Magnesium Oxide Insulating Panel for Passive House Damp Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Traditional building methods for walls face issues with damp penetration, reduced insulating capacity, fire safety concerns, and difficulty in adopting new materials, particularly in passive house constructions where thicker walls are required for adequate insulation.

Innovation Solution

A prefabricated insulating construction panel comprising magnesium oxide face sheets and a foamed plastics core layer, with an optional timber frame structure and aluminium foil for enhanced insulation and fire safety, allowing for a thinner wall construction that mimics traditional methods while preventing damp and mould growth.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional timber frame structure with mineral wool insulation is used, then the wall construction is simple and familiar to builders, but the insulating capacity is insufficient and damp penetration occurs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinsulating capacityVSAvoidwall construction complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses a composite sandwich panel structure consisting of two magnesium oxide face sheets with a foam plastic core layer. This composite construction provides superior insulating capacity while maintaining structural integrity, directly addressing the insufficient insulation of traditional timber frame walls without requiring excessively thick constructions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The sandwich panels are prefabricated in a protected environment before installation, allowing damp-proofing and insulation measures to be pre-applied in controlled factory conditions. This preliminary action prevents damp penetration from occurring in the first place, rather than attempting to address it after wall construction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If thicker wall construction is used to meet passive house criteria, then insulating capacity increases, but the risk of damp damage increases due to dew point in the wall

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinsulating capacityVSAvoiddamp damage risk
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The magnesium oxide face sheets act as impermeable barriers that prevent damp penetration into the wall construction. These thin film-like layers effectively block moisture while maintaining the insulating capacity of the wall, allowing passive house criteria to be met without increasing damp damage risk.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The patent converts the potential harm of thick wall constructions (which create dew point issues) into a benefit by using the sandwich panel structure with impermeable face sheets. The foam core provides the necessary insulation thickness while the magnesium oxide face sheets prevent condensation and damp damage, turning a risky thick construction into a safe and effective solution.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

3Reliability

If thicker timber frame structure and more mineral wool are used, then insulating capacity increases for passive houses, but fire safety is compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinsulating capacityVSAvoidfire safety risk
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the material parameters by replacing organic timber and mineral wool with inorganic magnesium oxide face sheets and foam plastic core. This material substitution maintains or improves insulating capacity while fundamentally improving fire safety, as magnesium oxide is non-combustible and the foam plastic can be selected with appropriate fire resistance properties.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

4Reliability

If sandwich panels with wooden face sheets are used, then insulating capacity improves, but mould damage risk increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinsulating capacityVSAvoidmould damage risk
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the material composition by using magnesium oxide instead of wood for the face sheets. Magnesium oxide is inorganic, non-organic, and naturally resistant to mould growth, thereby maintaining the insulating capacity of sandwich panels while eliminating the mould damage risk associated with wooden face sheets.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 solution provides superior insulation, improved fire safety, and faster, cost-effective construction with reduced risk of damp damage, meeting passive house criteria and maintaining internal dimensions while acting as a climate shield and moisture barrier.

Implementation Method 1

the core layer consists of a foamed plastics material

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal insulation: Thermal Insulation

Implementation Method 2

a foamed plastics material

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFoam structure: Foam

Implementation Method 3

By virtue of the insulating core layer, a construction panel according to the invention does not let through any damp

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDamp blocking:

Implementation Method 4

the first face sheet, the second face sheet and the core layer together forms a sandwich-type construction panel

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSandwich structure:

Data Source

PatentEP2369084B1Panel for building construction
Publication Date: 2015.10.14 Z ENERGY
  • EP2369084B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2369084B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2369084B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention relates to an insulating construction panel 1 for the construction of a building, comprising a first face sheet 10 and a second face sheet 11, adapted to lend stability to the construction panel 1. The construction panel 1 further comprises an insulating core layer 12 arranged between the first 10 and the second 11 face sheet. The construction panel 1 also has a frame structure 13 fitted to the first face sheet 10, so that the first face sheet 10 is placed between the frame structure 13 and the core layer 12. At least one of the first and the second face sheet consists of a fireproof material.