GB2458150A

GB2458150A - Removing solar heat built up in a ceiling structure and loft or roof structure

Info

Publication number: GB2458150A
Application number: GB0804200A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Stephen Richard Bate
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2008-03-07
Filing date: 2008-03-07
Publication date: 2009-09-09
Also published as: GB0804200D0

Abstract

A method of cooling a room comprises a ventilation device to remove solar heat built up in a ceiling structure and loft or roof structure. The ventilation device may comprise of an electric fan 1 located within the loft and creates a positive air pressure in the loft and forces heated air out though the building eves or through a roof vent. The fan speed may be controlled manually or automatically using a programmable control unit, which may comprise of a master control unit 4 in a landing or a stair well and a slave control unit 5 attached to the fan 1. Master control unit 4 and slave control unit 5 may be connected via cable 7 or wirelessly. Fan speed may be controlled as a function of the time of day, temperature and user programmable parameters. The temperature may be recorded via three sensors, with one connected to each of the master control unit 4 and slave control unit 5, and a third sensor located in a foil duct 3, which connects the fan 1 to a grill 2 on a stair well ceiling. Cool (fresh) air may additionally be drawn into the building through windows, doors, or window / door vents. The rooms most affected by the cooling would be bedrooms and the device is intended to help with sleep deprivation due to heat.

Description

Loft void and cooling system.

Description:

This invention and method was conceived for a specific purpose but may be used for other applications that require the exchange of hot air trapped in buildings for ambient cooler air.

The problem to be solved.

During hot summer days, a building with a loft void and an outside roof construction of clay or concrete tiles or other material, will trap solar energy and act in a manner similar to a storage heater. The heat is gradually released during the cooler evening and will radiate back through the roof to the atmosphere but also through the ceiling into the spaces below. Some of these lower spaces will be sleeping areas and anyone attempting to sleep during the night may suffer sleep deprivation due to the heat and would benefit from the heat being removed or forced out of the loft void and sleeping area during the evening.

The solution.

A fan mounted in the loft void, once energised will create a positive air pressure in the loft void forcing hot air out through the eves or roof ventilation. This movement of air in the loft void can be made to create a negative air pressure in the rooms below, where cooler evening air will be drawn in through any open windows, window ventilation, doors or door vents. This movement of air will cool the lower rooms directly as well as the loft void, reducing the heat radiated from the ceiling structures separating the loft void and rooms below. Window openings can be adjusted to restrict or maximise air flows.

Advantages.

This invention will take advantage of an abundant supply of cool air present at sun down following hot and humid summer days.

The running costs are minimal and far less than any refrigerant cooling systems, having a lesser impact on the environment and global warming.

Sleep deprivation will have a significant effect on concentration and productivity levels in and out of work. The health and safety of individuals with the effects of sleep deprivation is also of concern and this invention will address these problems by creating an environment more conducive for sleeping.

Description detail.

Refer to drawing 1 of 1 An inline duct fan 1 is attached to the root rafters, gable end or other location within the loft void with anti vibration mountings 6. A ceiling grill 2 is fixed to the ceiling separating the loft void and lower rooms. The grill is best placed in a central location.

Generally on a two story domestic dwelling, the landing or stair well, will service all rooms. A foil duct 3 or other duct material is connected to the grill and air inlet of the inline fan. The master control unit 4 would be attached to the wall on a landing, stair well or other location and will allow user programming via push buttons and monitoring via an LCD (liquid crystal display). The slave control unit 5 is attached to the fan and is also the connection point for the AC (alternating current) supply. The master and slave control units are connected via a multicore copper wire cable 7 carrying microprocessor control signals and low voltage power. In another variation of the invention, the control units may also connect to each other via wireless technology with the master control unit being battery powered or other.

At an appropriate time of day, generally early evening, the user configured timer will switch on the fan. The fan speed is determined by the difference between the user configured temperature settings and the actual temperature measured. The larger the difference the faster the fan speed. The control units will attempt to bring the actual temperature measured and the user configured temperature sethngs in line with each other where the fan speed will be at its slowest. The actual temperature used to control the fan speed can be measured from one of three user configured sensors. Sensor one is connected to the master control unit 4 and would be used to control the temperature around the master control unit. Sensor two is connected to the slave control unit 5 and measures the temperature in the loft void. Sensor three is located in the duct 3 and measures the air flow temperature.

Again at an appropriate time of day, generally before sun rise, the user configured timer will switch off the tan, by which time the process of cooling through temperature control would have likely reduced the fan speed to zero.

The user timer and temperature control settings can be overridden where by a manual operation can be used. Temperature and fan speed can be controlled and monitored at the master control unit 4.

Claims

Claims: 1. To cool the sleeping areas of domestic dwellings or other buildings by removing solar heat built up in the ceiling structure and loft or roof structure above.
2. To force out the accumulated solar heat or hot air from the loft void according to claim 1, by creating a positive air pressure within the loft void.
3. To force out the accumulated solar heat or hot air according to claim 2, where the positive air pressure is created by an electric fan.
4. To force out the accumulated solar heat or hot air according to all preceding claims, by forcing the heat or hot air out through the building eves or roof ventilation.
5. To force out the accumulated solar heat or hot air according to claim 3, by controlling the fan speed automatically or manually with a programmable control unit.
6. To force out the accumulated solar heat or hot air according to claim 5, where the automatic function will control the fan speed based on time of day, temperature and user programmable parameters.
7. To cool the sleeping areas of domestic dwellings according to claims 1 & 4, by replacing the removed heat or hot air throughout the building with cooler air drawn in through windows, window ventilation, doors or door vents