Inspired by respiratory surface of sea sponges, Bio-inspired Ventilating Envelope performs a process of inhaling and exhaling via lung like chambers and it is developed by researchers at TU Delft.
Bio-inspired Ventilating Envelope is a skin that reacts to changing conditions and influences the air pressure on the surface to perform a process of inhaling and exhaling. It provides an extended surface area for air exchange created by a lot of small active units. Increasing the exchange surface of the skin improves the ventilation through it.
The envelope transforms into a distributed ventilation system via contractions and expansions of an elastic membrane. The skin performs a process of inhaling and exhaling via lung like chambers inspired by the respiratory surface of sea sponges. The constantly changing rate of deformation of the functional units is controlled via piezo-electric actuators.
Retrieved from:
Badarnah, L. and Knaack, U. (2007). Bio-inspired ventilating system for building envelopes. In Proceedings of the International Conference of the 21st Century: Building Stock Activation, Tokyo, Japan. pp. 431-438.
Badarnah, L. and Knaack, U. (2007). Bionic breathing skin for buildings. In Proceedings of the International Conference SB07: Sustainable Construction, Materials and Practices.