Innovative Closed Cavity Façades (CCF) with Inner Shading and Advanced Coatings for Enhancing Thermal Performance in the Tropics

Abstract

In its simplest terms, a closed-cavity façade (CCF) is a sealed, unventilated enclosure equipped with motorized shading devices, internal double or triple glazing, and external single glazing. This technology effectively controls solar energy and daylight entry into buildings. This research aims to enhance the thermal efficiency of CCFs in tropical climates using Venetian blinds (VB) and advanced glass coatings. EnergyPlus and DesignBuilder were employed to assess various CCF designs and compare them to a single glazing unit (SGU) with grey coatings. This was inspired by a residential case study on Penang Island, Malaysia. The findings indicate that CCFs surpass SGUs in thermal performance and occupant comfort, particularly in Malaysia’s humid tropical climate. CCFs reduced operating temperatures by a monthly percentage ranging from 33.5% to 68.75% in all operations. On an annual basis, temperature reductions ranged from 27.5% to 80.25%, with maximum decreases between 2 °C and 4 °C and minimum decreases between 0.5 °C and 1 °C compared to SGU units. The results show that CCFs outperform SGUs in thermal performance and comfort, reducing operating temperatures by 33.5% to 68.75% monthly and 27.5% to 80.25% annually. Temperature reductions ranged between 2 °C and 4 °C at maximum and 0.5 °C and 1 °C at minimum compared to SGU. Notably, Venetian blinds with nano-coatings (83/58) and low-E coatings (83/23) (Tvis/Tsol) were the most effective. This study highlights the importance of selecting appropriate coatings for CCFs, and demonstrates their potential in enhancing interior temperatures and comfort in Malaysia’s climate. The findings emphasize the significant impact of innovative glazing technologies on improving operational temperatures and occupant comfort using closed-cavity façades in the tropics.