Volume 3: Innovative Solutions for Energy Transitions: Part II

Optical and Thermal Performance Analysis of Aerogel Glazing Technology in A Commercial Building of Hong Kong Chun Kuen Leung, Yang Liu, Lin Lu

Abstract

Improving thermal insulation of glazing units is a common strategy of reducing building energy use for spacing cooling. This research paper newly examined the application of the aerogel glazing technology in Hong Kong by the means of laboratory testing and simulation. Nine prototypes of granular aerogel glazing will be examined of their optical properties. Optical properties of aerogel will be used to calculate the total window thermal performance indices. A 40-storey commercial office building with 2000 m2 usable floor area is being modeled by simulation software EnergyPlus to compare the thermal performance of aerogel glazing with different glazing technologies. Simulation results had suggested that when comparing aerogel glazing to double glazing, a reduction of window heat gain by 57% and cooling energy by 8.5% could be achieved. The results depict that the insulation performance of aerogel glazing is even better than double glazing with Low-E coating. Aerogel glazing can be a choice of glazing to comply with the existing OTTV requirement and reduce the energy use for space cooling of a building.

Keywords granular aerogel glazing system, OTTV, energy consumption, heat insulation