Building frame and method for adjusting the temperature in a building
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional thermal insulation for building envelopes is static, leading to inefficient energy use, particularly in climate zones where heating and cooling requirements are not optimally balanced, resulting in increased energy consumption and resource use.
Innovation Solution
A building envelope with a double-shelled or multi-shelled construction, featuring a porous, open-celled material-filled intermediate space that can be evacuated, ventilated, or filled with a heat-conducting liquid, allowing for continuous control of heat transition and decoupling from the exterior climate, thereby optimizing heating and cooling efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by stationary object
If conventional static thermal insulation with maximum insulation value is used, then heating energy requirements are reduced, but cooling energy requirements increase and internal loads cannot be effectively dissipated
Solution Approach 1:
The building envelope transitions from static insulation to dynamic thermal conductivity control. The intermediate space can be evacuated to provide high insulation during heating periods, or filled with heat-conducting liquid to enable efficient heat dissipation during cooling periods with internal loads, optimizing energy performance across different operational conditions
Solution Approach 2:
The thermal conductivity parameter of the building envelope is made variable through the ability to change the state of the intermediate space (evacuated, ventilated, or filled with heat-conducting liquid). This allows the envelope to adapt its thermal properties to match different climate conditions and internal heat generation scenarios
2Reliability
If high thermal insulation decouples interior from exterior climate, then heating efficiency improves, but cooling efficiency deteriorates and energy balance becomes negative
Solution Approach 1:
The building envelope dynamically adjusts its thermal coupling with the exterior environment. During heating periods, the evacuated intermediate space provides strong decoupling for efficient heating. During cooling periods with internal loads, the envelope can couple to the exterior through heat-conducting liquid filling, enabling passive heat dissipation and improving overall energy balance
3Length of stationary object
If building envelope is designed for maximum insulation, then wall thickness is minimized, but adaptability to different climate conditions deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The building envelope achieves both thin construction and high adaptability through dynamic thermal conductivity control. The intermediate space configuration (evacuated, ventilated, or liquid-filled) allows the same thin envelope structure to provide different thermal performance levels, adapting to varying climate conditions and internal heat generation scenarios
Solution Approach 2:
The building envelope serves multiple thermal functions through a single design. The same envelope structure can provide maximum insulation when evacuated, moderate insulation when ventilated, or active heat dissipation when filled with heat-conducting liquid, making it universally applicable to different climate zones and building usage patterns
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 reduces heating and cooling energy requirements by actively managing heat transfer through the building envelope, minimizing material deterioration, and exploiting temperature gradients for energy savings, leading to improved overall energy balance and reduced energy costs.
Implementation Method 1
filled at least in sections with porous, open-celled material
Implementation Method 2
exploiting temperature gradients for energy savings
Implementation Method 3
which can be evacuated
Data Source
AI summary
A building envelope, in particular a wall, a floor, or a roof of a building with at least two shells spaced some distance apart from one another, which encloses an intermediate space, said space being essentially empty with the exception of weight-bearing and/or construction-engineering elements or being filled at least in sections with porous, open-celled material and sealed from the interior and exterior of the building, wherein controllable sealing means are provided for sealing the intermediate space from the interior and exterior and optionally separated building envelope sections from one other.