Bypass Insulating Profile for Building Facade Thermal Bridging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current building facade systems face challenges in reducing thermal flow between the exterior and interior environments due to thermal bridging, despite the use of thermal break elements, as aluminum and metallic materials used in these systems are good thermal conductors.
Innovation Solution
A building facade system incorporating a thermal break assembly with a bypass insulating profile that creates a thermal gradient profile by connecting the window panel to the mullions, reducing thermal conduction and convection through an air chamber, using materials with lower thermal conductivity than traditional profiles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If aluminum and metallic materials are used for interconnected profiles to provide lightness and strength, then mechanical strength and weight are optimized, but thermal conductivity increases creating thermal bridges
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies composite materials by combining aluminum profiles with thermal break elements made of insulating materials (polymers, plastics, or air gaps). This creates a hybrid structure that maintains the mechanical strength and lightness of aluminum while interrupting thermal conduction paths through the low thermal conductivity insulating materials, thereby reducing thermal bridges and energy loss.
2Loss of energy
If thermal break elements are introduced to reduce thermal bridges, then thermal insulation is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the structural function and thermal insulation function into a single integrated profile system. The thermal break elements are incorporated directly into the connection profiles that attach window panels to mullions, combining mechanical support and thermal insulation in one component rather than adding separate insulation layers, thereby limiting complexity increase.
Solution Approach 2:
The thermal break elements act as intermediary components between the interior and exterior aluminum profiles. These intermediate insulating elements (polymers, plastics, or air gaps) mediate the thermal and mechanical connection, providing both structural continuity and thermal disruption without requiring complete redesign of the entire profile system.
3Loss of energy
If traditional thermal break elements are used, then thermal conduction is reduced, but thermal convection paths remain uncovered
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies multi-functionality to the thermal break connection profiles that simultaneously address both thermal conduction and thermal convection. The profiles are designed to interrupt conductive heat flow through insulating materials while also blocking convective air paths between interior and exterior environments, making the same component effective against multiple thermal transfer mechanisms.
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 system effectively reduces thermal energy loss by deviating the thermal gradient profile, minimizing heat transfer between the interior and exterior environments, thereby enhancing the overall thermal efficiency of the building envelope.
Implementation Method 1
The thermal break assembly includes a connection insulating profile mechanically interconnecting the interior profile and the exterior profile, the connecting insulating profile having a lower thermal conductivity than both the exterior profile and the interior profile, to reduce thermal conduction between the interior profile and the exterior profile
Implementation Method 2
The bypass insulating profile extends from the connection insulating profile externally towards the window panel and inwardly over the exterior profile, to define an air chamber between the bypass insulating profile and an inward surface of the exterior profile, thereby reducing thermal convection between the interior environment and the exterior profile
Data Source
AI summary
A building facade system for covering a building facade including a building wall and a window opening, comprising at least one window assembly mountable to mullions provided across the window opening and a plurality of wall assemblies surrounding the at least one window assembly, each wall assembly being independently mountable onto rails extending across the building wall. The at least one window assembly is configured to reduce thermal flow between an interior environment and an exterior environment, and includes a bypass insulating profile extending from a connection insulating profile externally towards a window panel and inwardly over an exterior profile, to define an air chamber between the bypass insulating profile and an inward surface of the exterior profile.