Work

Optimal transition temperature maps of thermotropic glazing in a reference office room of China considering the building performance

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Thermotropic (TT) glazing is gaining increasing interest due to their unique ability to regulate solar heat gain and visible daylight transmittance in response to temperature changes. Determining the optimal transition temperature and evaluating the potential improvements of thermotropic glazing in building performance are critical for its application in buildings. In this study, an experimentally validated building performance simulation model for thermotropic glazing was utilized to assess the performance of a reference office room across four building orientations, using typical meteorological year data from 203 cities in China. The optimal transition temperatures were determined, and the potential enhancements in building performance were evaluated through comparisons of single thermotropic glazing, low-e double glazing, and a combination of single thermotropic glazing with a low-e coating featuring high solar heat transmittance (TT + Low-e H). Additionally, spatial distribution maps illustrating the optimal transition temperatures of thermotropic glazing, as well as the potential for energy savings, daylighting, and thermal comfort improvements, were plotted. The results indicated that: (1) TT + Low-e H achieved energy savings of up to 9.5 % in Northern regions and 5.2 % in Southern regions, with the most significant savings observed on West-facing walls. (2) Additionally, TT + Low-e H improved daylighting comfort (sUDI 300∼3000lx, ≥50% ) by as much as 33 % in Northern regions and 32 % in Southern regions, while simultaneously reducing the excessive daylighting range (sUDI >3000lx, ≥50% ) by up to 66 %. (3) Furthermore, thermal comfort levels increased by up to 18.0 % in Northern regions and 13.7 % in Southern regions, with enhancements noted in 60.7 % and 61.4 % of cases. The findings from this study are expected to provide valuable guidance for the application of thermotropic glazing.

Source: Applied Thermal Engineering

DOI: 10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2025.125970

Authors: Yilin You, Xuan Yang, Ziwen Xu, Chuanrong Cui, Feng Shi, Xiaoqiang Hong

Institution: Xiamen University

Language: English

Topic: Building Energy and Comfort Optimization

Subfield: Building and Construction

Field: Engineering

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDGs: Affordable and clean energy, Climate action, Sustainable cities and communities

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,660