0000000000064110
AUTHOR
Janis Ratnieks
Analyses of phase change materials’ efficiency in warm-summer humid continental climate conditions
The usage of phase change materials (PCMs) is a way to store excess energy pro- duced during the hot time of the day and release it during the night thereby reducing the overheating problem. While, in Latvian climate conditions overheating is not a big issue in traditional buildings since it happens only a couple of weeks per year air conditioners must still be installed to maintain thermal comfort. The need for cooling in recently built office buildings with large window area can increase signi cantly. It is therefore of great interest if the ther- mal comfort conditions can be maintained by PCMs alone or with reduced maximum power of installed cooling systems. Our initial studies show tha…
Monitoring results and analysis of thermal comfort conditions in experimental buildings for different heating systems and ventilation regimes during heating and cooling seasons
This paper focuses on the long-term monitoring of thermal comfort and discomfort parameters in five small test buildings equipped with different heating and cooling systems. Calculations of predicted percentage of dissatisfied people (PPD) index and discomfort factors are provided for the room in winter season running three different heating systems – electric heater, air-air heat pump and air-water heat pump, as well as for the summer cooling with split type air conditioning systems. It is shown that the type of heating/cooling system and its working regime has an important impact on thermal comfort conditions in observed room. Recommendations for the optimal operating regimes and choice o…
Long term energy efficiency study on different wall envelopes in Latvian climate conditions
Abstract Five test stands have been built in Riga, Latvia equipped with sensors (temperature, solar radiation, humidity, etc.) to measure energy efficiency and thermal comfort conditions. Roof and floor constructions are made the same. For the walls building envelopes differ and typical materials used in Latvia (aerated concrete, ceramic building blocks, wooden log and plywood frame with rock wool insulation) are compared. Only rock wool is used for insulation to provide moisture transport through the construction. For study to be comparative thermal transmittance of all five test stands have been calculated equal (U=0.15…0.16 W/(m 2 ∙K)). The aim of research is to compare the integral calc…
Transient Modelling of Thermal Conditions in Test Buildings Including Radiation
Abstract To increase the energy efficiency of buildings in Latvia's climate a comparative study with five experimental test buildings have been set up in Riga, Latvia. Different thermo physical quantities such as temperature, humidity, air velocity, etc. were monitored to better understand different behaviour of the building envelope. This gives an excellent validation possibility for the CFD model that in future could predict conditions in buildings with different envelopes. Previously a stationary model and transient model were considered without taking into consideration the thermal radiation. This study continues the previous work that was done and proposes a transient model which takes…
Experimental testing of phase change materials in a warm-summer humid continental climate
Abstract The construction industry (and buildings) is one of the largest energy consuming and CO2 emitting sectors in the world. To counter this, more lightweight structures are being used and energy saving applications are being developed. Phase change materials (PCM) are materials that can be considered to tackle these new challenges. It has been proven that PCMs can be passively used to improve the thermal mass of lightweight structures, which improves thermal comfort and reduces peak cooling and heating loads and therefore provides energy savings. To use these materials in an active way, they should be used together with ventilation, cooling or heating equipment, and collectors to accum…
Wall assemblies U-value calculation in test buildings using constant power heating
Abstract Building envelopes under various climates behave differently, in this paper the actual thermal transmittance or U-value of five different wall assemblies are evaluated and compared with values, calculated using standard EN ISO 6946. The experiment is carried out in five test buildings with equal spatial orientation, the same ceiling and floor assemblies as well as the same windows and doors mounted in each building. The thermal transmittances for these partitions are assumed to be well known and therefore, by knowing temperature difference and heat sources inside the building, the thermal transmittance of wall assembly can be calculated. It is shown that for small buildings the cor…