Breathing building: A decentralized façade-integrated solar air-conditioning system
A decentralized adaptive solar air conditioning system is presented, which contains usual air-conditioning equipment and a new module, designed with a honeycomb structure, containing phase change material for latent thermal cold and hot energy storage. Heat recovery devices are responsible for higher system efficiency. A low-cost configuration and a multi-function deluxe version are presented,where in the second case a (magnetic) heat pump, a (magnetic) cooling device and an evaporative apparatus are added. Whereas the simple configuration is of medium cost and shows a good energy saving potential, the deluxe version is more expensive, but, on the other hand, is designed to show a higher energy saving potential. It is also expected to yield exquisite indoor hygienic and climatic conditions.
TIM–PCM external wall system for solar space heating and daylighting
Abstract An external wall system for solar space heating and daylighting composed of transparent insulation material (TIM) and translucent phase change material (PCM) is presented. This system enables selective optical transmittance of solar radiation. Visible light is mainly transmitted and invisible radiation is mainly absorbed and converted to heat, causing in particular phase change. The storage medium is also the absorber. The concept of the system is presented in detail together with the investigations carried out, including a brief outline of modeling, optical experiments on PCM samples and long-term experiments on a prototype wall as well as numerical simulations. The results indicate a promising thermal–optical behavior of the system. For instance in a Swiss lowland climate (Zurich-airport) a mean energy flux of 13 W m −2 (system efficiency 0.27) was calculated through a south facing TIM–PCM wall into the building during the month with the lowest irradiation (December). The parameters of the prototype wall with a mean melting temperature of the PCM of 26.5°C were assumed. When considering the percentage of time in which the building does not lose energy through the south facing TIM–PCM wall, a maximum can be reached with a mean melting temperature of approximately 20 to 21°C. In this case energy losses through the facade occur only during 1% of the time. With regard to the practical application of the system in buildings, aspects of reliability and durability have to be further investigated.
NEW DECAPODS FROM THE NAVIDAD FORMATION (MIOCENE) OF CHILE
Abstract A new Miocene decapod fauna is described from the Navidad Formation of coastal Chile. The fauna includes five callianassoid taxa, none of which is preserved sufficiently to identify to species level. New species include Calappilia? chilensis, Hepatus spinimarginatus, Proterocarcinus navidad, Pilumnus cucaoensis, and Pinnixa navidadensis. A possible rhizopine member of the Pilumnidae Samouelle, 1819, is described. Trichopeltarion levis Casadío et al., 2004, previously known from the late Oligocene of western Argentina, was also recovered from these rocks. Calappa circularis Beurlen, from the lower Miocene Pirabas Formation in Brazil, is herein referred to Calappilia. This report greatly increases the known number of fossil decapods from Chile and sets the stage for paleobiogeographic comparison of the decapod faunas of Chile and Argentina.