Abstract
Solar cooling systems have gained increased attention these last years, for its potential to lower indoor temperatures using renewable energy. However, architectural integration of these systems in buildings has not been fully explored. Current developments such as small scale solar driven heat pumps and solar cooling kits commercially available for application raise questions about how to successfully integrate these systems into buildings, while present interesting opportunities for the development of new performance based façade components or even self-sustaining cooling façade modules for high-performing commercial buildings.The present paper seeks to discuss current possibilities for façade integration of solar cooling systems, generating a framework for the understanding and further development of solar cooling façade systems. The proposed framework was made by means of a review of solar cooling technologies and solar cooling façade concepts found in the literature. The outcomes of this study are a matrix outlining the possibilities for the integration of several components and subsystems from the entire cooling process (cooling generation, distribution and delivery), and an assessment of the development level of state-of-the-art experiences within the field considering examples from current research projects and working prototypes, for the development of solar cooling integrated façade concepts.
Highlights
The energy utilised for the cooling of buildings is an important aspect of the current public agenda towards sustainability
Solar cooling integrated facades are defined for purposes of this study as façade systems which comprise all necessary equipment to self-sufficiently provide solar driven cooling to a particular indoor environment
The review included two concepts which do not entirely fall under the solar cooling principles discussed above, but use solar thermal energy to assist the operation of a vapour compression heat pump [71], and an indirect evaporative cooling system [72], both integrated into façade components
Summary
The energy utilised for the cooling of buildings is an important aspect of the current public agenda towards sustainability. It seems reasonable to expand current knowledge on solar cooling, focusing on application possibilities, to promote the development of new architectural products. In this line, a small but increasing number of researchers have explored integration potential of these technologies in the building envelope, developing façade components or systems which integrate solar cooling equipment. The third section deals with solar cooling integrated facades, defining the proposed concept and reviewing several façade systems in different development stages, that integrate the solar cooling principles previously discussed, in order to present the state of the art of related experiences in the field
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