Experimental Validation of Water Flow Glazing: Transient Response in Real Test Rooms

Abstract

The extensive use of glass in modern architecture has increased the heating and cooling loads in buildings. Recent studies have presented water flow glazing (WFG) envelopes as an alternative building energy management system to reduce energy consumption and improve thermal comfort in buildings. Currently, commercial software for thermal simulation does not include WFG as a façade material. This article aims to validate a new building simulation tool developed by the authors. Simulation results were compared with real data from a scale prototype composed of two twin cabins with different glazing envelopes: a Reference double glazing with solar-control coating and a triple water flow glazing. The results showed a good agreement between the simulation and the real data from the prototype. The mean percentage error of the indoor temperature cabin was lower than 5.5% and 3.2% in the WFG cabin and in the Reference glazing one, respectively. The indoor air temperature of the WFG cabin was 5 °C lower than the Reference one in a free-floating temperature regime when the outdoor air temperature was 35 °C and the maximum value of solar radiation was above 700 W/m2. WFG has energy-saving potential and is worthy of further research into the standardization of its manufacturing process and its ability to increase building occupants’ comfort.

Industrialization and Thermal Performance of a New Unitized Water Flow Glazing Facade

“…In addition to an accurate simulation tool, the actual challenge was to develop a monitoring system to reveal characteristic patterns of users, and to finally discover relevant design criteria that might be applicable to different orientations throughout the year. The monitoring system applied in this case study has been tested in other facilities over the last few years, and results were shown in previous articles [37,38].…”

Evaluation of Thermal Comfort and Energy Consumption of Water Flow Glazing as a Radiant Heating and Cooling System: A Case Study of an Office Space

“…All the translucent WFG panels were connected to the same circulating device (CD TP), and the flow rate wasṁ = 1 L/min m 2 . The influence of the mass flow rate on the ability to deliver or absorb heat and the recommended values have been studied in previous articles [37]. Transparent WFG panels are exposed to solar radiation, so the mass flow rate had to be higher to absorb heat in summer and keep the water temperature within acceptable values.…”

“…It is a second-class pyranometer according to ISO 9060 standards and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO); it had to be placed outdoors because obstacles and reflections can affect the measurements. The same monitoring equipment has been described in other articles [37]. Figure 4 shows the position of the temperature sensors in the WFG and the circulating device.…”