Abstract

The application of superinsulation materials (SIM) reaching thermal conductivities far below 20 mW/(mK) allows the construction of relatively thin building envelopes while still maintaining a high thermal resistance, which also increases the architectural design possibilities for both new buildings and refurbishment of existing ones. To accomplish such a task without applying vacuum solutions and their inherit weaknesses may be possible from theoretical principles by utilizing the Knudsen effect for reduced thermal gas conductance in nanopores.
This study presents the attempts to develop nano insulation materials (NIM) through the synthesis of hollow silica nanospheres (HSNS), indicating that HSNS may represent a promising candidate or stepping-stone for achieving SIM. Furthermore, initial experiments with aerogel-incorporated concrete and the conceptual work concerning NanoCon are presented.

Abstract

Electrochromic materials (ECM) and windows (ECW) are able to regulate the solar radiation throughput by application of an external electrical voltage. Thus, ECWs may decrease heating, cooling, lighting and electricity loads in buildings by admitting the optimum level of solar energy and daylight at any given time, e.g. cold winter climate versus warm summer climate demands. It is crucial to be able to compare the dynamic solar radiation control for different ECWs and hence require specific ECW properties. The solar radiation control for ECWs may readily be characterized by several solar radiation glazing factors, where a comparison for various ECW configurations enables one to select the most appropriate ones for specific smart window applications in energy-efficient buildings. As an example a particular ECW based on the ECMs polyaniline, prussian blue and tungsten oxide is presented, being able to regulate as much as 60 % of the visible and
59 % of the total solar radiation.

Abstract

Sodium tungstate (Na-WO3) nanorods with typical diameters of 10-200 nm and lengths of several microns were prepared via hydrothermal synthesis. X-ray diffraction showed that the material crystallized in a hexagonal phase (space group
P6/mmm) with unit cell dimensions of a = 7.3166(8) Å and c = 3.8990(8) Å. The as-prepared Na-WO3 nanorods showed a distinctive visible-light-driven photochromism related to a proton-electron double injection process. The involved local
structural evolutions were monitored by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and Raman scattering spectroscopy. One diagnostic FTIR absorption at 585 cm-1 and one Raman band at 813 cm-1 were identified and assigned to the O-W-O stretching vibration. These two modes were strongly affected by the proton and electron insertion, showing promises for studying the chromogenic properties of hexagonal WO3 materials.

Abstract

The potential of silver (Ag) nanoparticles as low emissivity (low-e) coating materials for window glazing applications has been discussed. Ag nanoparticles were prepared via a wet chemical method and applied on the surface of flat glass through spin coating. A mild heat treatment at 200°C was employed to achieve the low-e effect, which results in a total surface emissivity of about 0.015, compared to about 0.837 of the plain glass substrate. By applying such low-e coatings, the heat loss through a single-glazed window pane could be reduced by about 45% (U-value from 5.75 to 3.18 W/(m2K)).

ABSTRACT

The path toward energy-efficient buildings with a low or zero carbon footprint, e.g. zero energy and zero emission buildings, involves the development of high-performance thermal insulation, aiming at reaching thermal conductivities far below 20 mW/(mK). Applying such superinsulation will allow the construction of relatively thin building envelopes yet maintaining a high thermal resistance, thus also increasing the architectural design possibilities. A vacuum insulation panel (VIP) represents a stateof-the-art thermal insulation solution with a thermal conductivity of typical 4 mW/(mK) in the pristine and non-aged condition. However, the VIPs have issues with fragility, perforation vulnerability, increasing thermal conductivity during time and lack of building site adaption by cutting as four cardinal weaknesses, in addition to heat bridge effects and relatively high costs. Therefore, the VIPs of today do not represent a robust solution. Hence, our aim is from theoretical principles, utilizing the Knudsen effect for reduced thermal gas conductance in nanopores, to develop experimentally a high-performance nano insulation material (NIM). This work presents the current status of the development of NIM as hollow silica nanospheres (HSNS) in our laboratories, from the experimental synthesis to the material characterization by e.g. thermal conductivity measurements. One attempted approach for tailor-making HSNS is the sacrificial template method and optimization of the sphere diameter and shell thickness with respect to low thermal conductivity. The results so far indicate that HSNS represent a promising candidate for achieving the high-performance thermal superinsulation for application in the buildings of tomorrow.

Summary

Abstract

Abstract

Improvements to concrete will have a large impact in the construction and building sector. As the attention is drawn towards energy-efficient and zero emission buildings, the thermal properties of concrete will be important. Attempts are being made to decrease the thermal conductivity of concrete composites while retaining as much as possible of the mechanical strength. In this study experimental investigations of aerogel-incorporated mortar (AIM) with up to 80 vol% aerogel are prepared utilizing a reduced ultra-high performance concrete (UHPC) recipe. It was found that at 50 vol% aerogel content, the AIM sample possessed a compressive strength of 20 MPa and a thermal conductivity of ≈0.55 W/(mK). This strength decreased by almost a factor of 4–5.8 MPa, while gaining only a 20% improvement in thermal conductivity when aerogel content increased to 70 vol%. No preferred gain in properties was observed as compared to a normal mortar system. This can be attributed to the imbalance of the particle–matrix ratio in the mortar system, causing a decrease in adhesion of the binder-aggregates. The AIM samples have been characterized by thermal conductivity and mechanical strength measurements, alongside scanning electron microscope (SEM) analyses.

Abstract

Low-emissivity (low-e) materials can be used in order to reduce energy usage in both opaque and transparent areas of a building. The main focus for low-e materials is to reduce the heat transfer through thermal radiation. Furthermore, low-e materials will also influence on the daylight and total solar radiation energy throughput in windows, the latter one often characterized as the solar heat gain coefficient (SHGC). This work reviews low-e materials and products found on the market, and their possible implementations and benefits when used in buildings. The SHGC is often left out by many countries in energy labellings of windows. With opaque low-e materials, research is still ongoing to correctly calculate the effect with regard to thermal performance when applied in buildings. Future research perspectives on where low-e technologies may develop are explored. To the authors’ knowledge, there seems to be little available literature on how ageing affects low-e materials and products. As this is of large significance when calculating energy usage over the lifetime of a building, ageing effects of low-e materials should be addressed by manufacturers and the scientific community.