Development of the Automated Shading Device: Its Effects on the Indoor Thermal Environments

Abstract

The prototype of automated shading devices to prevent the excessive effects of solar radiation entering the indoor space has been developed. It worked based on the sun-path data and used Arduino to control the movement. The performance had been tested to examine the algorithms, and it showed promising results. This study focuses on the effects of the automated shading device on indoor thermal environments. This prototype was implemented in one of three 3x3-meter test houses with 0.8×0.8 meters of west-side window(hereinafter TH1). Two other identical test houses were equipped with fixed shading devices (TH2) and no shading devices (TH3). Some thermal parameters such as air temperature, relative humidity, solar radiation, and globe temperature were measured for five days during the hot season. The result showed that the automated shading device significantly lowered the indoor air temperature by 1.2◦C and 4.3◦C compared to those of the TH2 and TH3, respectively. Further, it efficiently reduced the effects of solar radiation entering the room as indicated by the reduction of 47.5% from the baseline or no shading (59 W/m2). However, further developments are still required to ensure the shading moves according to the stimulus given.

Keywords

• automated shading device
• indoor thermal environments
• solar radiation