Tuning control of buildings glazing's transmittance dependence on the solar radiation wavelength to optimize daylighting and building's energy efficiency

doi:10.1016/j.enbuild.2013.03.036

Energy and Buildings

Volume 63, August 2013, Pages 108-118

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2013.03.036 Get rights and content

Highlights

•
Glazed, healthy building's energy efficiency and sustainability.
•
Tuning Control of Buildings Glazing's Transmittance of Solar Spectra.
•
Optimal control of Daylighting and Building's Energy Efficiency.
•
Daylighting dynamic control's performance prediction and validation.
•
R&D at the edge of new breakthroughs of the healthy buildings daylighting dynamic control.

Abstract

Further advance of glazed, healthy building's energy efficiency and sustainability is inextricable linked to the building's envelopes/facades fundamental physics study related to the dynamic control of sunlight and optimal control of solar heat gains. Relevant mathematical models and algorithms, as well as infrastructure/hardware and software integrated performance prediction and validation are studied. Reviewed is the most recent analytical and experimental research, current state of science and art, as well as some of the on-going R&D at the edge of new breakthroughs of the healthy buildings daylighting dynamic control's performance prediction and validation. It has been shown that, concerning the variability of the solar radiation spectra incident on the building's envelope, and also variability of outdoor and indoor air temperature differences, it is necessary tuning control of glazing's transmittance dependence on the solar radiation wavelength, with an aim to optimize daylighting with the reference to people needs (their health and comfort), and energy (thermal and electrical loads minimization). Finally, presented are elements of an analytical modeling approach, as initial results of study, aimed to reach a challenging research goal – Tuning control of buildings Glazing's transmittance dependence on the solar radiation wavelength to optimize daylighting and building's energy efficiency.

Graphical abstract

Section snippets

Introduction – daylighting relevance for building's health and energy efficiency

In order to stop the global climatic changes and its more and more obvious consequences, current irreversible destruction processes are to be replaced by the intensive growth of energy efficiency and RES utilization, especially in building sector – responsible for more than one third of total energy use and, in most countries in the world, is the largest greenhouse gas emissions source [1], [2]. Energy is mainly consumed during the use stage of buildings, for heating, cooling, ventilation,

Building energy performance and daylighting simulation optimization

Solar radiation, visible to the naked eye, range or daylight spans 380–780 nm. Understanding the properties of spectral distributions of daylight and its dynamical changes at different sites with varying atmospheric conditions is an active research area.

Understanding the solar–terrestrial interaction, including climatology and space weather, starts within the context of Earth's connection to the Sun's activity. The energy from nuclear fusion in the Sun's core is released and transported to the

Daylighting health impact

Review of the daylight health impact study at the edge of “new breakthroughs” has been presented in [3]. Corresponding study and results on the visual health as one of the components of a healthy environment presents paper [26] stressing that visual health is a vital question because of both the amount of illuminance and the quality of light, that is, the distribution and the glare. Therefore, making the most use of natural light is one of the promising approaches to visual health. Based on

Tuning control of glazing's daylight transmittance via biomimetics

At the building envelope glazing are occurring interactively several physical phenomena and processes. At the outdoor ambient side of envelope are acting: air temperature and humidity, “sky” equivalent temperature, wind velocity, solar radiation and other outer electromagnetic fields. All these quantities are permanently changeable, including the spectral distribution of the solar radiation, hence sunlight and daylight are permanently variable. To optimize building's glazing's features relevant

Basic elements of the optimization modeling approach

Finally, study is proceeding with assessment of the basic elements of the modeling approach, aimed to enable achieving determined challenging research goal – Tuning control of buildings glazing's transmittance dependence on the solar radiation wavelength to optimize daylighting and building's energy efficiency.

As the approach to establish relevant mathematical optimization model for the tuning control of buildings glazing’g transmittance dependence on the solar radiation wavelength to optimize

Conclusions

Reviewed is the most recent analytical and experimental research, current state of knowledge, science and art, as well as some of the on-going R&D on the healthy buildings daylighting dynamic control's performance optimization.

It has been shown that, concerning the variability of the solar radiation spectra incident on the building's envelope, and also variability of outdoor and indoor air temperature difference, with and aim to optimize daylighting with the reference to people needs (their

Acknowledgement

This work was supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) grant funded by the Korea government (MEST) (No. 2008-0061908).

References (43)

M.S. Todorovic et al.
Beyond the science and art of the healthy buildings daylighting dynamic control's performance prediction and validation
Energy and Buildings
(2012)
M.S. Todorovic et al.
Buildings energy sustainability and health research via interdisciplinarity and harmony
Energy and Buildings
(2012)
R. Hulstrom et al.
Spectral solar irradiance data sets for selected terrestrial conditions
Solar Cells
(1985)
J.L.J. Rosenfeld et al.
Modelling the optical and thermal properties of complex glazing: overview of recent developments
Solar Energy
(2001)
M. Saeli et al.
Energy modelling studies of thermochromic glazing
Energy and Buildings
(2010)
M. Trobec Lah et al.
Daylight illuminance control with fuzzy logic
Solar Energy
(2006)
Christian A. Gueymard
The sun's total and spectral irradiance for solar energy applications and solar radiation models
Solar Energy
(2004)
G. Kim et al.
Healthy-daylighting design for the living environment in apartments in Korea
Building and Environment
(2010)
J.T. Kim et al.
Overview and new developments in optical daylighting systems for building a healthy indoor environment
Building and Environment
(2010)
G. Kim et al.
Luminous impact of balcony floor at atrium spaces with different well geometries
Building and Environment
(2010)

W. Kim et al.

A distribution chart of glare sensation over the whole visual field

Building and Environment

(2010)

W. Kim et al.

The position index of a glare source at the borderline between comfort and discomfort (BCD) in the whole visual field

Building and Environment

(2009)

W. Kim et al.

A first approach to discomfort glare in the presence of non-uniform luminance

Building and Environment

(2008)

M.S. Todorovic

Large scale residential/municipal RES integrated refurbishment construction and HVAC systems engineering R&D need

ASHRAE Transactions

(2012)

Submission of the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), Sustainable Building Initiative (SBCI), The Ad Hoc Working...

P. Heiselberg et al.

Integrating environmentally responsive elements in buildings

F. Turner

Achieving IAQ and efficiency

ASHRAE Journal

(1998)

Q. Chen et al.

Detailed experimental data of room airflow with displacement ventilation

P.C. Chou et al.

Criteria for design of indoor environment in sustainable buildings

G. Kim et al.

Role of healthy light to embody healthy buildings

S.E. Selkowitz et al.

Perspectives on advanced facades with dynamic glazings and integrated lighting controls

Cited by (43)

Effects of large skylights on lighting and thermal environments in underground public transport hubs: A case study in Shenzhen
2024, Building and Environment
Large skylights in underground public transport hubs are designed to introduce natural light and reduce the energy consumed by artificial lighting. Although large skylights can improve the lighting environment of underground public transport hubs, they also increase energy consumption due to solar radiation. Therefore, there is an urgent need to balance the improved lighting and energy consumption associated with large skylights and to determine the optimal design scheme. There are few studies on the lighting and thermal environments of underground public transport hubs, and the optimal design scheme for large skylights is unclear. Therefore, in the current study, field tests were conducted to analyze the lighting and thermal environments of two underground public transport hubs located in Shenzhen: Shenzhen North Station and Futian Station. In addition, multiobjective optimization was carried out for the large skylight at Futian Station. The results showed that most passengers were satisfied with the lighting and thermal environment under large skylights, but they were less satisfied in the summer than in the winter. Therefore, appropriate shading measures should be considered to reduce the effect of large skylights on passengers’ thermal comfort in the summer. Furthermore, the results of multiobjective optimization indicated that the large skylight at Futian Station led to a 28.1 % reduction in annual air conditioning-induced energy consumption, a 31.5 % increase in the lighting performance index (UDI), and a 43.8 % increase in the human thermal comfort index (CTR). The results of this study could provide guidance for the design of large skylights in underground public transport hubs.
New solar radiation transmittance models of transparent envelope based on spectral splitting and their influence on building heat gain
2023, Journal of Building Engineering
Climate change and the energy crisis have led to increasing attention to building energy efficiency worldwide, and transparent envelopes are more critical as a weak link in building energy efficiency. However, there is a lack of quantitative research on the spectral transmittance properties of transparent envelopes. In this paper, the spectral transmittance of transparent envelopes is quantitatively studied using the controlled variable method. The transmittance calculation formula in the existing standard is modified. Firstly, five types of transparent envelopes commonly used are selected, and their transmittance to the full solar spectrum is studied to establish a transmittance model for different wavelengths. The study also focuses on the 300 nm–1100nm waveband and establishes a solar radiation transmittance benchmark model (SRTB model) based on single-pane clear glass. Secondly, the solar radiation transmittance at different wavelengths is tested by considering both the glass material and the inclination angle, and a solar radiation transmittance modified model (SRTM model) that can be modified to the SRTB model is established. Thirdly, the variation between the incident angle and transmittance is investigated, and the solar radiation transmittance-incident angle model (SRT - IA model) is developed. The results show that deviations between the fixed transmittance and SRT - IA model can reach a maximum of more than 10% for incident angles of less than 60°. Finally, the variation in radiation heat gain due to the SRT - IA model and fixed transmittance is compared in China based on typical meteorological year data. The research conclusion can provide a more precise assessment of the building heat gain from transparent envelopes and then evaluate the building energy consumption reasonably, and provide a theoretical basis for the full-spectrum utilization efficiency of solar radiation.
On daytime radiative cooling using spectrally selective metamaterial based building envelopes
2022, Energy
Recent developments in metamaterials made daytime radiative cooling possible, by engineering material surfaces to achieve high emissivity in the 8–13 μm atmospheric window and high reflectivity elsewhere. In this study, we demonstrated a daytime radiative cooling application using a scalable polymer-based spectrally selective metamaterial (named Radiative Cooling film (RC-film)) to passively cool a full-scale model house. When exposed under direct solar irradiation peaking 720 W/m², the RC-film model house achieved a roof surface temperature of consistently 2–9 °C below the ambient during a continuous 72-h experiment period. Further, setting a new milestone, the indoor air temperature of the RC-film house was also consistently 2–14 °C below the ambient during the daytime. This implies that the RC-film envelope had achieved a de facto cooling effect on the indoor space without active energy consumption. Compared to a metal sheet house, the RC-film house achieved a 25–30 °C cooler roof temperature and a 4–12 °C cooler indoor temperature during the daytime. For the South wall where the most solar radiation was received, the RC-film envelope demonstrated a 60–70% heat influx reduction. The entire exposed envelope as a whole achieved an aggregated radiative cooling power ranges from 5 to 55 W/m² during the testing days.
An automated louver with innovative parametrically-angled reflective slats: Prototyping and validation via using parametric control in Grasshopper along with Arduino board
2021, Energy and Buildings
Citation Excerpt :
Daylighting systems were investigated previously in the last 30 years in combination with automatic control [9,10] aiming to improve their performance [11–13], increase their accuracy, enhance human visual comfort and save more energy [14]. The number and kinds of worldwide publications about the automated daylighting system in the last 30 years are shown as a statistical survey in Figs. 1 and 2 [1–3,15–95]. The statistical survey was accomplished by using the keywords “daylighting systems” and “automatic control” in different research engines.
Energy-saving potential in lighting is significant in office buildings due to their primary occupancy during the daytime. This potential can be realised with an advanced daylighting system being particularly able to deliver more uniform and steadier illumination. This paper presents prototyping and experimental validation of an automated louver with parametrically-angled reflective slats, in order to reflect sunlight to evenly distributed target positions on a ceiling. The illuminated ceiling acts as a source of diffuse light to the room. The physical rotation of the automated louver is controlled parametrically using Grasshopper software together with Arduino board, motors for the motion and illuminance sensors. Validation is an essential stage to ensure the performance of such systems. Two prototypes of the proposed system with different scales are presented, 1:20 and 1:1 scaled mock-ups. The monitoring results verify the principle and aim of the proposed design, i.e., more uniform and distributed daylight illumination, automation control method besides its practicality.
Advanced parametric louver systems with bi-axis and two-layer designs for an extensive daylighting coverage in a deep-plan office room
2020, Solar Energy
Advanced daylighting systems have become commonly used in modern architecture for a more sustainable environment. The mainstream of recent daylighting studies focuses not only on the quantity but also the quality of daylight delivered to an interior space. The more uniform daylight is distributed in the required illuminance range, the more light stability is achieved, and the longer time is illuminated by daylight, the more electrical lighting energy can be potentially saved. This study proposes an advanced daylighting design based on a parametrically controlled louver with reflective slats to redirect sunlight onto a ceiling, which can then serve as a source of diffuse light to illuminate a room. The design aims to achieve steadier and more uniform daylight distribution during the working hours in a deep-plan office room. The angle of each slat of the louver is parametrically controlled to target a corresponding area on the ceiling. In order to achieve a steadier daylighting, a bi-axis design and a two-layer design with a shifted target are evaluated and compared with a one-axis design. A daylighting analysis of the proposed design is exemplified for a south-oriented 8 m deep office room in a hot arid territory. The daylight analysis was performed using Grasshopper software as a parametric tool to link with Radiance and DAYSIM daylighting analysis. The proposed design shows promising merit that it can provide a relatively steady and distributed daylight coverage for more than 90% of the floor area within the recommended acceptable range 300–500 lx during the working hours.
Development, testing and evaluation of energy savings potentials of photovoltachromic windows in office buildings. A perspective study for Australian climates
2020, Solar Energy
PhotoVoltaChromic (PVC) cells are among the emerging smart windows technologies with an interesting potential of building integration. PVC technology combines ElectroChromic materials with Dye Sensitized Solar cells in order to have a self-powered adaptive transparent film. The main advantage of this technology is to have an automatic control – potentially manually overridden – of colouration process, depending on levels of solar irradiance. Moreover, a PVC window can operate, at the same time, as a photovoltaic cell, producing energy exceeding the amount required for the colouring process. In the current study, for the first time, the full potential of PVC windows in office buildings is assessed. For this analysis, a PVC cell with a Visible Light Transmittance (VLT) variable between 16.9% and 31.5% has been selected. Australia has been considered as reference location, due to the presence, in its territory, of different climatic regions, ranging from tropical/subtropical climates to the temperate ones. The results show a strong dependence of potential energy savings on Window-to-Wall Ratio (WWR) and solar irradiance on windows. In cooling dominated climates, the adoption of PVC windows has been demonstrated to be always beneficial, even with very low WWR and/or non-optimal exposures, achieving overall energy savings of up to 20%. In heating dominated climates, adoption of PVC windows should be carefully considered, as it is highly beneficial when large glazed surfaces are present. In this case annual total energy savings up to the 32% can be predicted in comparison with buildings equipped with standard clear windows.

View all citing articles on Scopus

View full text

ReviewTuning control of buildings glazing's transmittance dependence on the solar radiation wavelength to optimize daylighting and building's energy efficiency

Highlights

Abstract

Graphical abstract

Section snippets

Introduction – daylighting relevance for building's health and energy efficiency

Building energy performance and daylighting simulation optimization

Daylighting health impact

Tuning control of glazing's daylight transmittance via biomimetics

Basic elements of the optimization modeling approach

Conclusions

Acknowledgement

Energy and Buildings

Energy and Buildings

Solar Cells

Solar Energy

Energy and Buildings

Solar Energy

Solar Energy

Building and Environment

Building and Environment

Building and Environment

Building and Environment

Building and Environment

Building and Environment

Large scale residential/municipal RES integrated refurbishment construction and HVAC systems engineering R&D need

ASHRAE Transactions

Integrating environmentally responsive elements in buildings

Achieving IAQ and efficiency

ASHRAE Journal

Detailed experimental data of room airflow with displacement ventilation

Criteria for design of indoor environment in sustainable buildings

Role of healthy light to embody healthy buildings

Perspectives on advanced facades with dynamic glazings and integrated lighting controls

Review
Tuning control of buildings glazing's transmittance dependence on the solar radiation wavelength to optimize daylighting and building's energy efficiency