Test cell analysis of the use of a supply air window as a passive solar component

A series of experiments was conducted to determine the performance characteristic of a ‘double’ window used to pre-heat background room ventilation. A theoretical model of heat exchange conditions within the window was compared with results from a test cell. The test cell was used in different modes, firstly free-ventilated with the service room window and interconnecting duct to the cell left open, and then with forced ventilation at a consistent velocity to analyse the relative extent of direct solar and ventilation heat gain. A subsidiary study sought to determine the frequency of positive and negative air flow through trickle vents under real house conditions, this was compared with glass temperatures from the test cell measurements to assess the risk of condensation forming within the window. By reference to recent work on ventilated PV systems it was possible to derive a method of relating the U value and Solar Heat Gain Coefficient within the window cavity to a range of boundary conditions.     

Heat transfer through a double-glazed unit with an internal louvered blind: Determination of the thermal transmittance using a biquadratic equation

The aim of this research is to quantify the influence of a louvered blind in a double-glazed unit during night-time conditions. First, an analytical study of free convection was conducted to obtain a set of correlations for the Nusselt numbers of the cavity. Second, a parametric study was performed to calculate the total heat transfer (convective and long-wave radiative) during night-time conditions. The analysis accounted for aspect ratio, blind thermal conductivity, surface emissivity and slat angle. Using these data, a biquadratic equation was developed to calculate the U-factor of a double-glazed unit with an internal louvered blind in terms of the U-factor of the unit without the blind, slat surface emissivity and slat angle.     

Free convective heat transfer in an enclosure with an internal louvered blind

A numerical study has been conducted of free convection in a tall vertical enclosure with an internal louvered metal blind. The study considers the effects of Rayleigh number, enclosure aspect ratio, and blind geometry on the convective heat transfer. The numerical model has been validated against experimental measurements and the results have been presented in terms of an empirical correlation for the average Nusselt number. The correlation is applicable to an enclosure with an internal metal blind. It has been shown that the Nusselt number correlation can be combined with a simple one-dimensional model to closely predict the enclosure U-value.     

Novel glazing technologies to mitigate energy consumption in low‐carbon buildings: a comparative experimental investigation

Buildings play a key role in total world energy consumption as a consequence of poor thermal insulation characteristics of facade materials. Among the elements of a typical building envelope, windows are responsible for the greatest energy loss because of their notably high overall heat transfer coefficients. About 60% of heat loss through the building fabric can be attributed to the glazed areas. In this respect, novel cost‐effective glazing technologies are needed to mitigate energy consumption, and thus to achieve the latest targets toward low/zero carbon buildings. Therefore in this study, three unique glazing products called vacuum tube window, heat insulation solar glass and solar pond window which have recently been developed at the University of Nottingham are introduced, and thermal performance analysis of each glazing technology is done through a comparative experimental investigation for the first time in literature. Standardized co‐heating test methodology is performed, and overall heat transfer coefficient (U‐value) is determined for each glazing product following the tests carried out in a calibrated environmental chamber. The research essentially aims at developing cost‐effective solutions to mitigate energy consumption because of windows. The results indicate that each glazing technology provides very promising U‐values which are incomparable with conventional commercial glazing products. Among the samples tested, the lowest U‐value is obtained from the vacuum tube window by 0.40 W/m²K, which corresponds to five times better thermal insulation ability compared to standard air filled double glazed windows. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Investigations into the functioning of a supply air window in relation to solar energy as determined by experiment and simulation

‘Supply air windows’ under optimum flow conditions function as an efficient heat reclaim device. Heat escaping from the room, through the inner glass pane, is entrained in the air flow between the inner and outer sashes and returned to the room. A low-E coating to the inner glass acts as a barrier to radiation heat loss across the window so very low U-values can be achieved. These same characteristics enable the window to function as a passive solar component. Its efficiency is inferior to that of a dedicated passive solar device due to its transparency, but even so at modest levels of incident solar gain a worthwhile proportion is entrained into the air flow and supplied to the rooms as pre-heated ventilation air supply. These characteristics have been established by laboratory, test cell investigations, and simulations using computational fluid dynamics and ESP-r, a whole building dynamic thermal modelling tool.     

Application of terminal box optimization of single‐duct air‐handling units

Terminal boxes maintain room temperature by modulating supply air temperature and airflow in building heating, ventilation and air‐conditioning (HVAC) systems. Terminal boxes with conventional control sequences often supply inadequate airflow to a conditioned space, resulting in occupant discomfort, or provide excessive airflow that wastes significant reheat energy. In this study, the procedure for the optimal minimum airflow setpoint was developed to improve thermal comfort and reduce energy consumption. The determined minimum airflow setpoint was applied in an office building air‐conditioning system. Improvements in indoor thermal comfort and energy reduction were verified through measurement. The results show that the minimum airflow reset can stably maintain room temperature, satisfy comfort standards and reduce energy consumption compared with the conventional control. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Algorithm for blinds control based on the optimization of blind tilt angle using a genetic algorithm and fuzzy logic

This paper presents the calculation of the power of solar rays that pass through the window of an observed room and their impact on warming up and lighting of the room. The calculations were performed using a mathematical model that takes into account the geographical position of the object, time zone, orientation of windows, day of the year, and current time. This paper also includes the calculation of geometry of the solar radiation and its intensity, artificial light and cooling/heating demands. Based on data from above, the optimization of blind tilt angle was performed to achieve the best possible brightness of the room and energy savings when heating or cooling, depending on ambient temperature. Optimization was performed using a genetic algorithm and fuzzy logic. After an analysis of the results obtained from optimization of the blind tilt angle, an algorithm for blinds control was developed in order to achieve energy savings and comfort in the observed room. Based on the derived conclusions, an UML diagram was made that describes the algorithm for determining optimal blind tilt angle.     

Determination of glazing area in direct gain systems for three different climatic zones

This study determines the glazing area in direct gain passive systems needed to ensure thermal comfort inside a building (room air temperature 20 ± 2°C). A 4 m × 4 m × 3 m single zone isolated house is analyzed in three different types of climates namely composite (8°C to 20°C, New Delhi), cold-cloudy (−2°C to 5°C, Srinagar), and cold-sunny (−14°C to −3°C, Leh). The analysis is based on the periodic solution of the heat conduction equations describing heat transmission in the building components, floor, walls, and roof, and the Fourier representation of the ambient temperature vnd the total solar radiation intercepted by the building envelope. Two types of construction are analyzed: the first type is a traditional construction with 22-cm-thick brick wall, plastered 15 mm on both the sides (U = 2.0 W m⁻² K⁻¹); and the second one is of the same type but with 10 cm of expanded polystyrene insulation on all the four walls and the roof (U = 0.31 W m⁻² K⁻¹). It is found that for traditional construction with U = 2.0 W m⁻² K⁻¹, the glazing U value has almost no effect on the room temperature even for large variation of the glazing area (10% to 40%, expressed in terms of percentage of floor area). For a well-insulated house (U = 0.31 W m⁻² K⁻¹), the glazing U value has no effect upon the room air temperature if the glazing area is small (less than 10%). The position of the insulation on the external surfaces is more effective in reducing large inroom air temperature. Finally, for an insulated house, we recommended glazing is 30%, 20%, and 10% for cold-sunny, cold-cloudy, and composite climates, respectively.     

PCM-facade-panel for daylighting and room heating

Double glazings combined with phase change materials (PCM) result in daylighting elements with promising properties. Light transmittances in the range of 0.4 can be achieved with such facade panels. Compared to a double glazing without PCM, a facade panel with PCM shows about 30% less heat losses in south oriented facades. Solar heat gains are also reduced by about 50%. This results in calculated U_eff-values of −0.3 to −0.5 W m⁻² K⁻¹, depending on PCM used. For an optimised panel, we calculated an U_eff-value of −0.6 W m⁻² K⁻¹. Although the U_eff-value of a double glazing is −0.8 W m⁻² K⁻¹, the PCM-systems may prove advantageous in lightweight constructed buildings due to their equalised energy balance during the course of day. Facade panels with PCM improve thermal comfort considerably in winter, especially during evenings. In summer, such systems show low heat gains, which reduces peak cooling loads during the day. Additional heat gains in the evening can be drawn off by night-time ventilation. If a PCM with a low melting temperature of up to 30 °C is used, thermal comfort in summer will also improve during the day, compared to a double glazing without or with inner sun protection. A homogeneous appearance of the PCM-systems is achievable by use of a concealment, like a screen-print glazing.     

Calculation of Escaped Solar Energy in Glazing Façade Buildings

ABSTRACT

In building's cooling load calculation, solar heat gain through transparent envelope is calculated by using solar heat gain coefficient which is a thermal performance parameter of window. In traditional buildings, window-wall ratio is small so it's is assumed that the incoming solar radiation can't escape through the window again. But this hypothesis isn't suitable for glazing façade buildings. To calculate the escaped solar energy ratio, a solar radiation model is established on the basis of radiosity-irradiation method and calculated by using the commercial software of Matlab. The impact of time, room geometric dimensioning and absorptance of interior surfaces are evaluated. The numerical calculation results show that the escaped solar radiation ratio varies according to solar radiation incident angle in different times and its maximum value is 8.85% in summer solstice; compare to the width, the depth and height of the room affect the ratio significantly; the reflectance of the floor has greater impact on the escaped solar energy ratio than of other internal surfaces. Finally a fitting formula of escaped solar energy ratio is provided as a function of the ratio between the window area and the internal surface area and of the internal surfaces' absorptance.     

Heating Process Simulation of Steel Coil in Bell‐Type Annealing Furnace

This study examines two important parameters: the convective heat‐transfer coefficient and radiative heat‐transfer coefficient, which have a significant impact on coil temperature in a furnace. A new three‐dimensional model is proposed for convective heat transfer, and the factors affecting the Nusselt number (Nu) are studied using the orthogonal test method. Finally, the relationship between the Nu number and flow rate is determined. Considering the complex geometric structure of a furnace, this study uses the Monte Carlo method to calculate the angle factor and obtains the radiant heat flux using a radiation network diagram. The calculated values are applied to steel coil temperatures for accurate boundary conditions. The results show that the temperature simulated by using the mathematical model is in good agreement with the experimental data obtained with the thermocouple insert experiment.     

Thermal-hydraulic performance of novel louvered fin using flat tube cross-flow heat exchanger

Experimental studies were conducted to investigate the air-side heat transfer and pressure drop characteristics of a novel louvered fins and flat tube heat exchangers. A series of tests were conducted for 9 heat exchangers with different fin space and fin length, at a constant tube-side water flow rate of 2.8 m³/h. The air side thermal performance data were analyzed using the effectiveness-NTU method. Results were presented as plot of Colburn j factor and friction factor f against the Reynolds number in the range of 500–6500. The characteristics of the heat transfer and pressure drop of different fin space and fin length were analyzed and compared. In addition, the curves of the heat transfer coefficients vs. pumping power per unit heat transfer area were plotted. Finally, the area optimization factor was used to evaluate the thermal hydraulic performance of the louvered fins with differential geometries. The results showed that the j and f factors increase with the decrease of the fin space and fin length, and the fin space has more obvious effect on the thermal hydraulic characteristics of the novel louvered fins. __________ Translated from Journal of Shanghai Jiaotong University, 2007, 41(3): 380–383 [译自: 上海交通大学学报]     

Experimental investigation of performance of a multi-purpose PV-slat window

This paper reports on experimental investigation of performance of a new type of PV-slat window (PV-SW). The main functions of this PV-SW are as follows: to admit sufficient daylight, to act as a shading device for decreasing direct heat gain through window glazing and to ensure indoor air movement, which improves resident's thermal comfort. To assess the performance of this PV-SW, two test rooms of 1×1×1.5 m³ (H:W:L) volume were built using plywood and gypsum boards. At the first, the PV-SW of 0.5×0.6 m² surface area was located at the south-facing wall whereas the other room was equipped with a commercial transparent slat window of the same size.The PV-SW consists of six PV slats. The photovoltaic cells were connected in series giving a maximum electrical power output of 36 W (12 V×3 A). The circuit was connected to a direct current axial fan, located inside the room, that requires a maximum power of 43 W. The analysis of performance of this PV-SW was investigated based on power output, daylight factor and temperature difference between indoor and ambient.The experimental results showed that this multi-purpose PV-SW is extremely interesting as it can produce power up to 15 W, decrease indoor temperature and provide sufficient light for housing. The maximum indoor illumination was about 750 lx with slats angle of 68°. The room temperature was about 2–3^oC lower than that of room equipped with transparent slats.     

A two dimensional thermal network model for a photovoltaic solar wall

A two dimensional thermal network model is proposed to predict the temperature distribution for a section of photovoltaic solar wall installed in an outdoor room laboratory in Concordia University, Montréal, Canada. The photovoltaic solar wall is constructed with a pair of glass coated photovoltaic modules and a polystyrene filled plywood board as back panel. The active solar ventilation through a photovoltaic solar wall is achieved with an exhaust fan fixed in the outdoor room laboratory. The steady state thermal network nodal equations are developed for conjugate heat exchange and heat transport for a section of a photovoltaic solar wall. The matrix solution procedure is adopted for formulation of conductance and heat source matrices for obtaining numerical solution of one dimensional heat conduction and heat transport equations by performing two dimensional thermal network analyses. The temperature distribution is predicted by the model with measurement data obtained from the section of a photovoltaic solar wall. The effect of conduction heat flow and multi-node radiation heat exchange between composite surfaces is useful for predicting a ventilation rate through a solar ventilation system.     

百叶窗翅片传热与流动的三维数值模拟

本文对空气在百叶窗翅片内部流动和传热建立了三维数值计算模型.计算结果与文献所提供的实验数据进行了对比,在整个计算范围内,Re=0～1500,j和f的平均偏差分别为1.96%和10.5%.在深入揭示百叶窗翅片流动机理的基础上,进一步比较了百叶窗翅片开窗角度La和换向区长度S对其传热和流动阻力的影响,分析结果为百叶窗翅片的模具制作及其优化设计提供了依据.     

Development of a model for calculating the longwave optical properties and surface temperature of a curved venetian blind

This article is about the development of a mathematical model for calculating the longwave optical properties of a curved venetian blind. The calculated optical properties are used to determine the performance of the glass window installed with a venetian blind in terms of thermal comfort. The blind, whose optical properties are considered nonspecular, is modeled as an effective layer. The effect of slat curvature is included in the developed model. A six surface enclosure formed by two consecutive slats is used to analyze for the longwave optical properties of the effective layer. The longwave optical properties, transmittance, reflectance, absorptance and emittance are developed by using the radiosity method. The steady state energy balance method along with the developed longwave optical properties are used to determine the surface temperature of the effective layer. The empirical expression for the total heat flux from the indoor glass window surface with an adjacent venetian blind is adopted in the developed model. The surface temperature of the blind, which is the key parameter for calculating the thermal performance of glass windows with venetian blinds with respect to thermal comfort, is chosen as the parameter used for the model validation. The predicted surface temperature of the venetian blind is compared with the surface temperature of the venetian blind obtained from the measurement. The agreement between the predicted temperature and the measured temperature is good.     

Development of a mathematical model for a curved slat venetian blind with thickness

This article is about the development of a mathematical model for a venetian blind. The model is used for determining the performance of the glass window installed with a venetian blind in term of heat transmission. The blind, whose optical properties are considered nonspecular, is modeled as an effective layer. The optical properties of the effective layer are mainly dependent on the slat angle, slat properties and solar profile angle. The effect of slat curvature and the effect of slat thickness are included in the developed model. The shortwave optical properties of the effective layer, transmittance, reflectance and absorptance, are classified as the optical properties for direct radiation and the optical properties for diffuse radiation. The analysis for optical properties due to the interreflection of the direct radiation between the adjacent slat surfaces is done by using radiosity method on a 6 surface closed enclosure. The effect of the slat curvature and thickness causes the shaded area blocked by the blind itself increased in certain cases. The optical properties for diffuse radiation of the effective layer are determined considering the incident diffuse radiation from the sky and from the ground. The optical properties calculated from the developed model are also compared to the results obtained from the three previous models. The validation of the results predicted by the developed mathematical model is performed by comparing the predicted results with the experimental results. The results that used to validate in this study is the ratio of the transmitted radiation through the glass window installed with venetian blind to the incident radiation on the glass window. It is shown from the comparison that the developed mathematical model for the venetian blind included the curvature and thickness effect yields quite accurate predicted results.     

Non‐Darcy assisted flow along a channel with an open cavity filled with water–TiO2 nanofluid

Numerical investigation on forced (assisted) convection heat transfer in a two‐dimensional horizontal porous channel with an open cavity is studied in this article. A non‐uniform heat flux is considered to be located on the bottom surface of the cavity. The rest of the surfaces are taken to be perfectly insulated. The physical domain is filled with a water‐based nanofluid containing TiO₂ nanoparticles. The fluid enters from the left and exits from the right with initial velocity U_i and temperature T_i. Governing equations are discretized using the penalty finite element method. The simulation is carried out for a wide range of Reynolds number Re (= 10–500) and Darcy number Da (= 10^?5–∞). Results are presented in the form of streamlines, isothermal lines, local and average Nusselt numbers, average temperatures of the fluid, horizontal and vertical velocities at mid‐height of the channel and mean velocity fields for various Re and Da. The enhancement of heat transfer rate is caused by the increasing Re and falling Da. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Heat Trans Asian Res; Published online in Wiley Online Library (wileyonlinelibrary.com/journal/htj). DOI 10.1002/htj.21046     

A parametric study on radiant floor heating system performance

Efficient radiant heating systems are promising technologies for energy saving in commercial and building sectors together with improving occupant thermal comfort. However, the thermal performance of radiant systems in buildings has not been fully understood and accounted for in currently available building energy simulation software. In this paper, the effects of design parameters on performance of a typical radiant floor heating system have been studied using finite element method. A radiant heating system includes a number of pipes filled with hot water. Therefore, several design parameters such as pipe diameter, type (material), number, thickness and cover of system are affected on the value of transferred heat. In this study, transient conduction, convection and radiation heat transfer mechanisms are considered meanwhile analyzing the typical problem by using a finite element method solver. It is noted that the type and thickness of the floor cover are the most important parameters in the design of radiant heating systems.     

Numerical evaluation of the mixed convective heat transfer in a double-pane window integrated with see-through a-Si PV cells with low-e coatings

This study presents a two-dimensional numerical analysis for thermal control strategies on potential energy savings in a double-pane window integrated with see-through a-Si photovoltaic (PV) cells with low-emittance (low-e) coatings. Both heat transmission through the air gap by combined convection and radiation, and air flow patterns within the cavity of the window were considered. The convection-conducting mechanisms in the cavity of the double-pane window have been closely investigated in this paper. Based on numerical predictions, the effect of Rayleigh number on airflow patterns was investigated for low Rayleigh numbers in the range of 10³ ? Ra ? 10⁵. The effect of the low-e coatings on the glazing U-value was also explored in this paper. It was found that a large quantity of heat transfer by radiation could be reduced. This novel glazing system could help engineers’ design in more advanced window systems with building-integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) applications in modern buildings.