Air-Supported Dome Membrane Spacing for Thermal Insulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Air-supported structures with a dome formed of two membranes face challenges in achieving both desired external shapes and good insulating properties, as existing designs result in a 'puffy' appearance and thermal bridges due to membrane contact points, leading to inefficient energy consumption and condensate formation.
Innovation Solution
An air-supported structure with a dome composed of an outer and inner membrane, where the membranes are spaced apart to form an intermediate air-filled space, with an air flow and pressure control unit regulating pressure to maintain insulation and prevent membrane contact, allowing for irregular shapes and reduced energy consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If the inner membrane is attached to the outer membrane at regular intervals to form pockets, then the structure maintains its shape and provides insulation, but thermal bridges form at contact points leading to condensate formation and energy loss
Solution Approach 1:
A smooth, continuous intermediate layer is introduced between the inner and outer membranes to eliminate direct contact points. This intermediary layer prevents thermal bridges while maintaining structural integrity, resolving the contradiction between stability and thermal insulation by providing a continuous insulating barrier without attachment pockets.
Solution Approach 2:
The attachment pockets that create thermal bridges are removed from the structure. Instead of attaching membranes at regular intervals, the invention uses a continuous intermediate layer that eliminates these harmful contact points entirely, extracting the problematic element while preserving the necessary structural function.
2Loss of energy
If additional insulating foil or air with overpressure is arranged between membranes to prevent contact, then thermal insulation is improved, but the structure develops longitudinal and/or transversal protrusions making the surface uneven and wavy
Solution Approach 1:
A smooth, flexible intermediate layer (such as a foil or membrane) is used between the inner and outer membranes to maintain continuous insulation without creating surface irregularities. This thin film provides the necessary separation and insulation while remaining smooth and continuous, eliminating the wavy surface effect caused by rigid attachment pockets.
Solution Approach 2:
The pressure distribution between the membranes is optimized to maintain a consistent gap without creating local protrusions. By carefully controlling the pressure parameters and using a smooth intermediate layer, the structure achieves uniform insulation thickness while maintaining a smooth external surface appearance.
3Device complexity
If the dome is formed of a single membrane, then the structure is simpler and can achieve any external shape, but it does not meet energy-related requirements for insulation
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple membranes are nested within each other with a continuous intermediate layer in between, creating a multi-layer insulation structure. The inner membrane contains the pressurized space, the intermediate layer provides continuous insulation, and the outer membrane provides structural stability. This nested configuration achieves good thermal insulation while maintaining structural simplicity and the ability to form various dome shapes.
4Loss of energy
If the outer and inner membranes are truly separated by additional insulating foil or air, then thermal insulation is maximized, but the construction becomes complex with numerous protrusions or chambers
Solution Approach 1:
The intermediate insulating layer is merged into a single continuous element that spans the entire structure without interruption. This unified intermediate layer simultaneously provides thermal insulation, maintains membrane separation, and supports the structural shape, eliminating the need for multiple discrete attachment pockets and reducing construction complexity while maximizing insulation effectiveness.
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
The solution provides a smooth, aesthetically pleasing surface, reduces energy consumption by optimizing the insulating air layer, and prevents thermal bridges, enabling the structure to maintain desired shapes while minimizing condensate formation and energy losses.
Implementation Method 1
a blowing-heating unit for supplying air to the interior of the air-supported structure and creating overpressure, thus ensuring the stability and required climatic conditions in the interior of the air-supported structure
Implementation Method 2
the membranes are spaced apart to form an intermediate air-filled space, with an air flow and pressure control unit regulating pressure to maintain insulation
Data Source
Figure 1~2
AI summary
An air-supported structure comprising a dome formed of at least two membranes, one of which is an outer membrane, one surface of which faces outwards and the other surface faces the inner membrane, and one membrane is an inner membrane, one surface of which faces the inner space of the structure and the other surface faces the outer membrane, and a blowing-heating unit for supplying air to the interior of the air-supported structure and creating overpressure, thus ensuring the stability and required climatic conditions in the interior of the air-supported structure, wherein the outer membrane and the inner membrane form an intermediate space and are entirely spaced apart.