smart window or switchable glass
DESCRIPTION
Imagine turning a knob and controlling the amount of light passing through a window. Several technologies for such switchable glazing are available or under development. One such technology is called Smart window where the user can actually control the amount of light passing through the glass. They can also regulate the amount of solar energy transmitted thorough them. There are presently three types of smart window technologies (SPD), liquid crystal and electro chromic. They are characterized by their ability to vary the throughput of radiant energy by electrical low voltage pulses. A part from energy saving aspects the possibility to vary the transmittance also results in an increased comforts. With the glass it will be a lot easier to keep offices cool in summer. They can also save money.TRANSCRIPT
SWITCHABLE GLASS
AKHILESH MRoll No: 3
Switchable glasses are commercially known as SMART WINDOWS
•Switchable glass technology basically means controlling the transmission of light through windows by using electrical power
• The switchable glass can change its degree of opaque- ness by applying some electrical power,
• The switchable glass affects the quantity of light that pass through it,
• The switchable glass is able to be reset to its original state by removing the source of power.
For controll light, there are 3 main technologies
•Suspended particle devices
•Electrochromic devices
•Liquid crystal devices
SUSPENDED PARTICLE DEVICES
When the SPDs are switched on, via the conductive coating, they line up in a straight line and allow light to flow through. When switched off the SPDs move back into a random pattern and block light.
ELECTROCHROMIC DEVICES
When switched off, an electrochromic window remains transparent (left side). When switched on, a low volt of electricity makes the electrochromic window translucent (right side).
LIQUID CRYSTAL DEVICES
When switched off the liquid crystal droplets are randomly oriented, creating an opaque state. When switched on the liquid crystals align parallel to the electric field and light passes through, creating a transparent state.
Advantages
•An important advantage of Suspended-Particles Devices and Electrochromic Devices is their ability to continuously vary the amount of transmitted light based on continuous variations of the applied electrical power.
Drawback
•A possible drawback is the speed of performing the changes.
APPLICATIONS AND FEATURES
• Hospitality – Hotel room privacy screen, bathroom / bedroom privacy screen, external windows, doors, conference centre windows & roof-lights, bar & restaurant screens, toilet cubicles, balustrades and balconies.
• Commercial – Office & boardroom partition screens, doors, sliding/folding doors, windows, roof-lights.
• Healthcare – Sheer easily cleaned surfaces that allow patient privacy and dignity at the flick of a switch. Fire rated hospital doors, moveable privacy screens, and X-Ray protection screens. • Security – Cell doors and windows, vision panels, entrance foyer, teller & cash counting screens. Also can be incorporated into bullet proof glass.
• Industrial – Machinery screening, roof-lights, doors, components.
• Rail – Driver privacy & security screens. • Retail & Showroom – Projection windows, vanity screens, feature screens. • Projection – Internal or External high resolution rear projection screens.
Conclusion and future work
The possibility of using switchable glass for Evolvable Hardware tasks has been suggested in this paper. Threecommercially available technologies in the field of smart windows have been reviewed. Strengths and weaknesses of these technologies have been deeply presented.