Modular Building Facade and Control Method Thereof

A building facade module that functions as an outdoor unit by incorporating evaporative cooling water sprays, a heat exchanger, and thermoelectric elements.

This technology features a modular building facade consisting of a case with an internal space formed by a rear panel attached to the building wall, a facing front panel, and edge frames. Inside, water spray nozzles and a heat exchanger cool incoming outside air from the lower first damper before it is exhausted through the upper second damper. Thermoelectric elements are placed on the exterior of the front panel to generate electricity from the temperature difference between the interior and exterior.

Existing functional exterior materials have focused solely on insulation, soundproofing, and waterproofing. Meanwhile, air conditioner outdoor units placed on rooftops or balconies suffer from reduced heat exchange efficiency in summer due to hot outside air, and decreased heating efficiency in winter as low temperatures impede refrigerant flow.

This technology recycles water by sending condensate from indoor units to spray nozzles via pipes and control valves, or by pumping water collected in a floor tray. Nozzles spray water over the heat exchanger, where fluid and air passages allow cooled outside air and refrigerant to exchange heat. A control unit opens both dampers and sprays water when the indoor temperature exceeds 26°C and outdoor humidity is above 70%. It stops spraying and only ventilates when the indoor temperature is 20–26°C or the outdoor temperature is above 5°C, and seals the case in winter to trap solar heat. Electricity from thermoelectric elements is stored in batteries to power the dampers and spray system. Applicable to apartment balconies, office curtain walls, and urban building renovations with limited space, this facade acts as a cooling tower, improving HVAC efficiency using waste condensate and solar heat while generating its own power.

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Key Features:

• A case forming an internal space with a front panel spaced apart from and facing a rear panel installed on a building wall, and edge frames enclosing the perimeter.
• First and second dampers positioned at the bottom and top of the front panel to control the intake and exhaust of outside air.
• A water spray unit that supplies condensate from an indoor unit or collected water to spray nozzles to cool the incoming outside air.
• Thermoelectric elements placed on the exterior of the front panel to generate electricity from the temperature difference between the internal space and the outside.

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This invention was developed with support from the Ministry of Science and ICT’s laboratory research program for harvesting and utilizing unused energy to realize carbon-neutral buildings.

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