Asymmetric Truncated Cone Screen for Seasonal Solar Radiation Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing solutions for protecting areas like roofs and windows from direct solar radiation are either energy-consuming, complex, fragile, and expensive, or they fail to allow natural lighting and heating in winter while preventing overheating in summer.
Innovation Solution
A method and device involving a fixed screen that forms equatorial and polar openings with the illuminated area, allowing less than a quarter to be illuminated by direct sunlight in summer and at least a quarter in winter, using a continuous screen with a shape and orientation that maximizes natural lighting and minimizes greenhouse effect.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a fixed screen is used to block direct solar radiation in summer, then the area is protected from overheating, but the area receives insufficient natural lighting and heating in winter
Solution Approach 1:
The screen is designed with asymmetric geometry featuring a polar opening higher than the equatorial opening. This asymmetric configuration allows the screen to block high-angle summer sunlight while permitting low-angle winter sunlight to pass through, thereby resolving the contradiction between summer heat protection and winter natural lighting needs
Solution Approach 2:
The invention utilizes the temporal dimension by exploiting the changing angle of solar radiation throughout the year. By orienting the screen at a specific angle and creating openings at different heights (polar and equatorial), the system adapts to seasonal variations in sunlight angle, allowing it to provide both summer shading and winter lighting without moving parts
2Adaptability or versatility
If mobile and orientable devices are used to protect from solar radiation in summer while allowing sunlight in winter, then seasonal protection is achieved, but the devices consume energy and are complex and fragile due to moving parts
Solution Approach 1:
The fixed screen design eliminates the need for external control systems, motors, or actuators. The screen passively adapts to seasonal changes through its fixed geometric configuration and asymmetric opening design, which automatically respond to the changing angle of solar radiation throughout the year, thereby achieving seasonal adaptability without consuming energy or requiring complex mechanisms
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using movable parts to achieve adaptability, the invention inverts the approach by using a fixed structure with carefully designed asymmetric openings. The adaptability is achieved not through movement but through the strategic geometric configuration that passively responds to seasonal solar angle changes
3Object-affected harmful factors
If known fixed devices are used to hide a window from solar rays, then protection from direct radiation is achieved, but they either block sunlight in both seasons or do not allow sufficient natural lighting in summer
Solution Approach 1:
The screen features locally differentiated openings with distinct functions: the polar opening (higher) allows winter sunlight penetration, while the equatorial opening (lower) provides summer shading. This local quality differentiation enables the single fixed structure to deliver season-specific optical performance, blocking harmful radiation when needed while permitting beneficial lighting otherwise
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 effectively reduces summer overheating while allowing winter heating and natural lighting, with minimal maintenance and no moving parts, providing a cost-effective and simple solar protection system.
Implementation Method 1
a screen (3) arranged above an illuminated area (2) so as to obscure it from at least some of the rays directly coming from the Sun
Implementation Method 2
at least a quarter of the illuminated area (2) is illuminated by direct rays of the Sun at solar noon at the winter solstice
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
The method involves arranging a truncated cone screen (3) such that the screen forms an equatorial opening on a side of Earth's equator and a polar opening on a side of Earth's pole close to an installation site i.e. horizontal roof (1) with lighted area (2), where the screen is continuous between the openings. Shape, orientation and position of the screen are selected such that one quarter of the area is lighted by the direct radiation of solar midday sun at summer solstice and the quarter of the lighted area is lighted by the radiation of solar midday sun at winter solstice. Independent claims are also included for the following: (1) a device for solar protection of lighted area on an installation site from direct radiation of sun (2) a top lighting device placed in an opening of a roof likely to be exposed to direct radiation of sun.