Publications by Christian Roecker

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A detailed knowledge of the light distribution characteristics through advanced window systems is required to improve the visual comfort of the building's occupants while controlling the propagation of daylight in rooms and the solar gains. An innovative b ...

Multilayered thin oxide films have been deposited on solar collector glazing by sol-gel dip coating in a dust-free environment provided by a laminar flux chapel. A superior film quality and a satisfying film homogeneity have been achieved for the produced ...

Thin films of silicon oxide and silicon titanium mixed oxides are deposited on solar collector glazing in a sol–gel dip-coating process based on alcoxide precursors. Spectrophotometry is used to characterize the relation of film thickness and withdrawal sp ...

Thin films on glazing play an important role in the design of solar energy conversion systems as thermal collectors or photovoltaic panels. Antireflective coatings based on porous silicon dioxide are well established in the field of solar collector glazing ...

Most energy saving applications of advanced fenestration systems (solar blinds, novel types of glazing and daylight redirecting devices) require a precise knowledge of their directional light transmission features. These photometric properties can be described by a Bi-directional Transmission Distribution Function (BTDF) whose experimental assessment requires appropriate equipment. A novel bi-directional transmission photogoniometer, based on digital imaging techniques, was designed and set up for that purp

Coatings for thermal solar energy conversion have to be abrasion-resistant, stable at elevated temperatures, and often have to protect the substrate against corrosion. Due to the conditions of refractive index matching between the substrate and the ambient ...

Among the century’s main challenges, climate change and the need for energy sources diversification are of great importance. In this context, renewable energies undoubtedly have an important role to play. Photovoltaic (PV) electricity is especially well su ...

Although solar thermal systems are technologically mature and cost effective, they have not yet been sufficiently used in building design, where they should be playing a greater role in the reduction of fossil-fuel consumption. One main hindrance to adoption is the generally low architectural design quality of the building integration of these thermal systems. As confirmed by the application of photovoltaic elements in buildings, improving the architectural quality of building integrated system leads to the

Increased use of solar collectors in buildings is necessary but poses major challenges in existing built environ ments, especially where architectural quality is an issue. The large size of solar systems at the building scale requires careful planning, as ...

When designing a project, architects are facing more and more constraints on the building’s energy efficiency. Tougher values on insulation and energy consumption are now often combined with compulsory implementation of active solar systems - photovoltaics ...

New energy regulations, together with mandatory solar fractions for electricity and Domestic Hot Water are introducing new materialities and geometries in buildings, resulting in new forms of architectural expression that are slowly modifying our city landscapes. The increased use of active solar collectors in buildings is clearly necessary and welcome, but brings major challenges in already existing environments. The large size of solar systems at the building scale asks for thoughtful planning, as these s

Based on the results of a European survey on architectural integration quality, the paper presents a systematic analysis of the facade integration potential of solar thermal collectors provided by Swiss manufacturers, concentrating on glazed flat plates, u ...

The presented work offers an improved planning tool as a response to the demand for active and passive solar architecture. An integral solution is presented for the design of solar assisted heating systems and decentralized electricity production using pho ...

To assess the daylighting performances of a building, one of the most commonly used quantities is the Daylight factor, which is defined for a given surface element inside the analysed room as the ratio of the inside and outside illuminances under a CIE overcast sky. The Daylight factor consists of three components: the sky component, due to light flux reaching the surface element directly from the sky, the externally and the internally reflected components, respectively due to light flux reflected on extern

The amount of solar energy reaching the Earth in one hour equals the total amount of primary energy used in the world during one year. Thanks to the different solar technologies presently available, most energy needs of buildings can today be covered by so ...

This document is conceived for architects and intended to be as clear and practical as possible. It summarizes the knowledge needed to integrate active solar technologies (solar thermal and photovoltaics) into buildings, handling at the same time architectural integration issues and energy production requirements. Solar thermal and photovoltaics are treated separately, but the information is given following the same structure: 1- Main technical information; 2- Constructive/functional integration possibiliti

Among the main challenges of our century, the climate change and the need of diversification of the energy sources are of most importance. Renewable energies undoubtedly have an important role to play, photovoltaic (PV) electricity being especially well suited to face these energy challenges. However, the current integration of PV panels often comes without architectural consideration. In this context, the Archinsolar project [1] aims to develop a new generation of photovoltaic elements based on silicon thi

This document is addressed to manufacturers of photovoltaic systems. It describes the main criteria for a successful integration of PV systems in buildings and proposes a methodology for the design of systems specifically conceived for building integration. For each specific sub-technology, it provides a comprehensive set of practical recommendations that should lead to the production of new systems appealing to architects.

One main step to ease facade integration of solar thermal is to conceive new collectors as multifunctional building elements. For flat plate hydraulic collectors (glazed and unglazed) the most natural added function is facade cladding. The new elements sho ...

One main barrier to the acceptability of façade use of solar thermal collectors is their black appearance and the visibility of piping or absorber irregularities through the glazing. To facilitate façade integration, a project was set up to develop selecti ...

Christian Roecker

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Design of a time-efficient video-goniophotometer combining bidirectional functions assessment for transmission and reflection

Angle-dependent spectrophotometry of Sol-Gel deposited multilayered oxide coatings on solar collector glasses

Sol-gel deposition and optical characterization of multilayered SiO2/Ti1-xSixO2 coatings on solar collector glasses

Nanostructured Coatings on Glazing for Active Solar Facades

Bi-directional Photogoniometer for the Assessment of the Luminous Properties of Fenestration Systems

Sol-gel deposition and characterization of low refractive index nanocomposite Mg:F:Si:O thin films for solar and protective coatings

New challenges in solar architectural innovation

Architectural Integration and Design of Solar Thermal Systems

Criteria and policies to master the visual impact of solar systems in urban environments: The LESO-QSV method

Building envelope and solar energy optimization: a new “wizard” for architects

Promoting Solar Energy While Preserving Urban Context

Facade Integration of Solar Thermal Collectors: Present and Future

Simulation Tool for Architects

Innovative bidirectional video-goniophotometer combining transmission and reflection measurements

Architectural integration of solar thermal systems

Solar energy systems in architecture - Integration criteria and guidelines

Innovative Solution for Building Integrated Photovoltaics

Designing photovoltaic systems for architectural integration

From Thermal Collectors Integration to Active Façade Systems

Facade Integration of Solar Thermal Collectors: A Breakthrough?