Space sensor helps produce 'greener' glass
With modern architecture featuring largeglass facades, it has become important to improve the insulating characteristics of glass.
The windows must protect the interior against heat loss during cold weather and against overheating on warm summer days.
“By using sensor technology from space this has been possible,” explained Frank Hammer, founding member of the German company ESCUBE, which developed the special instrument initially for spaceflight.
Through MST Aerospace, the German technology broker of ESA’s Technology Transfer Programme, contacts were established with a glass manufacturer.
Today, the sensor is mounted outside the International Space Station and used in a German glass factory.
“For space, the sensor was developed to measure atomic oxygen, known for its erosion effect and for degrading optical surfaces,” said Mr Hammer.
“In the glass industry the technology is now used to control the industrial glass-coating process to obtain improved insulating properties.”
“In the glass industry the technology is now used to control the industrial glass-coating process to obtain improved insulating properties.”
The complex coating procedure requires reliable and precise monitoring to control the process.
“The gas sensor developed to handle the harsh space environment turned out to be the right solution to handle the difficult glass-production conditions of high temperatures and reactive gasses,” added Mr Hammer.
Space technology helped produce ecological glass products
Peter Hennes from ESCUBE partner company iSATT added, “With ESCUBE’s sensor it is today possible to offer new types of glass."
Peter Hennes from ESCUBE partner company iSATT added, “With ESCUBE’s sensor it is today possible to offer new types of glass."
"Their surfaces not only take into account economic and ecological criteria but also fulfil aesthetic criteria, saving energy by the low overall heat transfer coefficients.
“With the new coating the overall heat transfer coefficients have been reduced to about a third of what they were in the 1980s, while maintaining light transmittance at 80%.
“The light passing through is almost the same as standard glass, but the heat loss during winter and the heat gain during summer have been reduced significantly.”
