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O. Proskurnina, U. Pont, M. Schuss, E. Heiduk, P. Schober, A. Mahdavi:
"A computational inquiry into the application of vacuum glazing in building retrofit";
Poster: Vienna Young Scientists Symposium 2016, Vienna; 2016-06-09 - 2016-06-10; in: "Proceedings of Vienna Young Scientists Symposium 2016", B. Ullmann et al. (ed.); (2016), ISBN: 978-3-9504017-2-1; 26 - 27.

This contribution presents a number of results of VIG-SYS-RENO project, which investigated window systems with innovative glazing, specifically vacuum glazing for building retrofit. The general concept of vacuum glazing was developed already decades ago, though commercial products were introduced into the market just recently [1]. They are declared to have a thermal transmittance between 0.3 to 0.5 W.m-2K-1 [2]. In Europe, high-performance glazing windows are commonly equipped with double or triple glazing. Such products, however, are not suitable for certain building retrofit cases. This is partly due to their heavy weight and bulky design. Moreover, such massive windows may be optically inappropriate for historical facades. In contrast, vacuum glazing offers a light and thin construction with 8 to 10 mm thickness and a vacuum layer of only 0.15 to 0.20 mm. These attributes render it an attractive option for thermal retrofit of historical buildings. Nevertheless, application of vacuum glazing in historical casement windows ("Kastenfenster") is a new concept and thus requires more investigation. Inappropriately designed glazing solutions could negatively influence the performance of the original construction. Possible risks include high thermal losses via thermal bridges, extensive condensation resulting into mould growth within the window assembly, and long-term durability issues.
The VIG-SYS-RENO project addressed the above mentioned issues. Different retrofit scenarios were developed and assessed towards the implications of their application. The project pursued the following objectives:
. Exploration of the performance of systems, retrofitted with vacuum glazing products. Thereby, numerical heat flow simulation of various retrofit scenarios was carried out. Such indicators as thermal coupling coefficient and U-, ψ-, and fRsi-value, were derived.
. Assessment of the energy-saving potential of vacuum glazing technology on building level. Heating demand of 3 typical Viennese buildings with various glazing-to-facade ratios constructed around 1900s was calculated under various retrofit scenarios.

(no german version) This contribution presents a number of results of VIG-SYS-RENO project, which investigated window systems with innovative glazing, specifically vacuum glazing for building retrofit. The general concept of vacuum glazing was developed already decades ago, though commercial products were introduced into the market just recently [1]. They are declared to have a thermal transmittance between 0.3 to 0.5 W.m-2K-1 [2]. In Europe, high-performance glazing windows are commonly equipped with double or triple glazing. Such products, however, are not suitable for certain building retrofit cases. This is partly due to their heavy weight and bulky design. Moreover, such massive windows may be optically inappropriate for historical facades. In contrast, vacuum glazing offers a light and thin construction with 8 to 10 mm thickness and a vacuum layer of only 0.15 to 0.20 mm. These attributes render it an attractive option for thermal retrofit of historical buildings. Nevertheless, application of vacuum glazing in historical casement windows ("Kastenfenster") is a new concept and thus requires more investigation. Inappropriately designed glazing solutions could negatively influence the performance of the original construction. Possible risks include high thermal losses via thermal bridges, extensive condensation resulting into mould growth within the window assembly, and long-term durability issues.
The VIG-SYS-RENO project addressed the above mentioned issues. Different retrofit scenarios were developed and assessed towards the implications of their application. The project pursued the following objectives:
. Exploration of the performance of systems, retrofitted with vacuum glazing products. Thereby, numerical heat flow simulation of various retrofit scenarios was carried out. Such indicators as thermal coupling coefficient and U-, ψ-, and fRsi-value, were derived.
. Assessment of the energy-saving potential of vacuum glazing technology on building level. Heating demand of 3 typical Viennese buildings with various glazing-to-facade ratios constructed around 1900s was calculated under various retrofit scenarios.