Adjustable Reflective Building Envelope for Passive Thermal Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Buildings face challenges in managing energy consumption and temperature regulation due to high energy costs and environmental concerns, particularly in regions with high solar radiation, where conventional air conditioning is costly and inefficient, and existing passive ventilation methods are suboptimal.
Innovation Solution
The use of spatially adjustable functional elements with high reflectivity in the VIS and NIR ranges and adjustable thermal carrier medium panels to modulate electromagnetic irradiance and thermal energy distribution within enclosed spaces, reducing energy absorption and enhancing thermal management by dynamically altering the exposure of surfaces to radiation sources and sinks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If conventional active air conditioning is used to cool buildings, then indoor temperature can be controlled, but energy consumption and operating costs increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts harmful solar radiation into beneficial effects by using highly reflective coatings on functional elements to reflect visible and near-infrared radiation away from the building, while the selective emitter surfaces convert absorbed thermal radiation into useful cooling through radiative heat transfer to the sky
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the optical and thermal parameters of building surfaces by applying selective coatings that have high reflectivity in the visible and near-infrared ranges and high emissivity in the thermal infrared range, fundamentally altering how the building interacts with solar radiation and thermal energy
2Use of energy by moving object
If passive ventilation methods are used to reduce energy consumption, then operating costs decrease, but temperature control effectiveness is suboptimal
Solution Approach 1:
The building envelope performs self-cooling by using passive radiative heat transfer mechanisms where the selective emitter surfaces automatically reject heat to the sky without requiring external energy input, creating a self-sustaining thermal management system
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite functional elements combining multiple materials with different optical properties - highly reflective coatings for solar radiation and high-emissivity materials for thermal radiation - to achieve superior thermal performance
3Use of energy by moving object
If building surfaces absorb solar radiation to provide heating, then heating energy is reduced, but indoor temperature becomes excessively high during hot periods
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces dynamic adaptability through adjustable functional elements that can change their orientation or configuration in response to varying solar conditions, allowing the building to optimize between heat gain and heat rejection based on real-time environmental conditions
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the building envelope are equipped with functional elements having tailored optical properties - some areas prioritize solar reflection while others emphasize thermal emission - to create localized thermal management zones
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 effectively reduces temperature variations and energy expenditure by minimizing radiative energy input and optimizing thermal energy distribution, allowing for more efficient thermal management and reduced reliance on external energy sources for heating and cooling.
Implementation Method 1
The predominantly outside facing surfaces of said functional elements have predominantly relatively high reflectivity at least at the VIS and NIR wavelength range whereby the relative amount of incoming radiative power is reduced, which is absorbed by said functional elements
Implementation Method 2
The predominantly inside facing surfaces of said functional elements has predominantly relatively high reflectivity at least in the NIR and MIR wavelength range, whereby the radiative thermal emissivity of said functional elements is reduced
Data Source
AI summary
A method of modulating the impact of electromagnetic irradiance on the thermal energy budget of a predominantly enclosed space, in some instances buildings, includes providing at least an inner shell and placing a plurality of functional elements in an exterior position relative to an outside facing side thereof. The outside facing surfaces of the functional elements have higher reflectivity in the visible (VIS) and near infrared (NIR) wavelength range relative to the mid-infrared (MIR) wavelength range. The inside facing surfaces of the functional elements have higher reflectivity in the NIR and MIR wavelength range relative to the VIS wavelength range. The functional elements are least in one degree of freedom spatially adjustable. A thermal carrier medium may be present to increase thermal capacity and to permit transfer of thermal energy. A control system adjusts the spatial position of some of said functional elements and/or the distribution of the thermal carrier medium such that the thermal energy budget of the predominately enclosed space is influenced according to at least one desired target value.