Experimental data for validation of a single-storey flexible double-skin façade system model

Double skin façades are adaptive envelopes aiming at improving building energy use and comfort performance. Their adaptive principle relies on the dynamic management of the cavity’s ventilation flow and the shading device (when available). They can also be integrated with the environmental systems for heating, cooling, and ventilation. In most cases, though, the possible exploitation of the ventilation airflow is not fully enabled, as the adoption of only one or two possible airpath limits the possibility that this façade architecture offers and flexible interaction with the environmental systems is not planned. This work aims to develop, using an existing software tool for building energy simulation, a numerical model of a flexible double-skin façade module capable of fully exploiting the adaptive features of such envelope concept by switching between different cavity ventilation strategies. Leveraging on the Double Glass Facade component available in IDA ICE, a new model for a flexible double-skin façade module was developed, and its performance in replicating the thermophysical behaviours of such a dynamic system has been assessed by comparison with experimental data collected through a dedicated experimental activity using one the outdoor test cells of the TWINS facility in Torino (Italy). The accuracy of the predictions resulted in line with the performance obtained by the Double Glass Facade component to simulate conventional double-skin facades. By establishing a new archetype model to study the performance and optimal integration of a large class of double-skin façade modules, including fully flexible ones, this works demonstrated the possibility of modifying existing models in building energy simulation tools to study unconventional building envelope model solutions such as adaptive façade systems.