The Scope of Advanced Smart Vacuum Insulation Technologies for Net Zero Energy Buildings

Abstract

AbstractThe conception at which, modernly, buildings are being aspired to achieve to be net zero energy buildings (NZEBs) is broadly recognised. The heat loss through the windows of buildings is one of the factors contributing to high energy consumption for space heating ensuing in preventable carbon emissions. This talk/paper aims to present the novel constructions and performance attributes of the advanced smart vacuum insulation technologies that are: (i) Vacuum Glazing (VG), (ii) Triple Vacuum Glazing (TVG), (iii) Electrochromic Vacuum Glazing (EVG), (iv) Semi-transparent Photovoltaic Electrochromic Vacuum Quadruple Glazing (STPV-EVQG), (v) Translucent Vacuum Insulation Panel (TVIP), and (vi) Fusion-sealed Vacuum Glazing (FVG). The experimental results show that VG achieved U-value of 0.97 Wm−2 K−1; it was further reduced with TVG that achieved U-value of 0.33 Wm−2 K−1. To control the solar heat gains from 0.41 (transparent mode) to 0.13 (opaque mode), ECG is constructed that achieved a U-value of 0.82 Wm−2 K−1, it required electrical power of <0.4 Wm−2. To make it self-reliant, the semi-transparent PV glazing was integrated to EVG to supply the power and store the generated energy using NiMH battery, the STPV-EVQG achieved U-value of 0.7 Wm−2 K−1. Due to the cost/edge effects of hermetic glass edge-sealing materials, a new structured core transparent vacuum insulation panel (TVIP) is constructed, to accomplish insulation for the windows without edge-sealing effects, that achieved U-value of 1.72 Wm−2 K−1 but suffered the vacuum pressure degradation. The development of a novel cost-effective fusion seal for the construction of fusion-sealed vacuum glazing (FVG) is detailed, which achieved the U-value of 1.24 Wm−2 K−1.KeywordsElectrochromicFusion sealSemi-transparent photovoltaicsVacuum glazingTranslucent vacuum insulation panel