Air gap insulation is a common means of providing thermal insulation from the environment. In many cases the air gap is heated by direct or indirect solar radiation, so ventilating this gap has a cooling effect. The invention cools this gap by integrating moisture-absorption material units that harvest water from the air during the night and provide evaporative cooling during the day. Compared to the ambient air, the daily relative humidity fluctuations in the air gap are more extreme, allowing a significant cooling effect. Furthermore, during the night, humidity absorption on the absorption unit reduces the risk of condensation within the air gap. Additionally the absorption process generates heat, and by using a controller processes of heating, cooling and dehumidifying can be activated when possible and needed.
F24F 3/14 - Air-conditioning systems in which conditioned primary air is supplied from one or more central stations to distributing units in the rooms or spaces where it may receive secondary treatmentApparatus specially designed for such systems characterised by the treatment of the air otherwise than by heating and cooling by humidificationAir-conditioning systems in which conditioned primary air is supplied from one or more central stations to distributing units in the rooms or spaces where it may receive secondary treatmentApparatus specially designed for such systems characterised by the treatment of the air otherwise than by heating and cooling by dehumidification
F24F 7/013 - Ventilation with forced flow using wall or window fans, displacing air through the wall or window
2.
COOLING, HEATING AND HUMIDITY STABILIZATION USING HUMIDITY FLUCTUATIONS
The device and method of the invention are adapted to control temperature and humidity of the air in some defined volume such as a room in a house. The device consists of a quantity of hygroscopic material and means for passing air past or through the material. Direct temperature and humidity control occur when air is conditioned (heated and dried by sorption heating, or cooled and humidified by absorption cooling) and sent inside the room; indirect control is also possible, by affecting the temperature of the walls (the sorption material may occupy channels or spaces within the walls, which are then heated/cooled, indirectly heating/cooling the air in the room by conduction). A fan or blower will allow for forced convection of air in a desired path (e.g from outside the house, over/through the sorption material, and into the house, or in the opposite direction). A second fan and valves allow for more complex operations.
B01D 53/04 - Separation of gases or vapoursRecovering vapours of volatile solvents from gasesChemical or biological purification of waste gases, e.g. engine exhaust gases, smoke, fumes, flue gases or aerosols by adsorption, e.g. preparative gas chromatography with stationary adsorbents
B01D 53/06 - Separation of gases or vapoursRecovering vapours of volatile solvents from gasesChemical or biological purification of waste gases, e.g. engine exhaust gases, smoke, fumes, flue gases or aerosols by adsorption, e.g. preparative gas chromatography with moving adsorbents
E04B 5/48 - Special adaptations of floors for incorporating ducts, e.g. for heating or ventilating
E04D 13/17 - Ventilation of roof coverings not otherwise provided for
F24F 13/068 - Outlets for directing or distributing air into rooms or spaces, e.g. ceiling air diffuser formed as perforated walls, ceilings or floors
F24F 3/147 - Air-conditioning systems in which conditioned primary air is supplied from one or more central stations to distributing units in the rooms or spaces where it may receive secondary treatmentApparatus specially designed for such systems characterised by the treatment of the air otherwise than by heating and cooling by humidificationAir-conditioning systems in which conditioned primary air is supplied from one or more central stations to distributing units in the rooms or spaces where it may receive secondary treatmentApparatus specially designed for such systems characterised by the treatment of the air otherwise than by heating and cooling by dehumidification with both heat and humidity transfer between supplied and exhausted air
F24F 5/00 - Air-conditioning systems or apparatus not covered by group or
F24F 11/70 - Control systems characterised by their outputsConstructional details thereof
The innovation uses the disparity between dry and wet conditions of the air, by storing the ‘dryness’ or ‘wetness’ in a hygroscopic material. When the surrounding air is drier or wetter than the hygroscopic material, the potential energy difference between moisture in the air and that in the material can be used as a way of transporting heat from the material to the air and vice versa. A simple way this energy can be used is for heating and cooling of a building. For example, a large storage of adsorbing material can be dried in the hot summer, and allowed to re-adsorb water in the cold winter, thus gaining heat that can be used for domestic heating.
B01D 53/02 - Separation of gases or vapoursRecovering vapours of volatile solvents from gasesChemical or biological purification of waste gases, e.g. engine exhaust gases, smoke, fumes, flue gases or aerosols by adsorption, e.g. preparative gas chromatography
F24F 3/147 - Air-conditioning systems in which conditioned primary air is supplied from one or more central stations to distributing units in the rooms or spaces where it may receive secondary treatmentApparatus specially designed for such systems characterised by the treatment of the air otherwise than by heating and cooling by humidificationAir-conditioning systems in which conditioned primary air is supplied from one or more central stations to distributing units in the rooms or spaces where it may receive secondary treatmentApparatus specially designed for such systems characterised by the treatment of the air otherwise than by heating and cooling by dehumidification with both heat and humidity transfer between supplied and exhausted air
E04B 5/48 - Special adaptations of floors for incorporating ducts, e.g. for heating or ventilating
E04D 13/17 - Ventilation of roof coverings not otherwise provided for
F24F 5/00 - Air-conditioning systems or apparatus not covered by group or
B01D 53/04 - Separation of gases or vapoursRecovering vapours of volatile solvents from gasesChemical or biological purification of waste gases, e.g. engine exhaust gases, smoke, fumes, flue gases or aerosols by adsorption, e.g. preparative gas chromatography with stationary adsorbents
A system for modifying environmental conditions within a building. A large mass of porous, hygroscopic material forming a significant fraction of the volume of a building structure, for instance comprising a large portion of the walls, floors, and ceilings of the building or house. Forced airflow is provided into and out of the mass of the hygroscopic material at one or more points, by means of blowers, vents, pumps, natural convection, or the like. This airflow can originate either from within the building envelope or from the surroundings, and can also exit either within the building or to the surroundings. The heating and cooling effects of absorption/ desorption of moisture by the hygroscopic material is exploited to largely offset the heating/cooling requirements for indoor comfort.
F24F 3/147 - Air-conditioning systems in which conditioned primary air is supplied from one or more central stations to distributing units in the rooms or spaces where it may receive secondary treatmentApparatus specially designed for such systems characterised by the treatment of the air otherwise than by heating and cooling by humidificationAir-conditioning systems in which conditioned primary air is supplied from one or more central stations to distributing units in the rooms or spaces where it may receive secondary treatmentApparatus specially designed for such systems characterised by the treatment of the air otherwise than by heating and cooling by dehumidification with both heat and humidity transfer between supplied and exhausted air
F24F 13/068 - Outlets for directing or distributing air into rooms or spaces, e.g. ceiling air diffuser formed as perforated walls, ceilings or floors
E04B 5/48 - Special adaptations of floors for incorporating ducts, e.g. for heating or ventilating
E04D 13/152 - Trimming stripsEdge stripsFascias with ventilating means
E04D 13/18 - Roof covering aspects of energy collecting devices, e.g. including solar panels
B01D 53/04 - Separation of gases or vapoursRecovering vapours of volatile solvents from gasesChemical or biological purification of waste gases, e.g. engine exhaust gases, smoke, fumes, flue gases or aerosols by adsorption, e.g. preparative gas chromatography with stationary adsorbents
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