[esp-r] Proposed development of window shading models

[Bart Lomanowski]

Hello All,

In response to Jon's reply...

I am a Master’s student at the Solar Thermal Research Lab at the University of 
Waterloo. Our group has developed window shading models focusing on the 
accurate treatment of venetian blinds in glazing systems. 

The models essentially extend a standard center-glass glazing analysis to add 
venetian blinds of arbitrary geometry, slat angle and position within the 
glazing system. The analysis is based on calculating spatially averaged, or 
effective solar optical and longwave properties for a shading layer given a 
specific geometry and slat surface reflectance. A multi-layer solar optical 
analysis determines the absorbed, transmitted and reflected components of 
incident beam (off-normal) and diffuse solar radiation. Next, a heat transfer 
analysis, including the absorbed solar radiation terms, determines all the 
radiative and convective fluxes and layer temperatures. A convection 
correlation has been developed for a between-the-panes venetian blind. 

Proposed ESP-r development:
The development, still in the early stages, aims to create an “advanced glazing 
systems” facility giving the user the freedom to specify any glazing/shading 
arrangement . The optical properties for glazing/shading systems would be 
calculated based on the insolation data per time-step, allowing for accurate 
solar energy accounting. Convective and radiative heat transfer across air gaps 
would be treated in more detail than the current air gap resistance 
approach.    

These models will pave way for the development of intelligent automated blind 
systems. 

The method of implementation is still in the early stages so there is still 
uncertainty about code interventions at this time. I anticipate that the 
subroutines MZSLGN, MZCOE1 and MZSETU will require extensive work, however, the 
plan is to create new subroutines for handling advanced glazing systems.

I look forward to discussions on the subject.

Regards,
Bart Lomanowski