Direct Heat Storage (DHS) Solar Panels
Adding Solar Thermal Benefits to Building Façades
Sunphaze® Direct Heat Storage
is a revolutionary sustainable building system
that adds solar thermal benefits to building façades through
a patented exterior wall application that is both elegantly simple and profoundly effective.*
Sunphaze® outshines other products, including systems that only add thermal mass to low inertia buildings, by
taking full advantage of solar gains and temperature fluctuations year-round.** The Sunphaze® DHS system stabilizes indoor
temperatures and increases comfort levels while dramatically reducing HVAC system requirements, energy costs and CO2 emissions.
* The Sunphaze® DHS system was initially designed & patented by the Alberta Research Council and is currently under development by ENVISION Global Inc.
** Initial trials indicate that Sunphaze® outperforms other products when evaluated & compared to control buildings through all seasons & exposed to all environmental elements.
Extraordinary Results
- In winter – the three-wall, Sunphaze® DHS system significantly reduces energy consumption for space heating
- In summer – the Sunphaze® DHS system reduces overheating and stabilizes the indoor temperatures
- Reduction of indoor temperature on hot, sunny days may result in the decrease, or elimination of energy consumption for air conditioning while maintaining interior comfort
- The Sunphaze® DHS system is cost effective, easy to install, and requires minimal maintenance
PCM for Direct Heat Storage
- Technology demonstrated potential to reduce energy costs and improve occupant comfort
- Further work required for longevity testing, cost reduction, and real applications
- Results were encouraging, so ARC elected to seek licensing for further development
- License negotiations were successfully concluded with Envision Global Inc. in 2009
Heat storage capacity for Sunphaze® prototype, in temp range 26-31 °C:
- Water 21.0 kJ/kg (21 kJ/L)
- Concrete 4.4 kJ/kg (8.8 kJ/L)
- Sunphaze 196.0 kJ/kg (294 kJ/L)
News:
The warmth of the sun could soon be helping keep the cold out of buildings as ENVISION Global Inc. moves forward with patented technology developed at the Alberta Research Council.
Read the full article: ENVISION hot on ARC solar heating...
Illustration of potential Sunphaze® DHS system
application to building spandrel panel areas