| JP2008020133 | OUTDOOR UNIT |
| JP2002107017 | METHOD FOR CONTROLLING ICE STORAGE TYPE CHILLED WATER DEVICE |
| WO/2010/098610 | AIR CONDITIONER AND OUTDOOR UNIT |
PESENTI, Roberto (Via Cattaneo, 9 Desenzano del Garda, Brescia, I-25015, IT)
CAPOFERRI, Sergio (Via Cividini, 18 Adrara S. Martino, Bergamo, I-24060, IT)
PESENTI, Roberto (Via Cattaneo, 9 Desenzano del Garda, Brescia, I-25015, IT)
| Claims 1. Refreshing system (2) for a building or internal environment, characterised by the fact of comprising a first glass wall (3) defined between a first, internal surface (3a) , and a second, external surface (3b) , and a layer of liquid non-transparent to the visible light, said layer of liquid being in contact and covering at least a portion of said second surface (3b) . 2. Refreshing system according to claim 1, characterised by the fact that said liquid is constituted of an aqueous solution or suspension of a coloured pigment . 3. Refreshing system according to claim 2, characterised by the fact that said coloured pigment is an essentially white colour. 4. Refreshing system according to one or more of the previous claims, characterised by the fact that said external layer of liquid is formed of a flow of liquid running over said second surface. 5. Refreshing system according to one or more of the previous claims, characterised by the fact that said first glass wall (3) is inclined, said liquid flowing over said second glass surface (3b) . 6. Refreshing system according to claim 5, characterised by the fact that said liquid flows from the superior edge _ (15) of said first inclined glass wall (3) and is collected at the inferior edge (5) of said first glass wall (3), substantially covering said second glass surface (3b) entirely. 7. Refreshing system according to claim 5, characterised by the fact that said liquid flows from the superior edge (15) of said first inclined glass wall (3) and is collected at the inferior edge (5) of said first glass wall (3) , covering said second glass surface (3b) by its entire length and by one or more sections of its width . 8. Refreshing system according to one or more of the previous claims characterised by the fact that a second glass wall (4) is provided, positioned externally to said layer of liquid, wherein said first glass wall (3) and said second glass wall (4) form a cavity (25) for the flowing of said layer of liquid. 9. Refreshing system according to any of the previous claims, characterised by the fact that a ' forced pipe system (7, 8) of the recirculation type is provided for said liquid. 10. Refreshing system according to one of the previous claims, characterised by the fact of envisaging cooling means (9) able to cool said liquid. 11. Refreshing system according to claim 9 or 10, comprising a first tank (21) containing coloured water and a second tank (23) containing washing water of the glass surface, said first and second tank being connected at the superior edge (15) of the glass surface (3) by means of the respective delivery circuits (33, 32), each including a respective delivery pump (22, 24), the inferior edge (5) of said glass surface (3) being connected to said first and second tank by means of respective return circuits, each including a respective shut-off valve (30, 28) . 12. Refreshing system according to claim 11, wherein the inferior edge (5) of the glass surface (3) is connected to the drainage system by means of a shut-off valve (29) . 13. Refreshing system according to one of the claims 9- 12, comprising a heat exchanger (10; 56) with external conditioning devices (11; 57), such as an air conditioner, for the cooling of said liquid. 14. Refreshing system according to one of the claims 9- 13, comprising an electronic control unit programmed to: - activate the delivery pump (24) of the washing water so as to perform a washing cycle of the glass surface (3) ; at the end of said washing cycle, activating the delivery pump (22) of the coloured water so as to perform a cycle with coloured water; - at the end of said cycle with coloured water, activating the delivery pump (24) of the washing water once again to perform a final rinse of the glass surface. 15. Refreshing system according to claim 14, wherein during the washing cycle the control unit opens the discharge valve of the water towards the drains and keeps the valves for the return of the water to the tanks of washing water and coloured water tank closed. 16. Refreshing system according to claim 14 or 15, wherein during the cycle with coloured water the control unit opens the delivery valve of the coloured water to the respective tank and closes the delivery valve of the water into the washing water tank and the discharge valve of the water towards the drain. 17. Refreshing system according to claim 14 or 15 or 16, wherein during the final rinse cycle the control unit opens the return valve of the washing water to the respective tank and closes the delivery valve of the water into the tank with coloured water and the discharge valve of the water towards the drainage system. |
"Refreshing system for a building or an internal
environment"
[001] The present invention relates to a refreshing system for a building or an internal environment. The system which the invention relates to can also be applied as a system of protection from sunlight or other light sources having a heating effect, to partially obscure or make non-transparent a transparent object, to produce special effects and to clean.
[002] The problem of refreshing a building, so that the people inside it perceive a pleasant temperature, normally under 30 °C at least, is known of. Normally, a building or an internal environment undergoes an increase in temperature as a result of solar radiation through the glass roofs, windows or French windows of the building, used to light the internal environment. Such drawback is particularly felt in buildings and environments with extensive glass surfaces, especially during the summer when solar radiation is stronger.
[003] Conditioning systems are known of, usually based on fluid expansion/compression cycles, for keeping the indoor temperature of environments within acceptable limits; such conditioning systems require plants which refresh the air and transport it through appropriately positioned ducts as far as the distribution vents of cool air. In the internal environments of public buildings especially, such as shopping centres, museums, stations etc., the conditioning systems comprise large compressor devices situated in areas not accessible to users, and distribution vents connected to such compressor devices by long systems of tubes. All this is not only expensive in terms of installation costs, but is also not very efficient in terms of energy since the cool air sent by the compressor devices towards the distribution vents tends to heat up to the same temperature as the environment. Such systems entail, moreover, a high consumption of electricity, so much so that in the summer period, black-outs of the electricity distribution system are increasingly common.
[004] In addition, the conditioning systems need filtering systems which if not adequately serviced, risk releasing bacteria into the closed environment.
[005] Not least, problems of noise connected with the compression/expansion systems of the conditioning systems are known of.
[006] The prior art contains numerous examples using water in heating systems which make use of solar energy, for example of the panel type where the water is placed in conditions of heat exchange with a panel exposed to solar radiation. In order to maximise output the panels of such systems are usually a dark colour, normally black, so as to absorb as much solar radiation as possible. Normally such panels are situated on the roof of a building, where ■ they can be irradiated throughout the day.
[007] Heating systems of water are also known of wherein a tank has a lower wall of a dark colour, usually black, and an upper wall of glass, in said tank the water being heated by solar radiation. Given that the water is transparent, the dark colour panel is reached by the solar radiation so as to absorb as much of it as possible, heat up and thereby help to keep the temperature of the water above it at a high temperature.
[008] In the known systems however the water only acts as a heat exchange element with the absorbent surface and/or as a heat collector, not being able to perform a refreshing function in that it would be inconceivable for the heat supplied to the water to be efficiently conveyed to achieve a refrigerant power.
[009] The present invention sets out to produce a refreshing system of a building which eliminates or reduces the aforementioned drawbacks, in particular which tends to reduce the use of conditioning systems.
[0010] Within the sphere of this task, one of the purposes of the present invention is to provide a refreshing system of a building or internal environment which is not costly in terms of energy.
[0011] Another purpose of the present invention is to provide a refreshing system of a building or internal environment which is efficient even in the presence of extensive glass surfaces, particularly when used as covers (roofs) .
[0012] Another purpose of the present invention is to provide a refreshing system of a building or internal environment which integrates as far as possible with the architectural elements present in said building or internal environment.
[0013] Another purpose of the present invention is to provide a refreshing system of a building , or internal environment which does not require installation of cumbersome and anti-aesthetic external devices.
[0014] Another purpose of the present invention is to provide a refreshing system of a -building or internal environment which enables shading and solar protection, particularly in the presence of extensive transparent roofs, with extremely complex geometries.
[0015] Not least the purpose of the present invention is to provide a refreshing system of a building or internal environment which is reliable, easy to produce and competitive in terms of price. [0016] According to the invention, such technical problem is resolved by a refreshing system for a building or an internal environment, characterised by the fact of comprising a first glass wall defined between a first, internal surface, and a second, external surface and a layer of liquid which is non-transparent to the visible light, said layer of liquid being in contact with and covering at least a portion of said second surface.
[0017] This way, it has been found by experimentation that the temperature of the internal environment or of the building is maintained at acceptable levels, significantly lower than similar environments not provided with the refreshing system of the invention, even in conditions of considerable solar radiation.
[0018] Moreover, it has been observed that the refreshing system of the invention makes it possible to keep the outer glass surfaces which it is applied to clean, with consequent savings in servicing costs, given that often transparent roofs are difficult to access and require highly expensive articulated vehicles to perform such operations safely.
[0019] Nor should the valuable aesthetic effects obtained be overlooked, with special effects creating scenographic and spectacular environments.
[0020] For the purposes of the present invention, the terms "internal" and "external" are defined, naturally, with reference to the building so that "internal" is taken to mean facing towards the inside of the building, and "external" towards the outside environment.
[0021] In this document, moreover, the term "non- transparent" means "translucent" or "opaque", in the sense of being able to prevent, at least partially, the passage of light within the visible spectrum or of diffusion of the light, or in any case reducing the quantity of visible light transmitted inside the building or environment through the system constituted of the glass wall and layer of liquid.
[0022] The glass wall may be, for example, a glass roof, the panel of a window, a French window or a glass panel constituting at least part of a lateral wall or roof of a building or internal environment.
[0023] Preferably, such liquid is water containing an inorganic coloured pigment in suspension, such pigment making the liquid non-transparent to the visible light and shading the glass wall at least in part. Preferably, the coloured pigment is essentially white, in particular titanium dioxide. Alternatively, the liquid non- transparent to the visible light may also be constituted by a solution of a soluble colorant.
[0024] According to one particular embodiment, the glass wall is inclined so that said liquid flows, in contact, above the external surface of the glass wall. In this case it is preferable that the entire external surface is covered by said liquid, making it flow from the superior edge of the glass surface and collecting it at the inferior edge. However, alternative solutions are possible, for example solutions according to which the liquid is made to flow along the entire length of the glass wall but only on one or more parts of its width.
[0025] Preferably, the liquid flows in a forced pipe; this does not only allow to keep the layer of liquid on the glass wall, but also prevents the water from stagnating, facilitating the cleaning effect on the external surface of the glass wall.
[0026] Preferably, the refreshing system may comprise a second glass wall, positioned externally to said layer of liquid, for example as in double glazing. This way the liquid remains confined between said first glass wall and said second glass wall and cannot leak into the environment.
[0027] Preferably, a forced pipe system of the recirculation type is provided for said liquid, using a pump to return the liquid to the glass roof, window or French window.
[0028] According to a preferred embodiment, cooling means able to cool the liquid are provided. In this way further improvement of the refreshing capacity is achieved, the refrigerated liquid in contact with the surface, over which flows, cools said surface, transforming it into a cooling plate which in turn may constitute a cooling element of the air present in an environment by a natural or forced convective movement of the air present in such environment. For example, heat exchange devices may be provided with external conditioning appliances, such as an air conditioner, for the cooling of said liquid; this way the air conditioner does not just supply cool air to the environment, but also helps to keep the liquid cool so as to permit the advantageous use of the refreshing system according to the present invention.
[0029] Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will be more evident from the non- limiting description of preferred embodiments of the present invention, shown by way of · example in the attached drawings, wherein:
[0030] - figure 1 shows a test cabin used to test the functioning of an embodiment of the present invention;
[0031] - figure 2 shows a generalised diagram of the embodiment in figure 1;
[0032] - figure 3 shows, in a diagram analogous to that of figure 2, a second embodiment of the present invention;
[0033] - figure 4 shows, in a diagram analogous to that of' figure . 2, a third embodiment of the present invention;
[0034] - figure 5 shows a fourth embodiment of the present invention which comprises a second glass wall, positioned externally to said layer of liquid; and
[0035] - figure 6 is a plumbing diagram of the refreshing system according to the invention.
[0036] With reference to the attached figures, reference numeral 2 globally denotes a first embodiment of a refreshing system of a building or internal environment, according to the present invention, installed in a test cabin 1, but which could be installed in a home, for example in place of a sloping skylight. The test cabin is formed of a space enclosed by insulated wooden walls and measuring 1450 mm in width, 1500 mm in length and 272 mm in height, closed above by the refreshing system 2, in a sloping position. The test cabin 1 comprises three temperature measurement stations tl, t2 and t3, respectively situated at distances of 170 mm, 1000 mm and 1800 mm from the roof of the test cabin 1.
[0037] The refreshing system 2 comprises a first glass wall formed of single chamber insulating glass 3 comprising a first, internal, surface 3a, an air cavity 3c and a second, external surface 3b. The insulating glass 3 is supported by sealed fixtures 6, so as to allow no infiltrations and is situated in an inclined position.
[0038] With reference to figures 2-5, the liquid flows in contact with the external surface 3b and is forced ' by pump devices 7 situated in a system of tubes 8 which take the liquid from a point 5 downstream of the insulating glass 3, for example a water collection channel, bringing it back to a point 15 upstream of said insulating glass 3, for example a perforated manifold so that the liquid flows over the external glass surface 3b by a gravitational drop. In the specific example, the pump was such as to entail a flow rate of liquid of 40 litres a minute for every 1500 mm of length of the roof.
[0039] By using a liquid non-transparent to visible light it was surprisingly seen that inside the test cabin 1, the temperature was lowered to an unexpected level. Said result was confirmed by a series of tests, an excerpt from which is given below.
[0040] The Applicant performed a first comparative test, wherein the test cabin 1 was subjected, from dawn onwards, to solar radiation, without the use of liquid, that is to say in conditions in which the insulating glass 3 was functioning as a normal glass roof without application of the present invention. The following temperatures were recorded, as in the rest of the present document, in degrees centigrade:
[0041] The outside temperature was measured (in this first test and in the subsequent tests) at 400 mm above the insulating glass 3.
[0042] Note that the inside temperature of the test cabin 1, in this first test, is considerably higher than the environment temperature as a result of the so-called greenhouse effect. In particular, the inside temperature is always higher, sometimes very much higher, than the outside temperature, in some points reaching (see tl at 13.00pm), values of almost 30 degrees higher than the outside temperature.
[0043] A second test was performed at conditions as similar as possible to those of the said first test (same test cabin and similar weather conditions) ; during said second test a liquid was used, composed of a litre of colorant known as 1011 IDROPOL COLORANTE BIANCO (made by Polistuc S.p.a.) in 70 litres of water. The liquid was kept at environment temperature, in the sense that it was not subjected_ to any cooling. Said liquid was made to flow over the glass surface 3b at a flow rate of 40 litres a minute and pressure of 0.7 bar, so as to permit functioning of the refreshing system 2 according to the invention, achieving the following results:
[0044] Comparing the data of the two tests, all the temperatures measured inside the cabin during the second test were lower or at most almost the same, as the outside temperatures but more importantly were significantly lower than the temperatures recorded during the first test. In particular, the difference in temperature between the first and the second test in the various measuring points at 10.00am is substantially 7-13 degrees, at 11.30am is substantially 10-20 degrees, while at 13.00pm it is up to 18 - 23 degrees. These figures are even more surprising if one considers that the outside temperature during the second test was higher than the outside temperature at the same time of day, during the first test. [0045] It was also observed that the test cabin was not completely dark but illuminated with a suffused, but not unpleasant, light sufficient to allow normal everyday activities such as reading or domestic chores .
[0046] Advantageously, the white colour improves the performance of the present invention, in that white tends to reflect a greater quantity of light, thereby further reducing heating of the glass panels.
[0047] Moreover the partial shading achieved prevents dazzling of the human eye by the sun.
[0048] It is however possible to use liquids containing pigments other than white, for example pigments of a yellow colour. A third test was therefore performed, with 500g of yellow pigment of the type known as Adler 96010 in 70 litres of water, using the same operating conditions as the previous test and achieving the following results:
[0049] ,The test was abandoned after 11.30am following a change in the weather conditions. However the available figures show that, although slightly less effective than in the second test, a significant cooling effect of the inside temperature compared to the first test was achieved .
[0050] A second embodiment of the same invention is shown in figure 3, where analogous devices have been given the same numbers as in figure 2. Such second embodiment differs from the former by the presence, along the system of tubes 8 for the forced transit of the liquid, of a cooling means 9 of the liquid.
[0051] A fourth test was therefore performed in the same test cabin and using a liquid similar to that of the second test, with the variation that the liquid was subjected to cooling to keep its temperature more or less constant. The results achieved were as follows:
[0052] Despite the variable weather conditions, once again a significant containment effect of the inside temperature compared to the first test was recorded. Moreover the presence of a cooled liquid on the surface of the glass wall makes it possible to achieve a further advantage due to the fact that the glass surface also becomes a cooling plate.
[0053] A third embodiment of the same invention is shown in figure 4, wherein analogous devices have been given the same numbers as in figure 2. A heat exchanger 10 is interposed with the system of tubes 8 which carries a second cooling liquid coming from a conditioner 11 which, in addition, releases cool air into the internal environment through vents 12 according to the prior art. This way, the conditioner 11 not only refreshes the environment, as it does traditionally, but also cools the liquid flowing on the glass surface 3b. This simplifies enormously the installation of a refreshing system in an environment previously not conditioned, in that the windows or French windows normally present in buildings can be used in place of complicated piping inside the walls of the building, thereby reducing the number of vents and relative pipes required.
[0054] The Applicant has performed further series of tests aimed at comparing the results achieved in the second, third and fourth tests with non-inventive variations.
[0055] For example, a fifth comparative test was performed, wherein the liquid used in the test cabin 1 was non- coloured running water, in other words transparent (thereby not embodying the invention) , and at environment temperature (that is to say without any cooling of the liquid), with a flow rate of 40 litres a minute at 0.7 bar of pressure; the following results were achieved:
[0056] As may be observed, compared to the first test conducted in the total absence of liquid, the containment of the inside temperature which can be achieved is extremely modest and certainly not comparable with the results achieved with the non-transparent liquid in the second and third tests. Consequently the mere presence of running water does not have the same effects as can be achieved with the system which the invention relates to.
[0057] A sixth test, of comparison with the fourth test, was also performed, wherein colourless running water was used in the test cabin 1, in other words transparent (thereby not embodying the invention) , cooled in a substantially analogous manner to the fourth test, with a flow rate of 40 litres a minute at 0.7 bar of pressure. The following results were achieved:
[0058] In this case too, compared to the first test conducted in the total absence of liquid, the containment of the inside temperature which can be achieved is extremely modest and certainly not comparable with the results achieved in the fourth test. The mere fact of having a cooled transparent liquid flow over the surface of the first glass wall is not able to efficiently counter the raising of the inside temperature of a building or environment as a result of solar radiation.
[0059] Another test was performed, again with analogous devices to those shown in figure 2, but with a liquid coloured with a soluble blue colorant, known as BLU SANOLIN EHRL CLARIANT, at a concentration of 40 grams in 75 litres of water. The data collected showed poorer results in terms of containment of the temperature, compared to the liquid with pigments in suspension, but in any case much better than in the comparative tests without liquid or with transparent liquid. In addition, highly scenographic, spectacular effects were achieved which would not otherwise have been possible.
[0060] For all the tests the insulating glass 3 was composed of a tempered external panel 3b of the type known as Planibel Clear ® 8 mm thick, while the internal panel 3a was of the type known as Stopray Elite ®, reciprocally distanced by an air cavity 3c of 20 mm.
[0061] The glass had a Ug value [ W / (m2K) ] of 1.4 (standard EN 673) .
[0062] In addition, it had the following optical properties (standard EN410) .
[0063] - light transmission (iV) 66
[0064] - light reflection (pv) 14
[0065] - internal reflection (p vi) 15
[0066] - colour rendering index RD65 (Ra) 96
[0067] - direct energy transmission (ie) 35
[0068] - energy reflection (pe) 30
[0069] - energy absorption ( e) 35
[0070] - sun factor (g) 40
[0071] - shading coefficient (SC) 0.46
[0072] - transmission of UV rays 6
[0073] With reference to figure 5, a fourth embodiment the refreshing system for a building or internal environment, according to the invention, provides a second glass wall 4 positioned externally to the layer of liquid which flows over the surface 3b. In this embodiment too, the liquid is made to circulate in the same way as described above, but remains confined in a cavity 25 between said second glass wall 4 and said second surface 3b of the first glass wall 3. This way the liquid is not dispersed in the environment and is sheltered and protected from any contamination and/or dirt.
[0074] The plumbing diagram shown in figure 6 describes an example of practical implementation of the refreshing system according to the invention. Said diagram schematically illustrates a glass surface 3 on the superior edge of which a perforated manifold 15 is installed, for example with holes of a diameter of 5 mm and a pitch of 30mm, and terminating underneath in a water collection channel 5.
[0075] The plumbing system comprises a first tank 21 of coloured water, preferably containing a white pigment, a first delivery pump 22 to pump the coloured water from the first tank 21 to the perforated manifold 15, a second tank 23 with water for washing and scenographic effects, a second delivery pump 24 to pump water for washing and scenographic effects from the second tank 23 to the perforated manifold 15, a first shut-off valve 28 to re- release the water collected in the collection channel 5 into the second tank 23, a second shut-off valve 29 for discharge of the water into the drainage system, and a third shut-off valve 30 to re-release the coloured water collected in the collection channel 5 into the first tank 21. For example, the shut-off valves are of the motorised, two-way type.
[0076] The first tank 21 is connected to the perforated manifold 15 by a delivery duct of coloured water 33; the second tank 23 is connected to the perforated manifold 15 by a delivery duct of washing water 32.
[0077] Moreover, reference numeral 34 indicates a circuit for topping up the level of water in both tanks, for example by means of a ballcock, while 35 indicates an overflow device connected to the drain.
[0078] In one embodiment of the plumbing system, a cooling system 50 is connected to the first tank 21 of coloured water 50. Said cooling system 50 comprises a heat exchanger 56, a chiller 57, for example already provided for conditioning the building, and an exchanger pump 58.
[0079] The system is run from an electric PLC control panel 31.
[0080] In one functioning mode, the refreshing system works on an automatic cycle, wherein:
[0081] 1) when the cycle is off the first valve 28 and the third valve 30 are closed, while the second valve 29 is open to allow discharge of the water into the drain;
[0082] 2) pressed the ON button, the wash cycle of the glass surface 3 begins, lasting for example 30-60 seconds, controlled by the PLC. In this cycle the second pump 24 comes on, the water arrives at the perforated manifold 15 and, passing through the holes, forms a constant film of water on the glass, for example with a flow rate of about 30-40 litres a minute every 1500 mm of manifold. The second valve 29 remains open while the remaining valves 28 and 30 remain closed (as with the cycle off) . It should be noted that the rinse phase of the glass surface 3, using washing water taken from a tank other than that containing the coloured water, is made necessary in that by being inclined and open to the outside, dirt, dust or other external agents may deposit on the glass surface 3, which must be removed before beginning the cycle with coloured water.
[0083] 3) when the rinse phase is finished, the second pump 24 stops and the first pump 22 of the coloured water comes on. Being now put clean coloured water in circulation, the second valve 29 closes, the first valve 28 remains closed and the third valve 30 opens to enable the return of the coloured water into the relative first tank 21. [0084] 4) the cycle with coloured water then begins. In one embodiment, the duration of this cycle is not set beforehand since it depends on the solar radiation and the user is therefore left to decide when to stop the flow of coloured water.
[0085] 5) pressed the stop button, the first pump 22 stops and the second pump 24 starts up again for a rinse cycle to allow cleaning of the glass surface.
[0086] 6) in a first phase of the rinse cycle, for example long 30-60 seconds, the second valve 29 opens, the third valve 30 closes and the first valve 28 remains closed. The washing water is then discharged into the drains .
[0087] 7 ) when the 30-60 seconds of rinsing are over, the second pump 24 remains on, the second valve 29 starts to close, while the first valve 28 starts to open; the third valve 30 remains closed. The washing water then returns into the relative second tank 23.
[0088] 8) this second phase of the wash cycle continues for a length of time set by the PLC, for example for 300 seconds, so as to achieve perfect cleaning of the glass surface while limiting in any case the consumption of water .
[0089] The automatic cycle just described can be supplemented with cooling of the coloured water so as to achieve a further improvement of the refreshing capacity.
[0090] The tank of coloured water 21 is connected to a third pump 58 which pumps the coloured water from the first tank 21 to . a heat exchanger 56, in turn connected to a chiller 57.
[0091] When the ON button is pressed, the third pump 58 also comes on; the coloured water enters the heat exchanger through the inlet "s2" of the secondary circuit and comes out cooled by the exchanger through the outlet "s4" of the secondary circuit.
[0092] The cold water coming from the chiller 57 enters the exchanger 56 through the inlet "si" of the primary circuit; the water comes out of the exchanger through the outlet "s3" of the primary circuit to return to the chiller circuit 57.
[0093] As well as the automatic cycle described above, another two cycles may be envisaged: a rinse cycle only and scenographic effects cycle.
[0094] In the rinse cycle only, when the ON button is pressed the rinse cycle of the glass surface begins and continues until the button is pressed again. In this cycle the second pump 24 comes on, the second valve 29 remains open while the first valve 28 and the third valve 30 are closed.
[0095] In the scenographic effects cycle, when the ON button is pressed the scenic effects cycle of the glass surface 3 starts and continues until the button is pressed again. In this cycle the second pump 24 comes on, the second valve 29 closes, the first valve 28 opens and the third valve 30 remains closed.
[0096] The present invention makes it possible, definitively, to obtain an alternative or complementary refreshing system to a conditioning system, making it possible thereby to reduce consumption and reduce the risks of bacterial contamination innate to conditioning systems. This way, both the costs of installation of conditioning systems and those of servicing relative to checking the 'filters are reduced.
[0097] Less complicated cooling of the environment is thereby achieved compared to the use of air conditioning, given that it is based on effective screening from the sun's rays; specifically, the use of a coloured liquid, preferably white, makes it possible to repel the visible rays of sunlight preventing the internal formation of infrared rays which reflected by the glass cause the overheating of the internal environment.
[0098] The pleasant effect on the human eye of the solution and the possibility of preventing dazzling make the use of the present invention even more advantageous.
[0099] In fact the visual effect of the liquid even coloured with_ bright colorants such as orange, yellow, red or otherwise, flowing over an all glass roof, makes for a unique, spectacular and scenographic environment.
[00100] The noise level of a refreshing system according to the invention is low, given that it is free of compressors and that the liquid is situated externally to the refreshed environment.
[00101] Such invention may advantageously be applied, for example, to inclined glass surfaces of large dimensions, for example of museums, shopping centres which are often diffuse in pyramid-shaped structures, thereby reducing the power required by the conditioning systems .
[00102] Not only, but such invention may advantageously be applied to a domestic environment too, for example to a room with a window, so as to render the use of an air- conditioning system unnecessary.
[00103] On the basis of the description given, other characteristics, modifications or improvements may be made by a person skilled in the art. Such characteristics, modifications or improvements are therefore also to be considered part of the present invention. In practice the materials used, as well as contingent forms and dimensions, may be as required and according to the state of the art.