Electro-polymeric Shade for Insulating Glass
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current window technologies fail to effectively balance energy efficiency and human comfort, leading to excessive heating and cooling costs, while also not fully utilizing natural light and solar energy, especially in buildings with large glass facades.
Innovation Solution
The development of electrically driven shades for insulating glass units, featuring a conductive film, dielectric film, and a polymer shutter with decorative ink, which can be controlled to block or allow radiation, providing dynamic insulation and privacy while optimizing energy usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If windows are made with large glass facades to provide natural light and connection to outside, then illumination intensity and aesthetic appeal are improved, but energy waste from excessive heating and cooling increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies a dynamically controllable electrostatic shade that can transition between extended and retracted positions. When extended, the shade blocks solar radiation to reduce cooling loads; when retracted, it allows natural light transmission. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction by providing both natural light and energy efficiency at different times.
Solution Approach 2:
The electrostatic shade changes its optical parameters (transmittance, reflectance) based on applied voltage. At zero voltage, the shade is transparent allowing natural light; at high voltage, it becomes opaque or reflective to block solar heat gain. This parameter change enables the window to simultaneously achieve illumination and energy efficiency.
2Loss of energy
If static low-emissivity coatings are applied to reduce U-value and improve insulation, then energy efficiency is improved, but dynamic control of solar heat gain and privacy is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines static low-emissivity coatings on the glass substrates with a dynamic electrostatic shade. The static coatings provide baseline thermal insulation, while the electrostatic shade adds dynamic control capability for solar heat gain and privacy, resolving the contradiction between insulation and adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The window assembly uses composite construction combining glass substrates with static low-E coatings and a separate electrostatic polymer shade layer. This composite structure integrates the thermal performance of static coatings with the dynamic control of the electrostatic shade, achieving both insulation and versatility.
3Adaptability or versatility
If electrostatic polymer shades are used to provide dynamic control of solar radiation, then adaptability and energy efficiency are improved, but reliability under elevated temperature conditions deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the polymer material parameters by selecting polyimide with high glass transition temperature and appropriate coefficient of thermal expansion. This parameter selection ensures the polymer maintains its electrostatic properties and mechanical integrity at elevated temperatures, resolving the reliability issue while preserving dynamic control capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent carefully selects polymer materials with coefficient of thermal expansion matched to the glass substrates and conductive layers. This thermal expansion matching prevents delamination, cracking, or deformation at elevated temperatures, ensuring reliability while maintaining the electrostatic shade's dynamic control function.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
These shades significantly reduce energy waste by controlling solar radiation and light transmission, enhancing energy efficiency and comfort, while allowing for aesthetic appeal and reduced energy consumption.
Implementation Method 1
a shutter including a polymer material supporting a second conductive film, the polymer material comprising polyimide and being extendible to serve as a shutter closed position and retractable to serve a shutter open position
Data Source
AI summary
Certain example embodiments relate to electric, potentially-driven shades usable with insulating glass (IG) units, IG units including such shades, and/or associated methods. In such a unit, a dynamic shade is located between the substrates defining the IG unit, and is movable between retracted and extended positions. The dynamic shade includes on-glass layers including a transparent conductor and an insulator or dielectric film, as well as a shutter. The shutter includes a resilient polymer, a conductor, and optional ink. Holes, invisible to the naked eye, may be formed in the polymer. Those holes may be sized, shaped, and arranged to promote summertime solar energy reflection and wintertime solar energy transmission. The conductor may be transparent or opaque. When the conductor is reflective, overcoat layers may be provided to help reduce internal reflection. The polymer may be capable of surviving high-temperature environments and may be colored in some instances.