Study on the impact of photovoltaic electrochromic modular smart window on indoor environment

• Published in: Building and environment Vol. 238; p. 110381
• Main Authors: Zhang, Wei, Wu, Xin, Xie, Lingzhi, Zhao, Oufan, Zhong, Jianmei, Zeng, Xiding, Zou, Ruiwen
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 15.06.2023
• Subjects: Building lighting environment; Electrochromic glass; Smart window; Smart window; Building lighting environment; Electrochromic glass
• ISSN: 0360-1323; 1873-684X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.buildenv.2023.110381

Both electrochromic window (EC) and photovoltaic (PV) shading technology can control the indoor lighting environment. However, their combination form has great impact on the performance. The innovative smart windows with photovoltaic electrochromic (PV-EC) modules are designed, and consisted with photovoltaic areas, EC areas and transparent areas. Because the position of different modules can be adjusted freely, the system can select the most suitable combination mode for different building applied conditions. The PV-EC modular smart window test rig was established to learn the influence of different combinations of the windows on lighting condition. The combination(d) has the largest useful daylighting illumination among them, and which reaches 75.26%. PV area is installed at the lower layer, EC area is installed at the middle layer, and transparent area is installed at the upper layer in combination (d). Compared with ordinary windows, the window system can save up to 15.79% energy. And for different floors, radiation areas and space types, the system can select the corresponding combinations to adjust the lighting environment. It shows that the window system could improve the lighting environment and energy saving of the building, and effectively copes with different building condition. •The highlights in this article were collected as follows:•A novel PV-EC modular window was designed to improve lighting environment and building energy-saving performance.•The UDI can reach 75.26% when use the window, which significantly improves lighting environment.•The smart windows can save the building about 15.79% energy compared with ordinary windows.•Different combinations of the enhanced system could meet the individual needs of different space types and regions.