Shape-programmable fluid bubbles for responsive building skins

Kay, Raphael; Nitièma, Kevin; Katrycz, Charlie; Jakubiec, J. Alstan; Hoban, Nicholas; Hatton, Benjamin D.

doi:10.1016/j.jobe.2021.103942

Cited by 4 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 21 publications

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“…We also repeated the simulation but with a switchable NIR-selective absorbing fluid state (0.0156 mg carbon/mL water). Operationally, we used a simple control algorithm ( 56 ) to instantaneously “inject” the absorbing fluid at hourly timesteps when the interior space needed to be cooled (i.e., when indoor temperature > setpoint temperature). The shading fluid absorbs light that would otherwise be converted to excess heat indoors.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…S7 , other details in SI Appendix and ref. 56 ). We modeled the EC window to switch between four standard states, the RS between two standard states (up and down), and our fluid multilayer to switch between all combinatorial possibilities of 16 total fluids across three distinct layers (all base state optical properties in Fig.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…S3 ). To achieve a scalable and sustainable material platform with general optical tunability, we propose moving away from traditional solid-state approaches and instead suggest the integration of confined aqueous fluids: a class of replenishable, recyclable, nontoxic materials with remarkable spatial configurability ( 54 – 57 ) and broadly tailorable optical programmability ( 58 , 59 ). Conventional microfluidic devices are typically applied to chemical ( 60 , 61 ), diagnostic ( 62 , 63 ), and computational ( 64 , 65 ) “lab on a chip” applications, but few examples take advantage of the optical characteristics of confined fluids, and over large planar dimensions.…”

Section: Multilayered Optical Mechanisms In Biologymentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Multilayered optofluidics for sustainable buildings

Kay

Jakubiec

Katrycz

et al. 2023

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

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Indoor climate control is among the most energy-intensive activities conducted by humans. A building facade that can achieve versatile climate control directly, through independent and multifunctional optical reconfigurations, could significantly reduce this energy footprint, and its development represents a pertinent unmet challenge toward global sustainability. Drawing from optically adaptive multilayer skins within biological organisms, we report a multilayered millifluidic interface for achieving a comprehensive suite of independent optical responses in buildings. We digitally control the flow of aqueous solutions within confined milliscale channels, demonstrating independent command over total transmitted light intensity (95% modulation between 250 and 2,500 nm), near-infrared-selective absorption (70% modulation between 740 and 2,500 nm), and dispersion (scattering). This combinatorial optical tunability enables configurable optimization of the amount, wavelength, and position of transmitted solar radiation within buildings over time, resulting in annual modeled energy reductions of more than 43% over existing technologies. Our scalable “optofluidic” platform, leveraging a versatile range of aqueous chemistries, may represent a general solution for the climate control of buildings.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Multilayered Optical Mechanisms In Biologymentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Multilayered optofluidics for sustainable buildings

Kay

Jakubiec

Katrycz

et al. 2023

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

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“…We leveraged a standard control algorithm that we previously developed 76 to simulate the operation of each dynamic system (ii–iv). The algorithm functions as a naïve energy minimizer, restricted to consistently maintain an illuminance of 300 lux (minimum sufficient daylighting) across half of the floor area, and limit an illuminance of 3000 lux (overlighting correlated with an increased likelihood of visual glare) to 10% of the floor area.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Decapod-inspired pigment modulation for active building facades

et al. 2022

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Typical buildings are static structures, unable to adjust to dynamic temperature and daylight fluctuations. Adaptive facades that are responsive to these unsteady solar conditions can substantially reduce operational energy inefficiencies, indoor heating, cooling, and lighting costs, as well as greenhouse-gas emissions. Inspired by marine organisms that disperse pigments within their skin, we propose an adaptive building interface that uses reversible fluid injections to tune optical transmission. Pigmented fluids with tunable morphologies are reversibly injected and withdrawn from confined layers, achieving locally-adjustable shading and interior solar exposure. Multicell arrays tiled across large areas enable differential and dynamic building responses, demonstrated using both experimental and simulated approaches. Fluidic reconfigurations can find optimal states over time to reduce heating, cooling, and lighting energy in our models by over 30% compared to current available electrochromic technologies.

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“…Known as the Saffman-Taylor (viscous fingering) instability, liquid patterns emerge due to small perturbations in their flow. These perturbations can propagate along the multifluid interface, forming fractal-like branching features [ 33 – 36 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Programmable droplets: Leveraging digitally-responsive flow fields to actively tune liquid morphologies

et al. 2022

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Stimulus-responsive materials enable programmable and adaptive behaviors. Typical solid-phase systems can only achieve small deformations for applications where shape transformations are beneficial or required. Liquids, in contrast, can self-assemble and achieve very high strains in a multifluid environment. Here we report liquid droplet formation by tuning flow potential within a confined fluidic cell. We digitally inject small volumes of liquid-pigment into an otherwise-transparent liquid layer, generating macroscopic droplet assembly over large areas constrained between closely-spaced plates. Droplet morphology is actively controlled by modulating outlet conditions to tune flow fields. Pattern stability is maintained through control over injection rate, interfacial viscosity difference, and interfacial surface tension. We demonstrate time-dependent droplet formation and migration to achieve spatially-tunable optical properties. Applied as a multi-cell array, we imagine this liquid mechanism will enable scalable pattern dynamics for active shading and visual display technologies.

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Shape-programmable fluid bubbles for responsive building skins

Cited by 4 publications

References 21 publications

Multilayered optofluidics for sustainable buildings

Multilayered optofluidics for sustainable buildings

Decapod-inspired pigment modulation for active building facades

Programmable droplets: Leveraging digitally-responsive flow fields to actively tune liquid morphologies

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