Façade Pipe Register Heating to Reduce Wall Heat Conduction Loss
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional building insulation methods, particularly for outer walls, are costly and inefficient in reducing heat loss due to heat conduction, which is influenced by the thickness and thermal conductivity of materials.
Innovation Solution
A facade system where a pipe register, carrying a heat-transporting medium, is mounted on or in the outer wall of a building, heating the exterior to reduce heat loss through the wall by minimizing temperature differences across the wall.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If thick insulation materials with low thermal conductivity are used to reduce heat conduction loss, then heat loss is reduced, but insulation costs increase and available floor space is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary thermal energy storage system consisting of phase change materials (PCM) integrated into the facade. This PCM layer acts as a mediator between the interior heating system and the exterior environment, absorbing excess heat during the day and releasing it during colder periods, thereby reducing the need for thick conventional insulation and lowering insulation costs while maintaining thermal performance
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the thermal parameters of the building envelope by incorporating phase change materials with specific melting points (e.g., 15°C, 20°C, 25°C) that allow the facade to dynamically adjust its thermal conductivity. This enables the building to maintain lower heat loss without requiring increased insulation thickness, thus reducing both material costs and space requirements
2Loss of energy
If thick insulation materials with low thermal conductivity are used to reduce heat conduction loss, then heat loss is reduced, but available floor space is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The phase change material layer in the facade acts as a thermal mediator that provides insulation functionality without requiring the same thickness as conventional materials. By utilizing the latent heat of fusion of PCMs, the system achieves equivalent thermal resistance with reduced thickness, thereby preserving more interior floor space while maintaining heat loss reduction
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite facade structures combining phase change materials with conventional insulation layers or structural elements. This composite approach creates a multi-functional facade that provides both structural support and thermal regulation, achieving effective heat loss reduction with thinner overall construction and maximizing available interior space
3Loss of energy
If the exterior of the building wall is heated to reduce heat loss, then heat conduction loss is reduced, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic heating of the facade exterior using thermal energy stored in phase change materials. The PCM layers are charged during periods of excess thermal energy (e.g., daytime, summer months) and discharge during colder periods (e.g., nighttime, winter months), creating a periodic thermal action that reduces heat conduction loss without requiring continuous energy input
Solution Approach 2:
The phase change material system provides self-service thermal regulation by automatically absorbing and releasing heat based on temperature differences. When the facade exterior cools below the PCM melting point, the material solidifies and releases stored heat, automatically maintaining the exterior temperature and reducing heat loss without additional energy consumption from active heating systems
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 significantly reduces heat loss by maintaining a lower temperature difference across the wall, utilizing inexpensive heat sources like groundwater or waste heat, and allows for the collection and storage of solar thermal energy for later use, thereby minimizing insulation costs and energy requirements.
Implementation Method 1
Heat conduction is directly proportional to the heat transfer coefficient and inversely proportional to the thickness of the material surrounding the room
Implementation Method 2
heat is then lost to the environment through convection, drafts (e.g., from open windows), or conduction through the building walls
Implementation Method 3
Water is normally used as the heat-transferring hydraulic medium
Data Source
Figure 1a~2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
A facade system consisting of a building exterior wall with an outside and an inside, and a pipe register, wherein the pipe register is designed to receive and convey a hydraulic, heat-transporting medium, and the pipe register is arranged on or in the outside of the building exterior wall.