Dynamic Shading Research Articles

Optimization of the Dynamic External Shading Control for Railway Stations in China Based on Energy Use Intensity (EUI) of Lighting and HVAC Systems

Railway stations are normally designed with glazing façades and skylights to achieve aesthetic requirements and facilitate visual permeability, but this design can lead to significant energy consumption. The implementation of dynamic external shading systems together with appropriate control strategies can significantly reduce the energy consumption of HVAC systems. This study numerically investigated the lighting and cooling energy consumption of railway stations equipped with external shading systems under various climatic zones, window-to-wall ratios (WWRs), skylight-to-roof ratios (SRRs) and roller-shade performance. The study shows that lighting energy consumption varies most significantly when the shading activation threshold is set between 50 and 200 W/m2. The dynamic shading thresholds are influenced by natural lighting and solar heat gain, with the strategy changing from using natural light to reducing solar gain as the SRR increases. This study also provides the optimal activation thresholds and energy-saving rates for railway station buildings in different climatic zones using external roller shades for different external window scenarios. In Guangzhou, using roller shade A in a railway station under the maximum external window scenario achieves energy savings of 36.41%, while in Shanghai and Beijing, the energy savings are 18.12% and 23.13%, respectively. These results provide guidance for the use of dynamic external shading in railway stations in China and for the achievement of energy-reduction targets in the transport and building industries.

Design and application optimization of static and dynamic shading technologies in multi-climate based on parameter simulation

Design and application optimization of static and dynamic shading technologies in multi-climate based on parameter simulation

Effectiveness of a dynamic living wall system of plants on indoor thermal environment in summer - an experimental study

Optimizing vertical greening systems to reduce their negative impact on buildings is important to reduce energy consumption. To reduce the long-term effects of fixed living plant walls on building facades, this study proposes an optimization scheme for dynamic living plant walls (DLWS). By combining dynamic building facades with living plant walls, this study analyzes the effectiveness of DLWS, fixed living plant walls (LWS), and dynamic shading sails (DSS) in regulating indoor temperature and humidity through controlled experiments. The results showed that DLWS and LWS had the same effect on cooling, reducing the average indoor temperature by 3.6°C during the daytime. Further, DLWS was able to increase the indoor air humidity within the appropriate range, which was lower than the LWS humidity by 6.9 RH. DLWS had a better cooling effect compared to DSS, and DLWS can reduce the indoor temperature by 2.7. The results authenticate the performance advantages and the possibility of applying dynamic plant living walls in practice.

Design and photothermal coupling analysis of Kresling origami-based intelligent dynamic shading system

This study investigates the design and mechanical analysis of Kresling origami structures for reconfigurable intelligent dynamic shading system aimed at enhancing energy efficiency and thermal management. A mechanical model was developed using the principle of minimum potential energy, followed by 4D printing of specimens tested under compression, showing strong alignment with theoretical predictions. The research highlights the system's intelligent ventilation capabilities, incorporating adjustable fan blade units into the Kresling structure. Shape Memory Polymer (SMP) enables intelligent folding, while Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer (CFRP) ensures structural stability. The photothermal coupling analysis reveals how the system autonomously adjusts the shade angle in response to environmental changes, improving indoor illumination and thermal comfort. This intelligent shading system outperforms conventional permanent solutions, reducing energy consumption and enhancing user comfort, ultimately providing innovative insights for future energy-saving technologies in buildings.

Parametric Optimization Approach to Evaluate Dynamic Shading Within Double-Skin Insulated Glazed Units for Multi-Criteria Daylighting Performance in Tropics

This research aims to support the choice of an appropriate dynamic louver shading system (DL-SS) within double-skin facade insulated glazed units (DSF-IGUs) as a high-performance integrated window system (DSF-IGUs/DL-SS) that meets both thermal and energy performance via daylight availability under a tropical climate. The research framework has developed a multi-objective optimization method to achieve research objectives via optimizing two different scenarios of the proposed system. The first scenario was optimized for daylighting availability, meanwhile, the second scenario was optimized for energy and thermal performance. For each scenario, the best solutions are selected from respective Pareto fronts according to energy efficiency criteria, thermal comfort via enhancing daylighting availability. Based on the best options resulting from both optimizations, the final step involved comparing the results of all performance indicators in the best cases to select the best solution. Overall, based on the optimizing objectives, the ranking of the best cases varied based on giving priority to the improvement objective in the optimization process. For each scenario, the best solutions are selected from the respective Pareto fronts. Overall, ranking of the best cases varied based on giving priority to the improvement objectives. Optimizing DL-SS within DSF-IGUs while giving priority to improving energy and thermal comfort while maintaining daylighting at acceptable levels is more reasonable. Thus, the DSF-IGUs/DL-SS best-case resulting from the second optimization scenario was overcome all best cases and ranked first in energy and thermal comfort. Compared to the base case, the differences of total Predicted mean vote and percentage of dissatisfied for better thermal comfort achieved were -0.35% and -1.48% with an average decreased by 22.99% and 28.72%, respectively. The differences of total energy and cooling load for better energy performance reduced by -96.84 kwh/m2. and -86.88 kwh with an average decreased by 25.33% and 26.20%, respectively. Meanwhile, the total satisfied of spatial Daylight Autonomy for better daylighting distribution and better daylighting availability of useful daylighting illuminance improvement were improved by -5.54% and +24.76% with an average percentage variation increased by 6.25% and 36.87%, respectively.

Experimental validation of effective zebra optimization algorithm-based MPPT under partial shading conditions in photovoltaic systems

This study introduces a novel approach for analyzing photovoltaic (PV) systems that employ block lookup tables for speedy and efficient simulation. It introduces an innovative method for tracking the Global Maximum Power Point (GMPP) by utilizing Zebra Optimization Algorithm (ZOA). The suggested method was carefully evaluated under difficult Partial Shading Conditions (PSCs) and Dynamic Shading Conditions (DSCs) to determine its global and local search capability. ZOA’s performance was examined in four scenarios and compared to four existing MPPT algorithms: Grey Wolf Optimization (GWO), Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO), Flower Pollination Algorithm (FPA), and Whale Optimization Algorithm (WOA). ZOA surpassed its competitors with an average tracking time of 0.875 s and a tracking efficiency of 99.95% in PSCs. In comparison, ZOA increased tracking efficiency by up to 2%, increased resilience under varied circumstances, and produced a faster convergence speed—approaching the maximum Power Point 10–15% faster than the other algorithms. Furthermore, ZOA significantly decreased operating point variations. The algorithm’s overall performance was tested using an experimental setup with a DSPACE board and a PV emulator. These findings demonstrate that ZOA is a highly efficient and dependable MPPT solution for PV systems, especially in severe PSCs.

Correction: Comparative assessment of various MPPT algorithms for solar photovoltaic systems under dynamic shading conditions

Correction: Comparative assessment of various MPPT algorithms for solar photovoltaic systems under dynamic shading conditions

An adaptive architecture for strategic Enhancement of energy yield in shading sensitive Building-Applied Photovoltaic systems under Real-Time environments

Building Applied Photovoltaic (BAPV) systems play a crucial role in developing renewable energy-generating architecture, particularly in urban settings. The BAPV arrays are designed considering the roof area and other installation factors to meet the building’s energy demand or contribute to the grid. However, the BAPV array encounters a significant challenge of partial shading by nearby trees or buildings that substantially reduce the generation efficiency. This paper proposes an energy yield enhancement solution for the BAPV system, focusing on the electrical reconfiguration of the arrays during partial shading. The solution, which employs a streamlined architecture with lower switches integrated with the dingo algorithm, ensures fast and reliable operation during dynamic shading scenarios. The solution’s efficiency is demonstrated in simulation using a BAPV system, considering real-time partial shading caused by neighbouring objects at different times of the day, considering the sun’s movement, and comparing it with existing techniques. The results show that the solution can yield 28.79 % and 15.53 % higher power than the conventional and existing techniques, with an average convergence rate and voltage standard deviation of 0.057 s and 1.26 %, respectively, thereby proving its superiority.

Fusing Transformer and diffusion for high-resolution prediction of daylight illuminance and glare based on sparse ceiling-mounted input

Accurate prediction of workplane daylight illuminance and eye-height glare is crucial for lighting control. Existing studies used machine learning to predict illuminance at predetermined locations based on indoor sensors, but they may encounter challenges in scenarios 1) with flexible seating arrangements, 2) with dynamic shading devices, and 3) requiring the prediction of glare. To address these challenges, we proposed a novel method fusing Transformer and Diffusion models, with the input being data collected from sparse ceiling-mounted illuminance sensors, and the outputs being high-resolution workplane illuminance and glare. The model works well for rooms without and with dynamic roller shades. For the former, the mean absolute errors for illuminance below 3000 lx and Daylight Glare Index (DGI) are only 20.77 lx and 0.20, and the error rates in detecting illuminance <500 lx and DGI>22 are only 0.85 % and 5.55 %. For the more complicated latter case, the aforementioned four numbers are 34.78 lx, 0.59, 2.47 % and 23.13 %. The model significantly outperforms the linear and the ANN models, particularly in glare prediction. The influence of sensor number and placement strategy on model performance was also revealed. The model can potentially enhance lighting control, especially in cases with dynamic shading, with flexible seating arrangements, and where glare is of interest.

Research on Hybrid Approach for Maximum Power Point Tracking of Photovoltaic Systems under Various Operating Conditions

Based on the characteristics of the whale optimization algorithm (WOA) and perturbation observation (P&amp;O) method, this paper proposes a novel hybrid approach called the improved chaotic whale optimization combined with perturb and observe (ICWOA-P&amp;O) method for maximum power point tracking (MPPT) control to solve the challenge of low efficiency in photovoltaic (PV) power generation under local shadows. First, the ICWOA is used for a global search to quickly locate the position of the maximum power point (MPP). Then, the P&amp;O method is used for a fine-grained local search to quickly track the position of the global maximum power point (GMPP) with low oscillation. To ensure accuracy, the tracking performance of the ICWOA-P&amp;O method is comprehensively compared with the WOA-P&amp;O, WOA, and PSO models under four conditions: uniform irradiance, static local shading, dynamic shading, and sudden changes in irradiance and temperature. The simulation results verify that under the above four conditions, the ICWOA-P&amp;O method can track the MPP continuously and stably and greatly improves the convergence time and accuracy. Compared with the other three methods, the ICWOA-P&amp;O method can effectively obtain the fastest tracking speed (less than 0.1 s), the highest tracking accuracy (more than 99.97%), the smallest relative error (less than 0.03%), and the smallest oscillation fluctuation. Finally, this study integrated the ICWOA-P&amp;O algorithm into the designed MPPT controller hardware and established a practical PV experimental platform based on the ICWOA-P&amp;O control algorithm for practical tests.

Research on Adaptive Control Systems for Building Shading Based on Decision Tree and Random Forest Classification Algorithms

Dynamic shading systems for buildings, due to their variable mechanisms and high adaptability, have the potential to reduce energy consumption in buildings significantly. However, the performance of dynamic shading is largely influenced by the control system employed. This study aims to explore an adaptive control method for building shading based on decision tree and random forest classification algorithms (machine learning), with the objective of minimizing energy demands related to lighting and cooling as much as possible. The adaptive control system model may independently modify the location of building shading in response to input environmental conditions, thereby achieving energy savings for both lighting and cooling. According to the findings, the automated control system model may reduce building energy consumption by 38% overall, which is close to the ideal level of energy conservation.

Investigating perforated egg crates as dynamic shading systems for open-plan offices in tropical climates

This study explores the use of perforated egg crates as a dynamic shading system to improve daylight quality by achieving better uniformity in open-plan offices. Glazed curtain walls, although a popular choice in modern open-plan offices, can cause problems especially in tropical climates, such as glare and heat particularly near the windows. As egg crates (EC) generally perform better as shading devices than plain horizontal or vertical systems, this study simulated three different combinations of perforated, solid, overlapping and non-overlapping egg crate models for an existing open-plan office building in Indonesia. Daylight measurements of the existing horizontal shading device without any egg crate (NO-EC) were first recorded. Subsequent simulations of non-overlapping perforated (EC-NP) egg crate models with different blade widths and blade rotation angles in accordance with the sun elevation angles on specified working hours were performed. Similar simulations were then performed for two combinations: other combinations of overlapping solid (EC-OS) and overlapping perforated (EC-OP) egg crate models. Finally, a full-scale site mock-up of the EC-NP and NO-EC were tested under real-life climatic conditions. Results show that EC-NP provides better uniformity than the other two combinations, which is within the range of 0.59–0.99. This is due to the deeper penetration of daylight achieved by the overlapping placement of the horizontal blades in front of vertical blades, while keeping the building envelope shaded.

Comparative assessment of various MPPT algorithms for solar photovoltaic systems under dynamic shading conditions

Comparative assessment of various MPPT algorithms for solar photovoltaic systems under dynamic shading conditions

Landscape in the Twentieth Century Composing in the Aspect of Performing Interpretation

The aim of the study is to cover the topic of landscape in the composer’s practice of the 20th century from the perspective of performing interpretation, as a complex artistic phenomenon consisting of a number of elements. The following research methods were chosen: monitoring the processes of performance of works; systematization of video sources; audio analysis; comparison and synthesis. The conclusions of the study were theses that emphasize the importance of: a deep sense of style, which includes works dedicated to the landscape; perfect performance technique; a creative approach to the pace and nature of the interpretation; the ability of musicians to create a special atmosphere of natural pictures in the sound fabric. The academic novelty of the article is researching the landscape in academic music of the 20th century from the perspective of performance interpretation as a single complex multi-component system. Its practical significance is emphasized by the understanding of the key components of the process of performing such works. Keywords: miniature, components of interpretation, timbre, choral style, dynamic shades

Solar arrays create novel environments that uniquely alter plant responses

Societal Impact StatementGlobally, the combustion of fossil fuels represents the vast majority of greenhouse gas emissions, and as such, a transition to renewable forms of energy provides the greatest potential for mitigating climate warming. Although solar photovoltaic energy generation is a leading climate solution, these energy facilities have a significant spatial footprint. Naturally, concerns regarding the coexistence of solar development in agriculturally productive and pristine native ecosystems remain. This study offers insight for how plants respond to novel environmental conditions within a solar array and contextualizes results to inform future array siting, design, and management to realize a sustainable solar energy future.Summary Photovoltaic (PV) solar arrays impose dynamic shading regimes and redistribute precipitation to the ecosystems beneath, leading to spatial and temporal heterogeneity in plant growth environments. Although PV are known to alter ecosystem‐level processes in managed and native landscapes, the control of PV‐induced microenvironments on plant ecophysiological responses are largely unexplored. A more robust and mechanistic understanding of how PV microenvironments control plant response will inform management of existing solar arrays and provide insight for future arrays designed to enhance ecosystem services. Here, we evaluated carbon (photosynthetic parameters) and water relations (daily patterns of leaf water potential (ψL) and stomatal conductance (gsw)) in a C3 perennial grass (Bromus inermis) across PV microsites within a 1.6 ha (1.2 MW) array in semiarid Colorado, USA. Light‐saturated photosynthetic rate was surprisingly consistent spatially, not differing between plants growing in near full sun (between PV rows) versus those growing in shadier microsites beneath panels (~28% of full sunlight). Additionally, plants located in microsites receiving only direct sunlight in the morning, when air temperature and vapor pressure deficits (VPD) were low, had greater ψL and gsw than plants receiving direct sunlight primarily in the hotter drier afternoon. Thus, while soil moisture is a primary control of plant productivity in most water‐limited grasslands, we found that VPD was a better predictor of daily patterns of leaf‐level photosynthetic and water relations responses that control aboveground biomass production in a PV array. These findings provide new mechanistic insight for evaluating vegetation management strategies in semiarid PV arrays.

Evaluation of static and dynamic PV-Integrated shading systems for office spaces in Australia

The paper summarizes a comprehensive analysis to determine the energy and cost benefits of static and dynamic photovoltaic (PV)-integrated shading devices when applied to windows of office spaces located in different climate zones across Australia. The evaluated dynamic shading systems consist of rotating overhangs placed above the windows and operated to minimize the annual energy demands of office spaces. For the first time, the study determines through optimization-based controls the best angle settings for the rotating overhangs on hourly, daily, or monthly basis to minimize the energy consumption of office spaces in Australia. The analysis results indicate that both optimally designed static and optimally operated dynamic PV-integrated overhangs have substantial potential to reduce the annual energy needs of office spaces for all Australian climates with annual energy savings ranging from 45% to over 100% depending on the building orientation, window size, glazing type, and overhang depth. This high energy benefits are attributed to the multi-function capability of the PV-integrated shading systems to minimize cooling and space thermal loads while maximizing on-site electricity generation. Unlike the case of static shading devices, it is found that dynamic PV-integrated overhangs allow office spaces to reach net-zero energy operation for certain climate zones in Australia.

Performance enhancement and techno-economic analysis of photovoltaic modules under dynamic weather conditions using dual exponential sawtooth method

The maximum output power extracted from the Photovoltaic (PV) modules is mainly dependent on ambient temperature and solar irradiance. The photovoltaic modules performance is hugely influenced by the Partial Shading (PS) effect, which results in the reduction of output power. It is caused by shadows of buildings, trees, moving clouds and towers. Under PS conditions, shaded modules receive less irradiance as compared to the unshaded modules, and this leads to overheating of PV array. The present work has been developed by a technique based on Dual Exponential Sawtooth (DES) pattern to reconfigure the PV modules so as to increase the PV output power under PS conditions along with the energy savings and economical aspects. In this technique, the PV modules of Total Cross Tied (TCT) technique and their physical locations are arranged as per DES pattern to distribute the shading effect over the entire array without altering the electrical connections of the PV modules. The DES arrangement gives the enhanced power of 41.48% by reducing the effect on any row of the shaded modules. Further, it provides the details about power sharing percentage as the number of shaded modules increase and also the affect of dynamic shade variation over the entire PV array. The proposed method validation with the existing methods for the analysis, simulation and hardware experimentation shows better performance in terms of mismatch losses and fill factor. Further, the analysis has been extended for units generated and energy savings with each module rating of 1.5KW on 4×4 PV modules.

A reliable GTR-PLC approach for power enhancement and online monitoring of solar PV arrays during partial shading

The PV system encounters severe power loss due to the existence of unavoidable partial shading that is mainly overcome by reconfiguration techniques. Besides the advantage of power enhancement, reconfiguration techniques deal with drawbacks such as limited to symmetrical arrays, higher switches and sensors requirements, lower convergence to optimal solution, and improper monitoring. In this paper, a gorilla troop reconfiguration-power line communication (GTR-PLC) approach is proposed for performance enhancement and monitoring of PV arrays during partial shading. The proposed approach uses a considerably lower switch count along with a low-cost simple architecture for loss reduction and smooth operation of the PV array during partial shading. The proposed approach is validated for 5 × 5 and 9 × 9 arrays under time-domain dynamic shading scenarios in simulation whereas real-time hardware setup-based analysis is conducted for 2 × 3 and 12 × 4 arrays using numerous artificial shading cases. The performance of the proposed system is compared with twelve existing static and dynamic techniques and found to have zero misleading power loss with an average power increment of 38.37 %. Also, a power extraction efficiency of 98.99 % and an average calculation time of 0.09 s in the proposed system during partial shading is recorded.

Your Ramadan, My Ramadan

The commercialisation of festivals can be clearly observed around the world and the term “festivalisation” has been coined to suggest an over-commodification of festivals exploited by tourism and place marketers. While this has attracted a substantial amount of academic work, not many works have focused on Islamic observances like the holy month of Ramadan, particularly in India. In this context, this paper seeks to explore the varying expressions and significations of Ramadan in modern-day Hyderabad, an Indian metropolis whose history is rooted in Islamic tradition. In-depth interviews were conducted with eight participants from different age groups and social strata, seeking anecdotes and experiences about the observation and/or celebration of Ramadan and Eid-ul-Fitr in Hyderabad. Responses were then broadly thematised to bring out the following major points of discussion: first, the multiple interpretations of the Islamic month within the Muslim community, namely variances in Ramadan culture among Islamic sub-communities; secondly, class differences in celebration of Ramadan among cosmopolitan groups; third, gendered notions about Islamic festivities, and lastly, indulgence in pleasure and public display of religiosity through Ramadan. This revealed the dynamic shades that Ramadan has taken on within the culture of Hyderabad City.

From layer to building: Multiscale modeling of thermo-optical properties in 3D-printed facades

The challenge of building sector decarbonization has driven an integral rethinking of the way we design and build facades. Recently, large scale 3D-printing has emerged as an alternative manufacturing technique for novel facade components aiming at high operational efficiency and low environmental impact. Focusing on translucent polymer 3DPFs, this study tackles the challenges of modeling thermal and optical effects in geometrically complex components where interactions across multiple domains and scales occur. In particular, we introduce a novel method for modeling the irregular thermo-optical properties of 3DPFs, capable of capturing relevant effects often out of the scope of traditional modeling approaches. Our model accounts for geometry-dependent physical effects ranging from millimeter-scale fabrication details that impact optical behavior to centimeter-scale geometric features influencing heat and radiation transfer, extending up to the meter-scale implications for the building application. By employing computational techniques such as ray-tracing, computational fluid dynamics, and finite element analysis, we establish a model that offers detailed thermal and optical analysis to support performance-driven design iterations. Finally, demonstrating this approach in an office building context, we show that 3DPFs can match the performance of double glazing with dynamic shading, providing effective solar and thermal management over the year. This is achieved in a single, mono-material component with no active control, suggesting 3DPFs are a promising direction for low-environmental impact facade design.