Influence of thermal emittance on the performance of laminated solar control glazing

Influence of thermal emittance on the performance of laminated solar control glazing is presented. A transient one-dimensional mathematical model allowing the prediction of conductive heat transfer within the glazing and convective and radiative heat transfer from the glazing towards the interior and exterior are considered separately. A constant normal incidence of air mass 2 solar radiation of 750 W/m(2) was assumed. The redistribution of the component of the solar radiation absorbed by the laminated glass and the shading coefficient (SC) were calculated for solar transmittance, 0.05 to 0.35; thermal emittance of the inner surface of the glazing, 0.15 to 0.85; convective heat transfer coefficient for the exterior surface, 10-100 W/m(2) K and exterior ambient temperatures of 15 degreesC, 32 degreesC and 45 degreesC. The results indicate that as the emittance decreases, the SC decreases by 10-20% for all cases of ambient temperatures considered. The contribution from the convective mechanisms to the heat transfer to the interior is always higher than that from radiative process in the range of ambient temperatures considered. The results presented in this paper would help to decide whether for a given location of interest, the incorporation of a heat mirror glazing would make a meaningful reduction in the cooling load in enclosures with single glazed windows. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.