Method for actively insulating a structure

Abstract

A method and related system for providing energy conserving active thermal insulation to a building structure by employing alternately spaced insulated air channels and insulated conductive ply channels. A thin conductive ply conveys the energy by conduction from the airflow into the adjacent conductive ply channels that contain an additional layer of foam which improves the conservation of energy. The conductive ply is placed above and below structural openings which would otherwise restrict airflow. The airflow is drawn from beneath the frost line, exhaust ventilation or sunspace. A math model solution determines the energy necessary to maintain a desired room temperature for each hour of the day which characterizes the thermal resistance. As the ambient temperature fluctuates, the resistance varies, however the energy for 24 hours is used to determine the total apparent resistance. Examples of apparent resistance R-value have been improved beyond any published resistance values to date.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for actively insulating a building structure at a surface thereof, the method comprising the steps of:
 a) spacing a first insulation layer from the surface to form an active air channel adjacent to the surface between the surface and the first insulation layer,   b) spacing a second layer of insulation from the first layer of insulation by a thermally conductive ply to form a conductive ply channel between the first layer of insulation and the second layer of insulation, wherein the conductive ply channel is adjacent to the active air channel,   c) directing a flow of a volume of air through the active air channel, and   d) conducting energy from the active air channel to the conductive ply channel.   
     
     
         2 . The method as claimed in  claim 1  wherein:
 a) the conduction of energy through the thermally conductive ply causes a change in temperature of the conductive ply channel, 
 b) the temperature of the conductive ply during a heating season is diminished along its length in accordance with its length, thickness and conductivity per square foot of surface, and 
 c) the temperature gradient of the conductive ply along its length and room temperature difference results in a diminished conduction of energy across the conductance of the building structure per square foot of conductive ply surface. 
 
     
     
         3 . The method as claimed in  claim 1  further comprising the step of placing the conductive ply channel beneath and above openings of the building structure which would otherwise inhibit the airflow of a similar active air channel. 
     
     
         4 . The method as claimed in  claim 1  further comprising the step of deriving a total insulation resistance of the building structure having the active air channel and conductive ply channel from a mathematical model solution of the energy required to maintain a constant room temperature of an insulated building structure for 24 hours by:
 a) iteratively determining airflow temperature within the conductive air channel caused by the conduction of energy to ambient temperature and the conduction of energy to the conductive ply into the conductive ply channel plus the energy conducted from the building structure into the conductive air channel for each hour for 24 hours, 
 b) iteratively determining a temperature gradient of the conductive ply, 
 c) determining the definitive amount of energy conducted from a room of the building structure to the airflow of the active air channel and the definitive energy from the room of the building structure to the conductive ply in the conductive ply channel each hour for 24 hours, and 
 d) determining the total definitive energy required to maintain the room temperature of the building structure for 24 hours based on an insulation resistance of the building structure characterized by an apparent R-value which is represented by the product of temperature differences between ambient temperature and room temperature and surface area of the ambient surface including the active air channel and the conductive ply channel divided by the total definitive energy per 24 hours. 
 
     
     
         5 . The method as claimed in  claim 1  further comprising the step of introducing exhaust ventilation air into the active air channel in lieu of tempered ambient air. 
     
     
         6 . The method as claimed in  claim 5  wherein the exhaust ventilation is used to temper the airflow within the active air channel and is derived from a solar sunspace or from exhausted stale and/or contaminated air. 
     
     
         7 . The method as claimed in  claim 1  further comprising the step of introducing air into the active air channel from beneath the frost line. 
     
     
         8 . The method as claimed in  claim 1  further comprising the step of introducing conditioned room temperature air into the active air channel and returning or recycling a portion back to a room of the structure for conservation of energy. 
     
     
         9 . The method as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the active air channel and the conductive ply channel are located on an exterior surface of the building structure. 
     
     
         10 . The method as claimed in  claim 9  further comprising the step of adding one or more additional active air channels and one or more additional conductive ply channels on an interior surface of the building structure. 
     
     
         11 . The method as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the active air channel and the conductive ply channel are located on an interior surface of the building structure, and wherein the interior surface is a floor of an attic of the building structure. 
     
     
         12 . The method as claimed in  claim 1  further comprising the step of recycling conditioned room temperature air into the active air channel, wherein the active air channel and the conductive ply channel are located between a roof and a roof vent of the building structure, wherein the building structure includes a cathedral ceiling. 
     
     
         13 . The method as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the surface of the building structure is an insulated surface. 
     
     
         14 . The method as claimed in  claim 1  further comprising the step of insulating the building structure using one or more earth tubes. 
     
     
         15 . A method for actively insulating a building structure at a surface thereof, the method comprising the steps of:
 a) applying a thermally conductive ply to a portion of the surface of the building structure, wherein the thermally conductive ply has surface area dimensions,   b) applying to the thermally conductive ply a layer of insulation having surface area dimensions greater than the surface area dimensions of the thermally conductive ply to form a conductive ply channel at the thermally conductive ply between the layer of insulation and the building structure surface, and to form an active air channel adjacent to the conductive ply channel between the layer of insulation and the building structure surface,   c) directing a flow of a volume of air through the active air channel, and   d) conducting energy from the active air channel to the conductive ply channel.   
     
     
         16 . The method as claimed in  claim 15  wherein the active air channel and the conductive ply channel are located on an exterior surface of the building structure. 
     
     
         17 . The method as claimed in  claim 16  further comprising the step of adding one or more additional active air channels and one or more additional conductive ply channels on an interior surface of the building structure. 
     
     
         18 . The method as claimed in  claim 15  wherein the surface of the building structure is an insulated surface. 
     
     
         19 . The method as claimed in  claim 15  further comprising the step of insulating the building structure using one or more earth tubes.