Browsing by Author "Ezan M.A."

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    Energy Efficient Buildings with Algae
    (IOP Publishing Ltd, 2021) Yaman Y.; Tokuç A.; Sener I.; Altunacar N.; Köktürk G.; Deniz I.; Ezan M.A.
    The biggest part of the energy consumption of buildings is for thermal comfort. Awareness on climate change and concerns about the depletion of natural resources made the necessity to use renewable energy sources in buildings evident. In this context, microalgae have high surface efficiency and consume inorganic carbon, thus enabling carbon-neutral operation. They can be integrated into building façades with photobioreactors to reduce energy demands. This paper aims to clarify and discuss the role of microalgal technologies in energy-efficient architecture. The thermal performance and energy generation properties of microalgae façades are comprehensively reviewed. The results show that microalgae provide dynamic shading and thermal insulation, thus have the potential to significantly reduce the thermal load and energy demands of buildings and increase the building performance. Consequently, besides the thermal performance of microalgae façades, evaluation of daylight, lighting, environmental and cost performance, technical applicability and aesthetics are necessary. © Published under licence by IOP Publishing Ltd.
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    Effect of an algae integrated water wall on energy consumption and CO2 emission
    (Inderscience Publishers, 2023) Altunacar N.; Ezan M.A.; Yaman Y.; Tokuç A.; Budakoğlu B.; Köktürk G.; Deniz İ.
    This study develops a transient thermal model for an indoor in which a photobioreactor (PBR) is integrated into one of its facades. Thermal comfort, energy consumption, and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions were interpreted in different design scenarios for Izmir, Turkey. As a result, it was determined that a 20% window-to-wall ratio (WWR) provides the most comfortable results, and the algae usage increases the annual comfort by 19% and reduces the heating/cooling demand. Compared to a water wall, it provides a 17% reduction in energy consumption and CO2 emissions. Copyright © 2023 Inderscience Enterprises Ltd.
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    Energy Use and Lighting of Algal Green Buildings
    (EDP Sciences, 2024) Tokuç A.; Yaman Y.; Budakoğlu B.; Gülden Köktürk G.; Deniz I.; Ezan M.A.
    Green buildings can provide a growth environment for microalgae growth on their façades, where a closed environment mimicks the organisms' natural environment and functions as a window. This study investigates such a façade's effect on energy saving by optimizing the performances of useful daylight illuminance (UDI) and energy use intensity (EUI) in the Mediterranean climate. The study was carried out in two stages. The first stage is a parametric study using the Colibri tool to look at the algae content and the effect of WWR for the north and south orientations. Meanwhile the second stage adds different design parameters of orientation, window type, WWR, wall type and thickness, insulation thickness. Optimization of UDI and EUI separately allows an in-depth discussion of these parameters for both performances. The obtained parametric results show the effects of WWR and algae content. Regression analysis explains that WWR has a linear relationship with EUI and a polynomial relationship with UDI. There is no such relationship for algae content, yet it changes UDI results the most (%46.22-81.66 for 50% WWR). Then, computational simulations regard effects of other factors for performance optimization. © The Authors.
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    Photobioreactor facade panels: enhancing comfort, reducing energy use, and capturing carbon in temperate continental climates
    (Springer Nature, 2025) Yaman Y.; Tokuç A.; Deniz İ.; Ezan M.A.; Köktürk G.; Dalay M.C.; Demirel Z.
    Buildings contribute around 37% to global carbon emissions, prompting a growing interest in innovative carbon capture technologies. Among these, the integration of microalgae-based photosynthesis into building facades has emerged as a promising solution. This approach offers multiple benefits, including carbon sequestration, reduced energy consumption, dynamic shading, and improved thermal regulation. This paper investigates the impact of integrating photobioreactor (PBR) facade elements, specifically on the south-facing facade of an office building in a temperate continental climate. The study evaluates the system’s effects on indoor thermal and visual comfort, energy production, and carbon dioxide (CO2) sequestration for three distinct PBR facade alternatives and compares them with a commercial curtain wall. The continuous PBR system varies in performance depending on production intensity, necessitating an initial optimization for thermal and visual comfort alongside energy use. Simulations were conducted using Rhinoceros/Grasshopper plug-ins, with optimization performed via the Octopus tool. The results, focusing on the Chlorella vulgaris algae strain, demonstrate that all facade configurations achieve a daylight performance exceeding 50% and meet desired thermal comfort levels. Although the energy generated by the PBR facade does not fully offset the building’s energy consumption, annual CO2 sequestration ranges from 84.87 kg to 770.13 kg. This study concludes that microalgae facades offer a viable strategy for enhancing a building’s energy performance and reducing CO2 emissions, without compromising occupant comfort. Additionally, the findings provide valuable insights for designers, researchers, investors and stakeholders and provides a payback period of these systems (16–24 years) for commercialization in the building industry. © Jiangnan University 2024.