APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR PASSIVELY COOLING AN INTERIOR
First Claim
1. A system for passively cooling an interior area within a structure comprising:
- a membrane assembly covering a portion of the structure, wherein the membrane assembly has an interior side facing the interior area and an exterior side, the membrane assembly defines a plurality of pores; and
a supply of fluid provided to the membrane assembly such that capillary action of the pores redistributes the fluid to create evaporation and, in turn, heat flow.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system passively cools an interior area within a structure. The system includes a membrane assembly covering a portion of the structure, wherein the membrane has an interior side facing the interior area and an exterior side. The membrane assembly defines a plurality of pores. When a supply of fluid is provided to the membrane assembly, capillary action of the pores redistributes the fluid to create evaporation and, in turn, the desired heat flow. The membrane assembly can include an architectural membrane coated with a porous matrix coating to form the pores. A pump can provide the fluid to the interior side of the membrane assembly. Preferably, the architectural membrane is woven PTFE-coated fiberglass and the porous matrix coating is titanium dioxide and zeolites. The plurality of pores may have radii ranging from about 10 nanometers to 100 microns and a length of about 80 microns.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A system for passively cooling an interior area within a structure comprising:
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a membrane assembly covering a portion of the structure, wherein the membrane assembly has an interior side facing the interior area and an exterior side, the membrane assembly defines a plurality of pores; and a supply of fluid provided to the membrane assembly such that capillary action of the pores redistributes the fluid to create evaporation and, in turn, heat flow. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method for passively cooling an interior area within a structure, the method comprising the steps of:
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coating an architectural membrane with a porous matrix coating to form pores; covering a portion of the structure with the architectural membrane; and providing a fluid onto the architectural membrane such that capillary action of the pores redistributes the fluid to create evaporation and, in turn, heat flow out of the interior area. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A structure for passively cooling an interior area comprising:
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a wall structure having a frame; a membrane assembly covering a portion of the frame, wherein the membrane assembly defines a plurality of pores; and a liquid on the membrane assembly such that capillary action of the membrane assembly pores spreads the liquid to create evaporation and, in turn, cooling. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19)
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Specification