Abstract
Glass buildings are characterized by contradictory requirements—high visibility and high insolation levels. Transparency will allow sun radiation into the building, while isolation will prevent heat to be ventilated through same windows. This creates a greenhouse effect during summer, leading to excessive air conditioning load. As a result, leading architects and engineers are calling for all-glass skyscrapers to be banned. The disclosed art offers an alternative glass envelope which adapts its U-Value to climate changes, by a special aluminum frame which dissipates the heat when necessary. The proposed system is sealed and the adaptation of the envelope U-Value is achieved by circulating enclosed air into the aluminum frame, significantly increasing its heat dissipation characteristics. The disclosed art overcomes most drawbacks of prior art, offering a solution with superior U-value isolating during wintertime and cooling during summertime. SHGC will be controlled by a triple glazed configuration with two parallel cavities.
Claims
1. A glass curtain wall module comprising of: at least one double-glazed cavity encapsulated on its perimeter by a preferable metal frame with high thermal conductivity and built-in airduct; at least one electrical fan device that when activated creates an airflow circulating the air from the double-glazed cavity through said frame airduct; the airflow will move heat from the inner glass cavity through said metal frame and expel it to the environment, similarly it can be used to absorb heat from environment to heat the interior; and said metal frame has heat transfer fins increasing its heat transfer coefficient;
2. A glass curtain wall according to claim 1, wherein two cavities are mounted together to create a triple glass isolating curtain wall, each having its own encapsulating frame and air controlling features
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0019] These and/or other aspects and advantages of the invention will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of the embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which:
[0020] FIG. 1 is a design representation of the proposed system with built-in metal frame and two cavities.
[0021] FIG. 2 is a representative flow simulation of air in glass cavity circulated into the metal frame.
[0022] FIG. 3 displays the system wherein one metal frame is removed for better understanding the parts which are enclosed by this metal frame.
[0023] FIG. 4 is a high-resolution flow diagram similar to FIG. 2 and based on a computer simulation of our system.
[0024] FIG. 5 is a typical layout of the proposed climate adaptive glass envelope with two cavities and three glass surfaces.
[0025] FIG. 6 is a representation of the resistance of each surface of proposed system.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0026] In the following disclosed art, a glazed wall based on at least one double-glazed cavity encapsulated on its perimeter by a preferable metal frame with high thermal conductivity and built-in airduct, having at least one electrical fan device that when activated creates an airflow circulating the air from the double-glazed cavity through said frame airduct. Said airflow will move heat from the inner glass cavity through said metal frame and expel it to the environment, similarly it can be used to absorb heat from environment to heat the interior. For increased efficiency, the metal frame has built-in heat transfer fins, offering larger area exposed to the airflow.
[0027] For high performance applications, two cavities are mounted together to create a triple glass isolating curtain wall, each having its own encapsulating frame and air controlling features.
[0028] FIG. 1 shows a graphical representation including its Aluminum frame, facilitating airflow in between the glass cavities and through the Aluminum frame for recirculation. The Aluminum frame has a crucial effect on the isolation of our triple window since its heat transfer coefficient compared to glass is 200 times higher. Moreover, being thin when compared to glass, the overall heat transfer capability could be almost 1000 times better than the glass substrate. When high heat isolation is required, air doesn't circulate and is stationary within the window cavity and the Aluminum frame. By activating the small fans, air circulation starts and then isolation of windows drops significantly with substantial effect of the frame which is the main heat conducting to environment. The figure shows a typical full window according to my invention, including glass and frame members and is denoted as 101. A cross-section of said window is denoted as 102 and shows the inner parts of preferable configuration. In order to further understand the system, a detailed view of a small section is displayed. 103 is a cross-section of the tubular Aluminum frame and it's facing the interior of the building. 104 is a second tubular frame isolated from the interior frame by 109. 105 is the interior transparent glass of said window and 107 is the exterior of said window. 108 creates two cavities using an additional transparent glass. 106 is a typical fan mounted on the frame and it is a part of multiple fans mounted along the frame, on its lower and upper sides. The fans are used for circulating the air enclosed into the said cavities through the frame and the cavity itself, significantly reducing the isolation of the window by airflow heat transfer. 110 represents cooling fins built-in into the said metal frame enclosures.
[0029] FIG. 2 is a schematic representation of proposed triple glazed window or curtain wall which consists of two cavities attached to each other, each cavity featuring its own circulating fans. 201 represents the fan mounted on the upper Aluminum frame cavity and it sucks the air into the Aluminum cavity. This air travels at high speed through the frame and is denoted as 204. When air reaches the lower part of Aluminum frame, it is blown upwards by miniature fans denoted as 202. The airflow lines within the transparent cavity are denoted as 203.
[0030] FIG. 3 is yet another schematic representation of the proposed module, wherein the external enclosure of the frame was removed for better observation of its inner assembly. Here the small orifices denoted as 301 are designed in such a way that they can connect between inner and outer frame to further reduce the system's isolation by recirculating air between the frames. The 301 openings are closed when this airflow is unnecessary.
[0031] FIG. 4 is a high-resolution flow diagram similar to FIG. 2 and based on a computer simulation of our system.
[0032] FIG. 5 is a representation of the proposed climate adaptive glass part of the envelope without the Aluminum frame, and describes the heat flow when the air is not circulated. 501 denotes the first glass element facing the interior of the room. 502 denotes the air in first cavity in a stationary phase. At this phase the air is a very good isolator and it typically has 0.022 [kcal(IT)/(h m K)]. When circulated, this changes significantly and actually will convect heat from 502 cavity, actually cooling the system by convection. This type of calculation is usually done by simulation, where the results are represented in previous drawings. 503 denotes another glass separation which may be transparent or tinted. 504 denotes a second cavity wherein the air may be circulated or not, depending on external activation. 505 is the outside glass separation of system.
[0033] FIG. 6 is a representation of heat transfer using a resistance model similar to Ohm's law, which is very popular in electronic, wherein each resistance denotation represents the cavities disclosed by FIG. 5.
[0034] The features of the invention disclosed in the specification, in the drawings and in the claims can be essential for implementation of the invention, both individually and in any combination.
