EP0018906A1 - Glazed façade elements, especially prefabricated windows - Google Patents

Abstract

1. A glazed facade element, especially a prefabricated window, comprising in combination with a frame surrounding panes of glass which are preferably double or multiple, means which regulate heat exchange and/or comfort, among them means of occulting the panes of glass, pick-ups for physical parameters which have an effect upon the heat exchange and upon the comfort of the occupants of the premises which are to be bounded by this facade element, and a programmable electronic assembly sensitive to the said pick-ups and arranged for addressing control signals to the said means which regulate heat exchange and/or comfort, characterized in that the said assembly comprises a microprocessor and combined with the said microprocessor a store and an internal clock, the said assembly incorporating a programme of utilization of the premises, which defines the desired value with respect to time of each to the programmed physical parameters, the said assembly being sensitive to the output signals from the said pick-ups in order firstly to store for a relatively long period the values adopted by the parameters at least during the day preceding the day under consideration and secondly to employ the value of the parameters at the time on the day under consideration in order to address required control signals to the said means which regulate heat exchange and/or comfort, with an anticipatory effect which takes into account the thermal inertia of the premises.

Description

The invention relates to glazed facade elements, in particular to prefabricated windows.

Although the problem of saving energy is becoming more and more acute, the heating, ventilation and lighting of living or office spaces continue to cause a waste of energy against which there is no overall remedies. The essential saving measures (stopping an air cooling installation in relatively cold weather, or a lighting installation when there is sufficient daylight; closing a window or stopping an installation ventilation when the atmosphere of a room meets hygiene and comfort standards) are indeed left for the most part to the appreciation of the usual occupants of the premises. These occupants can either lack initiative or be indifferent to energy saving problems, or have reactions that are not very objective or too slow to the sensations of comfort and discomfort, cold and hot, purity and impurity of air, clarity and darkness, even incompatible reactions between the occupants of the same room, or even simply remain absent for more or less long periods. Furthermore, when the environment allows, the well-being of the occupants of a room requires them to be able to observe, through the glazed facade element, the landscape or the spectacle whose they are separated by this element.

In the past, the occupant of a room was fully aware of the expenditure on heating energy because the number and the weight of the coal buckets to transport to maintain the fire in a stove, for example, kept a concrete value to these expenses. The replacement of coal by domestic fuel or by electricity has more and more deprived these expenses of their concrete character and makes one forget the influence which an operation as simple as, for example, exerts on these expenses. '' a window or, at night, closing shutters. Similar reflections can be made about lighting. Current efforts to re-educate a generation that has been raised in an apparently abundant period of energy may not bear fruit for a long time.

The invention therefore aims to create a glazed facade element which, instead of being passive like current facade elements, either active or "intelligent", that is to say replaces the conscious action of the occupants of the room circumscribed by this facade element by an automatic action according to physical parameters, with a view to ensuring these occupants, with the minimum of energy consumption, the maximum of comfort and contact with the outside. The invention also aims to arrange such an element so that it can be manufactured in the factory and then be easily integrated into the facade of a building under construction or renovation.

To achieve this aim, the facade element according to the invention is essentially characterized in that in combination with a rigid frame surrounding preferably double or multiple glazing, it comprises: means for obscuring the glazing, sensors for the various physical parameters influencing the heat exchanges and the comfort of the occupants of the premises to be limited by this facade element, and a microprocessor arranged to receive the output signals from the sensors and to send, as a function of these output signals, appropriate control signals to the abovementioned occultation means.

These concealment means can be either mechanical (shutters, blinds, curtains, sun shades powered by electric motors) or physical-chemical (glasses with variable transmission properties depending on the difference in electrical potential to which they are subject). As for the microprocessor or microcomputer, it is a set of electronic circuits, of known type, capable of performing repetitive tasks, to compare the input signals and signals stored in memory and, as a function of comparisons thus made, to make choices and to modulate its output signals accordingly. Such a microprocessor and its program are preferably of the digital type, and not analog, the input signals being then addressed in the form of a sequence of digits.

Preferably, the facade element comprises a promoter member for air exchange through this element, the sensors and the microprocessor then being arranged to put this member in action or out of action depending on the concentration of harmful gases. (C0 ₂ ) or non-breathable on the inside of the facade element. By "inner face" means of course that of the faces of the facade element which, when it has been put in place, is turned towards the interior of the room.

The air exchange promoter member is generally constituted by a fan incorporated or not in the frame of the facade element, this fan being at variable speed or not. It can also be a motor capable of opening more or less the glazing of this element or a ventilation opening formed within the framework thereof.

More preferably, at least one of the sensors of the facade element is sensitive to the lighting. on the inner face of this element, which has electrical connections intended to be connected to the lighting installation of the room to be limited. by this facade element. Likewise, at least one of the sensors can be sensitive to temperature, the front element then having electrical connections intended to be connected to the heating and / or cooling installation of the premises having to be limited by this element. .

The microprocessor technique has reached a stage of development such that it suffices to mention the parameters involved as input signals and the actions to be triggered by the output signals so that specialists can develop the microcomputer. (and its program) intended to equip the facade element according to the invention, by providing it with desirable adaptation possibilities to local climatic conditions, to the relationships between the facade glazed surfaces and the volume of the premises, to the presence or not cooling installations, the nature of the means of concealment, the program of foreseeable occupancy of the premises over time (daytime occupation for office premises or permanent or essentially nocturnal occupation for accommodation premises; vacancy in function for example weekend leave, the paid holiday scheme for office premises or the school or university holiday scheme for the s premises intended for teaching), etc ... The specialists in the matter will not have any difficulty either to arrange such a microprocessor so that it can be neutralized momentarily on the initiative of the occupants; in order for example to get rid of a bad smell escaping the detection of the sensors, these occupants must be able to carry out a ventilation which is certainly capable of causing a regrettable loss of heat in terms of energy savings, but which is essential for the comfort of the occupants. The user of local will be able to specify to the control bodies specific options and modify them at its option. In particular, he may order the transition to the sleepiness regime (period of sleep of the occupants) or the hibernation regime (period of prolonged absence of the occupants). He will be able to choose the days and hours of changeover to the active regime (wake-up period, arrival and occupant activity). It will be able to display the temperature profiles according to the hours and the regimes. It will be able to set the various constants of reaction time to the stresses of the sensors.

Among the parameters acting as input signals, the following physical quantities can be cited as an example: temperature and degree of humidity of the air inside the premises, intensity of a "radiative" atmosphere at interior of rooms (influence of a cold wall), air temperature outside rooms, energy and light flux received from outside the facade element, lighting inside rooms, presence animal (human), concentration of harmful or non-breathable gases (C0 ₂ ) and oxygen, wind force outside the premises. In addition to these physical quantities, we can cite parameters that can be displayed by the occupants of the premises either directly or remotely (transmission of coded parameters by telephone) and such as choice between natural and artificial ventilation and lighting, voluntary shutdown of heating and reset in automatic operation at a time fixed in advance, selection of a set temperature profile, etc ...

The invention relates not only to the facade elements which have just been defined above, but also to buildings which are equipped, by construction or renovation, with such facade elements.

A particular embodiment of the invention is illustrated schematically in the accompanying drawings and will be described in detail below.

Figure 1 of these drawings shows in vertical section a glazed facade element which, according to the invention tion, is manufactured in the factory.

FIG. 2 represents, by a diagram of functional blocks, the circuits associated with the facade element of FIG. 1.

In combination with a rigid frame of which only the upper 1 and lower 2 elements have been represented in FIG. 1 and which surrounds a double or multiple glazing 3, such a facade element comprises: means for obscuring the glazing 3 essentially constituted by a rolling shutter 4; indoor 5 and outdoor 6 sensors for the different parameters influencing the heat exchange and the comfort of the occupants of the room to be limited by this facade element; and a microprocessor_7 arranged to receive the output signals from the sensors 5, 6 and to send, as a function of these output signals, appropriate control signals to the above-mentioned occultation means.

Besides the roller shutter 4, these concealment means comprise a reversible electric motor 8 coupled to a horizontal roller 9 housed in the upper element 1 of the rigid frame, the rotation of the motor 8 in one direction or the other having the effect to roll up the shutter 4 on the roll 9 or to unwind it. Electrical conductors (not shown), housed inside the rigid frame, connect the microprocessor 7 to the motor 8, via appropriate relays. The concealment means may also include a curtain 10 and curtains 11, inwardly relative to the glazing 3, as well as a blind (not shown) outwardly by. glazing 3.

The facade element further comprises a fan 12 capable of ensuring a forced and controlled air exchange between the room and the outside atmosphere; outside the fan operating periods, the front element is relatively airtight. In any case, it is arranged to prevent the penetration of noise from the outside.

The facade element includes connections various electrical connections with the outside, shown diagrammatically by a cable 13: arrivals from the room supply network, to supply the microprocessor 7, the motor (s) 8, the relays or from additional sensors to be installed in the room ; Departures to controls for lighting, heating, cooling installations, etc. A step-down transformer is also housed in the rigid frame to enable the microprocessor 7, the sensors 5 to be supplied with the desired voltages. 6, relays etc ...

FIG. 2 represents, by a diagram of functional blocks, the circuits associated with the facade element of FIG. 1. There we see, in addition to the sensors 5, 6 and the microprocessor 7, keys (d ') input (des ) instructions, memory and display.

• - présence (simple ou multiple);
• -température intérieure;
• - luminosité interne; vent;
• - température externe;
• - éventuellement, humidité intérieure.

The sensors evaluate the following parameters

• - presence (single or multiple);
• -indoor temperature;
• - internal brightness; wind;
• - external temperature;
• - possibly, indoor humidity.

• - profil;
• - calendrier de chaque profil;
• - mode d'occupation du local;
• - horaire pour chaque profil par mode d'occupation;
• - température de consigne pour chaque mode d'occupation;
• - fourchette des températures admises;
• - éventuellement humidité (comme température).

The setpoint entry keys allow users to set the following parameters:

• - profile;
• - calendar of each profile;
• - occupancy of the premises;
• - timetable for each profile by tenure;
• - set temperature for each occupancy mode;
• - range of permitted temperatures;
• - possibly humidity (as temperature).

• - les 96 températures extérieures de chaque quart d'heure des dernières 24 heures;
• - l'horaire observé des modes d'occupation du plus récent jour de chaque profil (apprentissage simple);
• - le calendrier et le profil prévus;
• - pour chaque profil, l'horaire d'entrée des modes d'occupation du local;
• - pour chaque mode d'occupation, la température intérieure de consigne et la fourchette des températures admises;
• - éventuellement, humidité (comme température);
• - tranches horaires de tarification de l'énergie (électricité).

The memory stores:

• - the 96 outside temperatures of each quarter hour in the past 24 hours;
• - the timetable observed for the occupation modes for the most recent day of each profile (simple learning);
• - the planned timetable and profile;
• - for each profile, the entry schedule for the occupancy modes of the premises;
• - for each occupancy mode, the set interior temperature and the range of permitted temperatures;
• - possibly, humidity (as temperature);
• - time bands for energy pricing (electricity).

• - températures actuelles intérieure ou extérieure;
• - heure, jour, mois actuels;
• - profil prévu actuel;
• - mode d'occupation actuel;
• - visualisation mémoire.

The display, with selection by keys, displays the following:

• - current indoor or outdoor temperatures;
• - current hour, day, month;
• - current planned profile;
• - current tenure;
• - memory display.

• - rideaux;
• - volets thermiques;
• - aération/extraction directe;
• - aération/extraction par l'intermédiaire d'un échangeur de chaleur;
• - chauffage à un ou plusieurs niveaux;
• - éclairage intérieur;
• - éventuellement, humidificateur d'atmosphère.

The commands can act on the following elements:

• - curtains;
• - thermal shutters;
• - direct aeration / extraction;
• - ventilation / extraction via a heat exchanger;
• - heating on one or more levels;
• - inside lighting;
• - possibly, air humidifier.

The microprocessor 7 is equipped with an internal clock allowing it to maintain with all the desirable precision the time, the day of the week, the day of the month, the year. This time and date will be used to keep the outside temperature and radiation conditions of the past twenty-four hours, 1/4 hour by 1/4 hour, to determine the usage profile, the day, and the mode of occupation according to the planned profile and time. The time and date will also be used to keep in memory the occupancy mode actually observed according to the planned profile, the day of the week or the calendar, in order to allow the active window, in accordance with the invention, to perform self-learning.

The time and date can also be displayed on a display device (liquid crystal or light-emitting diodes) and be used for an "alarm clock" function: if it is daylight, open the shutters and curtains if it is dark, switch on the interior light. An audible signal may be provided if no activity is detected within the next fifteen minutes.

• - la présence animale ou humaine en l'état de veille (activité);
• - la présence animale ou humaine en l'état de sommeil;
• - l'absence animale ou humaine.

A- Several modes of occupancy of the premises are defined

• - the animal or human presence in the waking state (activity);
• - the animal or human presence in the state of sleep;
• - animal or human absence.

Possibly, the presence can be quantified: the number of occupants, if known and can be determined, will make it possible to more reliably calculate the free animal or human contributions ("animal heat") and the fresh air requirements.

B- Several room usage profiles are defined, for example nine profiles, seven corresponding to each of the days of the week, the eighth to a day of complete absence, the ninth to an unusual special day including the time slots of mode of use will have been imposed manually (for example, day of return from vacation, public holiday different from a Saturday or a Sunday, etc ...).

C- A calendar is defined, matching date and profile. The calendar can be standard, for example academic or social (office timetable) or be special, imposed manually by the user.

For each mode of use of the room, a range of sought temperatures and a range of permitted temperatures are defined.

Likewise, it is defined, for each mode of use, a desired lighting range and a range of permitted lighting.

For the most sophisticated "active window" models, indoor humidity can be defined in the same way.

Temperatures, lighting and possibly Humidity limits are entered manually into the system memory by the setpoint input keys and are stored, for each mode, in the system memory. For each mode, four limit temperatures, four limit relative humidity and four limit illuminations are kept, i.e. for an active window with 3 modes, 36 2-digit memories are required.

Each usage profile is defined for a 24-hour day, 1/4 hour by 1/4 hour, a mode of use corresponding to each 1/4 hour. Assuming that only 10 modes of use are possible, for example absence, sleep, active presence of _' 1 person, 2 people, ..., 8 people, it will be necessary to store in memory 96 digits for each profile, i.e. for 9 profiles, 864 digits.

The intended use profile will be manually entered using the instruction entry keys. The actual room usage profile will also be established and stored in another memory area. Optionally, and at the occupant's option, this actual profile will replace the profile entered. This self-learning can be specified once and for all and, in this case, no user profile instruction will have to be entered by the user. The profile _i actually observed will be stored in memory for each of the usage profiles as defined by the calendar.

The weather conditions of the last twenty-four hours are kept in memory. The temperature, the sunshine (external lighting) and possibly the wind and the relative humidity are also stored 1/4 hour by 1/4 hour, that is, with two digits for each quantity, 192 or 384 digits required.

The meteorological conditions actually observed will be used to determine the characteristics of the room equipped with the "active window": losses, inertias and factor of use, according to the orient tation of the sun, solar gain. The system will only allow a slow variation of the stored characteristics, so as to obtain a good evaluation of these by repetition of the determinations.

The meteorological conditions of the last twenty-four hours, supposed to occur during the following twenty-four hours, the expected profile of use of the room and the corresponding desired interior conditions, will make it possible to anticipate, depending on the characteristics of the room, the openings and closings of the shutters 4, blinds, curtains 11, heating control 13, ventilation 12, interior lighting and possibly humidification. A cost optimization calculation will be made to allow the intelligent use of free inputs and less expensive energies (calorie storage using the technical inertia of the room and the allowed temperature ranges).

This optimization will also allow, in winter, the happy use of the differences in energy pricing, the appropriate closing of shutters 4 and 11 thermal insulation curtains, the recovery of calories from stale air leaving an exchanger with the incoming fresh air that, in summer, the cooling of the room by a night ventilator and the appropriate closing of blinds and possibly shutters 4 to protect from solar radiation and excessive daytime outside temperature.

In addition, and according to methods already known, instant corrections will be made to the interior temperature by adjusting the heating power (thermal regulation, thermostat), to the interior humidity, to the supply of fresh air and to the positioning of blinds.

Finally, the opening and closing of the thermal insulation flaps 4 and of the blinds will be controlled, not only as indicated previously by the anticipation capacity of the system, but also by its ability adaptation to the conditions actually observed ': the modes of use and their constraints of temperature, lighting and vision will dictate in priority the openings or closings of shutters 4 and curtains before taking into account the savings objectives of energy.

Ultimately, it is clear that the invention makes it possible to save energy by an automatic action on the flows of energy and lighting which pass through the facades of buildings as well as on the appo of energy which are carried out inside the premises by minimizing these energy inputs as well as the losses caused by the ventilation of the premises.

Claims (6)

1. glazed facade element, in particular prefabricated window, characterized in that in combination with a rigid frame surrounding preferably double or multiple glazing, it comprises means for obscuring the glazing, sensors for the different physical parameters influencing the heat exchanges and the comfort of the occupants of the room to be limited by this facade element, and a microprocessor arranged to receive the output signals from the sensors and to send, as a function of these output signals, appropriate control signals to the the above means of concealment. 2. façade element according to claim 1, characterized in that an internal clock memory is combined with the microprocessor and the sensors. 3. façade element according to one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that it comprises a promoter organ for air exchange through this element, the sensors and the microprocessor then being arranged to put this organ into action or out of action depending on the concentration of harmful (C0 ₂ ) or non-breathable gases on the inside of the facade element. 4. facade element according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that at least one of the sensors of 1!. Facade element is sensitive to light on the inner face of this element, which has electrical connections intended to be connected to the lighting installation of the room to be limited by this facade element. 5. facade element according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that at least one of the sensors is temperature sensitive, the facade element then having electrical connections intended to be connected to the heating installation room and / or room cooling to be limited by this element. 6. Building, characterized in that it comprises at least one facade element according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

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