Thermal Switch Materials for Building Envelopes

Lead Performer: Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory – Berkeley, CA
Partners:
-- UC Berkeley
-- National Renewable Energy Laboratory – Golden, CO
-- Georgia Tech – Atlanta, GA
DOE Total Funding: $3,000,000
FY18 DOE Funding: $1,000,000
Project Term: October 1, 2018 – September 30, 2021
Funding Type: Lab Call

Project Objective

This project seeks to develop dynamically tunable thermal switches as a disruptive new paradigm for thermal management in buildings. Across three interrelated thrusts, the project will develop two new thermal switches, develop new tools for high-throughput measurements of low-conductivity porous materials, and conduct multiscale modeling to guide materials and prototype development.

Project Impact

This project will enable a next generation of grid-interactive building thermal management schemes, capable of micro-zoned thermal energy control, spatial and temporal control of thermal energy storage, and dynamic control of heat flow throughout the building.

Contacts

DOE Technology Manager: Sven Mumme
Lead Performer: Chris Dames – Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory