/// ETA Fabrik | TU Darmstadt
Today, an increase of the energy efficiency in the manufacturing industry is typically achieved by separate, parallel measures, primarily on the level of the individual machines. Energy efficiency can be improved by a holistic, integrated approach, which links the machines, the production process, the technical infrastructure and the building and its envelope.
Related to this the research project called ETA-Fabrik (i.e. energy-efficient factory, http://www.eta-fabrik.de) at TU Darmstadt, Germany was developed at TU Darmstadt. The ISM+D participated, being responsible for structure and building envelope.
The building envelope element consists of purely mineral materials (concrete) and can be energetically activated by thin capillary tubes integrated in the surface layer. This surface layer consists of a micro-reinforced, ultra-high-performance concrete (mrUHPC) to achieve a low component thickness due to its high mechanical capacity, resistance against thermal changes, surface quality and low permeability. The core of the element is responsible for insulation. For this, a mineralized protein foam (MF) is used. It provides very good thermal insulation properties due to its eminently low density and thus allows low heat transfer coefficients. Therefore, the final facade element combines limiting, bearing, insulating and thermal activation using concrete.
facadeworld 