This Small Business Innovation Research Phase I project will develop a low-cost smart-window technology. This project will utilize contemporary display industry fabrication and processing technologies to create unique large area optical films. These films will be subsequently used to construct energy efficient smart-windows that modulate transmission or reflection of light on command. Windows, skylights and other glazings made with this technology will have the ability to darken on command. In this Phase I project, three methods of creating the films will be examined and compared based on the optical film quality, scalability to large area and large volume production, material costs, and prototype operation. Successful fabrication of these films will enable smart-windows to be manufactured in a completely passive manner, simplifying their installation in existing windows, minimizing upfront costs and ultimately reducing energy bills.
The broader impact of this project will be a potential savings of billions of dollars in energy costs in the United States alone. Buildings are responsible for seventy percent of the electricity consumed in the United States. As part of a daylighting /natural heating strategy, smart-window technologies have received much attention for their ability to reduce building energy consumption. Unfortunately, existing smart-window technologies suffer from severe limitations in lifespan, scalability and cost. The technology to be developed is a radically different approach to smart-windows because instead of electrochemical processes, it utilizes stable films. This affords more chemical stability, longer life, better manufacturing scalability, power independence (manual operation), and lower costs to the consumer.
This NSF SBIR Phase I project set out to design, fabricate, and study the performance of low cost mechanical smart glass or Variable Transmission Windows (VTWs). Smart Glass is an emerging technology that allows windows in home or offices to tint on command. Instead of using blinds or shades to control light, glare, and solar heat gain, smart glass can be tinted automatically or on command to limit or completely cut the amount of light allowed through the window. The prior art in this field makes use of highly specialized materials and processes to produce high performing and extremely expensive glass. This approach has severely limited market adoption. This project used a brand new approach and contemporary display industry fabrication technologies to create unique optical films at a more acceptable final cost. These films were then used to construct energy energy-efficient smart windows that modulate transmission or reflection of light on command at a lab scale. Using existing display technologies was a success. The lab scale prototypes worked as desired and showed extremely high performance at the low transmission end (meaning they function well for black out shades and privacy use). The technology promises to scale up well and function as a low cost large area solution for daylighting control. The phase II will experiment with control systems, mechanical durability, and energy modeling of large scale deployments. The broader impact of this project will be a potential savings of billions of dollars in energy costs in the United States alone, and a reduction of carbon footprint. Buildings are responsible for seventy percent of the electricity consumed in the United States. As part of a daylighting /natural heating strategy, smart window technologies have received much attention for their ability to reduce building energy consumption. Unfortunately, existing smart window products suffer from severe limitations in lifespan, scalability and cost. The technology to be developed is a radically different approach to smart windows because instead of electrochemical processes, it utilizes stable films. This affords more chemical stability, longer life, better manufacturing scalability, power independence (via manual operation), and lower costs to the consumer.
