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Evaluation of thermal performance for a smart switchable adaptive polymer dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC) glazing

Hemaida, Abdulmohsin; Ghosh, Aritra; Sundaram, Senthilarasu; Mallick, Tapas K

Authors

Abdulmohsin Hemaida

Aritra Ghosh

Tapas K Mallick



Abstract

A new class of smart window technologies are gaining interest as they have the functionality to control dynamic solar radiation, shading, ventilation and energy production. They are capable of improving buildings’ energy performance by adapting to different climate conditions and bring thermal and visual comfort for occupants. Polymer-dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC) is a smart switchable window that changes its optical transmissions from translucent to transparent when an alternating electric current stimulus is introduced. The present paper discusses the results of an indoor investigation for the optical and thermal performance of a PDLC glazing system. The spectral transmittance of the investigated PDLC was evaluated for both the translucent and transparent states using UV–vis–NIR (1050) spectrophotometer. In addition, the thermal investigation was carried out in an indoor condition utilising a test cell equipped with a small scale of PDLC glazing, which was exposed to (1000, 800, 600, 400 W/m2) solar radiation for 180 min. The optical evaluation showed that the investigated PDLC glazing offered low transmission for UV (8%) and NIR (44%) in the translucent state, respectively. The result of SHGC was 0.68 and 0.63 for the transparent and translucent states, respectively, which indicates that the investigated sample could be more effective in reducing heat loads in a cold dominated climate. The U-value for the PDLC glazing was 2.79 W/m2 for the transparent and 2.44 W/m2 translucent.

Citation

Hemaida, A., Ghosh, A., Sundaram, S., & Mallick, T. K. (2020). Evaluation of thermal performance for a smart switchable adaptive polymer dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC) glazing. Solar Energy, 195, 185-193. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solener.2019.11.024

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Nov 6, 2019
Online Publication Date Nov 26, 2019
Publication Date 2020-01
Deposit Date Mar 13, 2023
Publicly Available Date Mar 28, 2024
Journal Solar Energy
Print ISSN 0038-092X
Publisher Elsevier
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 195
Pages 185-193
DOI https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solener.2019.11.024
Keywords Glazing, PDLC glazing, Smart window, Optical properties, Solar heat gain coefficient (SHGC), Thermal performance (U-value)

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