Search results for "thermal insulation"
showing 10 items of 34 documents
A bottom-up harmonized energy-environmental models for europe (BOHEEME): A case study on the thermal insulation of the EU-28 building stock
2021
Abstract The paper presents a methodological approach, called “BOttom-up Harmonized Energy-Environmental Models for Europe” (BOHEEME), that combines bottom-up modeling, energy dynamic simulation, and life cycle assessment for evaluating and comparing the energy and environmental effects of different renovation strategies of the residential EU building stocks, from micro to the macro level. The study defines 672 building models representative of the residential EU-28 building stocks built before 2010, called archetypes, and the improvement of their envelope, applying different insulation materials from a traditional one to bio-based materials and studying their environmental effects via LCA.…
Building integrated solar thermal design: assessment of performances of a low cost solar wall in a typical Italian building
2016
Abstract Present work deals with the topic of building integration of solar thermal collector (BIST) as a refurbishment measure. Such equipment, more than its main function as heating generator, plays a specific role as a building component (envelope finishes, thermal insulation layer, roof cover etc). Consequently, from a heat transfer point of view, an integrated component affects twice the global building balance: supporting the thermal plant (i.e. providing heat for final uses) and modifying the wall heat-transfer pattern (i.e. reducing thermal losses). In turn, the collector performance itself is influenced by the wall structure (back losses reduction). Present work proposes a method f…
Effect of Sheep Wool Fibers on Thermal Insulation and Mechanical Properties of Cement-Based Composites
2019
The use of sheep wool as a filler of cement in order to produce mortar or plaster involves several advantages for environment and energy. Moreover, it is considered as a waste and, therefore, its use is characterized by low cost. The aim of this paper is to evaluate the influence of wool fibers on thermal conductivity and mechanical properties of cement. The samples were prepared using wool fibers, obtained from a breed of Sicilian sheep, with three different lengths (i.e., 1, 6, and 20 mm). Furthermore, in order to evaluate the influence of fiber content, the samples were prepared by varying the fiber weight fraction. The thermal conductivity of the samples was analyzed by using a heat flo…
Experimental study and physical modeling of simultaneous heat and moisture transfer in bio-sourced insulating materials.
2019
The conventional heat transfer models are not sufficiently suitable for thermal characterization of bio-sourced thermal insulating materials due to their strongly hydrophilic nature. The proposed work in this PhD thesis aims to answer this problem with experimental and theoretical approaches of coupled heat-moisture transfers. In the experimental approach, a thermal insulating material based on Flax Fiber Felt (FFF) is developed and then characterized at different hygrometric conditions with an asymmetric hot plate device. The humidity diffusion characterization of the samples is done using the GAB, GDW and Park theoretical moisture adsorption isotherm models. In the theoretical approach, a…
Investigation on a Bio-Composite Material as Acoustic Absorber and Thermal Insulation
2020
In order to limit the anthropic emissions of CO2, research is currently investigating new materials for the building sector. The main purpose is the reduction in the embodied energy consumption, especially in the residential sector, and consequently the limitation of the direct and indirect utilization of fossil fuels, for the indoor heating, cooling, and ventilation services. Indeed, the residential sector is affected by a high energy demand, thus the choice of improved materials is fundamental to improve the sustainability. All phases: construction, building life, and dismantling are impacting in terms of resource and energy consumption, both associated with the emissions of pollutants in…
Analyses of innovative glass blocks for BIPV: assessment of thermal and optical performance
2015
This paper illustrates the results of the performance analyses conducted on an innovative glass block integrated with thirdgeneration dye-sensitised solar cells (DSCs), designed to enable the construction of translucent and sustainable building envelopes. The analyses include the simulation of both thermal and optical performance with regard to different configurations of the photovoltaic (PV)-integrated glass block, and the results obtained are presented using two different programs: Comsol Multiphysics and WINDOW. The configurations may differ – for example, because of the position of the module inside the glass block, the type of DSC module used (composition, transparency, design) and th…
Energy Optimization of BIPV Glass Blocks: a Multi-software Study
2017
Abstract The aim of this paper is to show the results of the performance analyses carried out on four patented glass block configurations integrated with third-generation Dye-sensitized Solar Cell (DSC) modules. The analyses take into account the thermal, optical and electrical performance by using three different software (COMSOL Multiphysics, WINDOW, Zemax), also enabling to take into consideration the peculiar three-dimensional geometry of this innovative glazed product. Starting from these results, new configurations improved as for the thermal insulation, are also introduced and studied, in order to make further considerations about the applicability of this building component for the …
On the reliability of ASHRAE conduction transfer function coefficients of walls
2000
The transfer function method recommended by the ASHRAE can be considered the most modern tool currently available for the thermal analysis of a building. It is particularly well suited for use with a computer as it makes it possible to describe with great accuracy the internal heat gain of walls using a small set of coefficients. The present paper shows how to calculate sets of coefficients diverse from that proposed by Mitalas who first developed the method and on the basis of an unequivocal criterion, to prove the advantages in using them. The authors also investigated some of the paramount mathematical and physical aspects which affect the approximation degree of the ASHRAE method and, w…
On the hygrothermal behavior of coconuts fiber insulators on green roofs.
2020
Coconut fibre insulators, represent an insulating material considered as “exotic”, which clashes with the doubts of his thermo-hygrometric behavior, in particular, in the case of covering technology such as green roofs, a technological solution adopted in the case of sustainable buildings or nearly zero energy building. Green roofs represent a valid constructive solution with high thermal performances, adopted in existing and new buildings. The purpose of the research regards the study of the thermo-hygrometric behavior of the concrete and Cross-Laminated Timber (CLT) slabs, insulated with coconut fibre-boards (CF) such as alternative synthetic insulators, referred to 10 different green roo…
Evaluation of innovative thermal insulation systems for a sustainable envelope
2017
La memoria presenta i risultati ottenuti su sistemi di isolamento termico per l’involucro edilizio. Si presentano i risultati ottenuti tramite simulazioni informatiche che hanno consentito di verificare e ottimizzare la trasmissione del calore attraverso un sistema sottovuoto in vetro per le facciate trasparenti. Inoltre la possibilità offerta dal riciclo del materiale di scarto della potatura dell’Opunthia Ficus Indica (fichi d’india) che,opportunamente trattato ha permesso di ottenere un materiale isolante (Brevetto n. 1402131), in forma di pannello o in grani sfusi, (valori di coibenza termica 0.0710.057 W/mK). The paper presents the results of the research on thermal insulation systems…