Movable insulation for windows

Brainstorming
Target:  R20  - 4 inches of foam
South Windows R5
Other Windows R10-15

two targets:  Future ARCs and Mani Greenhouse

Basic approaches:
Rigid - Rolltop desk/ garage door
Rigid, move like a door or moving wall
Rigid, Fanfold - vertical/horizontal
Rigid Bifold Hangar door
Shutters that track the sun so they don't make shadows
Shutters that open w/ reflective inside surface - horizontal or vertical

Compressible roll-up type - polyester hollow fill fibers -Outdoor fabrics
Multi-layers of film with springy spacers
Inflatable  -actuation and insulation - hard to get R values

Fluid type - blowing insulation beads, fibers, etc
Bubbles-



Inside VS Outside

Cold Glass is an issue - outside mounting is better
Thermal shock issue
Frost on cold glass if inside air can get to it
Weather on outside - wind, water, rain, ice, etc

Dark colored outside to help melt ice in tracks, etc


If whole surface is puffy, the whole surface is a gasket making it more tolerant of flaws

In between glazing?
Requires maintenance eventually.
"Fluid" type

Good outside one may apply to any window


Original Mani Greenhouse plan
-Pleated inflatable filled with polyester hollow fill
-Not touching the glazing
-Air tight joints and material
-Vacuum retracted
-Magnetic Gaskets



Points for:
-Partially openable
-Low maintenance - fewer mechanisms
-Any tracks should be hard to foul