LOTUS CLOUD            

 Because of frequent flooding during the rainy season, dwellings in climatically hot countries in these climatic zones are usually built on stilts. This means that the living space also has a lower, roofed area. To withstand occasional violent storms, the corner posts are attached by several ground anchors.

 

 

During my stays in India, I realised that in long-term dry/hot conditions, wall insulation with a cooling effect through evaporator walls would make sense.

 

The production should be:

 

+ inexpensive, 

 

+ be self-buildable and in modular components - 

 

+ thus be locally transferable.

 

+ All this can be done without a fan or pump.

 

Wall module frames would be covered in three different layers: A shiny silver or white PVC fabric tarpaulin is applied to the outside. 5 cm deeper, a 2 mm earth fleece is hooked into its frame. For moistening the fleece in the hot, dry months, a perforated water hose is installed above the fleece. These are commercially available as sprinkler hoses with a timer valve.

 

The intermediate wet fleece has a narrow slit at the top as a transition for the thermal flow, which begins independently in the morning when the outside temperature is hotter.

 

The inner visible wall (again at 5 cm intervals) is made of moisture-resistant, attractive decorative fabric. The desired circulation takes place via narrow air slits at the bottom, on the inner and outer wall.

 

The inside visible wall (again at 5 cm intervals) is made of moisture-resistant, pleasing decorative fabric. The desired circulation can be regulated at the top and bottom via narrow air slits. The upward and downward flow now takes place around the wet fleece (which is left dry in the rainy season): on the one hand, upward and evaporating, between the wet fleece and the outer skin, and on the other hand, downward and cooling in the inner plane, between the fleece and the decorative fabric.

 

The light sloping roof gets by with only two layers. These open out at the top into a warm-air-discharging chimney made of matt black sheet metal. 

 

Several times a year, the inner fleece is to be exposed to the sun and then shaken out and placed again. Unhealthy germ development is prevented by cleaning all surfaces and parts.

 

In the lotus cloud, energy could be generated with solar electricity and solar-generated hot water (with a tank at the top of the hut). A biologically functioning small sewage treatment plant covered with mosquito netting is also recommended. 

 

Fabric foils for simple shelter should have a silvery reflective side on the outside and a dark light-proof side on the inside.

 

These approaches should also be considered for further implementation by UNHCR and UNIDO.

  

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Contact

 

e-mail: michael@earthsolar.at 

 

                            Tel. +43(1)9195724, Austria