Titanium dioxide in chromogenic devices: Synthesis, toxicological issues, and fabrication methods

none3noThe use of titanium dioxide (TiO2) within two specific classes of devices, namely electrochromic and photoelectrochromic, is described hereafter, with respect to its inherent properties and chromogenic features within architectures that have appeared so far, in this field. The new research trends, involving the applications of TiO2 in chromogenic materials are reported, with particular attention paid to the techniques used for film deposition as well as the synthesis of nanoparticles. Furthermore, the main studies concerning its chemical-physical properties and approaches to its chemical syntheses and fabrication are reviewed, with special regard to “green” routes. In addition, the main aspects relating to toxicological profiles are exposed, with reference to nanoparticles and thin films.openDe Matteis V.; Cannavale A.; Ayr U.De Matteis, V.; Cannavale, A.; Ayr, U

The Challenge for Building Integration of Highly Transparent Photovoltaics and Photoelectrochromic Devices

This paper holds a critical review of current research activities dealing with smart architectural glazing worldwide. Hereafter, the main trends are analyzed and critically reported, with open issues, challenges, and opportunities, providing an accurate description of technological evolution of devices in time. This manuscript deals with some well-known, highly performing technologies, such as semitransparent photovoltaics and novel photoelectrochromic devices, the readiest, probably, to reach the final stage of development, to disclose the manifold advantages of multifunctional, smart glazing. The complex, overall effects of their building integration are also reported, especially regarding energy balance and indoor visual comfort in buildings

Smart Electrochromic Windows to Enhance Building Energy Efficiency and Visual Comfort

Electrochromic systems for smart windows make it possible to enhance energy efficiency in the construction sector, in both residential and tertiary buildings. The dynamic modulation of the spectral properties of a glazing, within the visible and infrared ranges of wavelengths, allows one to adapt the thermal and optical behavior of a glazing to the everchanging conditions of the environment in which the building is located. This allows appropriate control of the penetration of solar radiation within the building. The consequent advantages are manifold and are still being explored in the scientific literature. On the one hand, the reduction in energy consumption for summer air conditioning (and artificial lighting, too) becomes significant, especially in "cooling dominated" climates, reaching high percentages of saving, compared to common transparent windows; on the other hand, the continuous adaptation of the optical properties of the glass to the changing external conditions makes it possible to set suitable management strategies for the smart window, in order to offer optimal conditions to take advantage of daylight within the confined space. This review aims at a critical review of the relevant literature concerning the benefits obtainable in terms of energy consumption and visual comfort, starting from a survey of the main architectures of the devices available today

Thermal enhancement of windows performance by means of innovative technologies

Thermal performances of window frames and glazing represent a field of growing research efforts - worldwide - aiming to reduce energy consumption and achieve indoor comfort. A combination of newly designed super-insulated window frames and innovative glazing technologies may enhance the performance of windows. Aerogel-based “thermal breaks” for window frames, coupled with high-performing glazing, may lead to significant energy saving. In this work, yearly energy use for heating and cooling were assessed in several locations, for building models equipped with innovative technologies, for glazing and frames. The results of numerical simulations confirmed the opportunities offered by new technologies

Study and analysis of a cogeneration system with microturbines in a food farming of dry pasta

The Main purpose of this paper is to assess the possibility of installing a cogeneration plant in a food industry for dry pasta production. In particular, it was verified the feasibility of implementation of microturbines assembled in cluster, for a medium size cogeneration plant. This way it was seen that it is possible to combine the advantages in terms of the heat recovery at high temperatures of medium size turbines and of the greater flexibility of internal combustion engines. A preliminary analysis was carried out about the energy needs of the farm, mainly focusing on the thermal and electrical loads and the current methods of both energy supply and production. Several simulations were carried out for the preliminary design of the cogeneration plant, using suitable programming codes developed in Matlab and referring to the technical documentation for each machine used in the plant. It was shown that this plant allows for energy savings in all tested configurations. However, a good balance among various parameters leads to choose a size that is around the annual average value of the requested electric power (corresponding to 13 microturbines) or more. This is also confirmed by the analysis of the annual energy costs, which present a minimum in correspondence of the above chosen size. In addition to the energy and economic advantages, the system proposed in this paper also presents greater flexibility of use than that of individual engines and turbines. In fact, a peculiar characteristic of a cluster of microturbines is the possibility to efficiently meet the variability of the load and also to follow the expansion of the plant, gradually increasing the installed power. Therefore, the system studied in this paper shows that it is possible to use small machines, not only in the context of micro-cogeneration, but also in medium-sized applications, resulting advantageous in energy terms