Introduction of The Respiratory Double Skin Curtain Wall
The respiratory double skin curtain wall is a “double-layer green coat” of the building. The double layer curtain wall possesses outstanding capacity in sound insulation; its structural characteristic also endows the building with “respiratory effect” and lessens the discomforts from extreme conditions, so the residents will feel cool in summer and warm in winter. The active efficiency of building itself greatly reduces the energy consumption. Therefore, by adopting the double-skin curtain wall system, the whole energy consumption of buildings can be reduced by 30%-50%.
Respiratory Double Skin Curtain Wall Functions
Double skin curtain wall is classified into external-cycle double skin curtain wall (active pattern) and internal-cycle double skin curtain wall (passive pattern).
The system is made up of interior and exterior curtain walls. The interior curtain wall usually adopts visible-frame curtain wall, operable sash or access door for maintenance; the exterior curtain wall adopts frame or point supported glass curtain wall. There is a relatively closed space between the interior and exterior curtain walls which largely improves the curtain wall’s capability of heat preservation, thermal insulation and sound insulation.
Intelligent curtain wall is the extension of double skin curtain wall. Based on the intelligent construction, it moderately controls matching technologies of the building (such as warming, heat, light and electricity). With the effective utilization of curtain wall material and solar energy, the intelligent curtain wall efficiently regulates indoor air, temperature and light through the computer network. Thereby, the building’s energy consumption is reduced and the cost is shortened. The wall consists of the following parts: double skin curtain wall, ventilation system, sun-shading system, air conditioning system, environmental monitoring system, intelligent control system, etc.
The key component of the intelligent double skin curtain wall is the intelligent control system, which is an overall-process control system controlling from functional requirements to control modes and from information collection to execution command transmission mechanism. It involves multiple factors including the measurement of weather, temperature, humidity, air freshness, luminous intensity, collection and control of data concerning the operating status of heating, ventilation, air conditioning, sunshading system and other mechanisms, configuration and control of power system as well as computer control in buildings, etc.
Main Features of the Intelligent External Respiratory Double Skin Curtain Wall:
The exterior layer of intelligent external respiratory double skin curtain wall consists of monolithic glass and non thermal break material while the inner one is constituted by the insulated glass and thermal break material. There are air intake and outtake devices at the two ends of ventilation layer between the interior and exterior curtain walls.
Inside, there are also some sun-shading devices, like louver. In winter, the temperature in the ventilation layer rises in the sunlight when the air intake and outtake are closed.The layer is just like a greenhouse and the temperature of the interior glass will increase efficiently, then the cost of the building heating can be reduced. In summer, the temperature in the ventilation layer rises in the sunlight and the air floats upward when the air intake and outtake are open. The movement of air forms an air current from bottom to top. Due to “chimney effect”, the heat will be taken away and the surface temperature of interior glass will drop, then the cooling cost will be reduced. In addition,fresh air can be delivered from the ventilation layer to indoors through the control of air intake and outtake and the design of interior curtain wall, thus the building’s ventilation is optimized
Main Features of Intelligent Interior Respiratory Double Skin Curtain Wall:
The exterior layer of intelligent internal respiratory double skin curtain wall is enclosed completely in principle which consists of thermal break material and insulating glass while the inner one is constituted by the monolithic glass or operable window for the convenience of exterior curtain wall cleaning. The ventilation layer between the two curtain walls is generally about 100-200 millimeters thick.
The ventilation layer is connected with the exhausting pipes of HVAC systems on the suspending ceiling, forming forced air circulation from bottom to top. The indoor air goes into the ventilation layer through the air intake which is at the bottom of the interior glass, and makes the temperature of the interior curtain wall reach or approach the indoor temperature, thus optimizing the building ventilation. The adjustable blinds or shutter, which are placed in the ventilation layer, can adjust the sun-shading efficiently,and create a more comfortable indoor environment.
