Liquid flow window: Technology review and future trends

Wenjie Liu, Xinwen Liu, Lin Lin, Chunying Li, Chongchao Pan, Tin-tai Chow, Jie Zhou and Jingyu Cao

Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 2025, vol. 223, issue C

Abstract: Liquid flow windows (LFWs) represent a novel technology for enhancing building energy efficiency by integrating solar thermal collection, radiative heating/cooling, and dynamic shading. Recent years have seen extensive research on LFW systems, with advances in design, optical, thermal, and acoustic performance, supported by both experimental tests and validated numerical studies. This review aims at providing an up-to-date classification and achievement of the global research works on LFWs, and focusing particularly on the various design options, applications, and their associated benefits. Advanced integrations—such as nanofluids, phase-change materials, and hybrid systems with photovoltaics or heat pumps—significantly enhance stability and energy flexibility. The review also addresses the key challenges hindering the commercialization of LFW technology, such as low-temperature heat utilization, microbial growth in cavities, and insufficient long-term performance data. Additionally, it offers insights into future advancements to accelerate adoption in net-zero energy buildings, which are crucial to the milestone advancements in liquid flow window technology.

Keywords: Liquid flow window; Active glazing; Building-integrated solar thermal; Building energy conservation; Thermal performance (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1016/j.rser.2025.115988

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