WO2017092774A1

WO2017092774A1 - Facade system

Info

Publication number: WO2017092774A1
Application number: PCT/DK2016/050412
Authority: WO
Inventors: Poul Christensen HORN
Original assignee: Climawin Techniq Aps
Priority date: 2015-12-04
Filing date: 2016-12-02
Publication date: 2017-06-08
Also published as: DK3384123T3; WO2017092774A9; EP3384123B1; EP3384123A1; EP3384123A4

Abstract

Facade system for buildings, where the facade system comprises a window unit with at least one window comprising at least two substantially parallel glass panes, where said at least two glass panes are placed in a common frame, or in two or more lateral and preferably joined frames, where said at least two glass panes are disposed at a distance, and thus present an air space between said glass panes, where said window furthermore comprises an air intake and at least one air outlet in connection with said air space, and where the facade system has an outer side and an inner side, where the facade system furthermore at least comprises an air temperature change unit in connection with the at least one air intake, by which a significantly better warming and/or a significantly better cooling of the air is achieved than the window unit or the air temperature change unit alone would have been capable of providing.

Description

Facade system

Field of the invention

The present invention concerns a facade system for buildings, where the facade system comprises a window unit with at least one window comprising at least two substantially parallel glass panes, where said at least two glass panes are placed in a common frame, or in two or more lateral and preferably joined frames, where said at least two glass panes are disposed at a distance, and thus present an air space between said glass panes, where said window furthermore comprises an air intake and at least one air outlet in connection with said air space, and where the facade system has an outer side and an inner side.

The invention likewise concerns an application of such a facade system. Prior art

It is known to have window structures which are designed in one way or another in connection with ventilation systems, which makes it possible to obtain outer air and thus air from the outside of a building to become indoor air and thus air in a room or in a building by guiding the air between two window panes and into a room or into a building. This is done with the purpose of ventilating a room or a building with air which is warmed as a consequence of the air having been led between the window panes.

Over the course of the years it has become commonplace to regulate the ventilation and air exchange by manually opening and closing shutters, sliding doors and windows either at the bottom or the top. Meanwhile, this has required a person to also have opened the mentioned shutters, sliding doors and windows and when this needs to be done manually it has been practically impossible to achieve an optimal regulation of the ventilation and air exchange.

From WO 2014086368 Al there is known a ventilation device for ventilating of a room in a building, where said building comprises a window, where said window comprises at least two substantially parallel glass panes, where said at least two glass panes are placed in a common frame, where said at least two glass panes are disposed at a distance, and thus present an air space between said glass panes, where said window furthermore comprises an aspiration opening, which is in connection with said air space and with an air outlet to a room or to outdoor air.

Likewise, air temperature change units are known, where for example air is warmed by means of solar panels and radiators or where air is cooled down by means of cold air from the cooling of the ground or water.

Purpose of the invention

The purpose of the invention is to create a facade system, where the facade system can either be an overall integrated facade element in a frame primarily for use in new construction, or the facade system can be a separate window unit and a separate air temperature change unit for existing buildings, where the window unit is mounted in the building and where the air temperature change unit is mounted on the outside on an existing part of the building's facade (the outer side of the building), where the window unit and the air temperature change unit are connected, and where the facade system is able to provide a significantly better warming and/or a significantly better cooling of the air than the window unit or the air temperature change unit alone would have been capable of providing.

Thus, the purpose of the invention is to contribute to the warming of the building when the outdoor temperature is low or chilly, and/or to contribute to the cooling of the building when the outdoor temperature is hot or warm. Furthermore, one purpose of the invention is to assure a high air exchange so that ventilation systems in the building are unnecessary or in any case can be minimized.

Moreover, another purpose of the invention is to assure a comfortable, healthy and allergy-friendly indoor climate, a temperature which his always comfortable, and to eliminate moisture, mold, dry rot and the like. Description of the invention

According to a first aspect of the invention, the aforementioned purpose is accomplished with a facade system for buildings as described at the outset and as described in the preamble of claim 1, where the facade system comprises a window unit with at least one window comprising at least two substantially parallel glass panes, where said at least two glass panes are placed in a common frame, or in two or more lateral and preferably joined frames, where said at least two glass panes are disposed at a distance, and thus present an air space between said glass panes, where said window furthermore comprises an air intake and at least one air outlet in connection with said air space, and where the facade system has an outer side and an inner side, and where the facade system furthermore at least comprises an air temperature change unit in connection with the at least one air intake, where said air temperature change unit furthermore comprises at least one of the following:

- a heating element on the outer side of the facade system,

- an insulating element on the outer side of the facade system,

- a cooling element on the inner side of the facade system.

By the outer side of the facade system is meant here the side of the facade system which is designed to face away from the building and thus constitute the outside of the building, while the inner side means the side of the facade system which is designed to face the inside of the building.

In an alternative embodiment, there may be two air temperature change units, for example, one above the window unit and one beneath the window unit, where the one air temperature change unit warms the air and the other air temperature change unit cools the air and thus the facade system will be able to both warm and cool the room or building.

Thus, the present invention involves a facade system for buildings, where the air temperature change unit comprises at least one heating element on the inner side of the facade system.

This makes it possible, for example with a solar heating element, to warm the air from 0 degrees to 12-15 degrees, or from 8 degrees to 20 degrees on the path of the air through the air temperature change unit's solar heating element, when the sun is shining on it. The window unit furthermore optimizes the temperature by an additional approximately 50%, which when the outdoor air is 0 degrees will be able to produce a temperature around room temperature at the top of the window unit.

A solar heating element can be for example in the form of solar panels, such as movable solar panels in the form of solar shutters, a solar wall in the form of a solar heating unit, where the solar wall is covered on the outside by glass or a transparent insulation, or a Canadian solar wall with perforated sheets.

As mentioned, the invention also concerns a facade system for buildings where the air temperature change unit comprises at least one of the following: an insulating element on the outer side of the facade system, and/or a cooling element on the inner side of the facade system.

This makes it possible to further cool down the facade system's window unit since it is no longer just outside air which is flowing between the glasses and returned to the outside that is cooled, but also air from the cooling element where the air temperature is lower than the outdoor air temperature.

With an insulating element on the outer side, the cold loss of the air temperature change unit to the surroundings is minimized. Any cold loss will occur to the room or building which is meant to be cooled any way. In a preferred embodiment, the cooling element on the inner side of the air temperature change unit is a system of air hoses, where a portion of the hoses is laid in the ground, the ground in Denmark for example having a temperature of around 8 degrees. Alternatively, the hoses can be placed in deep water, so that the air in the hoses is likewise cooled down. The cooled air is then taken to the air regulating device and on to the window unit. In the regions of the world where it is quite warm, the air temperature change unit besides comprising insulation on the outer side can furthermore be provided with an air gap between the insulation and an internal sheet, which ensures that the air temperature change unit is also cooled on the inner side, before the air is taken via the air distribution arrangement directly into the building, to the outdoors, or further up through the window unit.

In a preferred embodiment, the insulating element on the outer side is able to minimize the cold loss to the surroundings and thus achieve the greatest possible cooling effect of the room or building.

The cooling by the air temperature change unit can replace shutters, blowers, fans and other cooling arrangements in the room or building.

The outer glass of the window itself can be traditionally hand-blown glass, drawn glass, float glass or iron-free glass with large transmittance, while the inner glass of the window can generally be float glass or energy-saving glass. If greater heat savings are desired, one can use for example energy and heat-saving glazing; solar regulating and sound regulating glass can also be used.

With the present invention, it is possible to create a facade system where the facade system can either be an overall integrated facade element in a frame, primarily for use in new construction, or the facade system can be a separate window unit and a separate air temperature change unit for existing buildings, where the window unit is mounted in the building and where the air temperature change unit is mounted on the outside on an existing part of the building's facade (outer side of the building), where the window unit and the air temperature change unit are connected, and where the facade system is able to provide a significantly better warming and/or a significantly better cooling of the air than the window unit or the air temperature change unit would be able to accomplish by themselves.

The better warming likewise means a heat savings, which results from utilizing the heat loss from the inner pane to the air space between the panes.

The facade system thus contributes to the warming of the building when the outdoor temperature is low or chilly and vice versa it also contributes to the cooling of the building when the outdoor temperature is hot or warm. The present invention in another aspect also concerns a facade system for buildings where the window unit at least furthermore comprises an air regulating device in connection with the air inlet and in a third aspect also a facade system for buildings where the window unit at least furthermore comprises an air regulating device in connection with the air outlet.

With an air regulating device in connection with the air supply it becomes possible for the air regulating device which is placed in connection with the air supply to lead the air from the air temperature change unit directly on to the window unit or alternatively the air regulating device can take a portion of the air into the window unit and take a portion of the air out from the air temperature change unit and thereby out from the building, where the ratio between the portion of the air which is taken into the window unit and the other portion of the air which is taken out from the air temperature change unit and thus from the building can be varied and regulated.

With an air regulating device in connection with the air outlet it becomes possible for the air regulating device which is placed in connection with the air outlet to take the air from the window unit either further into the room or building or out to the outdoor air. Alternatively, the air regulating device can take a portion of the air into the room or building and take a portion of the air out from the building, where the ratio between the portion of the air taken in to the room or building and the other portion of the air which is taken out from the building can be varied and regulated. Likewise, the air regulating device can take air directly out from and in to the building. In a preferred embodiment, the air regulating device comprises at least one valve with a first and a second position, which makes it possible, for example with a 2-way valve, to lead the air from the air temperature change unit through the air regulating device and further to the window unit, or alternatively from the air temperature change unit through the air regulating device and out to the outdoor air, or alternatively from the air temperature change unit through the air regulating device and into the room or building. Another possibility is to take air from the window unit through the air regulating device and on to the room or building, or alternatively from the window unit through the air regulating device and out to the outdoor air. In an alternative embodiment, one may consider for example a 3-way valve, where more possibilities are present, or in yet another alternative embodiment with a regulating arrangement, with which it is possible for example to mix indoor air, for example, with air from the air temperature change unit or outdoor air with air from the air temperature change unit or where it is otherwise possible to mix air and likewise to mix the air in special mix ratios.

This makes it possible for the air regulating device which is placed at the transition from the air temperature change unit to the window unit to take the air from the air temperature change unit either further on to the window unit or out into the outdoors and it likewise allows the outdoor air to have access to the window unit. This situation may occur, for example, when neither a higher temperature nor a lower temperature is desired for the air being brought into the room or building.

This likewise makes it possible for the air regulating device which is placed at the transition from the window unit to bring the air from the window unit either further into the room or building or out into the outdoors, and it likewise allows the outdoor air to have access to the window room or building. This situation may occur, for example, when neither a higher temperature nor a lower temperature is desired for the air being brought into the room or building.

With the air regulating device a high air exchange is assured, so that ventilation systems become unnecessary in buildings, or in any case can be minimized, at the same time as ensuring a comfortable, healthy and allergy-friendly indoor climate, a temperature which is always comfortable, and an elimination of moisture, mold, dry rot and the like.

The present invention in a fourth aspect also concerns a facade system for buildings where the air regulating device is controlled via a mechanical or an electronic control unit. This makes it possible to link the product of the air temperature change unit with the window unit, thereby achieving an improved effect of the ventilation/cooling/heating which could otherwise be achieved with the window unit.

In a preferred embodiment, the valves are controlled electronically, since there are more parameters to be controlled than is the case with the window unit alone. Since they are relatively small valves without especially large energy consumption, it would be appropriate to use a solar cell and an energy store in the air temperature change unit. A solar cell as the primary energy source is one possibility when the sun is shining. A secondary backup energy source could then come from the electrical system of the building.

Furthermore, it is possible to integrate the facade system's control unit with a building's ventilation and power control system. This makes it possible furthermore to link the product of the air temperature change unit with the window unit, thereby achieving an improved effect of the ventilation/cooling/heating which could otherwise be achieved with the window unit, and optimize the exhaust of the room and/or building by the chimney, extractor hood and/or ventilation system with the air intake from the facade system. This could produce less discomfort from the motion of the air in the form of a draft or feeling of cold, for example.

The present invention in a fifth aspect also concerns a facade system for buildings where the air temperature change unit at least comprises an additional heating element on the inner side of the facade system.

This makes it possible for the heating element which is located on the inner side of the air temperature change unit to warm the ventilation air on cold days without sunshine instead of the solar heating element on the outer side of the air temperature change unit, where the heating element on the inner side can be thermostat-controlled, for example, according to the temperature in the window unit' s air outlet. The heating element on the inner side can be in a preferred embodiment a radiator, where the radiator can be heated in any known manner such as electric heating or district heating. In an alternative embodiment, the heating element can also be a hot air blower.

The present invention in a sixth aspect also concerns a facade system for buildings where the facade system is an overall integrated facade element. This makes it possible to prefabricate the facade element and deliver this for example in a wooden frame, metal profile, composite material, or other suitable material primarily for use in new construction. This could constitute a quick, easy, and architecturally elegant solution, where there are unlimited possibilities for combining functions with materials and colors.

As an alternative, the facade system can be without a window unit, if there is no room for windows in regard to the interior furnishings, but where there can still be an air temperature change unit. The present invention in a seventh aspect also concerns a facade system for buildings where the facade system comprises at least a separate window unit and a separate air temperature change unit.

This makes it possible to employ the technology in the form of a retrofit for use in existing buildings, where the window unit for example is mounted in existing building apertures and where the air temperature change unit is mounted on the outside on an existing part of the building facade (outer side of the building), but preferably below under the window unit in regard to the air thermals. The invention furthermore concerns the application of a facade system as described above for new construction and/or for existing construction, where the facade system is installed as an overall integrated facade element in the building. Finally, the invention also concerns the application of a facade system as described above for new construction and/or for existing construction, where the window unit is installed in the building and where the air treatment unit is installed on the outside on an existing part of the building facade. Description of drawings

Fig. 1 shows a facade system with a combination of a warming window unit and an air temperature change unit which is likewise warming,

Fig. 2 shows a facade system with a combination of a window unit which is warming and an air temperature change unit which is inactive,

Fig. 3 shows a facade system with a combination of a window unit which is cooling and an air temperature change unit which is inactive,

Fig. 4 shows a facade system with a combination of a window unit which is warming and an air temperature change unit which is warming, where the air is likewise warmed via a heating element from within,

Fig. 5 shows a facade system with a combination of a window unit which is cooling and an air temperature change unit which is likewise cooling,

Fig. 6 shows a facade system with a combination of a window unit and an air temperature change unit, where the air temperature change unit is a combination of warming on the outer side and cooling on the inner side.

List of reference symbols

1 Facade system

2 Outer side, facade system

3 Inner side, facade system

4 Window unit

5 Glass panes

6 Frame

7 Air space

8 Air intake

9 Bottom, window unit

10 Air outlet

11 Top, window unit

12 Air regulating device, air intake 13 Air regulating device, air outlet

14 Air temperature change unit

15 Insulating element

16 Heating element, outer side

17 Air passage, outer side

18 Heating element, inner side

19 Air passage, inner side

20 Heating element

21 Blinds

22 Reflecting element, outer side

23 Cooling element, inner side

24 Ground collectors

25 Cover element

Detailed description of the invention

In the figures 1 to 6, arrows illustrate examples of the air movement through the facade system.

Figure 1 shows a cross section of a facade system 1 according to the invention, where the facade system 1 has an outer side 2 and an inner side 3. The facade system 1 comprises a window unit 4 with three glass panes 5, which is placed with respectively two glass panes 5 in a frame 6 on the outer side 2 and one glass pane 5 placed in a frame 6 on the inner side 3, where the glass panes 5 in their respective frames 6 thus constitute a double window. The glass panes 5 in their frames 6 are arranged at a distance, which constitutes an air space 7 between said glass panes 5, where the window unit 4 has an air intake 8 at the bottom 9 of the window unit 4 and an air outlet 10 at the top 11 of the window unit 4. Both air intake 8 and air outlet 10 are in communication with the air space 7.

The facade system 1 has an air regulating device 12 with a first, a second, and a third position in connection with the air intake 8 at the bottom 9 of the window unit 4. The air regulating device 12 is shown here beneath the window unit 4, but it could likewise be incorporated as part of the bottom 9 of the window unit 4. Furthermore, there is shown an additional air regulating device 13 with at least a first, a second and a third position in connection with the air outlet 10, so that there is an opening toward the inner side 3 and also toward the room or building, a second opening toward the outer side 2 of the building, and a third opening toward the air space 7 between the glass panes 5. The air regulating device 13 is shown here as part of the top 11 of the window unit 4, but it could likewise be placed above the window unit 4.

Figure 1 likewise shows an air temperature change unit 14, in connection with the window unit 4, where the air temperature change unit 14 is shown here with an insulating element 15 and with a heating element 16 on the outer side 2 of the facade system, where there is an air passage 17 between the insulating element 15 and the heating element 16 which brings outdoor air in behind or through the heating element 16, where the air is warmed before the air is taken further through the air regulating device 12 - in the case of Fig. 1 - up through the window unit 4. The air temperature change unit 14 likewise has a heating element 18 on the inner side 3 of the facade system, where there is an air passage 19 between the insulating element 15 and the heating element 18. A blind 21 is shown at the top of the window unit 4. Figure 2 shows a cross section of a facade system 1 according to the invention, where the window unit 4 as in Fig. 1 is warming, but where the air temperature change unit 14 is inactive. It is shown that the air rising up through the air passage 17 and also behind/through the heating element 16, via the air regulating device 12 is brought out from the facade element 1 and thus is not taken further from the air intake 8 into the window unit 4. Instead, the air regulating device 12 makes it possible for outdoor air to come into the window unit 4, and thus without the outdoor air first being warmed through the air passage 17.

Figure 3 shows a cross section of a facade system 1 according to the invention, where the air temperature change unit 14 is likewise inactive, in that the air rising up through the air passage 17 and behind/through the heating element 16, via the air regulating device 12 is brought out from the facade element 1 and thus not taken further from the air intake 8 into the window unit 4. The air regulating device 12 instead brings outdoor air into the window unit 4, and through the air space 7 to the air regulating device 13 at the air outlet 10. The air regulating device 13, which has several positions, then takes a portion of the air in toward the inner side 3 and thus toward the room or building, and another portion of the air out toward the outer side 2 of the building, where a cooling effect is achieved for the window unit 4 and thus also for the room or building.

Figure 4 shows a cross section of a facade system 1 according to the invention, where the window unit 4 is warming, in that outdoor air is brought via an air passage 17 in behind or in through the heating element 16, where the air is warmed before it goes further through a heating element 20 and up through the window unit 4. The heating element 20 can be connected to the heating element 18, for example a radiator on the inner side 3 of the facade system, but is can likewise be a self-standing element, such as an electric heating element, which is thermostat-controlled and thus can be activated quickly once the air being supplied to the air regulating device 12 is too cold.

Figure 5 shows a cross section of a facade system 1 according to the invention, where the window unit 4 is shown with a rolled-down blind 21 in the window unit 4, such that the blind 21 reflects heat away from the room or building.

Furthermore, the air temperature change unit 14 on the outer side 2 is covered with a reflecting element 22, such as with light/white paint with reflecting properties and/or with glass based on sand with high iron content, so that the glass halts excessive thermal radiation, and/or with bare metal surfaces.

In the figure, the air temperature change unit 14 furthermore has linings with a reflecting element 22, on the outer side 2, as well as an insulating element 15, in front of which toward the inner side 3 of the facade system 1 is placed a cooling element 23, where the cooling element 23 comprises a system of hoses which are laid in the ground. The cooling element 23 here is indicated as air which is cold or chilly in relation to the outdoor air, and the air is cooled as a result of the air's travel through the ground collectors 24 or alternatively hoses submerged in water. The cooling element 23 is placed between the insulating element 15 and a cover element 25 on the inner side 3 of the facade system. In figure 5 no air regulating device 12 is shown, taking the chilly air from the cooling element 23 up through the air intake 8 in the bottom 9 of the window unit 4, but it is possible to likewise place an air regulation 12 here and it can bring chilly air for example either directly into the room or building or out into the outdoor air or mix the chilly air with the outdoor air.

Figure 6 shows a cross section of a facade system 1 according to the invention, where the window unit 4 has two air intakes 8 in the bottom 9 of the window unit 4. The one air intake 8 takes the cooled air from the cooling element 23, as described for figure 5, up into the air space 7. The other air intake 8 brings the air from the air passage 17, where the air is warmed by means of the heating element 16, up into the air space 7. Both air intakes 8 thus take the air further up through the window unit 4. Between the cooling element 23 and the heating element 16 there is an insulating element 15.

Neither is there shown in figure 6 an air regulating device 12 in the bottom 9 of the window unit 4, but it is possible for an air regulating device 12 to likewise be placed here and it can bring chilly air for example either directly into the room or building or out into the outdoor air or mix the chilly air with the warmed air from the air passage 17 behind the heating element 16.

The facade system 1 in the figures is shown as a facade system 1 which is an overall integrated facade element, and thus as a unit which can be installed in a building. Alternatively, however, the facade system can also be a separate window unit 4, which is connected via air ducts to a separate air temperature change unit 14, which can be mounted outside on an existing part of a building's facade/outer wall.

Claims

RO/DK 16/01/2017017/092774 PCT/DK2016/050412 15 PATENT CLAIMS

1. Facade system for buildings, where the facade system comprises a window unit with at least one window comprising at least two substantially parallel glass panes, where said at least two glass panes are placed in a common frame, or in two or more lateral and preferably joined frames, where said at least two glass panes are disposed at a distance, and thus present an air space between said glass panes, where said window furthermore comprises an air intake and at least one air outlet in connection with said air space, and where the facade system has an outer side and an inner side, characterized in that the facade system furthermore at least comprises an air temperature change unit in connection with the at least one air intake, where said air temperature change unit furthermore comprises at least one of the following:

- a heating element on the outer side of the facade system,

- an insulating element on the outer side of the facade system,

- a cooling element on the inner side of the facade system.

2. Facade system according to claim 1, characterized in that the window unit furthermore comprises at least in addition an air regulating device in connection with the air intake.

3. Facade system according to any one of claims 1 to 2, characterized in that the window unit furthermore comprises at least in addition an air regulating device in connection with the air outlet.

4. Facade system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the air regulating device is controlled by a mechanical or an electronic control unit.

5. Facade system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the air temperature change unit comprises at least one additional heating element on the inner side of the facade system.

6. Facade system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the facade system is an overall integrated facade element. RO/DK 16/01/2017 17/092774 PCT/DK2016/050412

16

7. Facade system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the facade system comprises at least one separate window unit and one separate air temperature change unit.

8. Application of a facade system according to any one of claims 1 to 6, for new construction and/or for existing buildings, where the facade system is mounted as an overall integrated facade element in the building.

9. Application of a facade system according to any one of claims 1 to 5 and claim 7, for new construction and/or for existing buildings, where the window unit is mounted in the building and where the air temperature change unit is mounted on the outside on an existing part of the building's facade.