Concrete Structural Element with Embedded Heating Pipes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing planar structural elements for heating and cooling, such as ceiling and wall components, often have inadequate heating or cooling capacity, are complex and costly to produce, and lack flexibility in dimension variations and pipe placement.
Innovation Solution
A planar structural element with embedded heating or cooling pipes, where the pipes are positioned close to the surface using spacers and mounting rails, allowing for precise placement and easy industrial production, using a cementitious casting compound and plastic pipes with adjustable tube registers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If pipes are embedded deep in the structural element, then structural strength is improved, but heating or cooling performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The invention transitions from embedding pipes throughout the bulk material to positioning them at the surface plane, changing the spatial dimension of pipe placement. This surface-level positioning allows pipes to be embedded in the fair-faced concrete surface layer rather than deep within the structural element, thereby maintaining structural integrity while optimizing thermal performance for heating and cooling applications.
2Ease of manufacture
If pipe placement is fixed by traditional forms, then manufacturing simplicity is improved, but adaptability to different dimensions deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The invention employs adjustable spacers that can be modified to change the position and depth of pipe embedding. This parameter adjustment capability allows the same manufacturing process to accommodate various pipe diameters, spacing requirements, and structural element dimensions, providing flexibility without requiring complex custom forms for each configuration.
3Stability of the object's composition
If surface layer thickness is increased to cover pipes, then structural integrity is improved, but heating or cooling efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The spacers are pre-positioned within the formwork before concrete pouring, establishing the precise final position of pipes at the optimal depth. This preliminary positioning ensures that after concrete hardening, pipes remain at the correct distance from the surface to maximize thermal efficiency, while the concrete cover provides sufficient protection and structural integrity without excessive thickness.
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 enables optimal heating or cooling capacity while simplifying and cost-reducing the production process, allowing for flexible adaptation to various dimensions and configurations, suitable for industrial production and fair-faced concrete surfaces.
Implementation Method 1
Spacers (7), in particular made of plastic, are connected to the mounting rails (5) and define the distance (a) of a tube (3) to the front surface (2)
Implementation Method 2
at least one heating pipe and/or cooling pipe for conveying a fluid medium is embedded in the hardened casting compound
Implementation Method 3
The fluid medium conveyed through the heating pipe and/or cooling pipe is preferably water or another aqueous medium
Data Source
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AI summary
A structural element comprising at least one planar layer of concrete, wherein at least one pipe (3) for conveying a fluid medium is embedded in the concrete in the area of the front surface (2) of the structural element. The pipe (3) is received in pipe receptacles (4) provided in a plurality of linear receiving rails (5), wherein each linear receiving rail (5) comprises a plurality of such pipe receptacles (4). At least one spacer (7) is connected to a receiving rail (5), which defines the distance a of the pipe (3) to the front surface (2) of the structural element. A surface layer (8) of the hardened grout is arranged between the pipe (3) and the front surface (2).