Thermally anisotropic composites for thermal management in building environments
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current thermal management systems for building envelopes are ineffective in dynamically redirecting heat and reducing peak energy demand, as they primarily focus on controlling heat transfer rates rather than redirecting heat, and existing high-performance insulation materials suffer from high costs and low durability.
Innovation Solution
A thermally anisotropic composite system coupled with a thermal loop that dynamically redirects, reduces, and shapes heat flows through a building envelope by using alternating layers of thermal insulation and conductive materials, with a thermal loop acting as a heat sink or source, allowing for temperature control and energy harvesting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional insulation materials are used to control heat transfer through the building envelope, then thermal resistance is provided, but the system cannot dynamically redirect heat or reduce peak energy demand
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from static insulation to dynamic thermal management by incorporating a thermal loop with circulating fluid that can actively redirect heat flows. The anisotropic composite's thermal conductivity varies dynamically based on fluid temperature and circulation, enabling the system to adapt to changing thermal conditions and redirect heat away from the building envelope during peak demand periods.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes thermal parameters by using a thermal loop that circulates fluid at controlled temperatures. By adjusting the fluid temperature and circulation rate, the effective thermal conductivity of the composite structure changes, allowing dynamic control of heat transfer rates and redirection of heat flows to meet varying thermal demands.
2Reliability
If high-performance insulation materials like vacuum insulation panels and aerogels are used, then thermal resistance is improved, but cost increases and durability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses a composite structure combining conventional insulation materials with thermally conductive layers arranged in an anisotropic configuration. This composite approach achieves high thermal resistance through the insulation layers while the conductive layers facilitate heat redirection via the thermal loop, avoiding the need for expensive and fragile materials like aerogels or vacuum panels.
Solution Approach 2:
The thermal loop acts as an intermediary that mediates heat transfer between the building envelope and the external environment. By introducing this intermediate heat transfer pathway, the system achieves high-performance thermal management using conventional materials, bypassing the need for expensive specialized insulation materials while improving both cost-effectiveness and durability.
3Ease of operation
If previously proposed dynamic systems are used to control heat transfer rate by changing thermal resistance, then heat transfer is controlled, but heat redirection capability is not provided
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the heat transfer pathway by introducing a thermal loop that creates a separate, controllable heat transfer channel. This segmentation allows independent control of heat transfer rate through the building envelope and heat redirection through the thermal loop, providing both control and redirection capabilities that previously required separate systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The thermal loop system performs multiple functions: it controls heat transfer rate through the building envelope, redirects heat flows to desired locations, and can provide both heating and cooling modes. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate control and redirection systems, achieving both objectives with a single integrated system.
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 system achieves significant reductions in envelope-generated heating and cooling loads, provides grid services by decreasing peak loads, and enables energy shaping, with finite element simulations and laboratory experiments demonstrating greater than 20% reductions in cooling energy with negligible wall thickness increase.
Implementation Method 1
thermally anisotropic composites that are connected to a thermal loop that serves as a heat sink or source
Implementation Method 2
The temperature of the fluid circulating in the thermal loop (referred to as fluid hereafter) is either dynamically controlled
Implementation Method 3
an anisotropic composite that is made of alternating layer(s) of thermal insulation material and thin layer(s) of thermally conductive material
Implementation Method 4
thermally anisotropic composites for thermal management in building environments
Implementation Method 5
redirect heat for thermal energy harvesting or thermal storage in existing and new buildings
Data Source
AI summary
An improved system for thermal management is provided. The system includes thermally anisotropic composites coupled with a thermal loop to re-direct, reduce, and shape heat flows through a building envelope, having the potential to (1) significantly reduce envelope-generated heating and cooling loads and (2) provide grid services such as decreasing peak loads and shaping energy use. In one embodiment, the thermal management system includes an anisotropic composite that consists of alternating layers of thermal insulation and thermally conductive materials that are immediately adjacent to each other, including polyisocyanurate foam boards and aluminum sheets. The thermal management system also includes a thermal loop along the long edge or the entire the perimeter of the anisotropic composite, the thermal loop having dynamically controlled or floating temperature that is maintained at lower than an outdoor ambient temperature (for cooling). An interior wall structure is inwardly adjacent to the anisotropic composite.