Heat pipe for a building envelope and method for adjusting the temperature in a building
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional thermal insulation for building envelopes is static, leading to inefficient energy use, particularly in climate zones where heating and cooling requirements are not optimally balanced, resulting in increased energy consumption and resource use.
Innovation Solution
A building envelope with a double-shelled or multi-shelled construction that incorporates a porous, open-celled material-filled intermediate space, allowing for variable and controllable heat transfer, utilizing vacuum systems, active heat exchange, and wall heating systems to manage temperature and humidity dynamically, thereby reducing heating and cooling energy requirements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional static thermal insulation is used to maximize insulation value with minimal wall thickness, then thermal insulation performance is improved, but energy efficiency deteriorates due to inability to adapt to varying climate conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The building envelope transitions from static insulation to dynamic thermal management through phase change materials that automatically adjust their thermal properties. The PCM melts during daytime to provide cooling and solidifies at night to provide insulation, creating a dynamic system that adapts to varying temperature conditions without external control
Solution Approach 2:
The thermal conductivity and heat capacity parameters of the building envelope are changed by incorporating phase change materials. The PCM alters the thermal parameters dynamically based on temperature, providing high heat capacity during phase transition and variable thermal conductivity that responds to temperature differences between interior and exterior
2Reliability
If high thermal insulation is implemented to decouple interior climate from exterior, then thermal insulation performance is improved, but cooling and heating energy requirements worsen due to inability to passively manage heat transfer
Solution Approach 1:
The phase change materials provide self-service thermal management by automatically absorbing excess heat during daytime through melting and releasing stored heat during nighttime through solidification. This passive mechanism eliminates the need for active cooling and heating systems to manage peak thermal loads
Solution Approach 2:
The building envelope utilizes phase transitions of embedded materials (phase change materials and moisture in porous structures) to manage heat transfer. During daytime, PCM melts absorbing heat; during nighttime, PCM solidifies releasing heat. Similarly, moisture in porous materials condenses and evaporates to regulate thermal energy, reducing dependency on mechanical heating and cooling systems
3Use of energy by moving object
If building envelope is coupled to outside climate to passively carry off internal loads, then cooling energy requirements are reduced, but thermal insulation performance deteriorates due to increased heat transfer
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts its thermal coupling to the outside environment through phase change materials that respond to temperature gradients. When interior temperature exceeds PCM melting point, heat transfer to exterior is enhanced through the phase transition process, while maintaining insulation performance when temperature differential reverses
Solution Approach 2:
Phase transitions of embedded materials enable controlled thermal coupling to the exterior. The PCM absorbs and releases latent heat during phase change, facilitating passive heat rejection to the outside environment during cooling periods while maintaining thermal insulation during heating periods, thus reducing cooling energy requirements without permanently compromising insulation performance
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 enables a significant reduction in heating and cooling energy requirements by actively managing heat transfer through the building envelope, optimizing energy efficiency and reducing the need for external heating and cooling systems.
Implementation Method 1
the intermediate space is, with the exception of weight-bearing and/or construction-engineering elements, or filled at least in sections with porous, open-celled material
Implementation Method 2
allowing for variable and controllable heat transfer
Implementation Method 3
utilizing vacuum systems, active heat exchange
Implementation Method 4
manage temperature and humidity dynamically
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.