Innovative fenestration system combining seasonal thermal dynamics, daylighting, glare protection and transparency – manufacturing of embedded 3d microstructures
Contact: Dr Andreas Schüler, André Kostro, Jing Gong
The advanced glazing system under development by the group “Nanotechnology for Solar Energy Conversion” combines several functions and can contribute to significantly reduce the energy consumption in buildings with favorably oriented glass façades. In winter, solar gains are used to reduce heating energy requirements; in summer, the proposed device blocks direct radiation and thus limits air conditioning load as well as overheating risks. Judicious use of daylighting furthermore reduces energy needs for artificial lighting and improves the wellbeing of occupants. Our system is based on optical microstructures, and ensures transparency. Produced as a polymer film, the described glazing system will allow easy and low-cost integration into conventional double glazing.
The novel glazing will combine several functions:
daylighting: redirection of incident radiation, projection of daylight deep into the room.
glare protection/visual comfort: protection from direct solar radiation. Minimal impact on vision of the outside.
overheating protection in summer: angular dependent solar transmission, most effective blocking at incidence angles occurring in summer for direct solar radiation.
thermal insulation and solar gains in winter: The glazing shall provide maximum solar gains in winter in order to reduce heating loads. Integration of a film in a double glazing window with a low emissivity thin film coating provides thermal insulation.
European Patent
EP2882921 – Glazing with embedded microstructures for daylighting and seasonal thermal control, Schueler Andreas, Kostro André
Master thesis in this field:
Novel glazing technology for building envelopes: evaluation of the energy performance and its influence on the thermal control, Sara Vanzo, Politecnico di Torino, 2015
Ongoing PhD thesis
J. Gong, title of PhD thesis: Glazing with novel embedded optical microstructures for seasonal thermal dynamics, daylighting, glare protection and clear view, in various locations and climates, public defense envisaged in April 2019
PhD thesis
A. G. Kostro, J.-L. Scartezzini and A. Schueler (Dirs.). Microstructured glazing for daylighting, glare protection, seasonal thermal control and clear view. EPFL PhD thesis, n° 6465 (2015)
Award
Best paper award in non-imaging optics SPIE 2018 – SPIE Optical Engineering & Applications Conference of 19-20 August 2018, in San Diego, CA, USA for J. Gong, A. Kostro, J.-L. Scartezzini, A. Schüler, Feasibility study on a novel daylighting system with embedded micro compound parabolic concentrators (CPCs), (2018) Proceedings of SPIE – The International Society for Optical Engineering, 10758, art. no. 1075807.
EPFL News & Media
https://actu.epfl.ch/news/spie-non-imaging-optics-best-paper-award-to-jing-g/
https://actu.epfl.ch/news/an-innovative-window-system-earns-a-european-pat-2/
NZZ 23.2.2018 Wie man die Wintersonne einfängt
NZZ online 23.2.2018 Millionen winziger Spiegel lenken Licht ins Haus
EPhttps://www.epfl.ch/labs/leso/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/NZZ180223fo_Tageslichtsysteme.pdfFL News 5.12.16 An innovative window system earns a European patent
24 Heures 5.12.16 L’EPFL développe un vitrage intelligent
Publications
J. Gong, A. Kostro, J.-L. Scartezzini, A. Schüler, Feasibility study on a novel daylighting system with embedded micro compound parabolic concentrators (CPCs), (2018) Proceedings of SPIE – The International Society for Optical Engineering, 10758, art. no. 1075807.
Gong, J., Delaunay, A., Kostro, A., Schüler, A., Development of a novel mechanical micro-engraving method for the high-aspect-ratio microstructures of an advanced window system, (2018) Microelectronic Engineering, 191, pp. 48-53.
J. Gong, A. Kostro, A. Motamed, A. Schüler, Potential advantages of multifunctional complex fenestration system with embedded micro-mirrors in daylighting, Solar Energy, 10 October 2016.
A. Kostro, M. Geiger, J.-L. Scartezzini, A. Schueler, CFSpro: ray tracing for design and optimization of complex fenestration systems using mixed dimensionality approach, Journal of Applied Optics, 55 (19), 5127-5134 (2016)
Location Based Study of the Annual Thermal Loads with Microstructured Windows in European Climates. Energy Procedia, 6th International Building Physics Conference, IBPC 2015, Torino, Italy, 14-17 June 2015, vol. 78, p. 91-96
A.G. Kostro, M. Geiger, N. Jolissaint, G. Lazo, M. Aymara et al. Embedded microstructures for daylighting and seasonal thermal control. SPIE 2012 International Symposium on Optical Engineering, San Diego, USA, Proceedings of SPIE, 2012