SBIR Phase I: Active Visible and Infrared Management for More Energy Efficient Buildings

这个小企业创新研究（SBIR）第一阶段项目将展示通过在红外透射率和反射率之间切换来主动管理太阳能热增益的表面的可行性。最终目标是开发天窗、窗户和屋顶，以适应季节、区域和太阳通量的昼夜变化以及供暖和制冷要求。第一阶段的目标是开发包含红外反射粒子和其他红外策略的电流体颜料材料系统。这些新材料系统的红外调制性能将在低成本的电流体模块中得到验证。这些模块通过将颜料从一个小区域转移到整个表面来改变表面的光学特性，类似于鱿鱼改变皮肤颜色的方式。这项工作的创新之处在于开发了一种全新的材料系统和方法来管理大面积的近红外光。这个项目更广泛的影响/商业潜力是提高建筑物的能源效率。美国建筑能源消耗（占美国总能源消耗的40%）可以通过最大限度地利用阳光来照明，同时有效地管理太阳能热增益来显著降低。目前的被动式技术（窗户、隔热、油漆等）不容易适应季节、区域和太阳通量的昼夜变化以及供暖和制冷要求。通过使建筑物能够主动管理太阳能热增益，美国的能源消耗每年可以减少超过1千万亿BTU，同时最低限度地增加建筑基础设施的成本。通过与现有制造商的合作，在销售主动天窗、窗户、屋顶瓦片等方面也有很大的商业化机会。

This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project will demonstrate feasibility of creating surfaces that actively manage solar heat gain by switching between infrared transmittance and reflectivity. The ultimate objective is to develop skylights, windows, and roofsthat adapt to seasonal, regional, and diurnal changes in solar flux and heating and cooling requirements. The Phase I objective is to develop electrofluidic pigment materials systems incorporating infrared-reflecting particles and other infrared strategies. The infrared modulationperformance of these new materials systems will then be demonstrated in low cost electrofluidic modules. These modules change the optical properties of surfaces by moving pigment from a small area reservoir to full surface coverage in a similar manner to the way squids change their skin color. The innovation in this work is the development an entirely new materials system andmethod for managing near-infrared light over a large surface area.The broader impact/commercial potential of this project is to improve the energy efficiency of buildings. U.S. building energy consumption (40% of total U.S. Energy Consumption) can be reduced significantly by maximizing sunlight for lighting, while effectively managing solar heat gain. Current passive technologies (windows, insulation, paint, etc.) do not readily adapt toseasonal, regional, and diurnal changes in solar flux and heating and cooling requirements. By empowering buildings to actively manage solar heat gain, U.S. energy consumption can be reduced by more than 1 quadrillion BTU per year, while adding minimal cost to building infrastructure. There is also a large commercialization opportunity in selling active skylights, windows, roof tiles, etc. through partnerships with existing manufacturers.