Collaborative Research: Adaptive, Multi-Layered Fenestration Elements for Optimum Building Energy Performance and Occupant Comfort

随着建筑物努力减少能源需求，同时为居住者维持一个舒适的热和视觉环境，窗户(即窗户)在这一努力中是一个关键的影响因素。开窗允许自然采光和室外景观，但也代表了建筑围护结构中热效率最低的部分，以及不必要的不适眩光和直射阳光的来源。一个多层的、动态运行的窗口系统，可以安装在新建筑中，也可以为现有建筑进行翻新，以满足不同气候条件下的建筑能源使用和居住者舒适需求。该项目将探讨建筑业面临的理论和实践挑战，以开发动态窗口设计的性能模型，以增强建筑的能源可持续性和人类健康。为了鼓励国际上的思想交流，研究团队将通过欧盟委员会的地平线2020 Plug-N-收获项目与欧洲同行合作。此外，还将为土木工程、机械工程和材料工程的研究生和本科生提供教学和跨学科的研究机会，以满足迫切的需求，特别是现有建筑的需求。本研究将通过开发一种自适应的、多层次的解决方案，为智能节能窗户的智能控制和操作奠定理论和实践基础。这包括：(A)以矩阵模式应用于窗户外部的双波段、连续状态电致变色玻璃，以实现局部控制；(B)电动和动态操作的遮阳装置；以及(C)基于多物理模型的新型自适应控制框架，目标是实时平衡一系列建筑能耗与居住者的热和视觉舒适性优先事项。外部2维电致变色玻璃阵列与窗口内部的第二动态层相结合，提供了解决局部居住者视觉舒适性挑战的能力，并允许更广泛的能力来控制太阳热量获取，同时解决居住者舒适性标准的差异。模型框架解决方案将使用模拟和全尺寸试验台进行测试和评估。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

As buildings work towards reducing energy demands, while maintaining a both thermally and visually comfortable environment for occupants, fenestrations (i.e. windows) are a key influential component in this effort. Fenestrations allow for natural daylight and outdoor views, but also represent the least thermally efficient portion of the building envelope, as well as a source of unwanted discomfort glare and direct sunlight. A multi-layered, dynamically-operated fenestration system that can be installed in new buildings or retrofitted for an existing building will address building energy use and occupant comfort needs under a diverse range of climate conditions. The project will explore the theoretical and practical challenges for the building industry to develop a model for the performance of dynamic fenestration designs to enhance building energy sustainability and human health. To encourage exchanging of ideas internationally, the research team will collaborate with European colleagues through the European Commission Horizon 2020 PLUG-N-HARVEST project. In addition, instructional and interdisciplinary research opportunities will be provided for graduate and undergraduate students of civil, mechanical, and materials engineering to serve a vital need, particularly from existing buildings. This research will lay the theoretical and practical foundations for the intelligent control and operations of smart and energy efficient fenestrations by developing an adaptive, multi-layered solution. This includes: (a) a dual-band, continuous-state electrochromic glazing applied to the window exterior in a matrix pattern to enable localized control, (b) a motorized and dynamically-operated shading device, and (c) a novel, multi-physics model-based adaptive control framework, with the goal of balancing a range of building energy consumption and occupant thermal and visual comfort priorities in real time. The exterior 2-dimensional electrochromic glazing array combined with a second dynamic layer on the fenestration interior provides the ability to address localized occupant visual comfort challenges, and allows for a broader range of capabilities to control solar heat gains, while addressing differences in occupant comfort criteria. The model framework solution will be tested and evaluated using simulations, and a full-scale testbed.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.