SYSTEMS FOR LIGHT DIFFUSION THROUGH TRANSPARENT MATERIALS: PERFORMANCE INDEXES RELATED TO THE CONTAINMENT OF LUMINANCE AND TO THE REMOVAL OF THE UV COMPONENT

This article relates the results of some research, the first phase of which has been presented in a CIE Convention in 2002. The subject of the research is the study of the materials usually employed for light diffusion, in particular the commercial and exhibition applications. In both cases, the role these materials have in the removal of the most damaging component of light, that is the power issued in UV fields, is pivotal. Altogether, the research involved different types of glass, micro-drilled metal plates, plastic materials and film

Bioclimatic design, assisted by numerical simulation in a transient state

The bioclimatic design aims to realize designing, localizative technological, plant-engineering choices, in order to have a housing model that satisfies comfort requisites through microclimate passive control and the control of the energy for heating plants. The study in this field is booming and, thanks to fast and effective calculation systems, the researchers can achieve reliable outcomes in reasonable times. Starting by a good thermal-energetic design and a bit of intuition, the bioclimatic design issue has been tackled scientifically and sistematically. So, we reached spe-cific and general conclusions useful to quantify and select the most used technics in this field. Our work doesn’t aim at a strict demonstration but at a study through which verify, understand and in-crease the knowledge of thermal-energetic phenomenon of building-environmental interaction. Many of the simulations in transient state have been made on matters we considered the most influential on the global behaviours of residential buildings. The matters on which we focused are: thermal cover (ther-mal insulation and inertia), glazed surfaces, screenings (static and mobile), in direct geothermal energy, vent (natural and artificial, diurnal and nocturnal). All this work has the aim to create the right balance between naatural cooling and heating during a while year, in order to guarantee thermal comfort to residents, thereby decreasing to a minimum the use of plants during the summer and the winter. The consequent designing-technical choices come from scrupulous interpretation of the outcomes, achieved by extrapolating from generic treatment the compatibility with the climatic conditions. In this per-spective, the authors, with the research, are using their knowledges to get innovative outcomes and integrate the research with empirical matters. residential buildings. The matters on which we focused are: thermal cover (ther-mal insulation and inertia), glazed surfaces, screenings (static and mobile), in direct geothermal energy, vent (natural and artificial, diurnal and nocturnal). All this work has the aim to create the right balance between naatural cooling and heating during a while year, in order to guarantee thermal comfort to residents, thereby decreasing to a minimum the use of plants during the summer and the winter. The consequent designing-technical choices come from scrupulous interpretation of the outcomes, achieved by extrapolating from generic treatment the compatibility with the climatic conditions. In this per-spective, the authors, with the research, are using their knowledges to get innovative outcomes and integrate the research with empirical matters

Systems for light diffusion through transparent materials: performance indexes related to the containment of luminance and to removal of the UV component

This paper relates the results of some research, the first phase of which has been presented in a CIE Convention in 2002. The subject of the research is the study of the materials usually employed for light diffusion, in particular the commercial and exhibition applications. Altogether, the research involved different types of glass, micro-drilled metal plates, plastic materials and films. The screens have been tested in relation to their performance, in terms of: distribution of surface luminance, energetic power in the visible field, removal of energy in the UV field. The aim of the study is the identification of materials that guarantee a proper distribution of light on the surface, a high performance in the transmission of the light flow and a strong UV removal

Study of the behaviour of the shutter prototype for non-residential, aimed at containing the summer heating load

This research aims at realising a shutter prototype which would allow the containment of the summer heating load in non-residential buildings. The prototype will be constructed with glass-block and will overhang the façade. It will be parallelepiped shaped; furthermore, it will have an isosceles section with the larger base positioned at the top of the hole forming, thus, a plan perpendicular to the façade and overhanging by 0,40 cm. With its positioning at the height of the envisaged holes and its particular geometrical shape, this prototype will replace the standard vertical shutter with one containing glass-block with a sharp inclination with respect to the incidence of the sun rays in the summer time. A measurement campaign is envisaged in order to optimize the glass inclination with respect to the incidence of the sun rays both during the winter and the summer time and the width of the horizontal anti-dazzle screen placed at the top of the shutter. The objectives of this research are: - Minimising overheating during the summer through the inclination of the glass surface; - Reaching a high level of visual comfort; - Realising a monitored natural ventilation. The horizontal overhang surfaces of the shutter will be equipped with a series of holes controlled by a system of rotating thin plates which, once positioned vertically, will allow the proper circulation of air and a further source of natural light. Furthermore, the geometrical shape of this prototype allows for the control of te shades; the holes on the higher and lower horizontal surfaces will guarantee a natural ventilation so to ensure the proper level of air moisture. The lack of mobile or steady anti-dazzle screens ensures a perfect view of the external surroundings; in addition to this, the standard levels envisaged for by the existing regulations on natural lighting on the back wall will not be altered. The aim of this work is that of providing a passive element which could concretely guarantee a high level of acoustic and visual comfort, and a proper ventilation in indoor non-residential environments