US 10,514,175 B2Granted

Methods and functional elements for enhanced thermal management of predominantly enclosed spaces

OwnerAndreas Hieke, William Boone Daniels, IIinventors

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Abstract

A method of modulating the impact of electromagnetic irradiance on the thermal energy budget of a predominantly enclosed space, in some instances buildings, includes providing at least an inner shell and placing a plurality of functional elements in an exterior position relative to an outside facing side thereof. The outside facing surfaces of the functional elements have higher reflectivity in the visible (VIS) and near infrared (NIR) wavelength range relative to the mid-infrared (MIR) wavelength range. The inside facing surfaces of the functional elements have higher reflectivity in the NIR and MIR wavelength range relative to the VIS wavelength range. The functional elements are least in one degree of freedom spatially adjustable. A thermal carrier medium may be present to increase thermal capacity and to permit transfer of thermal energy. A control system adjusts the spatial position of some of said functional elements and/or the distribution of the thermal carrier medium such that the thermal energy budget of the predominately enclosed space is influenced according to at least one desired target value.

Claims29

Dependent claims

A method of modulating the impact of electromagnetic irradiance on the thermal energy budget of a predominantly enclosed space, which is at least in part exposed to directionally and temporally varying levels of a primary electromagnetic radiation, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing at least an inner shell of said predominantly enclosed space;
(b) providing a plurality of functional elements at an exterior position relative to an outside facing side of said inner shell;
(i) wherein outside facing surfaces of said functional elements have higher reflectivity in the visible (VIS) wavelength range and near infrared (NIR) wavelength range relative to the mid-infrared (MIR) wavelength range;
(ii) wherein inside facing surfaces of said functional elements have higher reflectivity in the NIR and MIR wavelength range relative to the VIS wavelength range;
(iii) wherein a thickness of said functional elements is equal to or smaller than a thickness of said inner shell;
(iv) wherein the plurality of functional elements are mounted in the exterior position with a plurality of support elements small in size and or thermal conductivity compared to the size and or thermal conductivity of the functional element, to reduce thermal conductivity between the functional elements and the inner shell;
and
(v) wherein said functional elements are spatially adjustable in at least one degree of freedom;
and
(c) adjusting the spatial position of at least some of said functional elements with an electronic control system to adjust said thermal energy budget of said predominately enclosed space to at least approximate at least one target value.

7 more elements

Method according to 23 further comprising one or more of:

(a) controlling with the controller, in response to an amount of primary irradiance that is sufficiently high that a resulting reduced energy gain to the thermal energy budget within said predominantly enclosed space serves to at least approximate the at least one target value:
(i) the flow of said thermal carrier medium at least in part from said first tank,
to panels, which are at least partially facing in the direction of the primary electromagnetic radiation,
to panels, which are predominantly shadowed from the primary electromagnetic radiation, and
to said second tank;
and
(b) controlling with the controller, in response to an amount of primary irradiance that is sufficiently low that the resulting energy loss to the thermal energy budget within said predominantly enclosed space serves to approximate the at least one target value:
(i) the flow of said thermal carrier medium at least in part from said second tank
to panels, which are predominantly exposed to the night sky
to said first tank.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 14/958,494Filed 3 Dec 2015 · us provisional application
Priority: 5 Dec 2014
Published: US 2016/0320080 A13 Nov 2016
Granted: 24 Dec 2019
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification54 codes

F24S 70/225
Characterised by absorbing coatings; characterised by surface treatment for increasing absorption: for spectrally selective absorption
E04B 1/74
Insulation or other protection; Elements or use of specified material therefor: heat, sound or noise insulation, absorption, or reflection ; Other…
E04H 9/16
Buildings, groups of buildings or shelters adapted to withstand or provide protection against abnormal external influences, e.g. war-like…
F24D 3/005
Hot-water central heating systems: combined with solar energy