Double-Shell Building Envelope With Dynamic Thermal Insulation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional building envelopes with high thermal insulation lead to inefficient energy use due to decoupling of interior and exterior climates, resulting in increased cooling demands and energy consumption, particularly in climate zones with extreme temperature fluctuations, and are resource-intensive to manufacture and transport.
Innovation Solution
A building envelope system with a double-shelled or multi-shelled construction, utilizing porous, open-celled materials and dynamic thermal insulation, allowing for continuous control of heat transition through the integration of vacuum systems, active heat exchange, and wall heating systems, enabling variable decoupling of interior and exterior climates, and exploiting temperature gradients for energy management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by stationary object
If high thermal insulation is used in building envelopes, then heating energy requirements are reduced, but cooling energy requirements increase and overall energy efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamic thermal insulation that can change its insulation properties in response to temperature differences between interior and exterior. The system transitions from static high insulation to variable insulation, allowing heat transition when exterior temperatures are moderate and providing high insulation when temperature differences are large, thereby reducing both heating and cooling energy requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the thermal insulation parameter dynamically based on environmental conditions. By adjusting the insulation value according to temperature gradients and climate conditions, the system optimizes energy efficiency across different seasons and weather patterns, preventing the energy imbalance caused by constant high insulation.
2Reliability
If maximum thermal insulation is implemented, then decoupling of interior and exterior climates is maximized, but energy efficiency decreases due to increased cooling demands
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the degree of climate decoupling based on external temperature conditions. Rather than maintaining maximum decoupling constantly, the system allows controlled heat transition when exterior temperatures are favorable, thereby maintaining climate stability while improving overall energy efficiency.
3Ease of manufacture
If conventional static thermal insulation is used, then manufacturing and transport are resource-intensive, but dynamic insulation systems add complexity to the building envelope
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates multiple functions into the building envelope system, including thermal insulation, heat exchange, and adaptive response to environmental conditions. The building envelope serves both as a structural element and as an active thermal management system, reducing the need for separate heating and cooling installations.
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 system reduces heating and cooling energy requirements by actively managing heat transfer, minimizing material deterioration, and optimizing energy efficiency, while also providing soundproofing and protection, thus improving the overall energy balance and reducing the need for external heating and cooling installations.
Implementation Method 1
filled at least in sections with porous, open-celled material... Conventional thermal insulation for building envelopes is static
Implementation Method 2
utilizing porous, open-celled materials and dynamic thermal insulation, allowing for continuous control of heat transition through the integration of vacuum systems
Implementation Method 3
active heat exchange... exploiting temperature gradients for energy management
Implementation Method 4
exploiting temperature gradients for energy management
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.