Marco Perino

The dataset reports the temperature evolution in different points of a poly-carbonate panel filled with two different types of phase change materials. The dataset is obtained by performing tests with a Dynamic Heat Flow Meter Apparatus. More information on the tests can be found in the article "Sinusoidal response measurement procedure for the thermal performance assessment of PCM by means of Dynamic Heat Flow Meter Apparatus" published in Energy and Buildings, DOI: 10.1016/j.enbuild.2018.11.011

Abstract The performance of conventional, water based, solar thermal collectors is limited by some intrinsic limitations, such as the need for high irradiation levels and the heat loss due to the relatively high temperature of the heat transfer fluid. In order to overcome these limitations and to improve the performance of solar thermal collectors, a different kind of heat transfer fluid can be proposed. This fluid is based on the exploitation of the latent heat of fusion/solidification of suspended particles, which change their state of aggregation at a micron scale, but maintain the liquid state of the fluid at a macroscopic scale. The so-called slurry phase materials, or PCS, are examples of this kind of material. In order to evaluate the effectiveness of such a concept, a numerical model of a PCS-based flat-plate solar thermal collector has been developed, presented and discussed. This model has been derived from the well-known Hottel–Whillier model, but several changes have been implemented so that a phase change of the heat transfer fluid can be handled, as well as the thermophysical properties of a non-Newtonian fluid, such as those of a PCS. The paper presents the main and auxiliary equations that have been introduced to modify the Hottel–Whillier model. A numerical analysis conducted with the newly developed model is also presented in the paper. The aim of these simulations was to test the code and obtain a preliminary evaluation of the performance of the novel concept. Different (dynamic) boundary conditions (location, orientation, PCM concentration) were adopted to evaluate the performance of the PCS-based technology and compare it with that of a conventional solar thermal collector. The outcomes of the simulations have proved model robustness and the possibility of using it for preliminary analysis. It was also shown that the adoption of the PCS as a heat transfer fluid can lead to an increase in solar energy exploitation of different magnitude according to the climate. The greatest benefit can be achieved for cold climates. The limitations of the analysis (e.g. fixed, non-optimal flow rate) are also discussed.

ABSTRACT This paper deals with the development and use of innovative glazing systems that utilize Phase Change Material (PCM) to achieve dynamic and responsive behaviour. The coupling of a PCM and glass panes could be a way of improving the low thermal inertia of fenestrations and could be an effective way of collecting, storing and exploiting solar energy at a building scale. In the present work, a simple prototype of a PCM glazing system has been proposed and its energy performance has been analysed and compared with a conventional fenestration. The two glazing technologies were installed on an south facing outdoor test cell, in a temperate sub-continental climate. The surface temperatures, transmitted irradiances and heat fluxes of both the PCM glazing and the reference fenestration were measured during an extensive experimental campaign. Summer, Mid-season and Winter days were considered during the analysis, in both sunny and cloudy weather conditions, in order to assess the energy performance of the PCM glazing under different boundary conditions. The experimental results have highlighted a good ability of the PCM glazing to store solar energy and to smooth and delay peak values of the total heat flux. In summer the PCM prototype allows the energy gain to be lowered by more than 50%, compared to the traditional fenestration. In winter, a suitable reduction in the heat loss during the day can be observed, but the direct solar gain is also drastically reduced and the application of this technology for passive solar heating purpose might not always be effective. The obtained results have pointed out the promising performance of PCM glazing, even though a careful integration of the PCM glazing component with the control strategies of the indoor air temperature (e.g. night cooling) is necessary.

Double Skin Façades are complex fenestration systems capable to control solar heat gain and ventilation in buildings. Due to the high flexibility of such innovative components, having energy models able to replicate the thermal behaviour of the Double Skin Facades is of utmost importance for their optimal control and integration with building automation strategies. In this context, a numerical model has been developed and validate within the experimental data. The methodological steps are presented in this work and in the last section, the potential applications of the model are discussed.

A relevant part of research activities dealing with the energy retrofitting of existing buildings is currently focused on the development of highly insulating plasters, which represent a feasible and effective solution as far as thermal bridges, mold growth risk and heat loss reduction are concerned. Within this framework, the EU funded research project "Wall- ACE" started in October 2016. The project involves industrial partners, research centres and public bodies, with the aim of developing, testing and implementing, a new set of high performance aerogel based insulating products. In this first stage, the activity carried out by the authors was mainly focused on internal insulating plasters. The first blends of lightweight samples were experimentally characterized as far as thermohygrometric and mechanical properties are concerned. Moreover, the thermal behavior of typical wall assemblies retrofitted using the developed aerogel based plasters, were assessed through numer...

The development of lightweight and multifunctional curtain wall systems, which integrate different technological solutions, is aimed at achieving increasingly higher requirements related to energy efficiency as well as indoor environmental quality in non-residential buildings. On one hand lightweight and thin façade elements present several advantages (such as construction time, space, and transportation savings, less weight on primary structure etc.), while facing the challenge of guaranteeing the required thermal and acoustic performance and achieving legislative compliance on the other. In the framework of the Horizon 2020 Project Powerskin+ a new concept of multifunctional façade, which combines high performance insulation, energy harvesting, heating system, and latent heat storage capabilities is under development. Within the design process of the different sub-modules (opaque and transparent), performance calculations are carried out by means of existing simulation tools, or a...

The study investigates the effectiveness of an energy retrofit strategy based on the adoption of an aerogelbased coating aimed at mitigating thermal bridges and reducing energy losses. The material was developed and characterised in the framework of the Horizon-2020 project ‘Wall-ACE’. The analyses were aimed to validate coupled heat and moisture transfer simulation models at the component level through the comparison with in-field experiments. Furthermore, the results achieved by the heat and moisture simulations were compared with those obtained by means of standardised simplified methods to verify if the adoption of more accurate calculation procedures gives different results.

More than 80% of the energy consumption will be influenced by the existing building stock. Accordingly, building renovation has a high priority in many countries. Furthermore, several studies have shown that the most efficient way to curb the energy consumption in the building sector (new & existing) remain the reduction of the heat loss by improving the insulation of the building envelope (roof, floor, wall & windows). All since the first oil crisis in 1973-1974, the national building regulations require improvement of the thermal performance of the building envelope to significantly reduce the energy use for space heating. Following the regulations, the energy efficiency of new buildings has improved. In Europe, targeting to an average U-value close to 0.2 W/m2·K is optimal. Using traditional insulation materials this means an insulation thickness of about 20 cm. Thus, the thickness of internal and/or external insulation layers becomes a major issue of concern for retrofitting pro...

Adaptive facades have the potential to shape resourceefficient and occupant-centred spaces only when their control strategies are tailored to meet transient, local and personal demands. State-of-the-art control algorithms are currently failing to provide occupant thermal satisfaction because the data on occupant response to the thermal environment is not sufficiently granular. This paper presents a preliminary assessment of the use of the adjusted operative temperature, which accounts also for the additional effect of shortwave radiation on occupants, to dynamically devise learning control strategies that meet individual occupant comfort requirements. Shortwave effects of solar radiation on occupant comfort and operative temperature are compared to those considering only longwave radiation and two alternative occupantcentred control strategies are devised and assessed. Lastly, a combined occupant-centred control strategy is also proposed for an open space office.

The latest European energy policy aimed at reducing the energy demand and CO2 emissions due to the building sector has been pushing researchers, designers, manufacturers and contractors towards the development of novel concepts and technical solutions, with special emphasis on building envelope. Relevant improvements can be achieved by adopting a new approach, conceiving envelope components as "living" membranes, efficiently interacting with indoors and outdoors boundary conditions and with users' needs thus performing an adaptive behaviour. Adaptiveness may be based on different driving factors, may perform at different timescales (from few minutes/ hours to diurnal/seasonal variations) and may take place at different components'/systems' levels (macro or micro scale). This implies that adaptive facades are particularly complex to be comprehensively characterized. The lack of metrics and standardized procedure is one of the major barriers to promote their wide...