Approaching the Theoretical Maximum Performance of Highly Transparent Thermochromic Windows

Daniel Mann (), Lavinia Calvi, Cindy P. K. Yeung, Roberto Habets, Ken Elen, An Hardy, Marlies K. Van Bael and Pascal Buskens ()
Additional contact information
Daniel Mann: The Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research (TNO), High Tech Campus 25, 5656 AE Eindhoven, The Netherlands
Lavinia Calvi: Design and Synthesis of Inorganic Materials (DESINe), Institute for Materials Research, Hasselt University, Agoralaan Building D, 3590 Diepenbeek, Belgium
Cindy P. K. Yeung: The Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research (TNO), High Tech Campus 25, 5656 AE Eindhoven, The Netherlands
Roberto Habets: The Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research (TNO), High Tech Campus 25, 5656 AE Eindhoven, The Netherlands
Ken Elen: Design and Synthesis of Inorganic Materials (DESINe), Institute for Materials Research, Hasselt University, Agoralaan Building D, 3590 Diepenbeek, Belgium
An Hardy: Design and Synthesis of Inorganic Materials (DESINe), Institute for Materials Research, Hasselt University, Agoralaan Building D, 3590 Diepenbeek, Belgium
Marlies K. Van Bael: Design and Synthesis of Inorganic Materials (DESINe), Institute for Materials Research, Hasselt University, Agoralaan Building D, 3590 Diepenbeek, Belgium
Pascal Buskens: The Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research (TNO), High Tech Campus 25, 5656 AE Eindhoven, The Netherlands

Energies, 2023, vol. 16, issue 13, 1-14

Abstract: Thermochromic window coatings represent a promising technology to improve the energy efficiency of buildings in intermediate climates. With the technology approaching market introduction it is important to investigate its performance limits within smart windows and to identify existing development challenges. Here we analyze the theoretical maximum performance of thermochromic window coatings that modulate IR transmission whilst retaining high visible transparency. The set limitations lead to a theoretical maximum solar modulation of 39.1%. Within an insulated glazing unit (IGU), where at least 2 glass panes and a conventional low-e coating are required, this value is further reduced to 12.9%. We show that by carefully selecting a low-e coating with the highest compatibility to a thermochromic coated glass and by allowing 10% of modulation in the visible spectral range, the theoretical maximum can be increased to 23.1%, illustrating the importance to codesign and match both coatings within a smart window to reach optimum performance. Furthermore, we compared our current best-performing VO 2 :SiO 2 composite coating within an IGU to the theoretical maximum. The analysis shows that with a solar modulation of 13.4%, the coating is currently at 59% of the theoretical maximum. Finally, we propose and discuss several strategies to proceed further toward the theoretical maximum.

Keywords: smart window; solar modulation; simulation; thermochromic; vanadium dioxide; energy efficiency (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/16/13/4984/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/16/13/4984/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jeners:v:16:y:2023:i:13:p:4984-:d:1180839

Access Statistics for this article

Energies is currently edited by Ms. Agatha Cao

More articles in Energies from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().