I-Corps: Regenerative High-Performance Curtain Wall for Net Zero Energy Buildings

这个I-Corps项目更广泛的影响/商业潜力是开发一种具有成本效益的再生幕墙，专门用于实现建筑能源成本节约和零能耗建筑应用的用户满意度。 建筑围护结构有助于增加建筑物内的加热、冷却和照明负荷，同时影响居住者的舒适度。该技术是一种高性能再生幕墙，旨在减少建筑能耗和二氧化碳（CO2）排放，以减少更广泛的社会，经济和商业影响。 该技术在商业建筑中的成功应用预计将实现每年95万亿Btu的节能（即，I-Corps的这个项目是基于开发一种多功能、节能的幕墙系统。这种再生幕墙在双窗格玻璃组件内结合了集中式微光伏（CMPV）组件的3D夹层。利用太阳辐射，CMPV组件由带菲涅尔透镜的硅基太阳能电池组成，菲涅尔透镜是一种轻质光学透镜，其聚光效率可在较小的PV电池面积内最大限度地提高太阳能输出。使用CMPV的一个关键优点是，它允许优化各种建筑性能需求，包括能源效率（即，空调负荷的减少和最大日光透射），用户满意度（即，温度、相对湿度、眩光）和太阳能发电。用于系统的几何配置的优化算法可以针对不同的气候条件和其中阳光水平变化的建筑物取向来最大化电力生产和全年节能。减少照明、冷却和加热负荷的建筑物运行能源成本可能会节省能源成本。此外，该系统的可视和日光穿透能力有望改善建筑物居住者的健康和福祉。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

The broader impact/commercial potential of this I-Corps project is the development of a cost-effective regenerative curtain wall specifically configured to achieve building energy cost-savings and user satisfaction for net-zero energy building applications. Building envelopes contribute to an increase in heating, cooling, and lighting loads inside the building while affecting occupant comfort. This technology, a high-performance regenerative curtain wall, is designed to curtail building energy consumption and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions to reduce broader societal, economic, and commercial impacts. The successful application of the technology in commercial buildings is expected to accomplish 95 trillion Btu in annual energy reduction (i.e., $10 billion energy bill saving) and 13 million metric tons of CO2 sequestration.This I-Corps project is based on the development of a multi-functional, energy-efficient curtain wall system. This regenerative curtain wall incorporates a 3D interlayer of concentrated micro-photovoltaic (CMPV) components within a double-pane glass assembly. Capitalizing on solar radiation, CMPV components consist of silicone-based solar cells with a Fresnel lens, which is a lightweight optical lens whose light concentration efficiency maximizes solar output within a small PV cell area. A key advantage of using the CMPV is that it allows optimization for various building performance needs, including energy efficiency (i.e., reduction of air conditioning load and maximum daylight transmission), user satisfaction (i.e., temperature, relative humidity, glare), and solar-powered energy production. The optimization algorithm for geometric configurations of the system may maximize power production and year-round energy savings for different climate conditions and building orientations where sunlight level varies. Reductions in building operational energy costs from lighting, cooling, and heating loads may result in energy cost savings. In addition, the system’s ability to allow viewing and daylight penetration is expected to improve the health and well-being of building occupants.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.