Enhancing indoor light and thermal performance with micro-prismatic materials for complex fenestration systems: A review

Abstract

Creating high performance buildings is crucial not only for energy conservation but also for enhancing indoor comfort and well-being of occupants. Complex Fenestration Systems (CFS) can modulate daylight and/or solar radiation, thereby improving the quality of indoor light and thermal environments. This paper provided a comprehensive review of the application of micro-prismatic materials (MiPMs) in CFS, analyzing and summarizing the design, manufacturing, evaluation methods, case studies, and implementation framework of MiPMs. The effectiveness of MiPMs in enhancing indoor light and thermal performance was analyzed and the limitations and future research directions of these materials were discussed. The review suggested that using mathematical models and algorithms to design the prismatic structure parameters could be an efficient approach. Integrating other materials or technologies and incorporating dynamic control could significantly further enhance the optimized performance of MiPMs. Ultra-precision machining is the core manufacturing technology for MiPMs, and the use of recycled materials may offer a more sustainable approach for material production. Through characterization via bidirectional scattering distribution functions (BSDF) and the ability to generate the data using goniophotometers or simulation tools, computer simulation can act as a time-efficient, and accurate method for performance evaluation of MiPMs. A summarized roadmap may help building owners and architects more effectively apply MiPMs in their projects. Future work might focus on enhancing product quality and weather resistance, standardizing test and simulation work, developing accurate and integrated analysis methods, and exploring integration of MiPMs with building integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) systems.