External Wall Panel With Rainwater Cooling and Vent Ducts
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current external wall systems in tall buildings, primarily using curtain walls made of glass, metal, or stone, face issues with high carbon emissions due to temperature fluctuations and lack of rainwater collection from external walls, leading to inefficient energy usage and increased operational costs for heating and cooling.
Innovation Solution
An external wall panel unit system that collects rainwater from the building's external wall, incorporates a rainwater tube and duct system for temperature regulation and air discharge, and functions as an awning to control sunlight, comprising an external frame with a slit for rainwater introduction, a rainwater tube for collection, and a duct for air discharge, with interconnected units forming a comprehensive energy-saving structure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If curtain walls made of glass, metal, or stone are used for external walls of tall buildings, then the building structure can accommodate many persons and facilities in a limited site, but the indoor temperature fluctuates suddenly causing high carbon emissions and increased energy consumption for heating and cooling systems
Solution Approach 1:
The external wall is divided into multiple modular panel units, each comprising an external frame, rainwater tube, duct, and window. This segmentation allows each unit to independently manage rainwater collection, air discharge, and temperature regulation, reducing overall energy consumption while maintaining building capacity
Solution Approach 2:
The external frame structure serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides structural support, collects rainwater through integrated tubes, discharges heated air through ducts, and regulates temperature. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate heating and cooling systems, lowering energy consumption
2Ease of manufacture
If traditional curtain wall systems are used, then the building can be constructed with standard materials, but rainwater flowing along the external wall cannot be collected for recycling
Solution Approach 1:
The rainwater collection function is merged into the external frame structure through integrated rainwater tubes. The tubes are mounted inside the bottom of the external frame and inclinedly positioned to collect and channel rainwater flowing along the external wall, transforming a previously wasted resource into recyclable water while maintaining construction simplicity
Solution Approach 2:
The rainwater tube acts as an intermediary element between the external wall surface and the rainwater collection system. It intercepts rainwater flowing along the external wall and directs it into the collection duct, enabling rainwater recycling without complicating the overall construction process
3Ease of operation
If conventional external wall structures are used, then the construction process is straightforward, but the external wall temperature increases leading to higher cooling loads
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses hydraulic principles by channeling collected rainwater through inclined tubes along the external wall. The flowing water naturally cools the external wall surface through evaporative cooling and thermal conduction, reducing wall temperature and subsequent cooling loads while maintaining easy installation
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the thermal parameter of the external wall by introducing flowing rainwater that absorbs heat from the wall surface. This dynamic temperature regulation reduces the external wall temperature without requiring active cooling systems, maintaining installation simplicity
4Ease of manufacture
If standard duct systems are used for air discharge, then the installation is simple, but heated air inside the external wall and exhaust indoor air cannot be effectively discharged
Solution Approach 1:
The duct system is designed to dynamically respond to temperature differences and air pressure gradients. Heated air inside the external wall and exhaust indoor air naturally rise and are discharged through the ducts positioned at strategic locations, creating an active air exchange system that maintains high discharge efficiency with simple installation
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 recycles rainwater for cooling, reduces carbon emissions by lowering the external wall temperature, improves indoor air quality through efficient air discharge, and provides economic feasibility and ease of installation and maintenance, while also serving as a sunshade to control sunlight, thus enhancing the building's energy efficiency and environmental quality.
Implementation Method 1
a frame rainwater tube mounted inside the bottom of the external frame and inclinedly mounted beneath the slit
Implementation Method 2
the slit being formed on an outer face of an upper portion of the bottom thereof for allowing introduction and evaporation of rainwater
Implementation Method 3
discharge out heated air inside the external wall and effectively discharge out exhaust indoor air through a duct
Data Source
AI summary
In regards to the invention titled “External Wall Panel Unit for Saving Energy and External Wall Structure System Using the Same,” there are an external wall panel unit and an external wall structure system for saving energy.The external wall panel unit is attached to an external wall structure (1) of a building to form an external wall of the building, and includes: an external frame (10); a frame rainwater tube (20); a frame duct (30); and a window (40).The external wall structure system using the external wall panel units is installed in such a way that a plurality of the external wall panel units are arranged and mounted vertically and horizontally.