US 10,533,760 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 includes providing at least an inner shell of the predominantly enclosed space, and placing a plurality of functional elements in an exterior position relative to an outside facing side of the inner shell. The outside facing surfaces of the functional elements have higher reflectivity in the visible (VIS) and near infrared (NIR) wavelength range relative to the (MIR) wavelength range. The inside facing surfaces of the functional elements have higher reflectivity in the NIR and mid-infrared (MIR) wavelength range relative to the (VIS) wavelength range. A thickness of the functional elements is equal to or smaller than a thickness of the inner shell.

Claims30

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 temporarily varying levels of said primary electromagnetic radiation, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing at least an inner shell of said predominantly enclosed space;
and
(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 wavelength range 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;
and
(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;
thereby modulating the impact of electromagnetic irradiance on said enclosed space.

6 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: 15/209,444Filed 13 Jul 2016 · division
Priority: 5 Dec 2014
Published: US 2016/0320073 A13 Nov 2016
Granted: 14 Jan 2020
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

Family

Application62/088,067Us provisional application · filed 5 Dec 2014
Application14/958,494Parent of this division · filed 3 Dec 2015
US 2016/0320073 A1Pre-grant publication · published 3 Nov 2016
US 10,514,175 B2Related patent
US 2016/0320080 A1Published application
US 10,533,760 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.