Building structure for a multi-story building
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing air conditioning systems for multi-story buildings, such as central and split unit systems, face challenges including inefficient cooling, high maintenance costs, noise pollution, and the need for significant habitable space and external surface area for outdoor unit installations, which detract from the building's appearance and functionality.
Innovation Solution
A building structure featuring internal vertical passageways for ducted condenser units of a split type, unitary air conditioning system, allowing for efficient airflow and refrigerant circulation, with separate suction and exhaust shafts that minimize external footprint and noise, and incorporate non-return dampers to prevent backflow, enabling the use of internal spaces for air conditioning components without compromising the building's aesthetics or habitable space.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If outdoor units are mounted on the building facade or roof, then air conditioning functionality is achieved, but the building's aesthetic appearance and habitable space are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The outdoor condenser units are extracted from traditional external locations (facade/roof) and relocated to internal vertical shafts within the building structure. This extraction allows the building facade to maintain its aesthetic appearance while still accommodating the necessary air conditioning equipment internally through dedicated service shafts with appropriate air inlets and outlets.
Solution Approach 2:
The solution transitions from two-dimensional facade mounting to three-dimensional internal shaft utilization. By creating vertical shafts that extend through multiple floors, the system utilizes the building's internal volume rather than external surface area, allowing condenser units to be positioned internally without compromising the building's external appearance.
2Ease of manufacture
If outdoor units are mounted externally, then air conditioning is provided, but noise pollution and lateral space occupation increase
Solution Approach 1:
The noisy outdoor condenser units are extracted from external locations where they generate noise pollution and occupy lateral space. By relocating them to internal vertical shafts, the noise is contained within the building structure, and the lateral space adjacent to the facade is freed up for other uses.
3Ease of manufacture
If central air conditioning with cooling tower is used, then cooling is provided for the building, but large common area and maintenance facilities are required
Solution Approach 1:
The centralized air conditioning system is segmented into individual unitary systems for each apartment or zone. Each unitary system has its own compact condenser that can be accommodated within vertical shafts, eliminating the need for a large centralized cooling tower and the associated common area and maintenance facilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The solution transitions from a horizontal footprint requirement (large cooling tower on ground level) to vertical utilization (compact condensers in vertical shafts extending through floors). This dimensional change allows cooling equipment to be distributed vertically rather than concentrated horizontally.
4Adaptability or versatility
If split system outdoor units are installed externally, then individual apartment cooling is achieved, but habitable space and external surfaces are lost
Solution Approach 1:
The outdoor condenser units are extracted from external mounting locations and relocated to internal vertical shafts. This extraction preserves the building's habitable space and external surfaces while maintaining the individual apartment cooling capability through internally positioned equipment.
Solution Approach 2:
The solution moves from two-dimensional external mounting to three-dimensional internal shaft utilization. By positioning condensers within vertical shafts that extend through the building, individual apartment cooling is achieved without sacrificing habitable space or external facade surfaces.
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 solution enhances the efficiency and aesthetic appeal of air conditioning systems by minimizing external noise and visual impact, reducing maintenance costs, and allowing for the use of internal spaces for air conditioning components, thereby improving the overall performance and appearance of multi-story buildings.
Implementation Method 1
configured with one or more mounts for a ducted condenser unit of a split type, unitary air conditioning system which facilitates sufficient air flow therethrough for achieving a desired level of condenser based heat dissipation
Implementation Method 2
a plurality of penetrations to accommodate the extension therethrough of a fluid circuit conduit through which refrigerant circulates between an inside unit and an outside unit of said air conditioning system
Implementation Method 3
a second passageway constructed internally within said building and in fluid communication with said first passageway to receive air discharged from the ducted condenser unit, said second passageway terminating at an opening of said building through which said discharged air is exhausted to the atmosphere
Data Source
AI summary
A structure for a multi-story building comprises a first passageway constructed internally within a building being configured with a mount for a ducted condenser unit (DCU) of a split type, unitary air conditioning system to achieve a desired level of condenser based heat dissipation and with a plurality of penetrations to accommodate a conduit through which refrigerant circulates between inside and outside units of the air conditioning system; and a second passageway constructed internally within the building for receiving air discharged from the DCU the second passageway terminating at an opening of the building through which the discharged air is exhausted to the atmosphere. The passageways have walls that are essentially closed, with the exception of the wall that is formed with an opening through which the discharged air flows. One or both of the first and second passageways upwardly extends across at least two stories of the building.