Building Envelope Thermal Bridge Design for Heat Pump Recovery

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing building heating systems with integrated heat collectors require extensive thermal insulation to prevent heat loss, leading to high material and energy costs, while also limiting the efficiency of heat collection and distribution.

Innovation Solution

A building design with a thermally insulated envelope, except at the point where the heat collector is integrated or located, creating a deliberate thermal bridge to direct heat flow towards the heat collector and back into the building via a heat pump and heat emitter, thereby enhancing heat recovery and reducing unnecessary heat loss through better-insulated areas.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of energy

If the building envelope is extensively insulated to prevent heat loss, then heat loss prevention is improved, but material usage and costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheat lossVSAvoidinsulation material

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies different insulation qualities to different locations: the building envelope is extensively insulated in most areas but deliberately has reduced insulation at the heat collector location. This local differentiation allows the system to minimize overall heat loss while creating a controlled thermal bridge for heat recovery, thereby reducing the total quantity of insulation material needed compared to uniform extensive insulation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent converts the typically harmful thermal bridge at the heat collector location into a beneficial feature. By deliberately creating a controlled thermal bridge with reduced insulation, the system harnesses heat that would otherwise be lost, directing it through the heat collector and heat pump back into the building. This transforms what is normally a source of heat loss into a valuable heat recovery opportunity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

2Loss of energy

If the building envelope is extensively insulated to prevent heat loss, then heat loss prevention is improved, but energy costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheat lossVSAvoidenergy cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system converts the thermal bridge that would normally cause harmful heat loss into a beneficial heat recovery pathway. The controlled thermal bridge at the heat collector location captures heat that would otherwise be wasted, transporting it via the heat pump back into the building interior. This reduces overall energy costs by recovering and reusing heat rather than allowing it to be lost.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements a feedback mechanism where heat extracted from the building interior by the heat collector is processed by the heat pump and returned to the building through the heat emitter. This closed-loop feedback system continuously recycles thermal energy, reducing the net energy input required for heating and thereby lowering energy costs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Productivity

If the heat collector is cooled by the heat pump to create a heat magnet, then heat collection efficiency is improved, but heat loss to the outside increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheat collection efficiencyVSAvoidheat loss to outside

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

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 increases energy efficiency, reduces material and cost requirements for insulation, and allows for more effective heat collection and distribution, making the heating system more efficient while minimizing heat loss through better-insulated areas.

Implementation Method 1

a heat pump connected to the heat collector and the heat emitter, which is designed to extract heat from the environment of the building via the heat collector and supply it to the heat emitter

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHeat transfer: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 2

The heat collector is cooled by the heat pump, thereby creating a kind of 'heat magnet,' causing the heat to escape predominantly at the aforementioned location

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 3

the building envelope is less thermally insulated at the point where the heat collector is integrated or attached than in an area surrounding this point

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Data Source

PatentEP4361505A1Building with heating system

Publication Date: 2024.05.01 RITTER JON

Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4

AI summary

The present invention relates to a building (1) with a thermally insulated building envelope (2) and a heating system (7) comprising a heat collector (8) integrated into or attached to the outside of the building envelope (2), a heat emitter (9) arranged in the building (1), and a heat pump (10) connected to the heat collector (8) and the heat emitter (9), which is designed to extract heat (WU) from the environment (11) of the building (1) via the heat collector (8) and supply it to the heat emitter (9), wherein the building envelope (2) is less thermally insulated at the point (12) where the heat collector (8) is integrated or attached than in an area (13) surrounding this point (12).