Purpose: This degree project aims to study how different choices regarding the size, location and type of windows affect daylight entry in an apartment building in Västerås. We have chosen to calculate the energy requirement when changing the window type, size and shielding factor. The purpose is also to come up with solution proposals that balance daylight input and energy for a smaller energy need in the apartment building. Method: The research method is based on a literature study that will lay the foundation for the work and a case study where a visit to the concerned building has been carried out. Interviews have also been conducted with experts in daylight and energy issues. Energy calculations and daylight- related calculations have also been made using the computer program Daylight Visualizer. The goal of the program is to find out the value of the daylight factor in two different apartments on two different floors. In each apartment, three different rooms in three different latitudes (north, west, and south) have been studied. Results: The results present several factors that affect daylight intake. These are screening angles, orientation, room height, room depth, building structure and placement of balconies. The properties of the windows in terms of daylight transmittance (LT value) and solar heat gain (g value) are very important to get a good result regarding both daylight and heat in the building. The balance between daylight and solar heat gain to reducing the energy needs for heating during the winter and cooling during the summer. The result based on the computer program for the first window alternative show that that the value of the daylight factor in all three rooms on the 12th floor (third floor) was between 0.59–0.31% and on the 19th floor (tenth floor) 1.01– 0.91%. The calculations of the energy balance show as monthly results, and the calculated annual need for active heating is about 27 MWh / year. The corresponding result according to calculations by the consulting company Kadesjös is approximately 59 MWh / year, but the difference between its calculations has not been studied further in this degree project. Conclusions: The calculation results indicate that the building has a very limited energy requirement for active heating in relation to its size and this is logical given that the heat losses are relatively small in terms of transmission, Exhaust and supply air ventilation with heat recovery (FTX system), and air leakage. The heat losses through window glazing in this case constitute to only about 12% of the building's total heat losses.

This study looks at how reversible windows can minimize cooling and heating energy use while maintaining thermal comfort in buildings in Sweden and Spain. The growing need for energy-efficient structures and the potential advantages of reversible windows served as the driving forces behind this study. The approach taken in this study is a comparison of energy use of buildings where reversible windows were installed. The windowpanes had properties such that different solar heat transmittance coefficients were attained at the two states of the windows, being altered in spring and autumn. The windows were tested in two different buildings, one in each country, using IDA-ICE software in order to calculate the energy consumption both in winter and cooling, focusing in heating in winter and cooling in summer in order to know if there was a real energy saving compared to the base model used.The major findings indicate that reversible windows significantly reduce cooling and heating energy usage while maintaining thermal comfort levels that are on par with those of traditional windows in buildings. The effectiveness of reversible windows may, however, fluctuate throughout nations, depending on elements including climate, building design, and user behavior. Among themain findings of the study, the ones to be mentioned would be the total energy use reduction in the whole year that add up to 15 % in Sweden and 21 % in Spain and that most of the energy savings came in Summer for both Spain and Sweden. Additionally, the study also made findings regarding the role that awnings play in energy usage, determining that they may be truly significant in terms of reducing electricity bills. The awnings helped reduced the amount of energy used for both climates, in Madrid, the reduction was of 8 % , and in Stockholm it was of 4 % , these findings lead us to believe that the awnings are better suited to warmer climates. This study also investigates the economic viability of this novel kind of windows. The idea was to calculate the extra cost that could be associated to the installation of these newer reversible windows technologies by use of the NPV method to calculate the present value of the future energy savings to know if the money investment of the reversible windows is profitable or not. When comparing the reversible window to the base window both of which share the same U-value an extra 19 % of the base window installation cost could be associated to the new installation of reversible windows (for a 30-year period) for Stockholm, and a 25 % for Madrid. Changing already existing 2-pane windows of ordinary, less insulating quality for the reversible windows, the total energy use is reduced by about 50 % in Spain and in Sweden, but it seems that is just economical for the Swedish model, regarding the well-insulated buildings. An additional conclusion is that, compared to investing in reversible windows on all façades, an investment in reversible windows only on the Southern façade and base windows on the rest becomes a bit more economical, with 25 % allowed extra cost for the reversible windows in Stockholm climate and 27 % in Madrid; however clearly less energy is saved.According to the study’s findings, reversible windows have proven to be useful tools to reduce energy usage in both climates and locations. Meaning that they may play an important role to reduce the impact of the energy crisis that affects the current situation.Reversible windows can lower a building's energy costs and carbon footprint, which can have good economic and environmental effects. For architects, builders, and legislators interested in promoting energy-efficient buildings, the study's findings may be helpful. Reversible windows are highlighted in this research as a viable solution to lower energy use and enhance thermal comfort in buildings, particularly in areas with large temperature and solar radiation changes.

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Depuis son entrée dans le monde de l'imagerie médicale, l'imagerie optique a connu un grand développement. Beaucoup d'intérêt lui est porté car cette modalité est non invasive et permettrait éventuellement de faire de l'imagerie moléculaire. Toutefois, elle doit relever un défi de taille, celui de la reconstruction de l'image. Cette étape est très ardue, car elle fait intervenir des modèles de propagation de la lumière dans les tissus biologiques complexes, qui se traduisent par des équations intégro-différentielles dont il est difficile de dériver des solutions analytiques. Ainsi, une étape essentielle au développement d'appareil d'imagerie, la calibration, devient cruciale. Les fantômes optiques, l'objet de ce travail de recherche, sont les standards de calibration qui servent à la réalisation de cette étape. Ces derniers interviennent pour valider les performances et les algorithmes de recontructions des appareils. Ce sujet de recherche s'inscrit dans le cadre du projet TomOptUS qui développe un appareil de tomographie optique diffuse pour petits animaux. Ce travail a deux objectifs principaux : la fabrication de fantômes aux propriétés optiques contrôlables et pouvant simuler celles des tissus biologiques et le développement de méthodes de caractérisation des milieux utilisés pour ces fantômes. La réalisation du volet fabrication a permis de doter le laboratoire d'un protocole robuste pour la fabrication de fantômes solides (par opposition à liquides). Ce protocole contourne une problématique majeure rencontrée souvent lors de la réalisation de fantômes solides, qui est la formation de bulles indésirables à l'intérieur des milieux fabriqués. Aussi, ce protocole permet la fabrication de fantômes de formes complexes tels que des fantômes de souris. Quant à la caractérisation, le laboratoire a vu l'implantation de deux méthodes de caractérisation qui permettent l'obtention des propriétées optiques de milieux absorbants et/ou diffusants. Ces méthodes s'inscrivent également à l'intérieur d'un protocole de caractérisation adapté aux besoins du laboratoire. L'étude approfondie des méthodes de caractériation a amené le développement d'une expertise qui pourrait être exploitée pour étendre l'utilisation de ces techniques de caractérisation sur des tissus biologiques, une voie d'avenir pour l'imagerie médicale.

Este trabalho apresenta os resultados do preparo e caracterização de dispositivos eletrocrômicos (ECD - electrochromic devices) contendo filmes finos de azul da Prússia (PB) como camada eletrocrômica, CeO2-TiO2 como contra-eletrodo e eletrólitos à base de polímeros contendo glicerol, formaldeído e γ-butirolactona. Os filmes finos de azul da Prússia foram preparados pelo método de eletrodeposição galvanostática e usados para montagem de dispositivos eletrocrômicos com eletrólitos de composição polimérica variada. Os filmes finos foram caracterizados através de medidas de densidade de carga, voltametria cíclica e transmitância no UV-Vis, além de análises morfológicas por microscopia de força atômica (AFM) e microscopia de varredura eletrônica (MEV), elipsometria, medidas de espessura, ângulo de contato e eficiência de coloração. O filme eletrodepositado por 300 s apresentou densidade de carga de 1,62 mC.cm-2 e 0,98 de reversibilidade com rugosidade de 17,7 nm, espessura de 315 nm via elipsometria e 216 nm via perfilometria. A eficiência de coloração calculada foi de 131,4 cm2.C-1 e os valores de ângulo de contato e energia livre de superfície também foram calculadas. As análises voltamétricas dos filmes finos revelaram picos característicos dos processos de oxidação e redução e as análises espectroscópicas apresentaram variação de transmitância de 71,6 % em 686 nm em solução eletrolítica de KCL 1 mol.L-1. Foram preparados e caracterizados dispositivos com eletrólitos a base de gelatina comercial com sal LiClO4; poli(vinil butirato) (PVB) com par iônico LiI/I2; PVB com LiClO4; PVB com par iônico LiI/I2+disperse red; ágar com LiClO4; ágar com sal Eu(CF3SO3)3; DNA com LiClO4; DNA com sal Er(CF3SO3)3; pectina com LiClO4; HPC com ácido acético; HPC com LiClO4 e PVDF com LiClO4. Dentre os resultados obtidos, os melhores resultados de densidade de carga de 10,1 e 8,5 mC.cm-2 foram obtidos para os dispositivos com eletrólitos de HPC e pectina, ambas com sal LiClO4. Voltamogramas cíclicos das amostras estudadas revelaram picos anódicos e catódicos referentes à extração e inserção de íons de lítio e/ou prótons, e elétrons no filme de PB. As análises de transmitância em 686 nm entre o estado colorido e descolorido dos dispositivos mostraram os valores de 40,2% para a janela contendo eletrólito à base de gelatina com LiClO4 e 35,2 % para a janela com ágar e sal Eu(CF3SO3). Além disso, também foi verificada a estabilidade dos dispositivos revelando a duração entre 400 a 2200 ciclos cronoamperométricos, dependendo do eletrólito usado. Os resultados obtidos mostram que os dispositivos estudados neste trabalho são potenciais candidatos para aplicações práticas em dispositivos eletrocrômicos. / This work presents the results of the preparation and characterization of electrochromic devices (ECDs) containing a thin film of Prussian blue (PB) as electrochromic layer, CeO2-TiO2 as a counter electrode and electrolytes based on polymers containing glycerol, formaldehyde, and γ-butyrolactone. Thin films of Prussian blue were prepared by galvanostatic electrodeposition method and used for the assembly of electrochromic devices with varying polymer composition of electrolytes. The thin films were characterized by charge density measurements, cyclic voltammetry, transmittance in the UV-Vis, and morphological analyzes such as atomic force microscopy (AFM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Moreover, there were subjected to ellipsometry, thickness, contact angle, and coloring efficiency measurements. The electrodeposited film of 300 s had charge density of 1.62 mC.cm-2 and 0.98 of reversibility with roughness of 17.7 nm and thickness of 315 nm via ellipsometry and 216 nm via profilometry. The calculated color efficiency was 131.4 cm2.C-1 and the contact angle values and surface free energy were calculated. The voltammetric analyzes of thin films showed characteristic peaks of oxidation and reduction processes and spectroscopic analysis showed 71.6% transmittance variation at 686 nm in 1 mol.L-1 KCL electrolyte solution. ECD were prepared and characterized, using electrolytes such as commercial gelatin with LiClO4 salt; poly (vinyl butyrate) (PVB) with ion pair LiI/I2; PVB with LiClO4; PVB with ion pair LiI/I2 + disperse red; agar with LiClO4; agar with Eu(CF3SO3)3 salt; DNA with LiClO4; DNA with Er(CF3SO3)3 salt; pectin with LiClO4; HPC with acetic acid; HPC with LiClO4 and PVDF LiClO4. The best results of charge density of 8.5 and 10.1 mC.cm-2 were obtained for devices with HPC electrolytes and pectin, both with LiClO4 salt. Cyclic voltammetry of the studied samples revealed anodic and cathodic peaks relating to the extraction and insertion of lithium ions and/or protons and electrons in the PB film. The transmittance at 686 nm analysis between the colored state and discolored windows showed values of 40.2% for the window containing electrolyte of gelatin with LiClO4 and 35.2% for the window with agar and Eu(CF3SO3) salt. Furthermore, the stability of the devices was also recorded revealing the duration between 400-2200 chronoamperometric cycles, depending on the used electrolyte. The results show that the windows studied in this work are potential candidates for electrochromic devices applications.

The eyes of snakes and most geckos, as well as a number of other disparate squamate taxa, are shielded beneath a layer of transparent integument referred to as the “reptilian spectacle.” Derived from the embryonic fusion of palpebral tissues, the spectacle contains a number of specializations of the skin to benefit vision while still allowing it to function as the primary barrier to the environment. For example, in nearly all species that possess it, it is markedly thinned compared to the surrounding integument and its keratinized scale is optically transparent. While the spectacle may thus seem ideally adapted to vision in allowing the eyes to be always unoccluded, it does have a few drawbacks. One such drawback is its vascularity, the implications of which are still not fully understood, but are explored herein. As no recent synthesis exists of the body of knowledge on reptilian spectacles, the first chapter of this thesis consists of a review of spectacle anatomy, physiology, adaptive significance and evolution to help put into context the following chapters that present original research. The second chapter describes the dynamics of blood flow through the spectacle vasculature of colubrid snakes, demonstrating three main points: (1) that the spectacle vasculature exhibits cycles of regular dilation and constriction, (2) that the visual perception of a threat induces vasoconstriction of its vessels, and (3) that spectacle vessels remain dilated throughout the renewal phase. The implications of these points are discussed. The third chapter describes the spectral transmittance of the shed spectacle scale, the only keratinized structure in the animal kingdom to contribute to the dioptric apparatus of the eye, as well as its thickness. Spectacle scale transmittance and thickness was found to differ dramatically between snakes and geckos and found in snakes to vary between families. The adaptive significance of the observed variation is discussed. The fourth chapter describes biochemical analyses of the shed spectacle scales of snakes and geckos and compares their composition to other scales in the integument. Spectacle scales were found to differ significantly from other scales in their keratin composition, and gecko spectacle scales in particular were found to lack ß keratin, that hard corneous protein thought to be common to all reptile scales. The concluding chapter will discuss where this research has brought the state of our knowledge on the spectacle and offers thoughts on potentially useful avenues for further research.

Co-doped ZnO (ZnO:Co) thin film with room temperature ferromagnetism and spin polarized carriers is one of the advance materials and highly applicable in future development in spintronics. When ZnO:Co films deposited by a £_ growth method in a ion sputtering system, low solubility of Co (3.75%) limits further applications such that a single-guns sputtering thin film growth technique is employed in this study to outreach this limitation. A ZnO:Co bulk with 5 at% of Co was formed by a solid reaction method and used as a target. ZnO:Co films were grown in a single-gun RF sputtering system. However, all films grown at room temperature were insulator which might because sufficient oxygen content in the target and the negative charge of oxygen ion moving toward substrate making the films of full oxygen content. In this study, the post annealing in vacuum environment and the deposition of films in hydrogenation environment are conducted to try to produce various level of oxygen vacancies in the films for understanding the interplay between the oxygen vacancies and the electric transport and magnetic coupling. The present experiment contains two parts: (1) grow films with various thicknesses by controlling deposition time and then applying post annealing process, and (2) grow the films in oxygen reduced environment by introducing hydrogen during growth and taking out partial oxygen content in the plasma and the films. In the first part, the grain sizes of the films are near constant while the crystal quality is improved with the thickness of films. The worse crystal quality of grains, the better the electric transport and the stronger the magnetic coupling after post annealing processes. This indicates that the electric transport and magnetic coupling could be improved when the thin films was formed by crystals with certain disordering and contained a certain level of oxygen vacancies. In the second part, the introduced hydrogen may combine with the oxygen sputtered out from the target before deposition on substrates. It means that the films are grown in oxygen deficient conditions and result in various degrees of oxygen vacancies. Zn clusters precipitate in films when the concentration of hydrogen is over 20%, and at the meantime, they increase the conductivity and suppress the magnetic coupling in the films. These discoveries provide new perspective in understand the electric transport and ferromagnetism mechanics in DMS materials.

Cette thèse a été développée au sein du Projet Heliosat de l'Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Mines de Paris, avec pour objectifs : (i) la réalisation d'un système d'estimation du rayonnement solaire au sol à l'aide de données en provenance des satellites géostationnaires ; (ii) la production en routine de cartes du rayonnement solaire sur une maille très fine au sol ; (iii) l'amélioration du système en fonction des résultats et des progrès scientifiques. Nous avons amélioré le modèle original de Cano (1982) et complété sur la base des études théoriques suivantes : (i) la mise au point d'un modèle de calcul du rayonnement solaire journalier en moyenne mensuelle ; (ii) l'utilisation du système pour n'importe quelle localisation géographique située dans le champ de vision du capteur du satellite considéré ; (iii) l'étude des relations existant entre l'indice d'ennuagement et le coefficient de transmission globale de l'atmosphère ; (iv) la détermination des rayonnements solaires diffus et direct basée sur la seule connaissance de données satellitaires. Cette méthode a été testée sur 30 mois de données satellitaires (12 mois de 1983, 11 mois de 1984 et les 7 premiers mois de 1985), les erreurs de reconstitution des rayonnements solaires global et diffus en horaire instantané étant respectivement de 70 Wh/m2 et de 99 Wh/m2. Le rayonnement solaire global journalier mensuel est obtenu à 10 % près de la valeur mesurée au sol. Enfin nous avons mis en place un système opérationnel à base de micro-ordinateur couplé à une station de réception satellitaire et qui utilise la méthode développée pour fournir automatiquement une cartographie du rayonnement solaire au sol, ainsi que de l'albédo planétaire et de l'indice d'ennuagement.

Nous avons mis en oeuvre une méthode statistique déjà existante (Cano, 1982) d'évaluation du rayonnement global à 1' aide des mesures du satellite Météosat. Cette méthode a été testée sur environ 1800 données : 11 mois de l'année 1983, 11 mois de l'année 1984 et 7 mois de l'année 1985. Les grands points de cette méthode statistique sont les suivants : 1) la construction d'une carte d'albédo planétaire par ciel clair d'après une série temporelle d'images sous conditions ciel clair, 2) l'évaluation d'un indice d'ennuagement, n, représentant le pourcentage du pixel recouvert par les nuages, par comparaison avec la carte d'albédo planétaire (albédo référence), 3) l'évaluation de la relation statistique entre la transmittance atmosphérique horaire (K), définie comme le rapport entre le rayonnement global et le rayonnement hors atmosphère (G0h), et n (l'indice d'ennuagement). Cette relation est du type : K = -a n + b ou Gh / G0h = -a n + b, où a et b > 0. Les coefficients de régression de cette relation ont été établis à partir des données du réseau de la Météorologie Nationale (Gh) et des données quotidiennes du canal visible de Météosat (n). En conclusion, nous pouvons dire que cette méthode est satisfaisante, elle permet 1) d'affiner ou de compléter (océans) les atlas du rayonnement déjà existants, en mettant en évidence des micro-climats (précision à 5 km près) peu connus ou inconnus, 2) l'évaluation du rayonnement global horaire moyen mensuel avec une précision de l'ordre de 0,1 kWh/m2, 3) un grand nombre d'application dites solaires (précision de rentabilité, méthode de conception architecturale assistée par micro-ordinateur, dimensionnement ...).

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