Experimental evaluation study of the comfort and energy performance of suspended particle device smart windows in a residential building: Achieving optimal control during the cooling season

Soo Jin Lee, Sue Young Choi, Seung Yeong Song

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

1 Scopus citations

Abstract

In contrast to traditional windows, smart windows dynamically affect indoor visual and thermal environments through Visible light transmittance (VT) and Solar heat gain coefficient (SHGC) changes. Therefore, for enhancing smart window application effects, it is necessary to analyze comprehensively the impacts of smart window tinting on indoor visual and thermal environments, and to establish appropriate tinting control methods. This study aimed to determine optimal smart window control strategies for residential buildings during the cooling season by evaluating visual and thermal comfort and energy performance in an actual building equipped with SPD smart windows. An experimental building was located in Sejong, South Korea (36.5°N latitude, 127.3°E longitude; temperate climate zone), and the measurements were conducted from July to August 2023 to compare glare, indoor daylight illuminance, thermal comfort, and cooling and lighting energy between typical and smart windows. And, optimal control methods were proposed from general comfort and energy performance perspectives. The measurements indicated that it was difficult to satisfy all aspects of the visual and thermal environment, and comprehensively it was recommended to employing “always tinting” on summer. However, on a clear day, jointly applying smart windows and lighting dimming control and controlling automatically based on indoor daylight illuminance levels were found to be the most effective as it not only secured visual comfort performance but also reduced lighting energy consumption.

Original languageEnglish
Article number111176
JournalJournal of Building Engineering
Volume98
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Dec 2024

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2024 Elsevier Ltd

Keywords

  • Cooling season
  • Optimal control
  • Overall energy
  • Suspended particle device (SPD) smart windows
  • Visual and thermal comfort

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