Towards the future generation of

adaptive glazing facades

PhD student: Fabio Favoino

Supervisor: Dr Mauro Overend
Adaptive Faade Conference 2014
European Faade Network Conference 28th November 2014

Contents

1. State-Of-The-Art of adaptive glazing

2. Future generation of adaptive glazing
3. Description of the method and the tool designed
4. Energy saving potentials
5. Optimal thermo-optical properties

SOTA

Objectives

Method -Tool

Fabio Favoino, EFN Adaptive Faade Conference,

Luzern, Nov 2014

Results
2

Energy in office buildings: building envelope design

Transparent Building Envelope properties [U-value, g-value, Tvis] have the highest
impact on energy consumption of a building in different climates (office buildings)
Helsinki, FI

HDD 3902

London, UK

HDD 1828

Rome, IT

HDD 1415
W

E
S

Ref: Jin et al. (2014), Sensitivity of faade performance to early-stage design variables, Energy and Buildings 77, 457-466

SOTA

Objectives

Method -Tool

Fabio Favoino, EFN Adaptive Faade Conference,

Luzern, Nov 2014

Case study
3

Glazing Technologies: State-of-the-art

SOTA

Objectives

Method -Tool

Fabio Favoino, EFN Adaptive Faade Conference,

Luzern, Nov 2014

Case study
4

Glazing Adaptive Technologies: State-of-the-art

SOTA

Objectives

Method -Tool

Fabio Favoino, EFN Adaptive Faade Conference,

Luzern, Nov 2014

Case study
5

Glazing Adaptive Technologies: the future?

Define the characteristics of future generation adaptive glazing :
- Energy saving potential (overall and break up in heating, cooling and lighting, climate and
orientation)
- Thermo-optical properties (modulation ranges, relationships, control)

Definition of a method and design of BS tool

- Method to define an optimal adaptive glazing based on its performance
- Tool overcoming the limitations of current energy simulation software (variable
properties, receding horizon control, state update and integration with lighting system);
- Application of the method to a representative case study (cellular office in different
climates and orientations)

SOTA

Objectives

Method -Tool

Fabio Favoino, EFN Adaptive Faade Conference,

Luzern, Nov 2014

Case study
6

Inverse model for adaptive facades

1

Desired ouput (comfort, energy

consumption)

Faade properties at time t

Static products

0.9
0.8

t
[-]
T vis vis

0.7

COMFORT

0.6
0.5
0.4

Input (External
Climate)

0.3
0.2
0.1
0
0

0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.5
SHGC [-]

0.6

0.7

0.8

0.9

g-value

SOTA

Objectives

Occupation

Method -Tool

Fabio Favoino, EFN Adaptive Faade Conference,

Luzern, Nov 2014

Time

Case study
7

Inverse model for adaptive facades

1

Desired ouput (comfort, energy

consumption)

Faade properties at time t

Static products

0.9
0.8

t
[-]
T vis vis

0.7

COMFORT

0.6
0.5
0.4

Input (External
Climate)

0.3
0.2
0.1
0
0

0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.5
SHGC [-]

0.6

0.7

0.8

0.9

g-value

Occupation

Time

Ye et al. (2012): theoretically derived for two climate extremes (glazing)

Zeng et al. (2012): SQL applied to RC model modelling limitations and optimisation of just one
property at the time (themal mass)

Kasinalis et al. (2014): long term adaptiveness only (general, any property)

Erikson (thermal mass) (2013), De Forest (IR glazing properties) (2013), Martinez (opaque
envelope properties) and Goia (WWR) (2014): simulation of static material properties and postprocessing to approximate adaptive material

Loonen et al. (2014): approach of Kasinalis extended to shorter adaptiveness (general, any property).

SOTA

Objectives

Method -Tool

Fabio Favoino, EFN Adaptive Faade Conference,

Luzern, Nov 2014

Case study
8

Architecture of the tool

SOTA

Objectives

Method -Tool

Fabio Favoino, EFN Adaptive Faade Conference,

Luzern, Nov 2014

Case study
9

What can we simulate?

Building envelope (Active/Passive) and RES:
6

1.Construction state
1

2.Surface Heat Transfer Coefficient

3.Material Surface properties

4
4

4.Schedules

5.Airflow Network Opening

6. RES Generation and Storage

1
2
1

3
6

SOTA

Objectives

Method -Tool

Fabio Favoino, EFN Adaptive Faade Conference,

Luzern, Nov 2014

Case study
10

What can we simulate?

Building envelope (Active/Passive) and RES:
6

1.Construction state
1

2.Surface Heat Transfer Coefficient

3.Material Surface properties

4
4

4.Schedules

5.Airflow Network Opening

6. RES Generation and Storage

1

Objective functions:
a) Total Primary Energy

2
1

b) Net Primary Energy (N-ZEB)

c) Thermal Comfort
d) Visual Comfort

e) IEQ

SOTA

Objectives

Method -Tool

Fabio Favoino, EFN Adaptive Faade Conference,

Luzern, Nov 2014

Case study
11

Potential applications

Concept design
6
1

System design
and control

2
1
3

Material design
and optimisation

SOTA

Objectives

Method -Tool

Fabio Favoino, EFN Adaptive Faade Conference,

Luzern, Nov 2014

Case study
12

Case study: future generation adaptive glazing

Aim: pinpoint ideal adaptive glazing properties in order to evaluate the energy saving
potential of future generation adaptive glazing facades
U-value [0.20-5.14]
1. g-value [0.00-0.84]
Tvis [0.00-0.98]

6
1

4
4

5
Tvis [-]

2
1
3

SOTA

U-value [W/m2K]

Objectives

Method -Tool

Fabio Favoino, EFN Adaptive Faade Conference,

Luzern, Nov 2014

g-value [-]

Case study
13

Optimal adaptive glazing - Variable properties limits

OUT

IN

IN

OUT

2 3

DGU

SGU

SOTA

OUT

IN

2 3

4 5

1. Possible technologies

TGU

Objectives

Method -Tool

Fabio Favoino, EFN Adaptive Faade Conference,

Luzern, Nov 2014

Case study
14

Optimal adaptive glazing - Variable properties limits

OUT

IN

IN

OUT

2 3

DGU

SGU

OUT

IN

2 3

4 5

1. Possible technologies

TGU

2. Variable surface properties

SOTA

Objectives

Method -Tool

Fabio Favoino, EFN Adaptive Faade Conference,

Luzern, Nov 2014

Case study
15

Optimal adaptive glazing - Variable properties limits

OUT

IN

IN

OUT

2 3

DGU

SGU

OUT

IN

2 3

4 5

1. Possible technologies

Uglazing [W/m2K]

TGU

tvis = g-value/0.423

2. Variable surface properties

tvis [-]

g-value [-]

3. Variable surface and cavity properties

SOTA

Objectives

Method -Tool

Fabio Favoino, EFN Adaptive Faade Conference,

Luzern, Nov 2014

Case study
16

Representative case study and optimisation problem

Climate and
Orientation

Typical Office Room

T heating = 20 C [12 C setback]

T cooling = 26 C [40 C setback]
Ventilation = 1.4 l/sm2

WWR = 40%

Helsinki
London
Rome
W

3.5 m

3 m

5m

Environmental conditions and HVAC

Equipment PD = 13.46 W/m2 (Office profile)

Lighting PD = 12.00 W/m2 (Office profile)
Lighting control = 5 step dimming
[500 lux on working plane threshold]
h Heating = 0.85
SEER Cooling = 3.50
Fuel factors according to national context

Optimisation:
Global (PSO) +
Local (GPSHJ)
algorithm

SOTA

Objectives

Method -Tool

Fabio Favoino, EFN Adaptive Faade Conference,

Luzern, Nov 2014

Case study
17

Results Climate comparison (South)

5%

Helsinki

Rome

London

11%
21%

12%
22%
36%

34%
47%
57%

SOTA

Objectives

Method -Tool

Fabio Favoino, EFN Adaptive Faade Conference,

Luzern, Nov 2014

Case study
18

Results Sub-hourly ideal glazing adaptive properties

Climate Rome South Oriented 19 Jul Wed to 22 Jul Sat

Dimension of the problem

50 possible states ^ 40
variables = 50^40 possible
states

Performance

Control

Up to 60% energy saving

compared to reference, 45%
to best static and 15%
compared to daily adaptive for
the same days

3.5 hrs * 4days = 14 hrs =

25000 evaluations* 4days

Energy

Issues
Complexity of solution
Speed

SOTA

Objectives

Method -Tool

Fabio Favoino, EFN Adaptive Faade Conference,

Luzern, Nov 2014

Case study
19

Results Ideal glazing adaptive properties

Y - Ideal static glazing

properties
M Monthly ideal adaptive
glazing properties
D Daily ideal adaptive
glazing properties

SOTA

Objectives

Method -Tool

Fabio Favoino, EFN Adaptive Faade Conference,

Luzern, Nov 2014

Case study
20

Results Ideal glazing adaptive properties

Which thermo-optical properties values are the most frequent?
Cumulative time frequency

Which thermo-optical properties values are the most effective?

Ideal performance (energy saved)
compared to optimized static

SOTA

Objectives

Method -Tool

Fabio Favoino, EFN Adaptive Faade Conference,

Luzern, Nov 2014

Case study
21

Results Ideal glazing adaptive properties - Orientation

Ideal performance (energy saved)
compared to optimized static
Tvis

SOTA

Rome Climate

Objectives

Cumulative time frequency

Tvis/g-value Rome Climate

Method -Tool

Fabio Favoino, EFN Adaptive Faade Conference,

Luzern, Nov 2014

Case study
22

Conclusions: Future Adaptive glazing

Seasonal adaptive glazing: in general 10-12% energy saving for ESW orientations for all climates
compared to best static performance (more for hotter climates);

Daily adaptive glazing: additional 10-15% energy saving for NEWS for all climates compared to best
static performance (more for colder climates);

Hourly adaptive glazing: additional 15% compared to daily adaptive (40% compared to best static) for
one scenario (week in July in London, South Oriented);

Cooling demand nearly eliminated (80-97% less), the higher the adaptiveness the lower the energy for
cooling and heating;

Modulation of U-value important only in hotter climates

Increasing the modulation range of g-value e Tvis important in colder climates

NIR and visible spectrum need to be independently tunable (achievable with a combination of
technologies or with new synthetyzed material)

Same technology could be used for different climates and orientations

Complexity of the solution could be reduced to fewer descrete points (less complex technological
solution, easier to control)

SOTA

Objectives

Method -Tool

Fabio Favoino, EFN Adaptive Faade Conference,

Luzern, Nov 2014

Case study
23

Conclusions: Tool
Objective: Design a tool that can be used to assist the design and the
optimisation of new adaptive faade concepts and technologies:
Rely on validated Energy
Simulation Tool

Modular and User

friendly

Computationally efficient
and scalable
Multi-domain: considers all
physical domain involved
(energy, comfort)

Adaptive
Faade
Opt tool

Integrated with optimisation algorithms

for design and control optimisation

SOTA

Objectives

General formulation of adaptive

building envelope (timescale,
active/passive, physical properties)
Accurate and reliable
modelling of adaptiveness

Method for design optimisation for

adaptive building envelope

Method -Tool

Fabio Favoino, EFN Adaptive Faade Conference,

Luzern, Nov 2014

Case study
24

Fabio Favoino, Mauro Overend

Towards the future generation of adaptive

glazing facades:

any case study???

email: ff279@cam.ac.uk