Thermoelectric system applications in buildings: A review of key factors and control methods

A low coefficient of performance (COP) limits the development of thermoelectric (TE) systems in buildings. However, considering their good integration with solar systems and budling structures, there is good application potential for TE systems in buildings. In many previous works, control systems indeed help TE systems to improve their performance. Therefore, the objective of this work is to analyze and summarize key factors in the control process and control methods for designing and optimizing the control systems for TE systems in buildings. This work reviews relevant publications from 2000 to 2022 on control applications of TE systems in different fields and groups them into key factors and control methods. The analysis of the key factors indicates the power strength of Peltier cells, the number of working Peltier cells, the temperature difference between the cold and hot sides, and the temperature difference between the object side and the indoor space as significant factors. Additionally, the most relevant control methods for the operating voltage or current are also classified. It is crucial to appropriately adjust these key factors using suitable control methods to achieve improved COP. Regarding the control application of TE systems in buildings, this is an issue that has not been studied with specific attention. Therefore, the analysis of key factors and control methods is meaningful for control systems to improve the performance of TE systems in buildings, especially under dynamic operating conditions of the built environment

Workshop International Seminar in Building Energy Performance como herramienta de difusión de un software de ahorro de energía en el ámbito universitario

La herramienta informática desarrollada en el proyecto de investigación de la Unión Europa Adapt4EE está enfocada a arquitectos e ingenieros implicados en el proceso de diseño y uso de energía en edificios. Es por ello que se plantea desde el inicio el testado de la herramienta por parte de futuros usuarios, en este caso estudiantes de último curso de arquitectura e ingeniería, para obtener así de primera mano su análisis y valoración. Esta ponencia trata de mostrar el proceso de evaluación llevado a cabo por parte del equipo de Adapt4EE para testar el software final del proyecto a través del Workshop International Seminar in Building Energy Performance realizado durante el año 2014. De este modo, se aportan datos que avalan la importancia de la introducción de este tipo de herramientas de integración entre investigación y empresas en los modelos educativos universitarios

Análisis de la ocupación real en un edificio como factor de ahorro: el caso Adapt4ee

La ocupación real en los edificios es objeto de estudio en diversos campos de investigación entre los que se encuentra la disminución de la demanda energética. En este marco se sitúa el proyecto europeo Adapt4ee - Occupant Aware, Intelligent and Adaptive Enterprises el cual, mediante la integración de los datos de la arquitectura (BIM) y los modelos de proceso de negocio (BPM), ha desarrollado una herramienta de simulación capaz de relacionar el comportamiento energético del edificio con los procesos de negocio, teniendo en cuenta la conducta de los ocupantes. Los actuales softwares de simulación energética consideran la ocupación de los edificios mediante la aplicación de plantillas prediseñadas para diferentes usos de edificios. Sin embargo, el equipo de ingenieros informáticos y arquitectos del proyecto han implementado una serie de perfiles de uso más próximos al comportamiento humano real. Con estos antecedentes, desde el proyecto Adapt4ee se ha analizado y evaluado el comportamiento en tiempo real de los ocupantes en relación con los consumos eléctricos y térmicos, mediante la monitorización de dos edificios en uso. Esta ponencia, por tanto, mostrará los resultados referentes a la ocupación extraídos de simulaciones, del estudio del proceso de negocio y de los datos reales obtenidos

Comparative analysis of heat dissipation panels for a hybrid cooling system integrated in buildings

The use of cooling panels as heat dissipation elements integrated in buildings has been previously investigated by the authors. Those elements would be connected to the condenser and would dissipate the heat in a passive form. Following the research, this study analyses and compares the thermal performance of two heat dissipation panels as part of a hybrid cooling system. Both panels were experimentally tested under different variables, thus having nine scenarios for each panel. Additionally, an already validated model was applied. The empirical results show a considerable difference between the cooling capacity among them, doubling the daily average ratio in one scenario. The heat dissipation ratios vary between 106 and 227 W/m2 in the first case and 140 and 413 W/m2 in the second. Regarding the model applicability, the average error for each panel was 4.0% and 8.5%. The bond between the metal sheet and the pipes of the panels has proven to be the main parameter to assure the highest heat dissipation potential of each panel

Rediseño de la integración de energía en edificios a partir de Metabolismos Animales: Proyecto RiMA

Los edificios pueden entenderse como una clase especial de máquina que, en términos de acondicionamiento higrotérmico, se encienden y se apagan, manteniendo una temperatura estable en relación a las actividades que albergan en su interior, en una estrategia similar a la que ofrecen los animales de 'sangre caliente'. Existen numerosas estrategias pasivas en la arquitectura que permiten un control efectivo de los condicionantes interiores de los edificios dentro de los niveles de habitabilidad humana. Del mismo modo, el mundo animal posee diversos métodos de control térmico activo como el atún con su sistema rete mirabile, las abejas controlando la temperatura de la colmena o el gusano de seda regulando la temperatura y controlando los gases dentro de su crisálida. El proyecto que se describe explora nuevas estrategias de diseño de los sistemas energéticos y de instalaciones de los edificios, a partir del análisis crítico de los sistemas metabólicos de los denominados animales de 'sangre fría'. Se plantea, por tanto, una reevaluación del paradigma establecido en la metodología de concepción de los sistemas energéticos e instalaciones en los edificios, con una visión aproximativa desde otra área del saber

Potential strategies offered by animals to implement inbuildings' energy performance: theory and practice

The strategies for thermal regulation and environmental control found in nature are countless. In this article, a parallelism between animals and building energy systems is defined in order to identify and emphasize the immediate opportunities that biomimicry offers for future research. The motivation was the need to find alternative solutions to tackle problems mainly in the efficiency of heating, ventilation and cooling systems. Due to the wide range of possibilities offered by animals, this study is largely limited to the strategies that cold-blooded animals have developed through evolutionary adaptation to the environment. The method used for the analysis is based on a solution-based approach. Firstly, different animal thermoregulation strategies are defined (biological domain). Then the strategy is analyzed and classified into three categories. This classification is essential in order to formulate the parallelism with building systems (transfer phase). The final step is to identify the potential implementation (technological domain). This approach has been seen to be useful in creating new research opportunities based on biomimicry. In addition, suitable solutions arising from multidisciplinary team research are presented as promising answers to the challenges that building energy systems face nowadays

Thermoelectric system applications in buildings: A review of key factors and control methods

A low coefficient of performance (COP) limits the development of thermoelectric (TE) systems in buildings. However, considering their good integration with solar systems and budling structures, there is good application potential for TE systems in buildings. In many previous works, control systems indeed help TE systems to improve their performance. Therefore, the objective of this work is to analyze and summarize key factors in the control process and control methods for designing and optimizing the control systems for TE systems in buildings. This work reviews relevant publications from 2000 to 2022 on control applications of TE systems in different fields and groups them into key factors and control methods. The analysis of the key factors indicates the power strength of Peltier cells, the number of working Peltier cells, the temperature difference between the cold and hot sides, and the temperature difference between the object side and the indoor space as significant factors. Additionally, the most relevant control methods for the operating voltage or current are also classified. It is crucial to appropriately adjust these key factors using suitable control methods to achieve improved COP. Regarding the control application of TE systems in buildings, this is an issue that has not been studied with specific attention. Therefore, the analysis of key factors and control methods is meaningful for control systems to improve the performance of TE systems in buildings, especially under dynamic operating conditions of the built environment