Active panels for energy efficient building envelopes

在美国和加拿大，建筑物消耗了大约40%的能源。因此，越来越需要节约建筑物消耗的能源。大部分建筑材料具有相对较低的导热系数和较高的热容。因此，建筑结构作为临时蓄热系统具有很大的潜力. Innovative North（该项目的工业合作伙伴）参与了开发“SolarStrom”和“ThermoStorm”等清洁技术的进程。这种技术可以有效地用于节能建筑物的窗、门、墙壁等，并且可以存储来自可再生源的能量并将所存储的能量转换为热量和其他有用的形式（例如，空气加热、空调、发电、水加热等）当需要的时候。在这个研究和开发项目中，核心重点将放在矩形结构上，这将是墙、门和窗的活动墙板的代表性几何形状。将开发分析和计算流体动力学和传热模型，以研究和分析空气和水的流动通道，传热流体的性能，基于不同类型材料或纳米材料的能量传输和转换过程，适用于能源效率应用。根据模拟结果，将研制一个小规模的样机，在实验室环境中进行实验测量。测量空气层、传热流体和储能材料层的热流密度和温度。计算了样机的能量转换效率。这样的项目将有助于刺激绿色投资，绿色创新，并将为当地人民创造更多的就业机会和环保技术。从长远来看，这种系统具有降低成本和碳足迹的潜力inOntario以及在加拿大。

Buildings utilize approximately 40% of the total energy consumed in USA and Canada. Therefore, there is anincreasing need for saving energy consumed by buildings. Large portions of building materials have relativelylow thermal conductivities and high heat capacities. Therefore, the building structures have significantpotential to be utilized as temporary thermal energy storage systems. Innovative North (industrial partner forthis project) has been involved in the process of developing clean technologies like "SolarStrom" and"ThermoStorm". Such technologies can be effectively utilized for windows, doors, walls, etc. for the energyefficient building and can store energy from renewable sources and convert the stored energy to heat and otheruseful forms (e.g., air-heating, air-conditioning, power generation, water heating, etc.) when required. In thisresearch and development project, the core focus will be on rectangular-shaped structures which will berepresentative geometries for active wall panels for wall, door, and window. Analytical and computational fluiddynamics and heat transfer model will be developed to study and analyze air and water flow channel,performance of heat transfer fluid, energy transmission and conversion processes based on different types ofmaterials or nano-materials applicable to energy efficiency applications. A small scale prototype will bedeveloped based on the modeling results for experimental measurements in the lab environment. Heat flux andtemperatures of air layer, heat transfer fluid, and energy storage material layer will be measured. Energyconversion efficiency of the prototype will be calculated. Project like this will assist stimulation of greeninvestment, green innovation, and will create more employment opportunities for local people and environmentfriendly technologies. In the long run, such system has the potential for cost and carbon footprint reductions inOntario as well as in Canada.