A Novel Dynamic Insulation System for Windows

Abstract

Abstract:One of the measures to reduce energy consumption in buildings in Nordic countries is limiting the window area, as windows contribute to significantly higher heat loss than walls during a long hot season. This conflicts with user needs for daylight and views out, especially in buildings situated in dense urban areas. The purpose of the project was to test if dynamic insulation can be used to reduce heat loss through windows during periods when view out is not needed. The paper presents a new dynamic insulation system for windows in a form of an exterior sliding shutter. The development of the system started from an existing poorly insulating sliding door system that has been equipped with vacuum insulation panels and re-designed according to the new purpose. The new system was both numerically simulated using THERM and tested in full-scale in a Hot-box apparatus at the laboratory of SINTEF Building and Infrastructure. The results are promising and encourage further development towards a commercial product.

Advanced Innovative Solutions for Final Design in Terms of Energy Sustainability of Nearly/Net Zero Energy Buildings (nZEB)

“…As regards the opaque envelope, six articles studied the impact of implementing passive solutions, such as phase change materials (PCM), green roofs, dynamic insulations, high-performance insulation materials and sunshades, flexible canopies and Prefabricated Straw Bale Construction (PSBL), on building energy performance and saving [24][25][26][27][28][29].…”

“…From the point of view of stormwater management, a green roof system can significantly reduce stormwater runoff generation in terms of runoff volume reduction and peak attenuation. Gruner and Matusiak [26] tested dynamic insulation which has the task to potentially reduce heat loss through highly insulating windows in the Nordic climate. The new system was both numerically simulated using THERM and tested in full-scale in a Hot-box apparatus in a steady-state condition at the laboratory of SINTEF Building and Infrastructure in Trondheim, Norway.…”

Cataloguing of the Defects Existing in Aluminium Window Frames and Their Recurrence According to Pluvio-Climatic Zones

“…This is the case because their values are usually clearly lower toward the opaque parts-due to the characteristic values of the materials usually employed in the frames and in the glazing [12,13], as well as to the probability of the appearance of thermal bridges in the most common construction solutions [14]. In this line of research, there are numerous publications that examine the insulation provided by windows, its impact on building energy demands and interventions for improving it [15,16]. From this energy perspective, one should also note the effect of solar radiation entering the building through the glazing of windows, the consequences of which are not always easy to mitigate [17].…”