Temperature adaptive thermal storage/release wall based on dynamic spectral control

Abstract

In response to global climate change, achieving sustainable development through energy conservation and emission reduction has become a common goal for humanity. In this work, we present a general model for computing the energy consumption and carbon emissions of building with low computational complexity and effort. Based on this model, we designed smart green building walls (SGBW), which consist of conventional walls and thermal storage/release films applied to their external/internal surfaces. These films, which incorporate thermochromic materials can adaptively adjust their radiation properties according to environmental temperature. At high temperatures, the thermal storage film(TSF) absorbs heat utilizing a solar absorptance of 0.604 and storing the heat within the wall. Conversely, at low temperatures, the thermal release film(TRF) unidirectionally releases heat into the interior with an infrared emissivity of 0.821. The simulation results indicate that SGBW has enhanced heat storage capacity by 18.7 % and increased heat release capacity by 30.4 % compared to conventional cement walls. In addition, calculations using the general model show that each square meter of SGBW can save 417 ∼ 805 kWh of electricity and reduces CO₂ emissions by 225 ∼ 477 kg over the building’s lifecycle in various climatic zones, aligning closely with results obtained from the commercial software. Thus, this model not only simplifies intricate simulation processes but also serves as a guide for designing surface devices. The SGBW is anticipated to be particularly beneficial in buildings located in regions requiring nighttime heating, contributing significantly to indoor temperature regulation while simultaneously reducing energy consumption and carbon emissions.