Phase Change Materials in Transparent Building Envelopes: A Strengths, Weakness, Opportunities and Threats (SWOT) Analysis
Building envelopes can play a crucial role in building improvement efficiency, and the adoption of Phase Change Materials (PCMs), coupled with transparent elements, may: (i) allow a better control of the heat flows from/to the outdoor environment, (ii) increase the exploitation of solar energy at a...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2018-01-01
|
| Series: | Energies |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/11/1/111 |
| _version_ | 1811184813347962880 |
|---|---|
| author | Ilaria Vigna Lorenza Bianco Francesco Goia Valentina Serra |
| author_facet | Ilaria Vigna Lorenza Bianco Francesco Goia Valentina Serra |
| author_sort | Ilaria Vigna |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Building envelopes can play a crucial role in building improvement efficiency, and the adoption of Phase Change Materials (PCMs), coupled with transparent elements, may: (i) allow a better control of the heat flows from/to the outdoor environment, (ii) increase the exploitation of solar energy at a building scale and (iii) modulate light transmission in order to prevent glare effects. Starting from a literature review, focused on experimental works, this research identifies the main possible integrations of PCMs in transparent/translucent building envelope components (in glazing, in shutters and in multilayer façade system) in order to draw a global picture of the potential and limitations of these technologies. Transparent envelopes with PCMs have been classified from the simplest “zero” technology, which integrates the PCM in a double glass unit (DGU), to more complex solutions—with a different number of glass cavities (triple glazed unit TGU), different positions of the PCM layer (internal/external shutter), and in combination with other materials (TIM, aerogel, prismatic solar reflector, PCM curtain controlled by an electric pump). The results of the analysis have been summarised in a Strengths, Weakness, Opportunities and Threats (SWOT) analysis table to underline the strengths and weaknesses of transparent building envelope components with PCMs, and to indicate opportunities and threats for future research and building applications. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T13:18:48Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-147279b40a434772893d8d007aa0453a |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1996-1073 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T13:18:48Z |
| publishDate | 2018-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Energies |
| spelling | doaj.art-147279b40a434772893d8d007aa0453a2022-12-22T04:22:17ZengMDPI AGEnergies1996-10732018-01-0111111110.3390/en11010111en11010111Phase Change Materials in Transparent Building Envelopes: A Strengths, Weakness, Opportunities and Threats (SWOT) AnalysisIlaria Vigna0Lorenza Bianco1Francesco Goia2Valentina Serra3Energy Department, TEBE Research Group, Politecnico di Torino, 10129 Turin, ItalyEnergy Department, TEBE Research Group, Politecnico di Torino, 10129 Turin, ItalyDepartment of Architecture and Technology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, 7491 Trondheim, NorwayEnergy Department, TEBE Research Group, Politecnico di Torino, 10129 Turin, ItalyBuilding envelopes can play a crucial role in building improvement efficiency, and the adoption of Phase Change Materials (PCMs), coupled with transparent elements, may: (i) allow a better control of the heat flows from/to the outdoor environment, (ii) increase the exploitation of solar energy at a building scale and (iii) modulate light transmission in order to prevent glare effects. Starting from a literature review, focused on experimental works, this research identifies the main possible integrations of PCMs in transparent/translucent building envelope components (in glazing, in shutters and in multilayer façade system) in order to draw a global picture of the potential and limitations of these technologies. Transparent envelopes with PCMs have been classified from the simplest “zero” technology, which integrates the PCM in a double glass unit (DGU), to more complex solutions—with a different number of glass cavities (triple glazed unit TGU), different positions of the PCM layer (internal/external shutter), and in combination with other materials (TIM, aerogel, prismatic solar reflector, PCM curtain controlled by an electric pump). The results of the analysis have been summarised in a Strengths, Weakness, Opportunities and Threats (SWOT) analysis table to underline the strengths and weaknesses of transparent building envelope components with PCMs, and to indicate opportunities and threats for future research and building applications.http://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/11/1/111phase change materials (PCMs)PCM-filled windowtransparent building envelopeThermal energy storage (TES)glazingSWOT analysisreviewexperimental |
| spellingShingle | Ilaria Vigna Lorenza Bianco Francesco Goia Valentina Serra Phase Change Materials in Transparent Building Envelopes: A Strengths, Weakness, Opportunities and Threats (SWOT) Analysis Energies phase change materials (PCMs) PCM-filled window transparent building envelope Thermal energy storage (TES) glazing SWOT analysis review experimental |
| title | Phase Change Materials in Transparent Building Envelopes: A Strengths, Weakness, Opportunities and Threats (SWOT) Analysis |
| title_full | Phase Change Materials in Transparent Building Envelopes: A Strengths, Weakness, Opportunities and Threats (SWOT) Analysis |
| title_fullStr | Phase Change Materials in Transparent Building Envelopes: A Strengths, Weakness, Opportunities and Threats (SWOT) Analysis |
| title_full_unstemmed | Phase Change Materials in Transparent Building Envelopes: A Strengths, Weakness, Opportunities and Threats (SWOT) Analysis |
| title_short | Phase Change Materials in Transparent Building Envelopes: A Strengths, Weakness, Opportunities and Threats (SWOT) Analysis |
| title_sort | phase change materials in transparent building envelopes a strengths weakness opportunities and threats swot analysis |
| topic | phase change materials (PCMs) PCM-filled window transparent building envelope Thermal energy storage (TES) glazing SWOT analysis review experimental |
| url | http://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/11/1/111 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT ilariavigna phasechangematerialsintransparentbuildingenvelopesastrengthsweaknessopportunitiesandthreatsswotanalysis AT lorenzabianco phasechangematerialsintransparentbuildingenvelopesastrengthsweaknessopportunitiesandthreatsswotanalysis AT francescogoia phasechangematerialsintransparentbuildingenvelopesastrengthsweaknessopportunitiesandthreatsswotanalysis AT valentinaserra phasechangematerialsintransparentbuildingenvelopesastrengthsweaknessopportunitiesandthreatsswotanalysis |