Typology of Buildings with Grating Smart Windows with Azimuthally Optimized Light Transmission

Abstract

A novel architectural typology of buildings is proposed with special transmission of each window without the use of additional daylight shading/redirecting devices. Minimum transmission at a preset time and self-regulated transmission at the rest of the time, adapted to the sun’s trajectory, are achieved due an optical filter having two thin-film gratings with alternating transmissive and chromogenic strips. The building typology algorithm was realized by calculating the geometric parameters of grating filters for various facades and their temporal characteristics of direct light transmittance. The results demonstrated the minimization of transmission at the preset time of day, and acceptable filter operation at other times, as also validated by daylighting and glare metrics evaluation. A smart window with grating filter can partially or completely block direct sunlight and let in diffused light, unlike other versions of smart technologies that have been developing rapidly in recent years. The ergonomic, environmental, and aesthetic properties of such a smart window are improved by the absence of additional devices. This typology has potential applications, especially in office and industrial buildings due to the need for sun protection during the daytime, as well as in buildings with curved facades with continuous azimuth changes. The proposed architectural typology of buildings with special characteristics of direct light and solar transmission of each window due to the use of the novel grating optical filter, the theoretical basis for its implementation and the results obtained indicate potential prospects for application in office and industrial buildings with the demand for sun protection, especially for buildings with curved facades. This approach provides an optimized light transmission capacity of each window without the use of additional daylight shading/redirecting devices and improves the ergonomic, environmental and aesthetic properties of the window and the room. For the practical use of the proposed typology of buildings, in future work it is planned to study in detail the annual performance of the window filter, evaluate the economic aspects and create a computer program convenient for architects that allows calculating all the necessary individual parameters of all windows of the building.