Structural wall panels and methods and systems for controlling interior climates

Abstract

Structural wall panels and methods and systems for controlling the interior temperature of a building are provided. The structural wall panels advantageously include a fluid conduit disposed within an interior concrete layer of the structural wall panel where the conduit is adapted to convey a thermal transfer fluid through the interior concrete layer. A thermal insulation layer is provided between the first concrete layer and a second concrete layer, which can be disposed on an exterior surface of the wall. The thermal transfer fluid can be heated and/or cooled to regulate the temperature of the interior concrete layer and thereby control the temperature of the interior of the building. The first concrete layer can have a high thermal mass to increase the efficiency of the system.

1 . A unitary structural panel adapted for use in the construction of a building wall, the structural panel comprising:
 a thermal insulation layer having mutually opposed first and second major surfaces;   a first concrete layer disposed adjacent to the first major surface of the thermal insulation layer;   a fluid conduit disposed within the first concrete layer where the conduit is adapted to convey a thermal transfer fluid through the first concrete layer;   an inlet port at a first end of the conduit;   an outlet port at a second end of the conduit; and   a second concrete layer disposed adjacent to the second major surface of the thermal insulation layer, where the first concrete layer has a thickness that is greater than the thickness of the second concrete layer.   
   
   
       2 . A unitary structural panel as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the thermal insulation layer comprises a closed cell foam. 
   
   
       3 . A unitary structural panel as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the thermal insulation layer has a thickness of at least about 1 inch and not greater than about 3 inches. 
   
   
       4 . A unitary structural panel as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a metallic reflective layer disposed between the thermal insulation layer and the first concrete layer.   
   
   
       5 . A unitary structural panel as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a metallic reflective layer disposed between the thermal insulation layer and the first concrete layer; and   a protective barrier layer disposed between the metallic reflective layer and the first concrete layer.   
   
   
       6 . A unitary structural panel as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the second concrete layer is substantially solid. 
   
   
       7 . A unitary structural panel as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the first concrete layer has a thickness that is at least about 1.5 times greater than the thickness of the second concrete layer. 
   
   
       8 . A unitary structural panel as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the first concrete layer has a thickness that is at least about 2 times greater than the thickness of the second concrete layer. 
   
   
       9 . A unitary structural panel as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the first concrete layer has a thickness of at least about 4 inches and not greater than about 12 inches. 
   
   
       10 . A unitary structural panel as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the fluid conduit traverses the first concrete layer in a serpentine configuration. 
   
   
       11 . A unitary structural panel as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the inlet port and the outlet port are each disposed on a top edge of the structural panel. 
   
   
       12 . A unitary structural panel as recited in  claim 1 , wherein at least portions of the conduit are disposed in the first concrete layer in substantially parallel relation and adjacent conduits in the parallel portions are spaced apart by at least about 6 inches. 
   
   
       13 . A unitary structural panel as recited in  claim 12 , wherein the adjacent parallel portions are spaced apart by not greater than about 30 inches. 
   
   
       14 . A unitary structural panel as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the second concrete layer has a thickness of at least about 2 inches and not greater than about 6 inches. 
   
   
       15 . A unitary structural panel adapted for use in the construction of a building wall, the structural panel comprising:
 a thermal insulation layer having mutually opposed first and second major surfaces;   a first concrete layer disposed adjacent to the first major surface of the thermal insulation layer;   a fluid conduit disposed within the first concrete layer where the conduit is adapted to convey a thermal transfer fluid through the first concrete layer;   a metallic layer disposed between the first major surface of the thermal insulation layer and the first concrete layer; and   a second concrete layer disposed adjacent to the second major surface of the thermal insulation layer.   
   
   
       16 . A unitary structural panel as recited in  claim 15 , wherein the metallic reflective layer comprises aluminum. 
   
   
       17 . A unitary structural panel as recited in  claim 15 , wherein the metallic reflective layer has a thickness of not greater than about 0.5 inches. 
   
   
       18 . A unitary structural panel as recited in  claim 15 , further comprising:
 a protective barrier layer disposed between the metallic reflective layer and the first concrete layer.   
   
   
       19 . A unitary structural panel as recited in  claim 15 , wherein the first concrete layer has a thickness that is at least about 1.5 times greater than the thickness of the second concrete layer. 
   
   
       20 . A unitary structural panel as recited in  claim 19 , wherein the first concrete layer has a thickness of at least about 4 inches. 
   
   
       21 . A unitary structural panel as recited in  claim 20 , wherein the second concrete layer has a thickness of at least about 2 inches and not greater than about 6 inches. 
   
   
       22 . A unitary structural panel adapted for use in the construction of a building wall, the structural panel and having a top edge and a bottom edge, comprising:
 a thermal insulation layer comprising a closed cell foam and having mutually opposed first and second major surfaces;   a first concrete layer disposed adjacent to the first major surface of the thermal insulation layer;   a fluid conduit disposed within the first concrete layer, where the conduit comprises an inlet port and an outlet port, each of the ports being disposed on a top edge of the panel, where the conduit is adapted to convey a thermal transfer liquid through the first concrete layer; and   a second concrete layer disposed adjacent to the second major surface of the thermal insulation layer, the second concrete layer being substantially solid, wherein the first concrete layer has a thickness that is greater than the second concrete layer.   
   
   
       23 . A temperature regulating system for the interior of a building, the building including concrete walls having an interior surface, the system comprising:
 means for detecting the temperature of an interior portion of the building;   means for adjusting the temperature of a thermal transfer fluid, where the temperature adjustment means are responsive to the temperature detecting means and comprise means for heating a thermal transfer fluid and for cooling a thermal transfer fluid; and   means for conveying the temperature adjusted thermal transfer fluid from the temperature adjustment means through the concrete walls to change the temperature of the interior surface of the concrete walls.   
   
   
       24 . A system as recited in  claim 23 , wherein the temperature adjusting means comprises a geothermal loop for cooling the thermal transfer fluid. 
   
   
       25 . A system as recited in  claim 23 , wherein the cooling means comprises mechanical refrigeration unit for cooling the thermal transfer fluid. 
   
   
       26 . A system as recited in  claim 23 , wherein the temperature adjusting means further comprises a hot water heater for heating the thermal transfer fluid. 
   
   
       27 . A method for controlling the temperature of the interior of a building, the building comprising concrete walls having an interior concrete portion and an exterior concrete portion separated by a thermal insulation layer, the method comprising the steps of:
 adjusting the temperature of a thermal transfer fluid;   moving the thermal transfer fluid through a conduit that is disposed solely within the interior portion of the concrete walls without moving the thermal transfer fluid through the exterior concrete portion, wherein the thermal transfer fluid changes the temperature of the interior portion of the concrete walls to thereby control the temperature of the interior portion of the building.   
   
   
       28 . A method as recited in  claim 27 , wherein the step of adjusting the temperature of the thermal transfer fluid comprises heating the thermal transfer fluid. 
   
   
       29 . A method as recited in  claim 27 , wherein the step of adjusting the temperature of the thermal transfer fluid comprises heating water using an active hot water heater. 
   
   
       30 . A method as recited in  claim 27 , wherein the step of adjusting the temperature of the thermal transfer fluid comprises heating water using a hot water heater, wherein electricity is provided to the hot water heater by a photovoltaic cell. 
   
   
       31 . A method as recited in  claim 27 , wherein the step of adjusting the temperature of the thermal transfer fluid comprises cooling the heat transfer fluid. 
   
   
       32 . A method as recited in  claim 27 , wherein the step of adjusting the temperature of the thermal transfer fluid comprises cooling the heat transfer fluid using a geothermal loop.