Design, development, and testing of an automated window shade controller

Journal Article · Wed Nov 01 04:00:00 EST 1995 · Journal of Solar Energy Engineering

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1115/1.2847872· OSTI ID:194237

Luecke, G R; Slaughter, J ^[1]

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1. Iowa State Univ., Ames, IA (United States). Dept. of Mechanical Engineering

An approach to the design of active window shades is developed to control the direct solar gain through a window. Using simple actuation hardware and sensors, a control strategy is presented that automatically adjusts window shades to save HVAC energy by controlling direct solar radiation passing through a window. The control algorithm is based on a simple approach that admits direct light in the winter and blocks the direct light in the summer, while providing shade adjustment that affords maximum visibility through the window. Cloudy skies or indirect sun result in horizontal placement of the shades, and the shades close at night. The implementation uses two thin-film photovoltaic cells as sensors and a control algorithm that is independent of the window orientation, latitude, or solar time, so that it operates properly in any installation location. Preliminary analytic and test results show significant energy savings when the automatic window shades are compared with a window without shades, and with a window outfitted with fixed horizontal shades.

• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• OSTI ID: 194237
• Journal Information: Journal of Solar Energy Engineering, Journal Name: Journal of Solar Energy Engineering Journal Issue: 4 Vol. 117; ISSN JSEEDO; ISSN 0199-6231
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
AUTOMATION
COMPUTERIZED CONTROL SYSTEMS
ELECTRIC CONTROLLERS
ENERGY CONSERVATION
SOLAR FRACTION
SUN SHADES