WALL CONSTRUCTION ARRANGEMENT FOR THE UTILIZATION OF SOLAR ENERGY IN THE HEATING OF BUILDINGS

Abstract: Wall construction arrangement for the utilization of solar energy, e.g., in the heating of buildings. The objective of the invention is to improve the heat-economic output of wall constructions. The invention is based on the idea that at least one insulation is used whose heat conductivity is changed substantially as a function of temperature. When such an insulation is used, the wall construction functions as a sort of a heat diode so that heat is shifted mainly from outside inwards and not vice versa. The wall construction arrangement in accordance with the invention comprises a face board (1), which is substantially penetrable by the heat radiation of the sun but which is hardly penetrable by radiation of a different wavelength in the opposite direction, as well as an absorption layer (3), which is fitted inside the face board and which absorbs at least part of the heat radiation that has come through the face board (1). The insulation layer (7) which is fitted inside the absorption layer (3) is made of a material whose heat conductivity is substantially variable as a function of the temperature. This material preferably contains some liquid. The insulation material may be, e.g., cellular plastic whose pores contain moisture, or moist mineral wool.

Description: Wall construction arrangement for the utilization 01 solar energy in the heating of buildings The subject of the present invention is a wall cons-ruction arrangement in accordance with the preamble of claim 1. In prior art, among other things, constructions in accordance with the attached figures 1 and 2 in the drawing are -known, the said constructions being described in mere detail in the PI Patent Application 801081. The inside face of the wall construction 5 proper is covered by a heat insulation layer 6, and the outside face by a heat insulation layer 4. The heat conductivity of these heat insulation layers is at least substantially constant, as a function of temperature. On the outer insulation layer 4, there is an -absorption layer 3, and outside the absorption layer, at a distance from same, there is a face board 1 . which is penetrable by solar radiation but, at least for the major part, with- holds any radiation directed from the inside outwards. In the case shown in Pig. 1, between the face board 1 and the absorption layer 3 there is an empty space or an air space 2, in which the air does not circulate. In the case shewn in Pig. 2, the corresponding space is provided with an insulation layer 8 penetrable by light, the said layer being, e.g., of glass-wool. The object of the present invention is a further improvement of the heat-economic output of the constructions shown in Figures 1 and 2. The invention is based on the idea that at least one insulation is used whose heat conductivity is changed substantially as a function of temperature. Such an insulation is preferably a liquid-containing insulation, whose liquid ccr.te t must be sufficiently low. This is based on the physical pher.crr.enon that the liquid present on the warm side of the insulation is evaporated and moves to the ccld side cf the insulation, where it condenses. The condensed liquid returns, e.g., by the effect of the capillary phenomenon, back' o the warm side for a new cycle. Owing to this mechanism, such an insulation layer containing relatively little liquid functions as a sort of a heat diode so that heat is shifted mainly only from outside inwards and not vice versa. On the contrary, if there is an excess of liquid, no evapo¬ ration at all can take place, and the insulation layer functions mainly as a heat reservoir. More speci ically, the arrangement in accord¬ ance with the invention is characterized in that the insulation layer is made of a liquid-containing material whose liquid content has been selected so low that the heat conductivity of the material is substantially variable as a function of temperature. By means of the invention, remarkable advan¬ tages are achieved. Thus, by means of the wall con¬ struction arrangement in accordance with the invention, a highly favourable ratio of the inward heat flow to the outward heat flow is achieved, considerable economies being thereby obtained in the heating expenses. More¬ over, in the invention it has been possible to take advantage of the moisture occurring in construction materials, which moisture has, by now, been considered a negative feature. Below, the invention will be examined in more detail with the aid of the exemplifying embodiments in accordance with the attached drawings. Figures 1 and 2 are, as was already stated above, sectional views of two prior-art wall construc¬ tions. Figures 3 to 6 are likewise sectional views of four embodiments of a wall construction in accord¬ ance with the present invention. _ Figure 7 is a graphical presentation of the passage of heat flows in time when different wail con¬ structions are compared with each other. OMPI Figure 8 shows a curve illustrating the dependence of heat conductivity from the temperature in a typical non-linear insulation. In the following example, reference is made to the wall construction, arrangement of Fig. 3, in which the construction proper consists of a concrete mix of a thickness of 10 cm. The inside face of the concrete layer is covered by a conventional insulation layer β (λ = 0.04 /m°C). The outside face of the concrete layer 5 is limited by an insulation layer 7 which is, in accord¬ ance with the invention, variable as a function of the temperature so that, at a temperature of 0°C, λ = 0.08 W7m°C, increasing by 0.005 W/m°C per each degree as the temperature is increasing. Such an insulation material may consist, e.g., of cellular plastic whose pores contain 10 to 20 per cent by weight of moisture, cf r.cist mineral wool, or of moist light-aggregate concrete. The outside face of the insulation layer 7 is covered ^ by a black layer 3 of absorptive paint. The outermost la er " of the arrangement is a plastic cell board 1 (k = 3 " • ■ ;. ■ m~°C) operating as the face beard and placed at ■ a distance from the absorption layer 3- In the example case, this space is an air space (k = β V.Vπi C). The example construction of " Fig. 3 (case C) has been compared, on one hand, with a construetion in accordance with Fig. i (case B), wherein the i sulation layer 4 is conventional, and, on the other ha d, with a construction (case A), in which there is only a con¬ crete layer 5 as well as conventional insulation layers 4 and 6 placed on both sides of the concrete layer. In the example case, the outside wall receives solar radia- p tion at the rate of 1.5 krh/m ~ d, the outside temperature is 0 C, and the interior temperature is 2C C . In the various alternative cases, the flews of heat in the wall are as fellows: OMPI Case A -71 . 5 V /πrd Case B + 1 . 4 Wh/m 2 d Case C +80 . 0 h/m d The output of the heat collector (= wall con¬ struction) as calculated from the arriving heat energy is in the example cases as follows: Case B: 4.8 % Case C: 10.1 % The passage of heat flows in time during 24 hours comes out from Fig. 7. The example given above illustrates the phe¬ nomenon only in a certain situation. The situation of a whole year on a wall facing south is, on the basis of calculations, approximately as follows. Case A -23 kWh/m ,a In the calculation, the heating season (from September to May) in southern Finland has been taken into account, during which period the quantity of overall 2 energy co ing onto the southern wall is β73 kfh/m. . Thus, on the level of the year, the output of the collector is as follows: Case B: 7 . 6 % Case C: l β .9 % An example on such an insulation as -well meets the requirements imposed on the insulating material 7 described above is given in Tekniikan asikirj , Vol. 3. The favourable properties of an insulation with variable heat conductivity are based on the follow- .ng circumstances The solar radiation makes the temperature in the absorption layer 3 and in the insu¬ lation layer 7 behind same very high. The solar radiation pox * er is in southern Finland at nocr. from a cloud-free sky cn a southern wall even in January abou: 600 V. /^ m The maximum power is 78C ' : /~. 2 in March and in October. l.ow it has been noticed t-ha" if the insulation layer 7 after the absorption layer 3 has a variable heat conductivity, its insulating capacity is reduced even extremely steeply. It follows from this that the radiation energy moves from the absorption layer 3 into the reserving mass 5 or, in general, into the space behind the insulation 7 easily. when the radia¬ tion effect stops, the temperature of the absorption layer 3 immediately drops close to the temperature of the outside air. The insulation layer 7 is also cooled and its insulating capacity increases. The reserving mass 5 , or any other space, now delivers heat outwards slowly, because it nov/ meets a high heat resistance in the insulation 4. Within the scope of the invention, it is also possible to conceive solutions differing from the exemplifying embodiment described above. Thus, in the case shown in Fig. 4, the cellular board 1 is fitted directly on the absorption layer 3 without any air space. The inside face of the reserving structure 5 is not at all covered by an insulation layer. The construction of Fig. 5 differs from that shown in Fig. 3 in the respect only that the air space 2 is replaced by an insulation layer 8 penetrable by light, which is made, e.g., of glass-wool. On the other hand, in the case shown in Fig. β, the insulation layer 7 is fitted to the inside face of the carrying structure 5 , whereby the absorption layer 3 is again directly limited by the outer face of the reserving structure 5- It is also possible to conceive that the in¬ sulation layer 7 is placed inside the reserving layer 5. It is even possible to conceive that the layer 5 is missing entirely. The liquid-containing insulation layer 7 may have several different types of mechanical constructions. Thus, it may be of a material with closed pores, whereby the liquid is contained in the oores . As a structure with open pores, it may be surrounded by a plastic coating non-penetrable by water and vapour. Such a coating is not required if a continuous supply of additional liquid is arranged for the insulation layer so as to replace evaporated liquid. It should be stated finally that the liquid content may be even as low as 1 per cent by weight from the weight of the insulation, for the requirement of liquid content depends on the properties of the insulation material.

Claims: WHAT IS CLAIMED IS: 1. A wall construction arrangement for the utilization of solar energy, e.g., in the heating of buildings, the said arrangement comprising - a face board (1), 'which is substantially penetrable by the heat radiation of the sun but which is hardly penetrable by radiation of a different wavelength in the opposite direction, - an absorption layer (3)j which is fitted inside the said face board and which absorbs at least part of the heat radiation that has come through the face board (1), and - an insulation layer (7), which is fitted inside the absorption layer (3), c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the insulation layer is made of a liquid-containing material whose liquid content has been selected so low that the heat conducti- vity of the material is substantially variable as a function of temperature. 2. An arrangement as claimed in claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the liquid content is 10 to 20 per cent by weight from the weight of the insulation, whereby the conductivity is at least doubled as the temperature rises from 0~C to 40°C. 3. An arrangement as claimed in claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the insulation material is cellular plastic or equivalent, whose pores contain a liquid. 4. An arrangement as claimed in claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the insulation material is moist mineral wool or equivalent. 5. An arrangement as claimed in claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the insulation material is moist light-aggregate concrete. β. An arrangement as claimed in claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the insulation layer (7) is fitted directly inside the absorption layer (5) (Figures 3 to 5) • 7. An arrangement as claimed in claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the insulation layer (7) is fitted directly inside the wall construction (5) proper and the absorption layer (3) 3 again, directly outside the wall construction (5) (Fig- o). 8. An arrangement as claimed in claim 6, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the structure con¬ sisting of the insulation layer (7) and of the absorption layer (3) is fitted directly inside the face board (1) (Fig. 4). 9- An arrangement as claimed in claim β, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the structure con¬ sisting of the insulation layer (7) and of the absorption layer (3) and the face board (1) are placed at a distance from each other (Figures 3 and 5).

Inventors: TEITTINEN HEIKKI TAPIO
Applicants: TEITTINEN HEIKKI TAPIO
Application year: 1982
Main classification: E04B1
IPC codes: E04B1, E04B2, F24J2