PROJECTS

Framework

InnoGlassLab aims to provide a new generation of apparatus and procedures to characterize glazing systems. The purpose is for the apparatus to allow the simulation of a wide range of climate conditions (temperature variation, humidity, solar radiation, wind, rain, etc.) and the evaluation of thermal comfort and surface condensation risk. The results will enable the validation of numerical models and the assessment of the impact of innovative glazing systems on the energy performance of buildings.  

Main goals

· To conceive and develop the InnoGlassLab, a new experimental apparatus and set of procedures for the evaluation of complex glazing systems, that will significantly improve on the current hot box method and allow their full characterization in a wide range of dynamic weather conditions. The InnoGlassLab apparatus will incorporate indoor solar calorimetric methods (for evaluating g-value) and in-situ characterization methodologies, such as heat flow meter (HFM), convection velocimetry and radiation thermometry;

· To incorporate surface condensation risk assessment and thermal comfort analysis into the experimental procedure;

· To develop innovative and optimized energy-efficient glazing systems combining different existing glazing technologies;

· To experimentally characterize various glazing solutions in the InnoGlassLab, replicating a wide range of weather conditions, combining different components such as temperature variation, humidity level, solar radiation, wind speed and rain;

· To improve on existing numerical models for evaluating the thermal behaviour of glazing systems, considering the impact of more weather components on glazing and to validate the new numerical calculations against experimental results obtained using the InnoGlassLab procedure;

· To assess the impact of innovative energy-efficient glazing systems on NZEB and ZEB goals.

Project activities

The project will last 36 months, and the work will be developed according to the following activities:

A1 - State of the art review
A2 - Design and production of the InnoGlassLab apparatus
A3 - Testing and quality assurance
A4 - Evaluation of innovative glazing solutions
A5 - Promotion and dissemination
A6 - Scientific management and coordination