Concrete Floor and Ground-Loop Heating for Low-Energy Buildings

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing building heating and cooling systems are energy-intensive and environmentally detrimental, with rising costs and significant environmental impacts from energy sources like coal and hydro turbines, necessitating more efficient and sustainable temperature control solutions.

Innovation Solution

The system involves circulating fluid through conduits within a building's concrete floor and grounds, using a heat exchanger to transfer air and regulate temperature, with a control system managing fluid circulation and heat exchange to minimize energy consumption and environmental impact.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If forced air heating and cooling systems are used, then temperature control is achieved, but energy consumption is high

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebuilding temperature controlVSAvoidenergy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the thermal exchange function from traditional forced air systems and relocates it to the building foundation and surrounding ground. The foundation acts as a heat exchanger with the ground, eliminating the need for energy-intensive air handling equipment while maintaining temperature control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The ground serves as an intermediary thermal medium between the building foundation and the external environment. By using the ground's relatively stable temperature as a mediator, the system achieves passive heating in winter and cooling in summer without requiring high energy input.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Temperature

If traditional heating and cooling systems are used, then temperature regulation is provided, but environmental impact increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebuilding temperature regulationVSAvoidenvironmental impact

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The building foundation serves itself as a thermal regulation system by utilizing the natural temperature differential between the ground and external air. The system requires no external energy input or harmful emissions, as the ground naturally absorbs excess heat in summer and releases stored heat in winter.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Temperature

If conventional heating systems are used, then warmth is provided, but system maintenance requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebuilding warmthVSAvoidsystem maintenance

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the structural foundation with the thermal regulation function. By integrating the heating/cooling capability into the building's foundation structure, the system eliminates separate mechanical equipment that would require maintenance, making the structure itself the climate control device.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 energy usage by up to 60% compared to forced air systems, minimizes environmental impact, and extends system lifespan to over 200 years with low maintenance, while meeting energy efficiency standards and reducing carbon emissions.

Implementation Method 1

a least one heat exchanger operatively associated within the building and configured to transfer air to/from the interior of the building via a heat exchanger

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHeat exchange: Heat Exchanger

Implementation Method 2

distributing fluid from within conduits within a concrete floor of a building to conduits within grounds surrounding and/or supporting the building while transferring air to/from the interior of the building

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Data Source

PatentUS10082317B2Building designs and heating and cooling systems

Publication Date: 2018.09.25 RACOOL L L C

AI summary

Building heating and/or cooling methods are provided that can include continuously distributing fluid from within conduits within a concrete floor of a building to conduits within grounds surrounding and/or supporting the building while transferring air to/from the interior of the building via a heat exchanger. Building heating/cooling systems are provided that can include: a building comprising walls and concrete floors; fluid containing conduit within the concrete floors; circulating fluid within the conduit; a least one heat exchanger operatively associated within the building and configured to transfer air to/from the building; and processing circuitry operatively coupled to fluid circulation controls and heat exchanger controls.