building
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Agricultural greenhouses with panel-type heat collecting members experience decreased and uneven solar radiation, affecting crop photosynthesis and growth due to shadow generation and inefficient heat collection.
Innovation Solution
A building design incorporating structural members with a light-receiving surface, hollow portions, and meandering flow channels to efficiently collect and store heat from sunlight, minimizing shadow generation and maintaining optimal solar radiation levels.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by stationary object
If a panel-type heat collecting member is disposed in the upper space of the agricultural greenhouse, then heat collection from sunlight is improved, but solar radiation amount decreases and becomes uneven due to shadow generation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the heat collection function with the structural support members (pillars, beams, rafters) of the greenhouse. Instead of adding separate panel-type heat collectors that cast shadows, the structural members themselves are equipped with heat collection capabilities through embedded hollow portions containing heating medium flow channels. This integration eliminates the need for additional shadow-casting components while maintaining both structural support and thermal energy collection functions.
2Use of energy by stationary object
If panel-type heat collecting members are installed, then heat storage capability is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional components
Solution Approach 1:
The structural members serve multiple functions simultaneously: they provide mechanical support for the greenhouse structure and act as heat collection devices. The hollow portions embedded in the structural members contain flow channels for heating medium, allowing these universal components to perform both structural and thermal functions without requiring separate dedicated heat collection equipment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the structural support function and heat collection function into a single integrated component system. The structural members with embedded hollow portions and flow channels replace the need for separate panel-type collectors, mounting structures, and piping systems, thereby reducing overall device complexity while maintaining heat storage capability.
3Use of energy by stationary object
If the flow channel length is increased to improve heat transfer, then contact area between structural member and heating medium increases, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extends the flow channels in the longitudinal direction of the structural members, utilizing the length of the pillars, beams, and rafters to create extended heat transfer paths. This one-dimensional extension along the structural member length achieves increased contact area without requiring complex three-dimensional winding or branching channel configurations, thereby maintaining manufacturing simplicity while improving heat transfer efficiency.
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 collects heat from sunlight while reducing shadow generation, ensuring consistent and increased solar radiation, thereby promoting crop growth and yield by enhancing the heating medium's thermal efficiency and contact area with the structural member.
Implementation Method 1
sunlight incident on the light-receiving surface of the structural member main body is converted into heat in the structural member main body
Implementation Method 2
the heat of the structural member main body heated by sunlight can be efficiently transferred to the heating medium
Data Source
AI summary
A building includes at least one structural member. The structural member includes a light-receiving surface that is formed by extrusion or casting of a metal and is irradiated with sunlight, a structural member main body in which a hollow portion extending from a first end portion toward a second end portion is formed, a pair of lid portions that are respectively disposed at the first end portion and the second end portion, and close the hollow portion, an inlet that is provided in any one of the pair of lid portions and through which a heating medium flows into the hollow portion, and an outlet that is provided in any one of the pair of lid portions and through which the heating medium flows out from the hollow portion.