Sistema de isolamento térmico dinâmico e inteligente para fachadas adaptativas modulares

Over the past 3 years, this research team has developed a concept for a dynamic thermal insulation system (DTIS) for existing double leaf walls in residential buildings undergoing an energy retrofit process. To ensure a more intelligent and autonomous DTIS and to launch this system in the modular construction market and scale it up in a rapidly growing market, a new project must be carried out with a new innovative main goal: to develop an intelligent and dynamic thermal insulation system for adaptive lightweight modular façades. To that end, several specific objectives were established: 1) To develop an innovative numerical model for BES with DTIS as no feasible tool exists to simulate the variation of the façade U-value over time, changing between an insulation state and a conductive state based on a predefined schedule or triggered by the prior climate inputs (indoor and outdoor); 2) To carry out the geometric optimisation of the wall system, allowing the integration of the DTIS in a lightweight modular prefabricated façades by adapting the original design of the modular panel. This will facilitate meeting the demands of new and rapidly growing construction markets; 3) To perform the functional optimisation of the DTIS by developing AI algorithms to control its operation, ensuring that it adapts to several conditions of use and is managed automatically, based on defined KPIs to avoid overheating. The AI model must fit the demands of a building management system (BMS) and be compatible with a sensing system, which will be a significant part of this DTIS's innovation; 4) to design the DTIS for its practical implementation in the modular construction market and to provide tools for fostering the dissemination of the technology among designers and increasing the societal impact of the project innovation. Requirements related to architectural and operational aspects and system sustainability must be taken into account; 5)to demonstrate the real effectiveness of the wall system, in the insulation and conductive states individually, and in full usage, using a laboratory prototype and an existing full-scale demonstrator with Light Steel Framing (LSF). The monitoring campaign shall include several boundary conditions, because different climates will support the transfer of technology to different climatic contexts and increase the chances to scale it to different markets. 6) To create a digital twin of the full-scale demonstration and a parametric family of the DTIS for BIM integration, to enhance the added value of the innovative DTIS and to foster the dissemination of the technology among the player in the construction sector, increasing the societal impact of the project.