Research Project Overview:

Intelligent facade systems can be defined as building enclosures that react to the exterior environment, adapt to environmental changes, regulate their performance and functioning (by self-regulation or by users), integrate smart materials and components, and, in some instances, provide renewable energy for building’s operation. This research focused on the development, design, evaluations, and applications of new, intelligent facade systems, which integrate thermoelectric materials. Thermoelectric materials are smart materials that can produce a temperature gradient when electricity is applied, exploiting the Peltier effect, or generate a voltage when exposed to a temperature gradient, utilizing the Seebeck effect. Quantitative and experimental research methods, including modeling, simulations, prototyping, testing, and experiments were employed in this research. Initially, prototypes were designed, constructed, and experimentally tested to evaluate heating and cooling potentials, where a controlled thermal chamber was used to represent different exterior temperatures. Different types of simulations, including Computational Fluid Dynamic (CFD) analysis and energy modeling, were used to evaluate heating and cooling potentials, as well as energy performance of these innovative, intelligent facade systems.

Partners:

Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Utah

Publications:

Aksamija, A., Farid Mohajer, M., and Aksamija, Z., (2022). “Novel Active Facade Systems and Energy Performance of Commercial Buildings: Impact of Thermoelectric Materials on Heating and Cooling in Different Climates”, Proceedings of the Facade World Congress 2022, Los Angeles, CA, October 12-13.

Aksamija, A., and Farid Mohajer, M., (2022). “Thermoelectric Facades: Modelling Procedure and Comparative Analysis of Energy Performance in Various Climate Conditions”, Proceedings of the Architectural Research Centers Consortium/European Association for Architectural Research (ARCC/EAAE) 2022 International Conference, Florida International University, March 2-5, pp. 407-414.

Aksamija, A., Aksamija, Z., Farid Mohajer, M., Upadhyaya, M., and Vignaeu, G., (2020). “Thermoelectric Facades: Simulation of Heating, Cooling and Energy Generation Potential for Novel Intelligent Facade Systems”, Proceedings of the Facade World Congress 2020, Los Angeles, CA, August 5-27.

Aksamija, A., Aksamija, Z., Counihan, C., Brown, D., Upadhyaya, M., (2019). “Experimental Study of Operating Conditions and Integration of Thermoelectric Materials in Facade Systems”, Frontiers in Energy Research, Special Issue on New Materials and Design of the Building Enclosure, Volume 7, Article 6, DOI: 10.3389/fenrg.2019.00006 (invited article)