Improved heat transfer through interior cladding of living spaces
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing radiant heating and cooling systems face inefficiencies due to significant temperature drops across interior cladding materials, such as plasterboard and engineered wood flooring, which hinder the effective use of low-temperature radiant heating systems and increase energy consumption.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of thermal bridging using high-conductivity materials like aluminium, strategically embedded in the cladding to create a shorter thermal path with minimal contact resistance, thereby reducing the temperature drop and enhancing heat transfer efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If conventional interior cladding materials (plasterboard, engineered wood flooring) are used in radiant heating systems, then the systems can be installed with simple cladding structures, but significant temperature drops occur across the cladding reducing heating efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies composite materials by combining conventional cladding materials (plasterboard, engineered wood flooring) with integrated thermal bridges made of high-conductivity materials. This creates a composite cladding structure that maintains the aesthetic and structural properties of conventional materials while adding thermal conduction pathways to reduce temperature drops and improve energy efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by incorporating thermal bridges at specific locations within the cladding structure rather than uniformly modifying the entire cladding. The thermal bridges are strategically positioned to create localized high-conductivity pathways that address temperature drops at critical points while maintaining the overall simplicity of the cladding structure.
2Productivity
If high-conductivity thermal bridges are integrated into cladding to reduce temperature drops, then heat transfer efficiency improves, but the manufacturing and installation complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies merging by combining the thermal bridge function with the cladding structure itself, rather than treating them as separate components. The thermal bridges are integrated into the cladding manufacturing process, allowing both elements to be produced as a single unit, which simplifies installation while achieving improved heat transfer efficiency.
3Use of energy by stationary object
If thermal bridges are added to improve radiant heating efficiency, then energy consumption decreases, but the cladding design becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the intermediary principle by introducing thermal bridges as mediator elements between the radiant heating system and the interior space. These thermal bridges act as intermediate conduits that facilitate heat transfer through the cladding, reducing energy consumption while adding only minimal complexity to the overall cladding design.
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 significantly reduces temperature drops across cladding materials, improving the efficiency of radiant heating and cooling systems, reducing energy consumption, and allowing for the use of renewable heat sources while minimizing carbon emissions.
Implementation Method 1
The material of a thermal bridge is always of higher conductivity than the material of the cladding
Data Source
Figure 1a~2b
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Figure 4a~4d
AI summary
The efficiency of radiant space heating or cooling is improved and the use of renewable energy sources enabled by reducing the resistance of the thermal path through cladding used in the floor, walls or ceiling of a domestic or commercial living space. The resistance of the thermal path is reduced by constructing the cladding with an array of thermal bridges each comprising a thermal shunt connected to a heat-collecting layer and to a heat-dispersing layer. Such bridged cladding extends the range of choice of interior cladding and of configuration of radiant system. As an example, engineered wood floor is bridged below the veneer by embedded spiral aluminium (FIG 12b)