BubbleZERO — Design, construction and operation of a transportable research laboratory for low exergy building systems evaluation in the tropics
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Date
2013-09
Publication Type
Journal Article
ETH Bibliography
yes
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Abstract
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.
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Publication status
published
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Editor
Book title
Journal / series
Volume
6 (9)
Pages / Article No.
4551 - 4571
Publisher
MDPI
Event
Edition / version
Methods
Software
Geographic location
Date collected
Date created
Subject
Energy efficiency; Exergy; Tropical climate; Laboratory; Prototype; Distributed systems; Radiant cooling; Buildings; Zero emission
Organisational unit
03724 - Leibundgut, Hansjürg (emeritus)
03902 - Schlüter, Arno / Schlüter, Arno
08058 - Singapore-ETH Centre (SEC) / Singapore-ETH Centre (SEC)
08060 - FCL / FCL