementation Method 3
thermal carrier medium filled panels to modulate electromagnetic irradiance and redistribute thermal energy
Data Source
AI summary
A method of modulating the impact of electromagnetic irradiance on a predominantly enclosed space, including providing at least an inner shell of the predominantly enclosed space, placing a plurality of spatially adjustable functional elements in an exterior position relative to an outside facing surface of said inner shell and/or placing one or more panels, containers, or reservoirs, each including a thermal carrier medium, in or proximate to said predominantly enclosed space to increase the thermal capacity of the inner shell. A control system adjusts the position of the functional elements and/or the spatial distribution of the thermal carrier medium. The control system acquires data from one or more sensors and detects a catastrophic even related to the predominantly enclosed space.