Performance Demonstration and Evaluation of the Synergetic Application of Thermochromic Window and Phase Change Material in Passive Buildings

Abstract

As two of the most popular energy efficient materials, vanadium dioxide (VO2) glazing and phase change material (PCM) were associated together for the first time. The synergetic application performance was demonstrated in a fullscale passive room and evaluated via Energy Saving Index (ESI). ESI, a novel and concise index, can be used to evaluate the passive application performance of materials or components from an energy standpoint and characterize the performance of a passive building material or component from a common standpoint. The results showed that the synergetic ESI was higher than the solo ESI of VO2 glazing or PCM, which means that the synergetic application of VO2 glazing and PCM could make further improvement on the thermal comfort degree of a passive room.

Smart Façades: Technological Innovations in Dynamic and Advanced Glazed Building Skins for Energy Saving

“…PCM glasses typically enable the soft dispersion of natural light within spaces: In their solid state, PCMs allow around 28% of visible light to pass through, whereas in their liquid state, VLT rises to more than 40% [61]. Despite the existence of translucent PCMs [62], the effectiveness of these technologies in terms of transmitting high-quality light remains a drawback. Furthermore, PCMs still have limitations, including challenges associated with selecting the appropriate melting temperature, concerning about the 3 In a study [60], it was found that wall and indoor air temperature fluctuation is decreased by 2.7°C and 1.4°C, respectively, in a building that incorporates PCM; moreover, also energy demand was reduced by 57% during winter.…”