Building Envelope Insulation System

Self-Sufficient Building Envelope Insulation System with Phase Change Materials and Dual Thermoelectric Modules for Power Generation and Thermal Energy Storage Regeneration

This technology is a building envelope insulation system that attaches a case containing phase change materials (PCM) to the building exterior to store and release ambient heat. It features a first thermoelectric module that generates electricity from the temperature difference between the case's outer surface and the ambient air, and a second thermoelectric module that uses voltage to heat or cool the PCM.

Vacuum insulation panels used for building envelopes are thin and highly efficient, but they require professional installation and extreme care because their performance drops sharply if the vacuum is compromised during construction. Furthermore, depending on the installation method, insulation gaps or thermal bridges penetrating the interior and exterior can occur, limiting the overall thermal performance of the structure.

This technology stores power generated by the first thermoelectric module in a battery to drive the second thermoelectric module via a voltage circuit, allowing for PCM regeneration without external power. A temperature sensor monitors the PCM at 70-90% of its thickness, triggering the second module if the temperature deviates by more than ±5°C from the phase change point. It can also include a heat flux processor that calculates heat flow from the first module's voltage to assist HVAC systems, along with heat dissipation fins on the second module. Applicable to zero-energy building facades, high-solar-load curtain wall offices, and building retrofits, it converts solar heat into electricity while monitoring solar loads in real-time to reduce HVAC energy consumption.

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Key Features:

• A thermal storage/release unit including a phase change material that stores and releases heat from ambient air, and a case containing it with one side facing the building envelope.
• A first thermoelectric module that generates power from the temperature difference between a 1-1 side thermally connected to the other side of the case and a 1-2 side exposed to ambient air.
• A second thermoelectric module that absorbs or releases heat when an operating voltage is applied to a 2-1 side thermally connected to one side of the case, thereby regulating the temperature of the phase change material.
• A power unit including a battery charged by the power produced by the first thermoelectric module and a voltage circuit that applies operating voltage to the second thermoelectric module using the stored power.

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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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