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Details of Grant 

EPSRC Reference: GR/S02396/01
Title: Faraday Fast Track: Control of heat transfer and airflow in multi-functional facades: a basis for design guidance for low-energy buildings
Principal Investigator: Hanby, Professor VI
Other Investigators:
Researcher Co-Investigators:
Project Partners:
Arup Group Ltd I T Power
Department: Institute of Energy and Sustainable Dev
Organisation: De Montfort University
Scheme: Faraday (PreFEC)
Starts: 01 April 2003 Ends: 30 June 2006 Value (£): 131,938
EPSRC Research Topic Classifications:
Building Ops & Management Heat & Mass Transfer
Solar Technology
EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications:
No relevance to Underpinning Sectors
Related Grants:
Panel History:  
Summary on Grant Application Form
Multifunctional PV facades, integrating thermal and electrical output, are being increasingly deployed in low energy buildings that exploit direct use of solar energy. Much existing research has focused on the integration of these facades with the rest of the building, but detailed information on the performance of multifunctional facades is scarce, especially on the issue of control of both the electrical and thermal output. The experimental programme of work will utilise the advanced, large-scale solar simulator at Loughborough University to conduct detailed measurements of the airflow, heat transfer and electrical output in prototypical contructions over a wide range of operating conditions, focusing on the UK environment .A parallel modelling study will be carried out using a component-based approach: this will produce a set of advanced facade performance models which will represent a significant advance over the existing, closed-form models currently in use. Templates will be developed which will allow the advanced component models produced to be synthesised into facade models in a range of contemporary simulation environments. Specific issues, such as the interaction of buoyancy-driven flow and heat transfer within the cavity, will be studied using an hierarchical approach based on a commercially-available CFD code.
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Organisation Website: http://www.dmu.ac.uk