Basis for sustainable heat supply in buildings with flow-through construction elements made of ultra-high-performance concrete
‘We are creative, we design technology, we design products, we improve processes, we open up new paths. We invent the future.’ This motto symbolises the corporate philosophy of the world's leading research organisation for application-oriented research - namely the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft.
Together with the ©Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE and other joint project partners, GiB mbH is putting this forward-looking corporate philosophy into practice and creating a milestone in the development of new components and systems for sustainable heating in new and existing buildings. The aim of the new TABSOLAR III research project is to build on the two previous BMWi projects TABSOLAR and TABSOLAR II and to advance the development of applicable products. In future, this innovation is to become a systematic overall solution for sustainable heating and cooling - the basis for this is the production of flow-through components made of ultra-high performance concrete (UHPC). These components will one day be used as solar thermal façades or low-temperature sources for heat pumps or as thermoactive building component systems (TABS) inside buildings.
The total volume of the research project is around €4.7 million, with GiB mbH contributing a budget of around €350,000.00 to the development of this innovation.
The measurement of the TABSOLAR® elements with regard to the performance figures, for example, is one of GiB mbH's tasks. In addition, GiB mbH will determine the potential of the combination of the relatively sluggish classic concrete core activation as a storage element and the TABSOLAR® Heat & Cool elements, which react quickly in comparison, for controllable heat emission and absorption with regard to building dynamics and comfort. This is not only analysed in the heating case, but also in the cooling case. The aim here is to obtain various performance characteristics in order to be able to carry out project-related simulations at a later date. GiB mbH is also focussing on setting up the test bench required for the corresponding measurements.
In addition, GiB mbH is available throughout the entire project as an advisory body, for example with regard to the component data required, which is of great importance for development.
However, it is not only the technical successes that the development of the TABSOLAR® Heat & Cool Element has brought with it that can be emphasised in this project. The consistently constructive and pleasant working atmosphere with all the joint project partners and the Fraunhofer Institute should also be emphasised. The common will of all those involved is to use this development to make a significant contribution to solar energy utilisation and distribution on and in buildings in order to reduce the use of fossil fuels and further reduce CO2 emissions in the area of building air conditioning in the long term.
