Method and Device for Regulating The Temperature Inside a Dwelling

Abstract

A method and a device for regulating temperature in a dwelling having microporous walls ( 10 ) and outside thermal insulation ( 12 ) by causing outside air to flow in a wall ( 10 ) and/or between a wall ( 10 ) and its thermal insulation ( 12 ) as a function of the relative humidity of the outside air, of the relative humidity of the wall, and of the heating or cooling of the wall ( 10 ), the temperature of which is measured by means of sensors ( 30, 30 ′) mounted facing the wall and/or in the wall ( 10 ).

1 . A device for regulating the temperature inside a dwelling having microporous walls and outside thermal insulation, the dwelling including outside air flow spaces between the microporous walls and their thermal insulation, wherein the device comprises control means for controlling the flow of outside air and the flow speed of said air in said spaces, the control means receiving as inputs temperature measurements of the microporous walls in order to control the flow of outside air in the space between a microporous wall and its thermal insulation as a function of temperature variations of the microporous wall, of its relative humidity, and of the relative humidity of the outside air. 
     
     
         2 . A device according to  claim 1 , further comprising means for instantaneously measuring the surface temperatures of the microporous walls. 
     
     
         3 . A device according to  claim 2 , wherein the means for measuring the temperatures of the microporous walls comprise infrared sensors. 
     
     
         4 . A device according to  claim 2 , wherein the means for measuring the temperatures of the surface of the walls are mounted in the above-mentioned spaces facing the outside surfaces of the walls. 
     
     
         5 . A device according to preceding  claim 1 , wherein temperature sensor strips are mounted in holes formed in the walls substantially across the entire thickness thereof. 
     
     
         6 . A device according to  claim 1 , wherein the microporous wall includes outside air flow passages or channels communicating with the spaces formed between the microporous walls and their outside insulation. 
     
     
         7 . A device according to  claim 6 , wherein the microporous walls are made up of juxtaposed panels or elements including air passages, such as hollow bricks, the air passages of said elements being non-obstructed and in alignment from one element to a following element. 
     
     
         8 . A device according to  claim 1 , wherein the outside air flow means include fans and outside air admission and/or outlet means mounted at respective vertical or horizontal ends of the walls and comprising horizontal or vertical tubes, each having one longitudinal end with means for adjusting its air inlet section, e.g. diaphragm means, the tubes having air outlet orifices distributed along their length. 
     
     
         9 . A method of regulating temperature in a dwelling having microporous walls and outside thermal insulation, the dwelling having outside air flow spaces formed between the walls and their thermal insulation, wherein the method further comprising in determining the periods and the speeds during which outside air is caused to flow in an above-mentioned space between a wall and its thermal insulation as a function of the relative humidity of the outside air, of the humidity of the wall, and of temperature variations at the surface of the wall and/or inside the wall. 
     
     
         10 . A method according to  claim 9 , wherein the speed of the air in said space is adjusted to a low value, e.g. of the order of 0.05 m/s, in order to heat or cool the wall by adsorption or desorption of water vapor, or to a value greater than about 0.5 m/s in order to heat or cool the wall by convection. 
     
     
         11 . A method according to  claim 9 , further comprising in causing outside air to flow in said space and in stopping said flow of air when the volume of air contained in said space has been renewed, then in causing outside air to flow once more in said space after a predetermined interval of time, e.g. several tens of minutes, in order to renew the volume of air contained inside the space once more. 
     
     
         12 . A method according to  claim 9 , further comprising, under certain temperature and humidity conditions, in allowing outside air to flow freely in said space, while limiting the speed of the air in said space to a value of less than about 1 m/s, in order to maintain the temperature inside the dwelling at a value that is substantially constant over a long period of time, e.g. several days. 
     
     
         13 . A method according to  claim 9 , further comprising in calculating the relative humidity of the outside air from its dry temperature, from the time and the date for a given region, and in calculating or estimating the relative humidity of the wall.