Vacuum Granule Building Superstructure with Integrated Supercapacitors
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current building technologies face challenges such as high greenhouse gas emissions, material scarcity, environmental degradation, inadequate insulation, vulnerability to floods and earthquakes, adverse health effects from electromagnetic radiation, and inefficient renewable energy storage, particularly with traditional concrete-based structures and vacuum insulation panels.
Innovation Solution
A freestanding building superstructure composed of a continuous insulating shell made of rigid, porous or hollow granules under a gas vacuum, with a sealed skin and integrated electrochemical accumulators, providing thermal, sound, seismic, and electromagnetic insulation, and capable of storing low-voltage solar electricity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If vacuum insulation panels (VIPs) are used for thermal insulation, then thermal insulation performance is improved, but structural strength and load-bearing capacity deteriorate because VIPs are fragile and non-load-bearing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the thermal insulation function with the structural load-bearing function into a single integrated element. The vacuum insulation panel is merged with a load-bearing frame structure, creating a composite element that simultaneously provides both thermal insulation and structural support, eliminating the need for separate insulation and structural components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite construction by combining vacuum insulation panels with a rigid frame structure. This creates a composite building element where the vacuum panel provides thermal insulation while the frame provides structural strength, allowing the assembly to function as both insulator and load-bearing structure.
2Strength
If traditional concrete structures are used for building construction, then structural strength and durability are improved, but greenhouse gas emissions and environmental degradation worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the essential function of concrete (structural support and durability) and separates it from the harmful material (concrete). Instead of using concrete, the invention uses a combination of vacuum insulation panels and a minimal frame structure, taking out only the necessary structural support function while eliminating the environmentally harmful concrete material entirely.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs lightweight, easily replaceable components such as vacuum insulation panels and modular frame elements that can be quickly assembled and disassembled. These components are designed to be replaced rather than permanently installed, reducing the environmental impact of construction and enabling sustainable building practices.
3Strength
If load-bearing structures are added to support vacuum insulation panels, then structural strength is improved, but thermal insulation performance deteriorates due to thermal bridges
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by concentrating the load-bearing function only at specific strategic points (corners and key structural locations) rather than throughout the entire wall assembly. The vacuum insulation panels remain uninterrupted between these localized support points, maintaining continuous thermal insulation performance while providing sufficient structural support where absolutely necessary.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the structural support function into discrete, localized support elements rather than continuous load-bearing walls. This segmentation allows the vacuum insulation panels to maintain their continuous insulating barrier while receiving localized structural support at specific points, minimizing thermal bridge formation.
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 offers superior insulation, reduced material usage, adaptability, and environmental sustainability, while ensuring safety and energy efficiency, and can be easily assembled, disassembled, and relocated.
Implementation Method 1
The entire volume comprised of the loose granules, sheets, window and door units, and the airtight skin is under a gas vacuum. This vacuum is maintained continuously by an on-site vacuum pump.
Implementation Method 2
In order to stiffen, strengthen, save materials, and soundproof the building structure, the invention uses a physical effect: the so-called Magdeburg effect. When one of the two faces of a wall is under a vacuum, the force exerted on that wall is equal to atmospheric pressure, or 1013 hPa or mbar at sea level.
Implementation Method 3
The porous or hollow granules will be subjected to a high vacuum, which will eliminate the transmission of heat flux by convection.
Implementation Method 4
The lightweight granules are spherical, porous or hollow, binderless, and poured in bulk... provide thermal, sound, seismic, and electromagnetic insulation
Implementation Method 5
A plurality of ionically polarized layers, vapor-sprayed onto superimposed vacuum-metallized polymer sheets, are inserted between the rigid sheets and the airtight skin. The array of ionic sheets, separated by interleaved electrolytic films, constitutes electrochemical accumulators or thin-film supercapacitors under a gas vacuum.
Implementation Method 6
The array of ionic sheets, separated by interleaved electrolytic films, constitutes electrochemical accumulators or thin-film supercapacitors under a gas vacuum.
Implementation Method 7
The outer shell of the superstructure and the walls of the living spaces are composed of rigid, contiguous panels whose inner faces are lined with a plurality of corrugated ribs.
Data Source
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AI summary
Self-standing and self-insulating* building superstructure, the overall internal volume (1) of which is filled with rigid lightweight granules in which the rooms (2) of the dwelling are immersed. The loose-fill lightweight granules are spherical in shape, porous and free of binder. A removable skin made of gastight plasticised board clads the entire superstructure externally and internally. Gastight bay units are set into each window recess. The entire volume delimited by the gastight skin and the bay units is under vacuum, controlled by a vacuum pump (10). The outer skin and the internally ribbed internal walls are braced by the volume of granules rigidified by atmospheric pressure. A superposition of metallised films covered with ionic polarisation layers is inserted under the impervious skin. The ionic layers and electrolytic films, under vacuum, constitute supercapacitors or electrochemical accumulator cells. The building can be erected/dismantled infinitely. *Self-insulating: thermally insulating, noise-insulating, seismically insulating, electromagnetically insulating, Aqua-insulating.