New technologies used for windows manufacturing as for example, electrochromic windows, allow the development of “smart” windows in which solar-optical properties can be switched in order to provide greater control of solar gains and daylight transmittance. However, their costs are still relatively high, this type of windows is just beginning to emerge on the commercial market.
The aim of this study is to assess the energy performance of two types of windows: a double glazed window (DW), called reference window and an electrochromic window in clear and colored states. The windows heat balance is determined on an hourly basis for the city of Montreal and four possible window orientations. In addition, three methods for calculating the solar heat gains are compared.
The heat transfer modeling using Window and Therm software show no significant difference between the heat loss coefficients for the two types of window. Differences between windows are due to solar gains, the energy balance on the windows subject to winter and summer conditions show that electrochromic windows can reduce the daily summer heat gain of 1.6 kWh/m2. However, the energy performance of electrochromic windows in winter are lower compared to the double glazed window with a loss of energy of 0.75 kWh/m2 per day compared to 0.6 kWh/m2 for double glazed window. In addition, the results show the contribution of diffuse radiation is significant on the energy balance of a window.
| Date | 15 Jun 2010 |
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| Original language | French |
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| Awarding Institution | - École de technologie supérieure
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| Supervisor | Stéphane Hallé (Supervisor) |
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Malika, M. (Author),
Hallé (Supervisor),
15 Jun 2010Student thesis: Master's thesis › Master in Engineering: Mechanical Engineering