GB2054824A

GB2054824A - An arrangement for thermally insulating and simultaneously acquiring thermal energy for a building

Info

Publication number: GB2054824A
Application number: GB7939173A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1979-07-19
Filing date: 1979-11-13
Publication date: 1981-02-18
Also published as: ES484417A1; FR2461900A1; IT1124177B; NL7906510A; PT70154A; IT7912739A0; GR64888B; BE879441A; DE2929152A1

Abstract

In an arrangement for thermally insulating a building and simultaneously acquiring thermal energy for the building from the environment, the external walls 32 of the building (and possibly also the roof) are covered with thermally insulating material 14 (e.g. moulded polystyrene) clad with a facard material 40, 52 (e.g. plastics sheets, or mortar reinforced by a wire mesh 36), the arrangement being characterized by pipe loops 26, 28, 30 laid on the material 14 and connected to the primary circuit of a heat pump (e.g. 64, Fig. 10). The arrangement may be in the form of panels 12 which are stuck on to the building by a mortar adhesive 34 the fixing being supplemented by screws 48. Pipe locating protrusions 18, 20 are formed on the layer 14. The panels may alternatively be arranged on the floor of a yard or the like. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION An arrangement for thermally insulating and simultaneously acquiring thermal energy for a building The invention relates to an arrangement for thermally insulating and simultaneously acquiring thermal energy on a building, the external walls of which, and also its roof if applicable, are covered with a thermally-insulating material clad with a facade material.

In the search for new solutions for a better exploitation of energy for heating buildings, and in the search for new forms of energy, there is the general problem on the one hand of insulating the building and on the other hand of creating surfaces through which heat can be absorbed from the environment and converted to heat at a higher temperature by means of a heat pump. To solve the first part of this problem, it is known to cover the external walls and, if applicable, the roof ofa building with a thermally-insulating material.

For this purpose lengths of fibre-glass or foam plastics material are used, for example. To solve the second part of the problem it is known to provide solar collectors on the roofs of buildings.

These pick up direct thermal radiation and beam it, for instance, onto coils of pipes through which water, for example, is being conducted. This water is heated up and supplied to a heat-consuming device. However, the large external surfaces of a building, i.e. its external walls, remain unused according to the state of the art. There are various reasons for this. One reason is that the external walls are only exposed to direct radiation by the sun for a few hours during the daily path of the sun from east to west. Wails which lie to the north and in the shade receive absolutely no direct radiation from the sun. When the sun is in a high position, the angle of incidence is unfavourable.

For these reasons solar collectors attached to the external walls would operate at only a poor level of efficiency. The high production and mounting costs would not be recovered. In addition, it is very difficult and expensive to maintain and clean solar collectors mounted on vertical external walls. The largest external surface which exists on a building, namely its external walls, are not therefore used for the acquisition of thermal energy from the environment according to the state of the art. This is where the invention comes in. It is based on the problem of using the large external walls of a building, which, in the state of the art, are already covered with a thermally-insulating material, for acquiring thermal energy from the environment.

The solution of this problem is provided according to the invention in an arrangement of the kind described in the introduction in that pipes are laid in coils winding to and fro on the thermallyinsulating material, and are connected to the primary circuit of a heat pump. A medium which can store heat is conducted through the pipes. In the simpiest case and in general this is water.

Unlike the acquiring of thermal energy by means of solar collectors, the thermal energy is taken up extensively by the pipes, i.e. on large surfaces. In this way, even a slight drop in temperature or a slight difference compared with the temperature on the secondary side of the heat pump can be exploited. Moreover the pipes rest on a thermally insulating material which is already present in any case. The heat acting on the pipes from outside is therefore transmitted entirely to the medium conducted through them and does not flow away inwards into the external walls of the building. All the external walls of the building, including the roof surfaces where applicable, are covered with pipes. The heat from the environment is therefore used extensively.It makes no difference therefore if an external wall lying to the north is never exposed to direct radiation from the sun or if for other reasons other external walls or sections of external walls only display a slight temperature difference compared to the secondary circuit of the heat pump. Unlike solar collectors of conventional design, once laid the pipes are maintenance-free.

To simplify the laying and fixing of the pipes and the thermally-insulating material itself, and in order to be able also to apply this in greater thicknesses, in an expedient embodiment provision is made for the thermally-insulating material to consist of separate panels and for devices for holding the pipes to be provided on their external face. As individual items, the panels can naturally be mounted on external walls and adapted to the local circumstances much more simply than large strips of fibre-glass or flexible plastics foam. Since, according to the invention, they also have devices for holding the pipes, a special work process is made unnecessary.

In another expedient embodiment provision is made for the panels with the pipes held on them to be covered with reinforcement wire mesh, and for this to be screwed on and covered with a facade layer. The reinforcement wire mesh holds the pipes in and between their holding devices. At the same time the reinforcement wire mesh is a good base for the application of a rough or fine plaster. Preferably, this is given a rough surface. In this way, a large area is provided for the transition of heat from the environment or the atmosphere into the facade layer, and thus into the pipes.

The panels can be attached to the external walls and the roof by means of masonry hooks or studs. According to the invention it is proposed as a particularly advantageous solution to stick the panels on the external walls and on the roof. A particularly firm and permanent connection between the panels and the external walls and the roof is provided according to the invention if the panels have at ieast one hole starting from their lower face, the diameter of which increases, and into which the adhesive applied to the external wall and the roof penetrates to form a plug. Owing to the increasing diameter of the hole, the adhesive plug also has an increasing diameter.

After it has hardened it therefore provides an anchor for the panels on the external walls and the roof. Expediently, the adhesive is a mortar cement.

It is applied to the external walls and the panels are pressed on. The mortar cement thereby penetrates into the holes in the various panels.

Owing to the increasing diameter of the holes, plugs form in them made of hardened mortar cement. The panels are anchored on these. They cannot slip off, since their holes would then have to be pulled past the mortar cement plugs which are also conical. There is a dovetail effect between the holes in the panels and the mortar cement plugs. If quick-drying mortar cement is used, the panels need only be pressed on for a short time and then hold by themselves.

According to the invention, provision is made more specifically for the panels to consist of a thermally-insulating foam plastics base-plate with cylindrically-shaped knobs projecting from it, arranged equidistant in parallel rows, the knobs having different diameters, knobs with the same diameter being arranged in one row, and the rows of knobs with different diameters alternating with each other, the knobs in adjacent rows lying in mutual interstices, and the hole being provided in the knobs with the larger diameter. The foam plastics base-plate can be produced in any thickness. It provides the desired thermal insulation and gives the panel mechanical strength. The pipes made of a flexible coldresistant plastics can be laid in many patterns between the knobs of different diameter. They are laid in straight lines passing to and fro connected by bends.The ends of a coiled pipe are connected to the primary circuit of a heat pump. How many coils of pipe are used to make up the pipes depends on the local conditions.

It has been found expedient for the diameter of the hole to vary constantly over two sections, the diameter along the first section, starting from the lower face, increasing more than along the second section adjoining it. The hole is thus divided into two sections with different degrees of conicity.

The section bounding the lower face has a higher conicity. Accordingly, the dovetail effect is particularly strong here. Over the second section the diameter of the hole increases less steeply.

This means that the volume of this section, relative to length, is small. Accordingly, the consumption of expensive mortar adhesive is also reduced. There is an additional factor here. Mortar adhesive has a higher thermal conductance than that of the foam material from which the panels are made. The thermal insulation of the building achieved with the panels is therefore reduced by the mortar adhesive which has penetrated into the holes. For this reason, only as much mortar adhesive should penetrate into the holes as is required for fixing the panels onto the external surface of the building and for anchoring them with mortar adhesive. Since this anchorage is stronger in the first section bounding the lower face of the plate than in the further extent of the hole, the further the mortar adhesive penetrates into the hole, the less it contributes to this anchoring effect.

It has proved adequate when the first section acting as anchorage amounts to approximately 10% of the total length of the hole.

Expediently, several holes are provided in the knobs with the larger diameter. It is particularly advantageous if five holes are provided, of which one is arranged in the centre and the four others are offset from each other by 90" in a circle around the centre.

The holes through the entire thickness or height of the panel make production of the panel easier.

It is foamed in moulds from polystyrene another foamable plastics substance. The through holes are formed with cores. The conicity of the holes make it easier to take the panels out of the moulds.

It has been stated that mortar which has penetrated into the second section of a hole contributes less to the anchoring of the panel, and moreover it impairs its thermally-insulating properties. In an advantageous embodiment provision is therefore made for the hole to be a blind hole. Using special measures, such blind holes can also be made conical. It has been found advantageous for the diameter of this blind hole to be between approximately 20% and approximately 60% of that of a knob with the larger diameter. Only one single blind hole of this kind is provided in a knob.

The thermally insulating holding panel is intended to insulate buildings as completely as possible, and to prevent the radiation of heat outwards. In order to achieve this aim the baseplate is made thicker.

According to the invention the thickness of the baseplate is approximately 30 mm or is approximately equal to the height of the knobs.

The invention is now described further with reference to the embodiment form shown in the drawing by way of example.

Fig. 1 is the perspective partial view of a building, where the external walls and the surrounding ground are covered with panels according to the invention.

Fig. 2 is the perspective partial view of an external wall with panels, pipes, etc. laid on it.

Fig. 3 is a perspective partial view of an embodiment of a panel according to the invention.

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section through a panel laid on an external wall.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sketch showing the anchoring of the panel with the mortar cement at the point marked V in Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a plan view onto a knob looking in the direction of the arrow VI in Fig. 4.

Fig. 7 is a section as in Fig. 4 showing in addition the screwing of the panel onto the wall of the house and the application of a facade sheet.

Fig. 8 is a longitudinal section through a second embodiment of the panel according to the invention.

Fig. 3 is a view from below onto this panel, looking in the direction of the line VIII in Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a schematic illustration of a building and its connection to the primary circuit of a heat pump.

Fig. 1 shows the corner of a building with two external walls from which the plaster has been partly broken off. The panel lying under the plaster can be seen, with its knobs and the pipes running between them and the partially exposed reinforcement wire mesh. Details are shown in Fig.

2 on a larger scale. The panels 1 2 consist of the baseplates 14 with the lower face 1 6 and the projecting knobs 1 8 with a large diameter and the knobs 20 with a small diameter. These are arranged in parallel rows. The knobs 1 8 with the large diameter and the knobs 20 with the small diameter lie in mutual interstices. In the embodiment shown the knobs 1 8 with the large diameter have five holes. These are a central hole 22 and four holes 24 arranged around it in a circle.

Pipes 26 are laid between the knobs 1 8 and 20.

They run in straight lines 28 with bends 30 connecting them. The panels 12 adhere to the external wall 32 of a building on which they are stuck with mortar adhesive 34. As will be explained again, this penetrates into the holes 22 and 24. On the knobs 18 and 20 lie mats of reinforcement wire mesh. They are held at intervals by screws 38. A layer of plaster 40 is applied to the wire mesh 36.

In Figs. 3 to 6 a tile 12 is shown in greater detail. It can be seen that the holes 22 and 24 consist of a first shorter section 42 and a second longer section 44. The conicity or the generated angle in the first, shorter section 42 is greater than in the second, longer section 28. In the enlarged illustration in Fig. 5 the mortar adhesive 34 has penetrated into the first section 42 and also partly into the second section 44, and has hardened there. It forms a plug 46 with which the panel 12 is held. In each larger-diameter knob 20 there are five such plugs. This ensures a secure fixing of the panel 12 to the external wall 32. To achieve a still better fixing of the panel, screws 48 can be let into pegs 50 in the external wall 32, as shown in Fig.

4. They are each screwed in through a central hole 22. As shown in Fig. 7, mats of wire mesh 36 or expanded ribbed material rest on the knobs. They are held by the screws 38 screwed into the holes or directly into the knobs. Mortar improved with synthetic substances is forced into the wire mesh.

Facade sheets 52 can be stuck on with it.

In Figs. 8 and 9 the second embodiment of the panels 12 with the blind holes 54 is shown. In this embodiment under or in each knob 18 a single blind hole 54 is provided. Fig. 8 shows in the upper half a blind hole 54, to which a venting duct 56 is connected, and in the lower half there is a blind hole 54, without such a duct.

From the above it will be realised that the panel 12 can easily be fixed to external walls 32. It can equally well be arranged on flat or steep roofs or simply on the floor of a yard or the like. When the panel is applied to the wall of a house it can be covered with facade sheets 52 or simply with plastic, as already stated. When the panel is applied to the external surfaces of a house it insulates the latter almost ideally from the outside environment, due to its thermally-insulating properties. The degree of insulation is produced by the plastics material used for the panel and the thickness or height of its baseplate 1 4. The pipes 26 lie between the knobs 18 and 20. They are filled with a liquid medium such as water. In Fig.

10 the example of one application is shown schematically. In a building 58 the external walls and the roof are covered with panels, and pipes are laid between their knobs. These are combined to form two pipe coils 60. These lead to the primary circuit 62 of a heat pump 64. This raises the temperature to higher levels and forces a heattransmitting medium, such as water again, into the secondary circuit 66. This leads to a central heating plant inside the building 58. It may equally well lead to hot water-consuming appliances.

Between the primary circuit 62 and the heat pump 64 there may also be a heat store, which does not form part of the subject of the invention. The arrangement according to the invention thus fulfils the dual purpose of insulating a building against thermal radiation outwards, and simultaneously providing a surface on which heat from the environment can be absorbed. In this ideal case this results in heating the building without the supply of any additional heat by burning oil, gas or coal.

Claims

1. An arrangement of thermally insulating and simultaneously acquiring thermal energy for a building, the external walls of which, and also its roof if applicable, are covered with a thermallyinsulating material clad with a facade material, characterised in that on the thermally-insulating material pipes (26) are laid in loops (28, 30) winding to and fro, and are connected to the primary circuit (62) of a heat pump (64).

2. An arrangement according to claim 1 characterised in that the thermally-insulating material consists of individual panels (12) and that on the outer face of these, devices are provided for holding the pipes (26).

3. An arrangement according to claims 1 and 2 characterised in that the panels (12) with the pipes (26) held by them are covered with reinforcement wire mesh (36), and this is screwed on and covered with a facade layer.

4. An arrangement according to claims 1 to 3 characterised in that the panels (12) are attached to the external walls (32) and the roof with masonry hooks or pegs.

5. An arrangement according to claims 1 to 3 characterised in that the panels (12) are stuck on the external walls (32) and the roof.

6. An arrangement according to claims 1 to 5 characterised in that the panels (12) have at least one hole (22) starting at their lower face, with an increasing diameter, in which the adhesive applied to the external wall (32) and the roof penetrates, forming a plug (46).

7. An arrangement according to claims 5 and 6 characterised in that the adhesive (34) is a mortar adhesive.

8. An arrangement according to claim 6 characterised in that the panels (12) consist of a baseplate (14) made of a thermally-insulating foam plastics material with cylindrical knobs (18, 20) projecting therefrom, arranged equidistant in parallel rows, the knobs having different diameters, knobs with the same diameter being arranged in a row, the rows with knobs of different diameters alternating with each other, the knobs in adjacent rows being in mutual interstices, and the hole (22, 24) being provided in the knobs (18) with the larger diameter.

9. An arrangement according to Claim 8 characterised in that the diameter of the hole (22, 24) varies constantly over two sections, the diameter over the first section (42) starting at the lower face (1 6) increasing more sharply than over the second section (44) adjoining it.

10. A thermally-insulating holding panel according to claim 9 characterised in that the first section (42) is approximately 10% of the totai length of the hole (22,24).

11. An arrangement according to claim 10 characterised in that a plurality of holes (22, 24) is provided.

12. An arrangement according to claim 11 characterised in that five holes (22, 24) are provided of which one (22) is arranged in the centre and the four others (24) are arranged offset from each other by 900 in a circle around the centre.

13. An arrangement according to claim 6 characterised in that the hole is a blind hole (54).

14. An arrangement according to claim 6 characterised in that the diameter of the blind hole (54) lies between approximately 20% and approximately 60% of the diameter of the knob (18) with the larger diameters

1 5. A thermally-insulating holding panel according to claims 5 to 1 4 characterised in that the thickness of the baseplate (14) is approximately equal to the height of the knobs (1 8, 20).