Membrane Structure for Chimney Stack Exterior Walls
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional exterior wall constructions around stacks, typically made of reinforced concrete, are inflexible, long to design and build, and difficult to repair without altering the industrial design, limiting environmental consideration and requiring lengthy repair periods.
Innovation Solution
A method using a membrane structure constructed with steel members and membrane members that can be quickly assembled to form complex geometric shapes, allowing for easy design changes and repairs, reducing construction time and cost by eliminating the need for external scaffolding.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If an exterior wall is made of reinforced concrete, then the structure is strong and durable, but the construction period is long (as long as a year) and the shape is limited to standard shapes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies a membrane structure (flexible thin film) instead of rigid reinforced concrete to form the exterior wall. The membrane is tensioned and fixed to steel members, creating a durable envelope that can be constructed much faster than concrete while allowing complex geometric shapes. The membrane provides sufficient structural coverage and durability without requiring the lengthy construction process of concrete pouring and curing.
Solution Approach 2:
The exterior wall is divided into modular membrane sections that are independently installed between steel members. This segmentation allows for rapid assembly compared to monolithic concrete construction, enabling the wall to be built in a fraction of the time required for traditional concrete methods while maintaining structural integrity through the steel member framework.
2Reliability
If an exterior wall is made of reinforced concrete, then the structure is durable, but the industrial design cannot be changed when repair is needed
Solution Approach 1:
The membrane exterior wall is composed of discrete membrane panels that can be independently accessed and replaced. When deterioration occurs, only the affected membrane sections need to be removed and replaced, while the steel member framework and other membrane sections remain intact. This modular approach provides both durability through the robust steel-membrane system and design flexibility through the replaceable membrane panels.
Solution Approach 2:
The membrane structure provides a dynamic system where the membrane panels can be easily swapped out to update the industrial design while maintaining the durable steel member framework. This allows the exterior wall to adapt to changing design requirements or aesthetic preferences without compromising the structural reliability established by the steel framework.
3Strength
If an exterior wall is made of reinforced concrete, then the structure is solid, but repair work requires long repair periods and cannot change the industrial design
Solution Approach 1:
The membrane exterior wall system allows for rapid repair by segmenting the wall into replaceable membrane panels. When damage or deterioration occurs, the affected panels can be quickly removed and replaced without disrupting the entire structure or requiring lengthy repair periods. The steel member framework remains intact and provides continuous structural integrity during the repair process.
Solution Approach 2:
The membrane panels can be easily discarded when deteriorated and replaced with new panels, while the steel member framework is recovered and reused. This approach significantly reduces repair time compared to concrete, as there is no need to demolish and reconstruct the entire exterior wall, only the damaged membrane sections need replacement.
4Ease of manufacture
If steel louvers are used in a skeleton stack, then the construction is modern, but the steel louvers undergo corrosion and the periphery cannot be divided into compartments
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a membrane structure (flexible thin film) instead of exposed steel louvers for the exterior wall. The membrane provides a protective barrier that prevents corrosion of the underlying steel members, while still allowing for modern architectural designs. The membrane can be made from corrosion-resistant materials or coated to enhance durability against environmental factors.
Solution Approach 2:
The exterior wall system combines steel members with membrane materials to create a composite structure. This composite approach provides the modern aesthetic of skeleton stacks while adding the corrosion protection of the membrane layer. The membrane acts as a protective envelope that shields the steel framework from moisture and oxygen, preventing corrosion while maintaining the modern architectural style.
Data Source
Figure 1(a)~1(d)
Figure 2(a)~2(d)
Figure 3(a)~3(b)
AI summary
Presented is an exterior wall, which surrounds the periphery of a stack, that can be designed by giving consideration to the environment, that can be constructed in a short time, and that can have a complex geometric shape that enhances the design. An exterior side of first steel members (2) that are arranged around the stack (1) to support the stack (1), or second steel members (6) that are arranged on the first steel members (2), is surrounded with a membrane member (5). An exterior edge that is an exterior edge of the membrane member (5) and, if required, an appropriate position of the membrane member other than the exterior edge is fixed. Because of the use of the membrane member that is lightweight, the foundation work can be reduced. Moreover, because the steel members that support the stack also serve as the support members that support the membrane members, the construction period can be drastically shortened, and the construction cost can be drastically reduced. Moreover, because the construction work can be carried out from inside, a scaffold becomes unnecessary, and therefore, the construction period can be further shortened, and the construction cost can be further reduced.