Geothermal insulation system and method
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing geothermal insulation systems for buildings are expensive, require auxiliary energy, and are inefficient in maintaining comfortable temperatures, especially during winter when frost protection is needed without using additional energy.
Innovation Solution
A geothermal insulation system that circulates air at a temperature of 7 to 10°C over the external surface of buildings, using internal and external air chambers with polystyrene insulation panels and a soil-air heat exchanger, allowing for natural heat exchange without auxiliary energy, and optionally using an auxiliary fan for summer cooling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If heat pumps with underground heat exchangers are used for geothermal heating, then heating efficiency is improved, but construction cost and system complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the heat exchanger component from the building interior and relocates it to the ground, using only the air circulation system within the building. This removes the need for complex underground installations, air pumps, and fans while maintaining geothermal heating functionality through natural convection currents.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses natural convection currents created by temperature differences between the ground and air to drive air circulation through the building. This eliminates the need for auxiliary energy sources like air pumps and fans, simplifying the system while maintaining heating efficiency.
2Reliability
If air is circulated through internal walls for geothermal heating, then temperature maintenance is improved, but heating capacity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of circulating heated air through internal walls to warm the building, the invention circulates cooler ground air through external wall chambers. This cools the external walls, creating a temperature gradient that naturally draws warm indoor air outward, effectively heating the building through reverse heat flow while maintaining stable temperatures.
3Loss of energy
If geothermal heat exchanger is switched off for extended periods, then energy saving is improved, but frost protection capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses passive natural convection driven by temperature differences between ground and air, requiring no active components. This allows the system to remain effective indefinitely without switching off, as the ground continuously provides thermal energy to maintain frost-free conditions while consuming minimal auxiliary energy.
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 effectively reduces heat loss in winter and prevents overheating in summer, maintaining a stable internal temperature without auxiliary energy, thus reducing heating costs and ensuring frost-free conditions during winter.
Implementation Method 1
a soil-air heat exchanger (44) which exchanges heat between the air and the soil
Implementation Method 2
the constant temperature of approximately 7 to 10° C., which may be used for both heating and cooling
Implementation Method 3
internal and external air chambers (20, 30) with internal and external insulation panels (24, 34)
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a geothermal insulation system (10) for the insulation of an external surface (16) of a building (12), characterised by comprising:internal insulation panels (24),first internal spacers (22) attaching the internal insulation panels (24) onto the external surface (16) of a wall (14) of the building (12) in the mounted state such that an internal air chamber (20) is left between the internal insulation panels (24) and the external surface (16) of the wall (14),external insulation panels (34),second spacers (32) attaching the external insulation panels (34) onto an external side of the internal insulation panels (24) in the mounted state such that an external air chamber (30) is left between the external insulation panels (34) and the external side of the internal insulation panels (24) and an upper region (31) of the external air chamber (30) is in air communication with an upper region (21) of the internal air chamber (20),a soil-air heat exchanger (44) recessed into the soil,a first air duct (46) connecting the soil-air heat exchanger (44) with the internal air chamber (20),a second air duct (48) connecting the soil-air heat exchanger (44) with the external air chamber (30).The invention further relates to a method for the insulation of an external surface (16) of a building (12) with the use of geothermal energy.