Evacuated Tubular Facade Enclosure for Daylighting and Heat Insulation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional building enclosures with glazed portions face issues of undesirable ambient energy transfer, limiting views and natural light, and increasing energy consumption due to heat transfer and structural support requirements.
Innovation Solution
A modular tubular building enclosure system using evacuated glass units that are self-supporting, thermally insulating, and configured to focus solar radiation onto a focal point for energy collection, reducing heat transfer and allowing for unrestricted glazing while minimizing material usage and energy consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If glazed portions are used to allow natural light and views, then illumination and visual access are improved, but ambient energy transfer increases leading to higher heating and cooling requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical state of the glazing material from solid glass to an evacuated tube structure, creating a vacuum environment that fundamentally alters thermal properties while maintaining optical transparency. This parameter change enables simultaneous achievement of natural light transmission and thermal insulation.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses a composite structure combining evacuated glass tubes with phase change materials and solar collector rods, creating a multi-functional system that integrates lighting, insulation, and energy collection functions within a single architectural element.
2Loss of energy
If the exposed area of glazed portions is reduced to decrease energy transfer, then energy loss is reduced, but views and natural light entry are limited
Solution Approach 1:
By changing the physical parameters of the glazing system to evacuated tubes with superior thermal resistance, the invention allows maximization of glazing area without proportionally increasing energy transfer, thus maintaining both views and natural light while minimizing energy loss.
3Loss of energy
If flat glass with air removed is used to reduce energy transfer, then thermal insulation is improved, but the structure becomes susceptible to bowing requiring additional structural support
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs curved tubular geometry instead of flat glass surfaces. This curvature provides inherent structural strength and resistance to pressure differentials, eliminating the need for internal spacers while maintaining the vacuum environment for thermal insulation.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention removes the need for structural spacers by extracting them from the system entirely. The evacuated tube design provides structural integrity without requiring internal support elements that would compromise the vacuum seal or create thermal bridges.
4Stability of the object's composition
If spacers are installed in the interior to prevent bowing, then structural stability is improved, but thermal bridges are created increasing heat transfer
Solution Approach 1:
The invention completely eliminates spacers from the evacuated tube structure. The curved tubular design provides sufficient structural stability without requiring internal support elements, thereby removing the source of thermal bridging that would compromise thermal performance.
5Ease of manufacture
If conventional extruded glass tubes are used, then manufacturing is simplified, but large diameters and long lengths are limited by manufacturing constraints
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the enclosure system into modular tubular units that can be manufactured at feasible sizes and then assembled into larger configurations. This segmentation overcomes manufacturing limitations while allowing flexible design of large-scale enclosures.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention integrates multiple functional elements within the tubular structure, nesting solar collector rods and phase change materials within the evacuated tubes, thereby maximizing functionality within constrained manufacturing dimensions.
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 provides effective thermal insulation, maximizes natural light entry, and generates solar power by concentrating solar energy, thus reducing heating and cooling demands and energy consumption.
Implementation Method 1
Each of the tubular glass units are mostly or fully-evacuated of air and other gases to provide a thermal break or seal between an interior and exterior of the system
Implementation Method 2
The vacuum chamber advantageously significantly reduces or eliminates conductive and convective heat transfer through the tubular glass units
Implementation Method 3
Each of the tubular glass units includes a convex outer half glass-lite operable to refract and focus incoming solar radiation to an approximate center of the chamber
Implementation Method 4
concentrate the energy to a focal point and enabling a solar collector positioned at or near the center to generate power
Implementation Method 5
The rod 28 contains a photovoltaic material to allow the system via each of the rods 28 to convert solar radiation into direct current electricity
Data Source
AI summary
A tubular building enclosure system for unitized assembly in rows and columns to form a structurally self-supporting, thermally insulating, and solar energy collecting facade.