Building Envelope Thermal Diagnosis via Controlled Heating
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for measuring building envelope thermal performance face challenges such as temporal and practical limitations, particularly in old buildings, where heat flow meter techniques are ineffective in winter and difficult to apply due to test standards and internal thermal storage materials like furniture.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a target zone input module, an adjacent zone input module, a heating module, a heat loss calculation module, a solar heat gain calculation module, and an infiltration load calculation module, which calculates envelope load and inner wall heat loss by controlling indoor temperatures and considering solar radiation and infiltration loads.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If heat flow meter technique is used to measure thermal performance, then measurement capability is provided, but it becomes ineffective in winter when temperature difference is less than 10°C and difficult to apply in old buildings
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the measurement approach from direct heat flow measurement (requiring temperature difference) to thermal imaging based on surface temperature distribution. This allows measurement in winter conditions where temperature difference is less than 10°C by using infrared radiation detection instead of conductive heat flow measurement.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical heat flow meter system with an optical/infrared imaging system. Instead of using physical sensors to measure heat flow directly, the system uses thermal infrared imaging to capture temperature distribution patterns, enabling measurement in conditions where traditional mechanical measurement methods fail.
2Measurement precision
If direct field measurement of envelope thermal performance is conducted, then actual building characteristics are reflected, but measurement complexity and time requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses thermal infrared imaging to create a visual copy representation of temperature distribution patterns across the building envelope. This allows complex thermal performance characteristics to be captured and analyzed through image processing rather than complex direct measurement systems, simplifying the measurement approach while maintaining accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from point-based or line-based measurement to surface-based thermal imaging. By capturing two-dimensional temperature distribution patterns across the envelope surface, the system can assess thermal performance comprehensively without requiring complex measurement equipment at each point, thereby reducing overall system complexity.
3Measurement precision
If internal thermal storage materials like furniture are considered, then measurement accuracy improves, but determination becomes difficult due to time delay effects
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs thermal imaging measurements during different operational states (heating and cooling periods) to capture the thermal response of internal storage materials in advance. By measuring temperature distributions at multiple time points during the thermal cycle, the system can account for the thermal mass effects of furniture and stored materials without requiring extended time delays, as the thermal patterns are captured during the measurement process itself.
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 overcomes the limitations of existing methods by providing a simple and effective way to evaluate building envelope thermal performance in the field, accounting for internal conditions and improving the accuracy of thermal performance assessment.
Implementation Method 1
a heating module, provided in the target zone and configured to adjust the internal temperature of the target zone in a preset manner, for uniformly heating the target zone using convection
Implementation Method 2
a solar heat gain calculation module for calculating solar heat gain obtained by the target zone from solar radiation
Data Source
AI summary
The present inventive concept provides a system for diagnosing a building envelope thermal performance, comprising: a target zone input module for searching for a target zone including at least one outer wall in contact with the outdoor air from among spaces included and partitioned in a building and inputting information about the target zone; an adjacent zone input module for searching for an adjacent zone in contact with the target zone with an inner wall interposed therebetween and inputting information about the adjacent zone; a heating module, provided in the target zone and configured to adjust the internal temperature of the target zone in a preset manner, for uniformly heating the target zone using convection; a heat loss calculation module for calculating the amount of heat loss of the target zone in a preset manner based on a measurement load consumed by the heating module; a solar heat gain calculation module for calculating solar heat gain obtained by the target zone from solar radiation; and an infiltration load calculation module for calculating an infiltration load of the target zone using parameters measured in a preset manner, wherein the heat loss calculation module uses the solar heat gain and the infiltration load, primarily calculates the envelope load using the thermal balance between the target zone and the adjacent zone and secondarily calculates the amount of heat loss from the inner wall based on the envelope load.