sustainability Article Innovative Building Technology Implemented into Facades with Active Thermal Protection Daniel Kalús 1, Jozef Gašparík 2, Peter Janík 3, Matej Kubica 1 and Patrik Št’astný 2,* 1 Department of Building Services, Faculty of Civil Engineering, Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava, 810 05 Bratislava, Slovakia; [email protected] (D.K.); [email protected] (M.K.) 2 Department of Building Technology, Faculty of Civil Engineering, Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava, 810 05 Bratislava, Slovakia; [email protected] 3 Engineer in the Field of Energy Efficiency of Buildings, Topolˇcianska5, 851 05 Bratislava, Slovakia; [email protected] * Correspondence: [email protected]; Tel.: +421-915-382-476 Abstract: The article focuses on the description of an innovative solution and application of active thermal protection of buildings using thermal insulation panels with active regulation of heat transfer in the form of a contact insulation system. The thermal insulation panels are part of a prefabricated lightweight outer shell, which together with the low-temperature heating and high-temperature cooling system creates an indoor environment. The energy source is usually renewable energy sources or technological waste heat. Research and development of an innovative facade system with active thermal protection is in the phase of computer simulations and preparation of laboratory measurements of thermal insulation panels with various combinations of energy functions. In the article we present theoretical assumptions, calculation procedure and parametric study of three basic design solutions of combined energy wall systems in the function of low-temperature radiant heating and high-temperature radiant cooling. Citation: Kalús, D.; Gašparík, J.; Janík, P.; Kubica, M.; Št’astný, P. Keywords: innovative facade; active thermal protection (ATP); thermal insulation panels; thermal Innovative Building Technology barrier; renewable energy sources (RES) Implemented into Facades with Active Thermal Protection. Sustainability 2021, 13, 4438. https:// doi.org/10.3390/su13084438 1. Introduction Academic Editor: Miguel Amado The active thermal protection (ATP) system, based on the active control of heat transfer by changing the temperature at the interface of the supporting and thermal insulation Received: 15 March 2021 parts of a building envelope, can fulfil the function of several “energy systems”. Com- Accepted: 10 April 2021 bined building energy systems with active thermal protection (ATP) represent the optimal Published: 15 April 2021 and most comprehensive technical solution for buildings within the meaning of Directive 2018/844/EU, which amends Directive 2010/31/EU on the energy performance of build- Publisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral ings and Directive 2012/27/EU on energy efficiency, which introduced a new concept into with regard to jurisdictional claims in our legal system—“almost zero energy building (nZEB)” [1]. published maps and institutional affil- The aim of this technology is all categories of buildings (residential buildings, civic iations. amenities, industrial halls, buildings in agriculture), whose perimeter cladding is made of non-transparent materials such as reinforced concrete panels, reinforced concrete mono- lithic walls, walls of bricks and blocks, or metal-based and wood. If the renovated buildings have been only heated, the present invention solves energy Copyright: © 2021 by the authors. savings not only by thermal insulation that actively allows to control the heat transfer Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. through the building envelope but also the multifunctional of the thermal insulation system, This article is an open access article with an integrated energy system from the exterior tents of the building of the building for distributed under the terms and RES (renewable energy sources)—solar energy and energy. The surrounding environment conditions of the Creative Commons in conjunction with heat pumps, from the interior in the function of thermal barrier, low- Attribution (CC BY) license (https:// temperature heating, high-temperature cooling, heat accumulation and heat recovery. This creativecommons.org/licenses/by/ multifunctional system can also use waste heat from various technologies. 4.0/). Sustainability 2021, 13, 4438. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13084438 https://www.mdpi.com/journal/sustainability Sustainability 2021, 13, x FOR PEER REVIEW 2 of 22 barrier, low-temperature heating, high-temperature cooling, heat accumulation and heat recovery. This multifunctional system can also use waste heat from various technologies. The aim of the article is to describe the technology of production of thermal insulation panels with various energy functions, instructions for implementation of innovative ther- mal insulation facade with ATP on the building, presentation of theoretical assumptions, Sustainability 2021, 13, 4438 calculation procedure and parametric study of three basic design solutions2 of 21 of combined energy wall systems in low temperature radiant heating and radiant cooling. The innovative facade solution with active thermal protection follows the research of combinedThe aim energy of the article systems is to describe of buildings, the technology especi ofally production low-temperature of thermal insulation radiant heating, high- panels with various energy functions, instructions for implementation of innovative ther- maltemperature insulation facaderadiant with cooling, ATP on thethermal building, barrier presentation and TABS of theoretical (thermal assumptions, active building struc- calculationtures), which procedure is described and parametric mainly study in several of three scientific basic design studies solutions [2–12]. of combined energy wall systems in low temperature radiant heating and radiant cooling. 2. CurrentThe innovative State of facade Technical solution withSolutions active thermal protection follows the research of combined energy systems of buildings, especially low-temperature radiant heating, high- temperatureIn terms radiant of cooling,the thermal thermal protection barrier and TABSof buildi (thermalngs, active structures building with structures), an internal energy whichsource is form described progressive mainly in severalpackaging scientific structures studies [2 –of12 buildings]. with active control of the heat transfer (thermal barrier). From an energy point of view, they are multifunctional with 2. Current State of Technical Solutions one or combined functions of low-temperature radiant heating/high-temperature cooling, In terms of the thermal protection of buildings, structures with an internal energy sourceheat/cold form storage, progressive heat packaging recovery, structures collectors of buildings for solar with energy active control or ambient of the heat energy in combi- transfernation (thermalwith heat barrier). pumps. From New, an energy investigated point of view,variants they of are building multifunctional structures with with an inter- onenal orenergy combined source functions using of low-temperatureexhaust air can radiant also heating/high-temperaturehave the function of cooling,recuperative heat ex- heat/coldchangers storage, in forced heat ventilation recovery, collectors of buildings. for solar energy From or an ambient environmental energy in combina- point of view, build- tion with heat pumps. New, investigated variants of building structures with an internal energying and source energy using systems exhaust air with can alsoATP have have the optimal function ofuse recuperative in the use heat of exchangers RES (renewable energy insources) forced ventilation and waste of heat. buildings. When From preparing an environmental the production point of view,of electricity, building and for example pho- energytovoltaic systems power with plants, ATP have buildings optimal use can in be the combined use of RES (renewablebuilding-energy energy sources) systems with ATP a andsuitable waste alternative heat. When preparingfor self-sufficient the production or to of plus electricity, buildings. for example photovoltaic powerATP plants, are buildings pipe systems can be embedded combined building-energy in envelope building systems structures, with ATP a suitableshown in Figure 1B, to alternative for self-sufficient or to plus buildings. whichATP a areheat-transfer pipe systems embeddedmedium (heating in envelope or building cooling structures, water or shown air) inat Figureregulated1B, temperature tois whichsupplied. a heat-transfer These are medium building (heating structures or cooling with water an or internal air) at regulated energy temperature source and they form a iscombined supplied. Thesebuilding are building and energy structures system. with anFrom internal the energypoint sourceof view and of they thermal form protection of abuildings, combined buildingit is important and energy that system. thermally From the insulated point of viewbuilding of thermal structures protection have the highest of buildings, it is important that thermally insulated building structures have the highest possiblepossible surface surface temperature temperature between between the layers the oflayers the load-bearing of the load-bearing and the thermal and the thermal in- insulationsulation part. ThisThis can can be be achieved achieved with with greater greater thickness thickness of thermal of insulation, thermal showninsulation, shown in inFigure Figure 1A,1A, oror thethe temperature temperature of the of heat-transferthe