Abstract: The notion at which, nowadays, buildings are being aspired to achieve to be net zero-energy buildings (NZEBs) are widely recognized. The heat loss through the windows of buildings is one of the factors contributing to high energy consumption for space heating ensuing in preventable carbon emissions. This talk/paper aims to present the novel constructions and performance characteristics of the advanced smart vacuum insulation technologies that are: (i) Vacuum Glazing (VG), (ii) Triple Vacuum Glazing (TVG), (iii) Electrochromic Vacuum Glazing (EVG), (iv) Semi-transparent Photovoltaic Electrochromic Vacuum Quadruple Glazing (STPV-EVG), (v) Translucent Vacuum Insulation Panel (TVIP), and (vi) Fusion-sealed Vacuum Glazing (FVG). The experimental results show VG achieved U-value of 0.97 Wm-2K-1, it was further reduced with TVG that achieved U-value of 0.33 Wm-2K-1. To control the solar heat gains from 0.41 (transparent mode) to 0.13 (opaque mode), ECG is constructed that achieved U-value of 0.82 Wm-2K-1, it required electrical power of < 0.4 Wm-2. To make it self-reliant, the semi-transparent PV glazing was integrated to EVG to supply the power and store the generated energy using NiMH battery, the STPV-EVG achieved U-value of 0.79 Wm-2K-1. Due to the cost of hermetic glass edge-sealing materials, a new structured core transparent vacuum insulation panel (TVIP) is constructed, to accomplish insulation for the windows without edge sealing effects, that achieved U-value of 1.72 Wm-2K-1 but suffered the vacuum pressure degradation. The development of novel cost-effective fusion seal for the construction of fusion-sealed vacuum glazing (FVG) is detailed that achieved the U-value of 1.24 Wm-2K-1. The implementation of composite edge sealed vacuum glazing on photovoltaic solar thermal collector (VPV/T) is also discussed in this talk.

Biography: Dr. Saim Memon is the Head of Solar Thermal Vacuum Engineering Research Group, Senior lecturer and Course Director at London Centre for Energy Engineering, London South Bank University, London, UK. He studied PhD in Renewable Energy in Buildings (Vacuum Insulated Smart Windows) as part of EPSRC Funded CALEBRE Project at School of Mechanical, Electrical & Manufacturing Engineering (Loughborough University, UK), PGCert Teaching Qualification (University of Aberdeen, UK), MSc in Mechatronics (Staffordshire University, UK), BEng (Hons) in Electrical Engineering MUET. He is Chartered Engineer and a Fellow of Higher Education Academy and having Qualified Teacher status by General Teaching Council for Scotland (GTCS).
His research experiences are on are on: energy-materials for vacuum-insulated-smart-windows to net Zero Energy Buildings; vacuum based photovoltaic solar thermal collector; applied semi-transparent photovoltaics and electrochromic films; translucent vacuum insulation panel; renewable energy technologies; thermoelectric devices for energy harvesting applications with vacuum-insulation; smart-grid integration to electric-vehicles with fast charging battery mechanism and; harvesting the concentrated solar irradiations to useful electrical energy.
He published over 60 research articles in the form of journals, book-chapters, patent-provisional, conferences, book-editor, newsletter and magazines. In 2020, he published 23 research articles. He has over 7 recent journals published & recognised as 4* for REF 2021. He raised funding of £261,789 from H2020, Innovate-UK, The IET/IMechE Engineering-Education-Grant-Scheme EEGS, DAIWA-Anglo-Japanese, Royal Academy of Engineering participation and Newton-Fund participation grants. He leads international collaborations. He has been invited speaker in numerous conferences/workshops and presented research findings and developed collaboration with researchers in the UK, Europe, USA, UAE, Japan, Australia, Thailand, Pakistan, India, Malaysia, Kenya, Peru, South Africa, Russia, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, China and Hong Kong.
He is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of International Journal of Solar Thermal Vacuum Engineering with international collaboration of 14 countries worldwide. He was also an Editor-in-Chief for the book on Advanced Thermoelectric Materials for Energy Harvesting Applications, it attracted worldwide collaborations. He holds a Guest Editor role in Sustainability on a special issue of Renewable Energy and Advanced Smart Vacuum Insulations Technologies for Zero Energy Buildings (2019-2021). He also holds a Guest Editor role in Energies on a special issue in Applied Solar Thermal Energy (2020-2021). He is a recognised reviewer of over 18 prestigious journals by Elsevier, Springer, IEEE, Taylor & Francis and MDPI publishers.
He taught 34 BEng/MSc modules and supervised over 25 BEng/MSc/PhD projects. He demonstrated and evidenced his excellent track record in Teaching and Supervision practices throughout his career. He developed and led a project that engaged local London Engineering students on Solar Car Challenge as part of the IET IMechE Engineering Education Grant Scheme. He also organised and chaired international and national conferences. He is founder of DEEE Society at LSBU for students’ academic engagement. He has outstanding volunteer contributions throughout his academic career as evidenced on his profile such as: he contributed to the society as vice-chairman of The IET Young Professionals; elected Executive Officer at Staffordshire University Students Union; elected committee member of Postgrad Taught Students at NUS UK; elected vice-chair at Loughborough University Postgraduate Association; elected honorary secretary and committee member at Vacuum Group Institute of Physics; and many more volunteer roles he held and served our UK community.