Electrochromic Glass system in Norwegian Climate: Control strategies and Impact on the indoor thermal conditions

A Nocente,S Grynning,L Gullbrekken

doi:10.1088/1742-6596/2069/1/012127

Abstract

This work investigates by simulations the impact of the use of Electrochromic (EC) windows in a modern wooden cabin with large window area in a colder climate. The climatic areas considered are 4 different locations in Norway. Three different automatic control systems were used and compared. The windows were alternatively equipped with a textile integrated external blind and an EC glass. The results show that the use of EC glass has a quantifiable impact in term of reduction of peak temperature by 2°C and reduction of number of hours with high indoor temperature. The control system that seems to perform better is based on external solar radiation. In the particular situation of a cabin, where the visual comfort and the surrounding view has the greatest importance, a more complex control algorithm needs to be developed.

Highlights

The need for improving the energy efficiency of buildings, together with a growing interest towards the wellbeing and the comfort of occupants, has led to the study and implementation of chromogenic materials in the transparent building envelope
Scholars who have studied EC windows, or smart windows in general, concentrate on two main aspects: the energy saving resulting from spectral modulation and the optimal use of daylight, the latter involving both visual comfort and the eventual savings on the cost of using artificial lighting [4]
The traditional integrated screen is more effective than the EC glass in reducing the peak temperature, but the EC glass has in any case a sensible impact

Summary

Introduction

The need for improving the energy efficiency of buildings, together with a growing interest towards the wellbeing and the comfort of occupants, has led to the study and implementation of chromogenic materials in the transparent building envelope. EC windows provide a light control solution while leaving a view of the surroundings [2,3]. Scholars who have studied EC windows, or smart windows in general, concentrate on two main aspects: the energy saving resulting from spectral modulation and the optimal use of daylight, the latter involving both visual comfort and the eventual savings on the cost of using artificial lighting [4]. These two aspects can conflict during the operation of these devices. Gugliermetti and Bisegna [9] proposed a control based on both thermal and visual aspects

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion