BubbleZERO—Design, Construction and Operation of a Transportable Research Laboratory for Low Exergy Building System Evaluation in the Tropics
We present the design, construction and operation of a novel building systems laboratory, the BubbleZERO—Zero Emission Research Operation. Our objective was to design a space to evaluate the performance of Swiss-developed low exergy building systems in the tropical climate of Singapore using an inte...
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Online Access: | http://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/6/9/4551 |
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doaj-5c0bac1c79094ca1976854b2f3e2aafb2020-11-24T21:04:22ZengMDPI AGEnergies1996-10732013-09-01694551457110.3390/en6094551BubbleZERO—Design, Construction and Operation of a Transportable Research Laboratory for Low Exergy Building System Evaluation in the TropicsArno SchlueterEsmail M. SaberDino RossiClayton MillerMatthias MastForrest MeggersMo LiCheng LiHansjürg LeibundgutKian Wee ChenRupesh IyengarKwok Wai ThamMarcel BruelisauerWe present the design, construction and operation of a novel building systems laboratory, the BubbleZERO—Zero Emission Research Operation. Our objective was to design a space to evaluate the performance of Swiss-developed low exergy building systems in the tropical climate of Singapore using an integrated design approach. The method we employed for evaluation in the tropics was to design and build a test bed out of the shipping containers that transported the prototype low exergy systems from Switzerland to Singapore. This approach resulted in a novel laboratory environment containing radiant cooling panels and decentralized air supply, along with a self-shading, inflated “bubble” skin, experimental low emissivity (LowE) glazing, LED lighting, wireless sensors and distributed control. The laboratory evaluates and demonstrates for the first time in Singapore an integrated high-temperature cooling system with separate demand-controlled ventilation adapted for the tropics. It is a functional lab testing system in real tropical conditions. As such, the results showing the ability to mitigate the risk of condensation by maintaining a dew point below 18 °C by the separate decentralized ventilation are significant and necessary for potential future implementation in buildings. In addition, the control system provides new proof of concept for distributed wireless sensors and control for reliable automation of the systems. These key results are presented along with the integrated design process and real-life tropical operation of the laboratory.http://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/6/9/4551energy efficiencyexergytropical climatelaboratoryprototypedistributed systemsradiant coolingbuildingszero emission |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Arno Schlueter Esmail M. Saber Dino Rossi Clayton Miller Matthias Mast Forrest Meggers Mo Li Cheng Li Hansjürg Leibundgut Kian Wee Chen Rupesh Iyengar Kwok Wai Tham Marcel Bruelisauer |
spellingShingle |
Arno Schlueter Esmail M. Saber Dino Rossi Clayton Miller Matthias Mast Forrest Meggers Mo Li Cheng Li Hansjürg Leibundgut Kian Wee Chen Rupesh Iyengar Kwok Wai Tham Marcel Bruelisauer BubbleZERO—Design, Construction and Operation of a Transportable Research Laboratory for Low Exergy Building System Evaluation in the Tropics Energies energy efficiency exergy tropical climate laboratory prototype distributed systems radiant cooling buildings zero emission |
author_facet |
Arno Schlueter Esmail M. Saber Dino Rossi Clayton Miller Matthias Mast Forrest Meggers Mo Li Cheng Li Hansjürg Leibundgut Kian Wee Chen Rupesh Iyengar Kwok Wai Tham Marcel Bruelisauer |
author_sort |
Arno Schlueter |
title |
BubbleZERO—Design, Construction and Operation of a Transportable Research Laboratory for Low Exergy Building System Evaluation in the Tropics |
title_short |
BubbleZERO—Design, Construction and Operation of a Transportable Research Laboratory for Low Exergy Building System Evaluation in the Tropics |
title_full |
BubbleZERO—Design, Construction and Operation of a Transportable Research Laboratory for Low Exergy Building System Evaluation in the Tropics |
title_fullStr |
BubbleZERO—Design, Construction and Operation of a Transportable Research Laboratory for Low Exergy Building System Evaluation in the Tropics |
title_full_unstemmed |
BubbleZERO—Design, Construction and Operation of a Transportable Research Laboratory for Low Exergy Building System Evaluation in the Tropics |
title_sort |
bubblezero—design, construction and operation of a transportable research laboratory for low exergy building system evaluation in the tropics |
publisher |
MDPI AG |
series |
Energies |
issn |
1996-1073 |
publishDate |
2013-09-01 |
description |
We present the design, construction and operation of a novel building systems laboratory, the BubbleZERO—Zero Emission Research Operation. Our objective was to design a space to evaluate the performance of Swiss-developed low exergy building systems in the tropical climate of Singapore using an integrated design approach. The method we employed for evaluation in the tropics was to design and build a test bed out of the shipping containers that transported the prototype low exergy systems from Switzerland to Singapore. This approach resulted in a novel laboratory environment containing radiant cooling panels and decentralized air supply, along with a self-shading, inflated “bubble” skin, experimental low emissivity (LowE) glazing, LED lighting, wireless sensors and distributed control. The laboratory evaluates and demonstrates for the first time in Singapore an integrated high-temperature cooling system with separate demand-controlled ventilation adapted for the tropics. It is a functional lab testing system in real tropical conditions. As such, the results showing the ability to mitigate the risk of condensation by maintaining a dew point below 18 °C by the separate decentralized ventilation are significant and necessary for potential future implementation in buildings. In addition, the control system provides new proof of concept for distributed wireless sensors and control for reliable automation of the systems. These key results are presented along with the integrated design process and real-life tropical operation of the laboratory. |
topic |
energy efficiency exergy tropical climate laboratory prototype distributed systems radiant cooling buildings zero emission |
url |
http://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/6/9/4551 |
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