Students

Department of Building, Civil and Environmental Engineering

Concordia University

Research Project: 1.5 - Load and demand management in solar-optimized buildings

The term “load management” is often used by power utilities to refer to a set of strategies aimed at optimally distributing the energy delivered to customers over time. In a broader sense, it is frequently applied to the use of similar techniques to efficiently meet the power demand of a given system, such as a building. The maximum power demand (instantaneous consumption of energy per unit time) is a key variable in defining the size of a system, whether it is a stand-alone solar home or a large utility, and ensuring its reliability. On the other hand, significant savings can be achieved by displacing the power consumption to periods during which energy is cheaper.

My particular field of research is the development of load management techniques for buildings which take advantage of solar energy. To give a simple example, automatic blinds that optimise solar heat gains are an excellent potential heating alternative which may partially replace the use of electric heaters or gas furnaces. The associated daylight could also substitute for artificial lighting. However, it is important to avoid excessive glare and excessive heat gains that could be a source of discomfort.

The many variables involved in load management (building envelope, variability of solar radiation, thermal mass of the building, price of energy, outside temperature, and even human behaviour) require a comprehensive, holistic approach in the design of control algorithms.

Tel.: 514-848-2424, ext. 7080
Curriculum Vitae

Department of Building, Civil and Environmental Engineering
Concordia University

Research Theme I.: 1.1 - Integration of photovoltaic-thermal systems with façades, roofs and HVAC systems.

My research topic is Building Integrated Photovoltaic Systems-Thermal (BIPV-T) on façades. This approach has many attractive benefits. Apart from the obvious advantage of electric power generation, it helps to decrease the cost of the PV panel installation. It not only substitutes one of the envelope materials employed on double facades, it also extracts thermal energy that accumulates on the PV panel that affects its performance (usually PV panels perform better at lower temperature). The extracted heat can be used for heating of make-up air in HVAC systems for space heating or domestic hot water (DHW) systems.

The aforementioned is an optimization design problem. Variables such as solar radiation, temperature of the outdoor air, shape of the air intake, flow rate etc. determine how much energy can be employed. This is an interdisciplinary research problem that requires knowledge of different areas, ipso facto the use of experimental and simulation tools for its evaluation and assessment.

Tel.: 514-848-2424, ext. 7080
Curriculum Vitae

Research: theme I, project 1.3 - Integrated modeling, design and control of direct gain systems with floor heating and buildings integrated photovoltaic and thermal

For some years, I have been studying about and working at buildings and houses. At the beginning, I started as an architecture student. Nowadays, I am concentrating more on engineering aspects.

My current research field is integrated thermal-structure design and optimization for solar buildings. Recently, I am focusing on the design and control of passive solar direct gain integrated radiant concrete floor heating.

Tel.: (514) 848-2424 ext. 7080
Curriculum Vitae

Building Engineering

Fenestration is the most important component of the building envelope as it strongly influences the energy performance of perimeter spaces as well as the thermal and visual comfort of the occupants. In recent years, there has been great deal of interest to optimize fenestration, in terms of lighting and thermal characteristics, by using high performance windows and dynamic shading systems. The most common types of shading used in commercial buildings are roller shades (fabric layers) and Venetian blinds (adjustable louvers). Both these devices can close (from top to bottom) to protect occupants from sunlight and glare.

In this project, the daylighting and thermal performance of “bottom-up” shade is studied. This product operates in the reverse direction of a typical roller shade (opens from bottom to top), so as to cover the bottom part of the façade, providing privacy to the occupants, while allowing daylight to enter from the top section. Depending on the room geometry and the occupant’s position, it is possible to allow daylight into the space from the top part of the window without causing glare.

The final objectives of this project are: to evaluate and optimize the daylighting and thermal performance of this innovative shading system, compare with other conventional products, in terms of space energy performance and daylighting potentials and, develop control algorithms for the bottom-up shade, as well as for the artificial lighting.

Tel.: 514-848-2424 ext. 7080
Curriculum Vitae

Building Engineering

Research: Sub-project 1.4d : Solar-assisted hybrid ventilation in atria


The project is focused on the monitoring of the natural ventilation system of the Concordia Engineering building in Montreal. The building is under mixed mode ventilation during the warm period of the year, contributing to energy savings for cooling and ventilation. The basic natural ventilation design concept of the building involves: a) inlet grilles with motorized dampers (opening area about 1.4 m2) located at the end of the corridors in the Southeast and Northwest façades of each floor, and b) five 3-storey atria that are separated with a floor slab and connected with grilles of a varying area of 1.3 – 4 m2; grilles have motorized dampers to achieve buoyancy driven flow. When the building is in its hybrid ventilation mode, a) the corridor inlet grilles located on the Southeast and Northwest façade and the grilles connecting the atria open simultaneously, b) the mechanical supply flow rate in the atrium is reduced to a minimum value, c) the atrium exhaust at the top the atrium opens, and d) the supply units located at the corridors close.
Extensive measurements have been done to assess the performance of the natural ventilation system of the building. Data collected has been analyzed to evaluate indoor conditions and energy savings while also investigate additional benefits of strategies that are not yet implemented (i.e. night ventilation). Experimental data is already been used in simulation programs, serving as boundary conditions to help improve accuracy in the prediction of temperature and airflow patterns in large ventilated spaces.

Tel.: 514-848-2424 ext. 7080
Curriculum Vitae

Building Engineering

My research is the methodology and development of conceptual solar house design tool.  The current process for the design of low-energy houses with solar energy collectors is inefficient because most building simulation software is intended for detailed design and requires a lot of knowledge of the design.  In contrast, the design tool being developed will provide real-time feedback about how the house will behave for different design strategies.  It will also provide guidance towards the optimal design space.  The tool will enable the modeling of the house's form, envelope, and active building-integrated solar energy collectors (including PV, solar thermal, and PV/T).  The product of the research will be a tool that can be used to arrive at a good design concept in 15 minutes.

Tel.: 514-848-2424 ext. 7080
Curriculum Vitae

Mechanical Engineering

Research Project: Developing a time- averaged technique in measuring free convection heat transfer in air-filled tall enclosure.

Tel.: 647-831-5999
Curriculum Vitae

Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering

I have been working on solar energy research projects since 1999. Those projects include the design of solar water heating, sizing of PV, the design of solar cooling and solar power systems.

One of the most attractive application for using solar energy is solar cooling, Theme II. There are many solar cooling systems based on sorption technology proposed by researchers. One of those technologies is based on adsorption phenomenon in porous materials. Solar adsorption cooling is a promising technology regarding its simplicity, ease of maintenance and comparatively low cost.  

My project is concerned with improvement of the solar adsorption system performance. I’m looking after ways to enhance the heat and mass transfer in the adsorbent bed which is the core component in the system. Cycle modifications will be suggested to maximize the performance of the system. 

Tel.: (403) 220-5787
Curriculum Vitae

Building Engineering

My research is concentrated on developing a methodology for integrating semi-transparent PV into buildings.  Semi-transparent photovoltaics, when integrated within a façade, have the potential to not only generate electricity but also to optimize the amount of daylight entering a room, thus further reducing the building's overall energy requirements by reducing lighting loads.   In office buildings, where the trends in architecture already include large glazed façades, and lighting loads constitute a significant portion of the overall energy consumption and are a major contributor to green house gas emissions, the integration of this technology is intuitive.  I am looking at a break-down of the energy use for different cell transparencies (lighting load, PV electricity generation, heat gains) as well as developing a working prototype of an office with an integrated semi-transparent window in order to demonstrate the use of this technology.

Tel.: 514-848-2424 ext 7244
Curriculum Vitae

Mechanical Engineering

Lukas Swan has been involved with renewable and alternative forms of energy throughout his academic and professional career. He is focused on finding unique, elegant, and robust solutions to reduce fossil fuel energy consumption. Lukas is presently pursuing his PhD, consulting in the electric vehicle industry, and teaching at Dalhousie University. His present research with SRBN is within Theme 4 and focuses on energy modeling of integrated solar technologies as applied to the Canadian housing stock.

Tel.: 902-494-3165
Curriculum Vitae