Bio-inspired Transparent Microfluidic Platform as Transformable Networks for Solar Modulation

The glazed envelopes on buildings play a major role in operational energy consumption as they define the boundary conditions between climate and thermal comfort. Such a façade is viewed as an uncontrolled load that sets the operational performance requirements for artificial lighting and air-coolin...

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Main Authors: Mark Edward Alston, Uta Pottgiesser, Ulrich Knaack
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Stichting OpenAccess 2019-01-01
Series:Journal of Facade Design and Engineering
Subjects:
Online Access:https://jfde.eu/index.php/jfde/article/view/167
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author Mark Edward Alston
Uta Pottgiesser
Ulrich Knaack
author_facet Mark Edward Alston
Uta Pottgiesser
Ulrich Knaack
author_sort Mark Edward Alston
collection DOAJ
description The glazed envelopes on buildings play a major role in operational energy consumption as they define the boundary conditions between climate and thermal comfort. Such a façade is viewed as an uncontrolled load that sets the operational performance requirements for artificial lighting and air-cooling mechanical systems. This is in contrast to nature, which has evolved materials with the ability to learn and adapt to a micro-environment through self-regulation using materials that are multifunctional, formed by chemical composition in response to solar load. Leaf vasculature formations are of particular interest to this paper. Through leaf maximisation of daylight capture, the total leaf area density and angular distribution of leaf surfaces define the tree structure. This paper will define an approach to simulate nature to advance a microfluidic platform as a dynamic NIR absorber for solar modulation: a transformable network of multi-microchannel geometry matrix structures for autonomous transparent surfaces, for real time flow management of conductivity. This is realised through active volumetric flows within a capillary network of circulation fluidics within it, through it, and out of it for energy capture and storage, the cycle of which is determined through precise management of heat flow transport within a material. This advances transparent façades into an energy system for heat load modulation nested to climate and solar exposure, which is demonstrated in this paper.
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spelling doaj.art-811f745aede94efd86c7259b5c1e86a02023-03-15T13:53:10ZengStichting OpenAccessJournal of Facade Design and Engineering2213-302X2213-30382019-01-017110.7480/jfde.2019.1.2785167Bio-inspired Transparent Microfluidic Platform as Transformable Networks for Solar ModulationMark Edward Alston0Uta Pottgiesser1Ulrich Knaack2School of Engineering, Architecture and the Built Environment, University of NottinghamProfessor of Interior Architecture - Faculty of Design Sciences, University of AntwerpTU Delft, Architecture and the Built Environment The glazed envelopes on buildings play a major role in operational energy consumption as they define the boundary conditions between climate and thermal comfort. Such a façade is viewed as an uncontrolled load that sets the operational performance requirements for artificial lighting and air-cooling mechanical systems. This is in contrast to nature, which has evolved materials with the ability to learn and adapt to a micro-environment through self-regulation using materials that are multifunctional, formed by chemical composition in response to solar load. Leaf vasculature formations are of particular interest to this paper. Through leaf maximisation of daylight capture, the total leaf area density and angular distribution of leaf surfaces define the tree structure. This paper will define an approach to simulate nature to advance a microfluidic platform as a dynamic NIR absorber for solar modulation: a transformable network of multi-microchannel geometry matrix structures for autonomous transparent surfaces, for real time flow management of conductivity. This is realised through active volumetric flows within a capillary network of circulation fluidics within it, through it, and out of it for energy capture and storage, the cycle of which is determined through precise management of heat flow transport within a material. This advances transparent façades into an energy system for heat load modulation nested to climate and solar exposure, which is demonstrated in this paper. https://jfde.eu/index.php/jfde/article/view/167microfluidicthermal transportabsorbersolargeometry matrixbio-inspired
spellingShingle Mark Edward Alston
Uta Pottgiesser
Ulrich Knaack
Bio-inspired Transparent Microfluidic Platform as Transformable Networks for Solar Modulation
Journal of Facade Design and Engineering
microfluidic
thermal transport
absorber
solar
geometry matrix
bio-inspired
title Bio-inspired Transparent Microfluidic Platform as Transformable Networks for Solar Modulation
title_full Bio-inspired Transparent Microfluidic Platform as Transformable Networks for Solar Modulation
title_fullStr Bio-inspired Transparent Microfluidic Platform as Transformable Networks for Solar Modulation
title_full_unstemmed Bio-inspired Transparent Microfluidic Platform as Transformable Networks for Solar Modulation
title_short Bio-inspired Transparent Microfluidic Platform as Transformable Networks for Solar Modulation
title_sort bio inspired transparent microfluidic platform as transformable networks for solar modulation
topic microfluidic
thermal transport
absorber
solar
geometry matrix
bio-inspired
url https://jfde.eu/index.php/jfde/article/view/167
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AT utapottgiesser bioinspiredtransparentmicrofluidicplatformastransformablenetworksforsolarmodulation
AT ulrichknaack bioinspiredtransparentmicrofluidicplatformastransformablenetworksforsolarmodulation