NL1036775C2

NL1036775C2 - Device having adjustable heat-insulating properties.

Info

Publication number: NL1036775C2
Application number: NL1036775A
Authority: NL
Inventors: Eugene Adrianus Franciscus Maria Peeters; Marinus Josephus Jacobus Dona
Original assignee: P & H Adviseurs Bouw En Vastgoed B V; Dona &
Priority date: 2009-03-27
Filing date: 2009-03-27
Publication date: 2010-09-28
Also published as: PL2233655T3; EP2233655A1; EP2233655B1

Description

P2009NL026/WD

Title: Device having adjustable heat-insulating properties

The present invention relates to a device that is adapted to be put in different conditions, and that is adapted to at least have a heat-insulating function in one of the possible conditions.

In many inhabited areas of the world, relatively cold periods 5 may occur, during which buildings are heated in order to realize a temperature inside the buildings that is higher than the outside temperature, so that the buildings are comfortable for people to stay in. In those areas, it is common practice to provide the buildings with heat-insulating devices. For example, sheets of glass 10 wool may be used for covering the inside of an outside wall or the roof of a building, which has the effect that during cold periods, a loss of heat from the building is less than a loss that would occur when the insulation would not be present. In general, the functioning of many heat-insulating devices is based on the use of 15 still air as a heat-insulator, in view of the fact that a transfer process of heat through still air takes place at a much lower rate than a transfer process of heat through materials which are commonly used in walls and roofs.

A disadvantage of the use of heat-insulating devices is that 20 when a relatively warm period occurs, the functioning of the heat-insulating devices opposes a desired process of realizing" that heat is retained inside buildings to an as low as possible extent. It is not a practical option to remove the heat-insulating devices during relatively warm periods, and to put the heat-insulating devices back 25 in place again during relatively cold periods. Therefore, it is an objective of the present invention to provide a new type of heat-insulating device, in particular a heat-insulating device having adjustable heat-insulating properties, so that the extent to which the heat-insulating device fulfills its heat-insulating function can 30 be adjusted such as to meet varying requirements.

The objective of the present invention is reached by providing a device that is adapted to be put in different conditions, and that is adapted to at least have a heat-insulating function in one of the possible conditions, comprising: 1 0 3 6 7 7 5 i 2 - a plurality of insulating units which are^ each containing hollow space, which hollow space is suitable to containing a fluid such as air or water, and which are each having portions which are located at opposite sides of the device; 5 - a core having heat insulating properties, which is positioned between the portions of the insulating units which are located at opposite sides of the device; and - closing means which are adapted to be put in different conditions, and which are adapted to close a passage between the portions of the 10 insulating units which are located at opposite sides of the device, in one of the possible conditions, and to leave the said passage open in another of the possible conditions.

In the device according to the present invention, a plurality of insulating units is arranged, wherein each of the units has 15 portions which are located at opposite sides of the device, and wherein a heat-insulating core is positioned between these portions. Furthermore, the device comprises closing means for blocking or leaving open a passage between the portions of the insulating units. In the condition for blocking the passage, a flow of fluid from one 20 portion of the insulating units to another, i.e. from one side of the device to the opposite side, is hindered. When it is desired to have such a flow of fluid in the device, all that needs to be done f is putting the closing means in the condition for leaving the passage open.

25 When the device according to the present invention is applied, it is possible to realize a condition of the device in which an optimal heat-insulating function of the device is realized by keeping the insulating units in a condition in which it is not possible for fluid to flow from one side of the device to another, 30 so that heat transfer on the basis of such a flow from the one sidë of the device to the other cannot take place. In this heat-insulating condition, it is possible to have still fluid inside the insulating units and/or to have as less as possible fluid inside the insulating units. In respect of the latter option, it is noted that 35 when the fluid is a gas such as air, an underpressure may be created by sucking the gas from the insulating units, so that there are less molecules which may contribute to a heat transfer process.

An important advantage of application of the device according to the present invention resides in the fact that the heat-40 insulating function of the device may be cancelled. This is due to 3 ' the fact that fhe closing means of the device may be put in such a condition that a flow of fluid is actually possible from one side of the device to another. When such a flow is realized, a process of heat transfer from the one side of the device to the other takes 5 place at a relatively fast rate. In such a case, a situation in which the insulating device is absent is approximated. In fact, in the device according to the present invention, a kind of short circuit effect can be created between those portions of the insulating units that are arranged at opposite sides of the device 10 when it is not desired for the device to have a heat-insulating function.

It follows from the foregoing description of the device according to the present invention that the device is very well suitable to be applied in situations in which it may sometimes be 15 desirable to have a heat-insulating function of the device, like a conventional, non-adjustable heat-insulating device, and in which it may sometimes be desirable not to have a heat-insulating function of the device, but to have an opportunity for fluid to freely pass from one side of the device to another. Hence, when the device according 20 to the invention is applied, situations in which heat is retained in buildings where it is desired to remove the heat are avoided, while it is just as well possible to avoid heat loss from the building if so desired. In.essence, all that is needed to switch functions of the device according to the invention is to change the condition of 25 the closing means of the device.

All in all, the device according to the present invention may be used in various situations, including the following: - when a temperature outside, a building is relatively low and the building is heated, for keeping the heat inside the building as much 30 as possible and thereby saving energy costs; - when a temperature outside a building is relatively high and it is desired to keep the inside of the building as cool as possible; - when a temperature outside a building is relatively high and the building is cooled by applying air conditioning, for example, for 35 preventing the inside of the building from heating up under the influence of outside conditions as much as possible and thereby saving energy costs; - when a temperature inside a building has become relatively high during daytime and it is desired to cool the inside of the building 40 under the influence of cool night air; and 4 - when a temperature outside a building more or less corresponds to an average, comfortable ambient temperature for people, and the inside of the building is (still) chilly.

In a practical embodiment, the plurality of insulating units is 5 formed like an assembly of channels, wherein the closing means which are adapted to be put in different conditions are adapted to constitute a blockage in the channels of the assembly of channels in one of the possible conditions, and to leave the channels of the assembly of channels open in another of the possible conditions.

10 In a device having the assembly of channels as mentioned in the foregoing, the channels provide for hollow space all the way from one side of the device to another, wherein the channels may be arranged such as to surround the heat-insulating core. In such arrangement, one length of the channels is extending at one side of 15 the core, and another length of the.channels is extending at another side of the core, wherein these sides of the core are associated with opposite sides of the device.

In one condition of the device, the channels are blocked by the closing means, and it is not possible to have a flow of fluid in the 20 channels. As a result, the heat-insulating function of the heat-insulating core is supported. However, in another condition of the device, the channels are left open, so that it is possible to have a flow of fluid through the channels, circulating from one side of the device to another. If such a flow actually takes place, the heat-25 insulating core is by-passed, so that a transfer of heat from a side of the device where a higher temperature is prevailing to a side where a lower temperature is prevailing can be realized as if the device according to the invention and its heat-insulating core are not present.

30 In a very practical embodiment of the device according to the present invention, the heat-insulating core is incorporated in a panel, which further comprises lengths of the channels of the assembly of channels, wherein said lengths are arranged at opposite sides of the panel. Furthermore, besides the panel, two closing 35 pieces are provided, which serve for interconnecting the channels which are located at the two opposite sides of the panel, at both ends of the channels. When the panel and the two closing pieces are in the assembled condition, a plurality of closed channels is obtained, wherein the channels are surrounding the heat-insulating .5 core of the panel. The number of channels may be chosen freely within the scope of the present invention.

In a commercial application of the present invention, the panel and the closing pieces may come in standard sizes, wherein any 5 desired size and a related number of channels may easily be obtained I

by sawing off portions of the panel and the closing pieces. Also, it is possible to arrange more than one panel between two closing pieces, wherein the panels are simply positioned one after another, and the channels of the panels are interconnected.

10 The closing pieces may be provided with connecting channels of which one end is suitable to be connected to channels which are located at one side of the panel, and of which another end is suitable to be connected to channels which are located at another side of the panel. The connecting channels of the closing pieces may 15 be provided as closed conduits extending through the closing pieces, but it is also possible that the connecting channels are realized on the basis of suitable grooves in a surface of the closing pieces that is intended for facing a panel. In principle, it is even possible that the connecting channels are not formed as separate 20 channels, but that at least one recess acting as a number of combined channels is provided in the closing pieces. In any case, the connecting channels may be interconnected.

In any case, when the connecting channels as mentioned are present in the closing pieces, it may be so that the closing means 25 are arranged in each of a continuous entirety of channels of the panel and the connecting channels of the closing pieces connected thereto, which closing means are adapted to be put in different conditions, and which are adapted to constitute a blockage in the entirety of channels and connecting channels in one of the possible 30 conditions, and to leave the said entirety open in another of the possible conditions. Furthermore, the closing means may be located in one of the closing pieces, in each of the connecting channels of that closing piece.

Advantageously, the device according to the.present invention 35 comprises means for realizing a forced displacement of a fluid in the assembly of channels when the closing means are in the condition for leaving open the channels of the assembly of channels. The functioning of the device according to the present invention can be most effective when the channels are relatively narrow, as in that 40 case, natural circulation of a fluid that is present inside the 6 channels may be prevented as much as possible, so that a heat-insulating function of the device may be optimal in case this function is needed. To this end, it is also possible to have a restricted opening at a defined position in the connecting channels 5 of the closing piece other than the closing piece in which the closing means are present, for example. In any case, by using means such as. a pump or a ventilator for realizing a forced displacement of a fluid, heat transfer from one side of the device to another when the channels are open may be considerably enhanced, wherein it 10 is ensured that the by-pass of the heat-insulating core of the device is functional.

Preferably, material of the structure of the device according to the present invention, such as the material of channel walls, is chosen such as to be a material having poor qualities when it comes 15 to heat transfer. Otherwise, any desired heat insulating function of the device might get deteriorated to an unacceptable extent. A suitable material in this respect is a plastic material. An example of a suitable material is 25% glass reinforced polyamid. The heat-insulating core may be made of any suitable, known heat-insulating 20 material such as glass wool.

The device according to the present invention may be provided with a plurality of channels extending through the core, which are connected to the assembly of channels which is arranged around the heat-insulating core, at both ends. The additional channels may be 25 formed as gaps between two plates, for example, wherein these channels may be used for creating an underpressure in the device. Furthermore, in general, the device according to the present invention may be equipped with means having sound-insulating properties.

30 The closing means of the device according to the present invention may comprise a controllable valve construction, for example, but other embodiments of the closing means are feasible as well. In any case, the closing means may be adapted such as to be operated manually, or to be operated both manually or automatically, 35 depending on a choice of a user of the device according to the present invention, or to be operated only automatically. In view of the possibility of realizing automatic control of the closing means, it may be advantageous to have means for detecting a temperature at least at one side of the device, particularly a side that is 40 intended to be at an outside of a building in which the device is 7 applied. An additional advantage of having such means is that in a dangerous situation in which a fire starts somewhere in the building, the fire may be detected at an early stage, so that a fire alarm may be timely activated.

5 In general, in a device in which the closing means can be operated automatically on the basis of appropriate input such as a value of the outside temperature, controlling the condition of the closing means may be carried out by any suitable means such as a microcontroller.

10 A number of advantageous aspects of the device according to the present invention, and advantageous possibilities for application of the device, which have not been explicitly mentioned in the foregoing, are listed below.

- The device may easily be arranged in or on any building 15 construction. 'For example, the device may be arrainged between a supporting outer wall of a building and a cladding structure.

- The device may be connected to any climate control system of a building, for example, to a heating system or a heat recovery system.

20 - A construction in which the device is incorporated may be provided with a foil or the like for blocking or deflecting radiation.

- A construction in which the device is incorporated may be provided with a foil or the like for preventing fungous growth.

- The device may be used for buffering heat and/or energy.

25 - The device may be arranged such as to play a role in equalizing air pressure differences in tall buildings.

- The manufacturing process of the device, in particular the manufacturing process of the panel having a plurality of channels on two opposite sides, may very well be carried out by bringing various 30 layers together, for example. Furthermore, the manufacturing process does not need to involve the production of much waste, and the device can be made such as to be recyclable.

- When the condition of the device is controlled automatically, the control system may be coupled to a system for detecting C02 at the 35 inside.

The present invention further relates to a device that is adapted to be put in different conditions, and that is adapted to at least have a heat-insulating function in one of the possible 40 conditions, comprising: 8 - a plurality of insulating units, which are each containing hollow space, and which are. extending from one side of the device to the opposite side of the device, and - closing means which are adapted to be put in different conditions, 5 which are arranged at the insulating units, at one side of the device, and which are adapted to keep the insulation units closed in one of the possible conditions, and to open the insulating units in another of the possible conditions.

In the device having the plurality of insulating units as 10 mentioned, a heat-insulating function of the device can simply be obtained by keeping the insulating units in a closed condition, as in that condition, the units are filled with still air, which is a very good insulator. When a heat-insulating function of the device is no longer required, the insulating units are opened. Preferably, .15 the device according to- the invention is applied in such'a way that a side of the device where the insulating units can be opened is at the outside (of a building). When the insulating units are opened, the units are filled with outside air, and there is no longer an intermediate quantity of still air in the device, so that the heat-20 insulating effect of the presence of the device is lost.

The closing means of the device may be controlled in an automatic manner. In such a case, the device is equipped with any suitable means such as a microcontroller for determining the condition of the closing means. The closing means may comprise a 25 suitable flap construction, for example.

The present invention will now be explained on the basis of the following description of embodiments of the device according to the invention with reference to the drawing, in which equal reference 30 signs indicate equal or similar components, and in which: figure 1 shows a perspective view of a portion of a panel which is part of a preferred embodiment of a first device according to the present invention; figure 2 diagrammatically shows a sectional view of the panel shown 35 in figure 1 and closing pieces arranged at ends of the panel; figure 3 shows a perspective view of the panel and the closing pieces; figures 4 and 5 show details of figure 3; figures 6-9 diagrammatically show perspective views of portions of 40 the closing pieces; 9 figure 10 diagrammatically shows an alternative of the sectional view of the panel shown in figure 1; and figures 11 and 12 diagrammatically show two different sectional views of an embodiment of a second device according to the present 5 invention.

Figure 1 shows a portion of a panel 10 which is part of a preferred embodiment of a first device 1 according to the present invention, which is a device having adjustable heat-insulating 10 properties. In the shown example, the panel 10 has a rectangular shape, and a certain thickness. At two main sides of the panel 10, a hollow structure 11 is present, in which a plurality of partitions 12 is located, so that a plurality of channels 13 is formed.

The panel 10 is intended to be used in combination with two 15 closing pieces 20, as is illustrated in figures 2-5. An example of the closing pieces 20 is illustrated in more detail in figures 6-9, - wherein portions of closing pieces 20 are shown. An important function of the closing pieces 20 is interconnecting the channels 13 from the two main sides of the panel 10, in such a way that a 20 continuous entirety 14 is formed, which is a channel surrounding a central portion 15 of the panel 10. To this end, the closing pieces 20 may comprise a plurality of connecting channels 21, wherein one end of the connecting channels 21 is suitable to be connected to an end of channels 13 extending at one main side of the panel 10, and 25 wherein another end of the connecting channels 21 is suitable to be connected to an end of channels 13 extending at the opposite main side of the panel 10. This option is illustrated in figures 6-9, wherein figure 8 illustrates an interior construction of one of the closing pieces 20 by means of dashed lines. Figure 9 serves to 30 illustrate that the connecting channels 21 may be interconnected through holes 22 in partitions 23 which are present between the connecting channels 21.

The central portion 15 of the panel 10 has heat-insulating properties, and may comprise a block of any suitable heat-insulating 35 material.

In one of the closing pieces 20, means 30 are arranged for closing a passage 24 that is present in the connecting channels 21. In figure 2, the passage 24 is diagrammatically indicated as a dashed line. Furthermore, the closing means 30 are diagrammatically 40 indicated as a continuous line which represents a valve for closing 10 the passage 24. In another of the closing pieces 20, a restriction 25 is present in the connecting channels 21.

For the purpose of supplying a fluid such as air or water to the entirety 14 of channels 13 and connecting channels 21, a tube 26 5 or the like is provided, which is arranged such as to provide access to the said entirety 14, and which is suitable to be coupled to a system for supplying a fluid. Preferably, such a system is adapted to pump the fluid towards the channel entirety 14, so that it is possible to have a forced flow of fluid through the channel entirety 10 14, assuming that the closing means are in a condition for leaving the passage 24 in the connecting channels 21 open. A portion of a ' closing piece 20 having the tube 26 or the like as mentioned is shown in figure 6. .-

In case the fluid is air, it may be useful to have a ventilator 15 (not shown) that is arranged at a suitable place in the channel entirety 14, which may be in the connecting channels 21 in the closing piece 20 where the passage 24 and the means 30 for closing the passage 24 are located.

The device 1 according to the present invention can be used in 20 at least two conditions. In a first condition, which is a heat-insulating condition, the closing means 30 are kept in a position for closing the passage 24 in the connecting channels 21, and there is no supply of fresh fluid, so that it is ensured that the fluid that is present inside the channel entirety 14 is in a still 25 condition. In this condition of the device 1, the heat-insulating effect of the central portion 15 of the panel 10.is supported, wherein direct contact between the channels 13 at one main side of the panel 10 and the channels 13 at the opposite main side of the panel 10 is hindered. A diameter of the channel entirety 14 and the 30 restriction 25 may be small enough for preventing a natural flow of fluid under the influence of temperature. Hence, the channel entirety 14 has a heat-insulating function in the condition of the device 1 in which" the closing means 30 are in a position for closing the passage 24 in the connecting channels 21, and in which there is 35 no supply of fresh fluid under pressure.

When it is desired to cancèl the heat-insulating function of the device 1, the closing means 30 are put to a position for leaving the passage 24 in the connecting channels 21 open, and the supply of fluid is initiated. In that condition, the fluid is forced to 40 circulate around the heat-insulating central portion 15 of the panel 11 10, through the channel, entirety 14. On the basis of the direct contact between channels 13 at opposite main sides of the panel 10, the heat-insulating central portion 15 of the panel 10 is by-passed, and the heat-insulating function of the device 1 is cancelled.

5 For example, when the outside temperature is higher than the inside temperature, a heating effect, of the device 1 on the inside may be obtained instead of a heat-insulating effect due to the continuous displacement of fluid through the channel entirety 14. When it is desired to keep the heat out as much as possible, the 10 device 1 may be operated such as to be in the condition as described in the foregoing, i.e. the condition in which there is practically no interaction between fluid that is present in the channels 13 on one main side of the panel 10 and fluid that is present in the channels 13 on the other main side of the panel 10. Another option 15 is supplying a cold fluid to the channel entirety 14. In general, an important advantage of the device 1 according to the present invention is that it is possible to have a flow of fluid around a heat-insulating core 15, wherein the fluid may be supplied to the device 1 at any appropriate temperature.

20 For sake of completeness, it is noted that a heat-insulating function of the device 1 according to the present invention may be enhanced by sucking fluid from the channel entirety 14, such that an underpressure is obtained.

The central portion 15 of the panel 10 may comprise a single 25 block of heat-insulating material, but it is also possible that more blocks 16, 17 of heat-insulating material are arranged in the panel 10, wherein these blocks 16, 17 are separated by channels 18. An example of a panel 10 having two blocks 16, 17 and channels 18 arranged between the blocks 16, 17 is illustrated in figure 10. In 30 the shown example, the channels 18 are formed between two plates which are connected through suitable elements 19 such as dots of putty or pieces of double-sided adhesive tape. It is noted that when the panel 10 as shown is put in a heat-insulating condition, and fluid is sucked from the channels 13, 18 of the panel 10 in the 35 process, it is possible to have separate systems for controlling the underpressure in each of the channels 13, 18.

It is noted that a valve construction or another suitable type of closing means may be present at more positions than in just one of the closing pieces 20. Actually, depending on the size of the 40 device 1, it may be very advantageous to have more valves or the 12 like in order to allow for access'to the channel entirety 14 at several positions. In the embodiment as described in the foregoing, in which the closing means 30 are provided in one of the closing pieces 20, and a restriction 25 is provided in another of the 5 closing pieces 20, it is possible that a valve is. arranged for closing the restriction 25 when a heat-insulating function of the device 1 is required.

Figures 11 and 12 illustrate an embodiment of a second device 2 10 according to the present invention. The second device 2 comprises a plurality of hollow insulating units 40, which are extending from one main side of the device 2 to an opposite main side.

Figure 11 shows a longitudinal section of a portion of the second device 2, and figure 12 shows a cross-section of a portion of 15 the second device 2. At a side which is intended to be positioned at an outside, each of the insulating units 40 is provided with closing means 30 in the form of a flap construction or the like. Adjustment of the functioning of the device 2 is based on adjustment of the' condition of the closing means 30. When the closing means 30 are in 20 a closed condition, the device 2 fulfills a heat-insulating function on the basis of the fact that the insulating units 40 constitute insulators in the form of a quantity of still air that is trapped inside the units 40. When the closing means 30 are put to an open condition, as indicated in figure 11, the insulator is removed, as 25 it were, and the heat-insulating function of the device 2 is cancelled.

In a practical embodiment of the second device 2 according to the present invention, a panel (not shown) having a certain number of insulating units 40 is provided, so that a number of insulating 30 units 40 may be handled like an entirety and easily be put in any desired place.

In both devices 1, 2 as described in the foregoing, the condition of the closing means 30 may be controlled automatically, 35 without the need of intervention of a user of the device 1, 2. However, that does not alter the fact that manual control is possible as well. In the case of an automatic control system, any suitable controlling means may be applied with the device 1, 2, and the controlling means may use any type of information as the basis 13 of the controlling process. An example of relevant information is a value of an outside temperature.

It will be clear to a person skilled in the art that the scope 5 of the present invention is not limited to the examples discussed above,'but that several amendments and modification thereof are possible without deviating from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

10 The present invention may be summarized as follows.

A device 1, 2 has adjustable heat-insulating properties on the basis of the fact that the device 1, 2 may be put in at least two different conditions, wherein in one of the conditions, a heat-insulating quantity of still fluid is present in the device 1, 2, 15 and wherein in another of the conditions, the quantity of still fluid is absent.

The device 1 comprises a heat-insulating core 15 and an assembly 14 of channels 13, 21 surrounding the core 15, wherein a passage 24 in the channels 13, 21, which is positioned between 20 portions of the channels 13, 21 extending at opposite sides of the device 1, may be blocked or left open, depending on the desired functioning of the device 1. Furthermore, fluid may be supplied to the channels 13, 21 in order to realize a forced flow of fluid through the channels 13, 21, or there may be no fluid supply, or 25 even a removal of fluid.

The device 1, 2 according to the present invention is very 'well suitable to be applied in a wall, roof or floor of a building. In such a case, the device 1, 2 is positioned between an inner 30 construction and an outer construction, wherein the device 1, 2 may be used to transfer heat or cold toward the inner construction. In the building, wall ties may be used for interconnecting the inner construction and the outer construction. It is no problem for such wall ties to extend through the device 1, 2 according to the present ' 35 invention, as this would only involve a loss of functionality of a limited number of channels 13, 21 or insulating units 40.

The device 1, 2 according to the present invention functions such as to cooperate with its immediate surroundings in a sophisticated manner, wherein use is made of a heat resistance of 40 surrounding air gaps, and of the inner construction and the outer 14 construction between which the device 1, 2 may be sandwiched. The characteristics of its surroundings are used to determine an optimal extent of heat insulation offered by the device 1, 2 in all circumstances. In this respect, it is even possible to have 5 different conditions of the device 1, 2 at different sides of a building, assuming a practical situation in which more than one device 1, 2 is applied in the building. In any case, when the device 1, 2 according to the present invention is applied, it is possible to create an interior climate in buildings according to desires of 10 people staying in these buildings, with the additional advantage that energy may be saved as much as possible, since use is made of environmental factors.

1036775

Claims

Device (1) which can be brought into different states and which is arranged to have at least one heat-insulating effect in one of the possible states, comprising: - a plurality of insulation units (13, 21) each of which have a hollow space 5, which hollow space is suitable for carrying a fluid such as air or water, and which each have sections which are situated on opposite sides of the device (1); - a core (15; 16, 17) with heat-insulating properties, which is positioned between the portions of the insulation units (13, 21) that are located on opposite sides of the device (1); and - closing means (30) which can be brought into different states, and which are arranged in one of the possible states to have a passage (24) between the parts of the insulation units (13, 21) which are situated on opposite sides of to locate the device (!), and to leave the said passage (24) open in another of the possible states.

Device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of insulation units (13, 21) is designed as a channel system arranged around the heat-insulating core (15; 16, 17), and wherein the closing means ( 30) which can be brought into different states, are arranged to form a blockage in one of the possible states in the channels (13, 21) of the channel system, and in another of the possible states the channels (13, 21) of the channel system.

Device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, comprising an assembly comprising the following components: 30. a panel (10) with the core (15; 16, 17) with heat-insulating properties and located on two sides of the heat-insulating core (15; 16, 17) extending channels (13), and - two closing pieces (20) for interconnecting the channels (13) located on said two sides of the panel (10) at both ends of the channels (13). 1036775.

Device (1) according to claim 3, wherein the closing pieces (20) are provided with connecting channels (21), one end of which is suitable for connecting to channels (13) which are located on one side of the panel (10), and of which another end is suitable for connecting to channels (13) which are located on a different side of the panel (10).

Device (1) according to claim 4, wherein in each of a contiguous whole (14) of channels (13) of the panel (10) and connecting channels (21) of the closing pieces (20) connecting thereto are closing means (30) arranged that can be brought into different states, and which are arranged in one of the possible states to form a blockage in the whole (14) of channels (13) and connecting channels (21), and to 'in another of the possible 15 states to leave the said whole (14) open.

Device according to claim 5, wherein the closing means (30) are located in one of the closing pieces (20), in each of the connecting channels (21) of said closing piece (20). 20

Device (1) according to any of claims 2-6, comprising means for realizing a forced displacement of a fluid in the channel system when the closing means (30) are in the condition for leaving the channels (13, 21) of the channel system.

Device (1) according to claim 7, wherein said means for realizing a forced displacement of a fluid in the channel system comprises a fan. 30

Device (1) according to any of claims 2-8, comprising a plurality of channels (18) which extend through the heat-insulating core (15; 16, 17) and which connect at both ends to the channel system arranged around the heat-insulating core (15; 16, 17).

Device (1) according to any of claims 1-9, wherein the closing means (30) comprise a controllable valve construction.

Device (1) according to any of claims 1-10, comprising means for detecting a temperature on at least one side of the device (1).

Device as claimed in any of the claims 1-11, comprising means which have sound-insulating properties.

13. Device as claimed in any of the claims 1-12, comprising means such as a microcontroller for adjusting the state of the closing means (30).

14. Device (2) which can be brought into different states and which is arranged to have at least one heat-insulating effect in one of the possible states, comprising: - a plurality of insulation units (40) each of which have cavity and which extend from one side of the device (2) to the opposite side of the device (2), and closing means (30) which can be brought into different states, which are on one side of the device device (2) are arranged at the isolation units (40), and which are adapted to keep the isolation units (40) closed in one of the possible states, and to keep the isolation units in another of the possible states isolation units (40).

Device (2) according to claim 14, comprising a panel with a plurality of isolation units (40) and associated shut-off means (30), and means such as a microcontroller for setting the state of the shut-off means (30). 1 03 6775.