Method for applying an exterior cladding to a facade of a building and corresponding building
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing exterior thermal insulation systems for buildings often create thermal bridges and lack integration of solar energy harvesting capabilities, which can degrade thermal insulation and fail to efficiently utilize solar energy for heating.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a cavity within the exterior thermal insulation system for a solar absorber heat exchanger, thermally insulated with a translucent silica airgel material that allows at least 30% of incident solar rays to pass through, forming a solar thermal collector that enhances thermal insulation continuity and captures solar energy for heating purposes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a cavity is created in the thermal insulation system to install a solar absorber heat exchanger, then solar energy harvesting capability is integrated, but thermal insulation continuity is degraded and thermal bridges are created
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a translucent airgel material as an intermediary substance to fill the cavity containing the solar absorber heat exchanger. This airgel acts as a thermal bridge mediator that conducts solar energy to the absorber while maintaining thermal insulation continuity with the surrounding insulation system, thus resolving the contradiction between integrating solar harvesting and maintaining insulation reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different material properties to different regions: the airgel material is specifically designed to be translucent to solar radiation while providing thermal insulation, allowing the cavity region to have both solar energy transmission capability and thermal insulation properties, thus maintaining overall system reliability while enabling local solar energy harvesting
2Use of energy by stationary object
If conventional insulation materials like mineral wool or expanded polystyrene panels are used, then thermal insulation is provided, but thermal bridges are created at cutting edges and singular points
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a composite material system consisting of translucent airgel combined with the solar absorber heat exchanger. This composite structure provides both thermal insulation and solar energy harvesting functions while eliminating thermal bridges, as the airgel material can be continuously applied without cutting edges or singular points that would create thermal bridge pathways
3Reliability
If an insulating coating based on silica airgel is sprayed continuously on the building envelope, then thermal insulation is improved and thermal bridges are eliminated, but solar energy harvesting capability is not integrated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges two separate functions into a single integrated system: the translucent airgel thermal insulation coating and the solar absorber heat exchanger are combined within the same cavity structure. This merging allows the system to simultaneously provide continuous thermal insulation and solar energy harvesting capabilities, resolving the contradiction between insulation reliability and energy versatility
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 solution improves thermal insulation by preventing thermal bridges and integrates solar energy harvesting, providing a sustainable method for heating buildings and domestic hot water while maintaining high thermal insulation efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
thermally insulating the solar absorber heat exchanger from the outside with a thermally insulating and translucent airgel material so as to allow at least 30% of the incident solar rays of the visible spectrum to pass to the solar absorber heat exchanger
Implementation Method 2
thermally insulating the solar absorber heat exchanger from the outside with a thermally insulating and translucent airgel material
Implementation Method 3
the solar absorber heat exchanger installed in the cavity created within the external thermal insulation (ETI) system and the insulating airgel material covering this solar absorber heat exchanger ultimately form a solar thermal collector
Implementation Method 4
heat transfer fluid solar absorber heat exchanger
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
The method comprises a step of laying a thermal insulation system from the outside (3) on the facade (2) of a building, a step of producing a cavity (4) in the insulation system heat from the outside (3) and a step of installing in said cavity (4) a heat transfer fluid solar absorber heat exchanger (5) and of thermal insulation of this solar absorber heat exchanger from the outside with a thermally insulating and translucent airgel material and a transparent covering (glazing) so as to allow at least 30% of the incident solar rays of the visible spectrum of solar radiation to pass through to the solar absorber heat exchanger.