Simulation and control of shading systems for glazed facades

Abstract

This paper presents a simulation study on the use of shading devices in highly glazed facades in the context of zero emission buildings (ZEB) located in a Nordic climatic context. Shading devices have the task to control different uses of solar energy (solar gain for passive solar heating and daylighting) and to avoid cooling load, and to find the best strategy (i.e. to optimize the overall performance) for controlling shading devices is not trivial.

Different control strategies for the activation of the shading devices (venetian blinds) are simulated, and their performance calculated in this study through a dynamic whole-building simulation tool (EnergyPlus). The results of the simulation studies show that it is possible to achieve very high performance and balanced use of solar energy (for passive solar heating, daylighting), without occurring in too high cooling load, even in the case of fully glazed facades. The optimal strategy for shading activation is not straightforward, and different strategies should be recommended during the year to assure an overall optimal performance.