Project: Advanced multifunctional and modular closing system (shutter)
One of the six European lead-markets that have been identified in Europe is Energy Efficiency in Buildings dealing with the development of new methods and technologies to reduce the energy footprint and the CO2 emissions related to new and renovated buildings._x000D__x000D_Improving the quality of the building envelope is one of the important targets of energy efficiency. The dimensions, performance and compatibility of materials, fabrication and details, their connections and interactions are the CO factors that determine the energy efficiency and durability of the building enclosure system. Modelling tools used to diagnose weaknesses in the energy efficiency underline the importance of managing properly the insulation, air tightness, solar radiation and overheating. Besides maximizing the energy efficiency, managing the quality of the air within the building becomes also very important as we spend the major part of our life inside. Ventilation is paramount and should not negatively impact the overall energy efficiency (as it is the case for widely spread grid system inserted inside window joinery). Nowadays, building efficiency and sanitary management markets also deal with comfort, cost and plug&play applications._x000D__x000D_Centralized heat recovery systems enabling fresh and cold air from outside to warm up by contacting warm stale exhaust air are, today, the most accomplished devices for ensuring a good indoor air quality without impairing too much the heating/cooling demand. Nevertheless, the ducting networks raise problems : hygienic issues due to difficult COtenance, un-calibrated flows, non-suitability with refurbishment configurations, high installation cost, air and noise cross-contamination. Decentralized heat-exchangers (HE) have been recently developed which are often directly inserted within the wall of various rooms of the dwelling permitting room-tailored air pre-heating and exchange but often suffer from low heat-recovery level, important noise level and high cost. _x000D__x000D_Combining essential building envelope components (such as windows and shutters) with small and efficient decentralized heat-exchangers represent the next major improvement for reaching, within one single device, both the insulation and the ventilation issues. _x000D__x000D_To this aim, two companies, GREENCOM and SOPROFEN, have decided to join their efforts :_x000D_-GREENCOM DEVELOPMENT is a Belgian R&D intensive SME, created in 2008 which develops and commercializes innovative ventilation units, in particular de-centralized HE based on a double-flux air exchange. _x000D_-SOPROFEN is a French company which has built a unique expertise in the field of window shutters. Relying also on a trained distribution network, SOPROFEN is one of market leader namely in France, Belgium and Switzerland._x000D__x000D_Both companies aim to expand their market position by developing innovative solutions for positively impacting the overall energetic efficiency of windows, the management of inside air quality and to contribute to better comfort in buildings.Today both new and refurbishment building market growth is COly pushed by the translation into national rules of the 2010/31/UE Directive. _x000D__x000D_The SMARTAIR Project, which duration is 30 months, aims to deliver a concept and a demonstrator of a compact, cost-effective, multifunctional window shutter (the SMARTAIR Shutter) that combines, in a modular way, on the one hand, the heat&cold management function conveyed by the shutter and, on the other hand, ventilation provided by a smart assembly of miniaturized decentralized heat-exchangers._x000D__x000D_The SMARTAIR demonstrator will be completed with data regarding the feasibility of successful integration of the combined shutter/heat-exchangers to several window joineries without jeopardizing neither the aesthetics nor the total space required. _x000D__x000D_The SMARTAIR concept will rely on controlled miniaturization, assembly and integration steps giving the basis for its further use for functionalizing other building envelope components. _x000D_Thus, the SMARTAIR shutter will be the proof-of-concept of the more broadly valorizable SMARTAIR concept to the benefit of Efficient Energy Buildings._x000D__x000D_Both companies will rely on their complementary proprietary technologies related to shutter designs (SOPROFEN) and HE (GREENCOM), respectively. Their shared intention is also to accelerate the industrial uptake of the SMARTAIR results by starting, in parallel to the Project execution, the necessary non-technological steps such as assessing and consolidating the market acceptance, enabling certification and standards compliance and management of the results protection. _x000D__x000D_Moreover, both companies have already in-house facilities to rapidly transform the proof-of-concept into industrial products ready for commercialization through an already proven distribution network in the field of residential, commercial and public buildings (both new and refurbishment)._x000D_
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Acronym
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SMARTAIR
(Reference Number: 7354)
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Duration
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01/01/2013 - 31/12/2015
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Project Topic
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SMARTAIR Project aims to deliver a concept for a compact, cost-effective, multifunctional window shutter that combines, in a modular way, heat&cold management function conveyed by the shutter and miniaturized decentralized heat-recovery ventilation.
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Network
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Eurostars
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Call
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Eurostars Cut-Off 8
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Project partner
