STTR Phase I: Autonomous Electrochromic Windows Enabled by Visibly Transparent Energy Harvesting Coatings

STTR 第一阶段：由可见透明能量收集涂层实现的自主电致变色窗户

• 批准号: 1332110
• 负责人: Miles Barr
• 金额: $ 22.5万
• 依托单位: Ubiquitous Energy, Inc
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2013
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2013-07-01 至 2014-06-30
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1332110&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: STTR; Phase; Autonomous; Electrochromic; Windows

This Small Business Technology Transfer Phase I project explores an autonomous electrochromic (EC) window enabled by a visibly transparent photovoltaic coating technology. EC windows, which transition from a transparent state to a dark state (and vice-versa) based on an electrical input, represent a promising pathway to increasing building energy efficiency by effectively regulating the solar flux into the building. Though well-developed technologically, broad adoption of EC windows is limited by installation challenges rooted in a lack of autonomy (i.e. wiring to an external energy source, sensors, and control systems). The team has identified a key solution in which visibly-transparent photovoltaic coatings are integrated over the EC to serve as (1) an onboard energy source that harvests ambient light to power EC transitions, and (2) a photodetector that enables dynamic transparency control in response to changes in external lighting conditions. This project will demonstrate relevant performance and durability specifications of the photovoltaic coating to initiate large-area window integration and commercial deployment of autonomous EC windows.The broader impact/commercial potential of this project is embodied by unprecedented freedom for architectural EC window adoption, which can reduce electricity consumption for cooling, lighting, and peak power demands in buildings by up to 15%-50%. By integrating power and sensing functionalities onboard with the EC window without impacting visual aesthetics, a fully autonomous insulated glazing unit (IGU) can be constructed that requires no specialized installation or external balance of systems. Ultimately this will significantly broaden adoption of EC windows, by eliminating concerns related to the cost and complexity of EC installation, thus improving payback period and simplifying the decision-making process within the supply chain of the built environment. Moreover, this project will result in the development of knowledge that will guide future generations of visibly-transparent photovoltaics for other products in which a local energy source and light detection functionality can provide significant value (e.g. electronic displays and mobile electronic accessories), enhancing the functionality of those products without impacting aesthetics.

这个小企业技术转让第一阶段项目探索了一种由可见透明光伏涂层技术实现的自动电致变色（EC）窗户。基于电输入从透明状态转换到暗状态（反之亦然）的EC窗代表了通过有效地调节进入建筑物的太阳能通量来提高建筑物能效的有希望的途径。虽然技术发展良好，但EC窗户的广泛采用受到缺乏自主性的安装挑战的限制（即连接到外部能源，传感器和控制系统）。该团队已经确定了一个关键的解决方案，其中透明的光伏涂层集成在EC上，作为（1）一个板载能源，收集环境光为EC转换提供动力，以及（2）一个光电探测器，能够响应外部照明条件的变化进行动态透明度控制。该项目将展示光伏涂层的相关性能和耐久性规范，以启动大面积窗户集成和自主EC窗户的商业部署。该项目的更广泛影响/商业潜力体现在建筑EC窗户采用的前所未有的自由度，可以减少建筑物中冷却，照明和峰值功率需求的电力消耗高达15%-50%。通过在不影响视觉美观的情况下将电力和感测功能与EC窗集成在一起，可以构建完全自主的隔热玻璃单元（IGU），其不需要专门的安装或系统的外部平衡。最终，这将通过消除与EC安装的成本和复杂性相关的担忧，从而大大扩大EC窗户的采用，从而改善投资回收期并简化建筑环境供应链中的决策过程。此外，该项目将导致知识的发展，将指导未来几代的透明光致发光材料用于其他产品，其中本地能源和光检测功能可以提供显着的价值（例如，电子显示器和移动的电子配件），增强这些产品的功能，而不影响美观。