Editorial

4 pages, 160 KiB

Open AccessEditorial

Energy Efficiency in Buildings and Innovative Materials for Building Construction

by Cristina Cornaro and Cinzia Buratti

Appl. Sci. 2020, 10(8), 2866; https://doi.org/10.3390/app10082866 - 21 Apr 2020

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1962

The main topics of this Special Issue regard energy efficiency in buildings and the use of innovative materials for design and retrofitting to pursue this goal [...] Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Energy Efficiency in Buildings and Innovative Materials for Building Construction)

Research

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20 pages, 5264 KiB

Open AccessArticle

What Is the Main Difference between Medium-Depth Geothermal Heat Pump Systems and Conventional Shallow-Depth Geothermal Heat Pump Systems? Field Tests and Comparative Study

by Jiewen Deng, Qingpeng Wei, Shi He, Mei Liang and Hui Zhang

Appl. Sci. 2019, 9(23), 5120; https://doi.org/10.3390/app9235120 - 26 Nov 2019

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 2130

Abstract

Recently, the medium-depth geothermal heat pump systems (MD-GHPs) have been applied for space heating in China. Theoretically, the MD-GHPs use deep borehole heat exchangers (DBHEs) to extract heat from the medium-depth geothermal energy with the depth of 2~3 km, thus, improving the energy [...] Read more.

Recently, the medium-depth geothermal heat pump systems (MD-GHPs) have been applied for space heating in China. Theoretically, the MD-GHPs use deep borehole heat exchangers (DBHEs) to extract heat from the medium-depth geothermal energy with the depth of 2~3 km, thus, improving the energy performance of whole systems obviously. This paper conducts field tests of nine conventional shallow-depth geothermal heat pump systems (SD-GHPs) and eight MD-GHPs to analyze the energy performance of heat pump systems, as well as heat transfer performance of ground heat exchangers. Then the comparative studies are carried out to analyze the difference between these two ground coupled heat pump systems. Field test results show that the outlet water temperature of DBHEs in MD-GHP can reach more than 30 °C with heat extraction of 195.2 kW~302.8 kW per DBHE with a depth of 2500 m, which are much higher than that of SD-GHPs. However, the heat pumps and water pumps in the ground side should be specially designed to fit the high-temperature heat source instead of following operation mode of SD-GHPs. Then with variable speed compressor which has high energy efficiency under a wide range of load rate and compressor ratio, and with the ground-side water pumps which efficiently operate under high water resistance and low flow rate, the COP of heat pumps and COP_s of whole systems could reach 7.80 and 6.46 separately. Thus, the advantage of high-temperature heat source could be fully utilized to achieve great energy-saving effects. Full article

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17 pages, 1826 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effects of Specific Parameters on Simulations of Energy Use and Air Temperatures in Offices Equipped with Radiant Heating/Cooling Panels

by Sabina Jordan, Jože Hafner, Martina Zbašnik-Senegačnik and Andraž Legat

Appl. Sci. 2019, 9(21), 4609; https://doi.org/10.3390/app9214609 - 30 Oct 2019

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2367

Abstract

When creating a simulation model to assess the performance of buildings, there is usually a lack of feedback information. Only in the case of measurements of a real building is a direct comparison of the measured values and simulated results possible. Parameter data [...] Read more.

When creating a simulation model to assess the performance of buildings, there is usually a lack of feedback information. Only in the case of measurements of a real building is a direct comparison of the measured values and simulated results possible. Parameter data related to users’ behavior or other events can also be obtained. Their evaluated frequency, magnitude and duration, along with boundary conditions, are crucial for the results. It is clear that none of them can be predicted very accurately. Most of them, however, are needed for computer modeling. In this paper we analyzed the well-defined TRNSYS simulation model of offices equipped with radiant ceiling panels for heating and cooling. The model was based on real case offices and was validated based on measurements for 1 year. The analysis included simulations in order to define what effect the parameters related mainly to users have on the energy use and the indoor air temperatures. The study confirmed that specific human activities influence the annual energy use to a relatively small degree and that their effects often counteract. It also confirmed the even more important fact that although small, these activities can influence the thermal comfort of users. It is believed that despite the fact that this research was based on an analysis of offices equipped with radiant ceiling panels, most of the results could be applied generally. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Energy Efficiency in Buildings and Innovative Materials for Building Construction)

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15 pages, 2051 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Moisture Buffering of Multilayer Internal Wall Assemblies at the Micro Scale: Experimental Study and Numerical Modelling

by Dobrosława Kaczorek

Appl. Sci. 2019, 9(16), 3438; https://doi.org/10.3390/app9163438 - 20 Aug 2019

Cited by 16 | Viewed by 3211

Abstract

In this paper, a series of experiments assessing the moisture buffer value (MBV) of four internal wall assembly samples made from hygroscopic materials was performed. A modified Nordtest protocol was used. Moisture buffer values of all the investigated wall assemblies, with varying moisture [...] Read more.

In this paper, a series of experiments assessing the moisture buffer value (MBV) of four internal wall assembly samples made from hygroscopic materials was performed. A modified Nordtest protocol was used. Moisture buffer values of all the investigated wall assemblies, with varying moisture loads in the range of 50% to 80%, showed a moderate moisture buffer value (MBV: 0.5–1.0 (g·m⁻²·%RH⁻¹)). The results showed that in a wall assembly where the MBV of the whole assembly is lower than the MBV of the outer layers, the moisture-buffering capacity of the inner layer is untapped. Outer layers affect inner layers by changing their moisture-buffering capacity, which in turn changes the overall performance of the whole assembly. In addition, it was observed that if the penetration depth value of the outer layer is greater than its thickness, vapour reaches into the deeper layer and wall assemblies made of layers with materials characterized by a lower value of penetration depth reach steady state more slowly. The WUFI Pro tool was used to compare the simulated and experimental results. Despite the discrepancies between these results, it offers a simplified method, helping designers make decisions about which materials to choose to improve the moisture-buffering effect. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Energy Efficiency in Buildings and Innovative Materials for Building Construction)

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20 pages, 31742 KiB

Open AccessArticle

An Experimental Study on Mechanical and Thermal Insulation Properties of Rubberized Concrete Including Its Microstructure

by Jiaqi Guo, Meng Huang, Shanxiu Huang and Sheng Wang

Appl. Sci. 2019, 9(14), 2943; https://doi.org/10.3390/app9142943 - 23 Jul 2019

Cited by 21 | Viewed by 3762

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the effects of the size and weight content of waste rubber particles on the relevant performances of rubberized concrete. First, the fine aggregates were partially replaced by rubber particles of different sizes to produce rubberized concrete. Secondly, the [...] Read more.

This study aimed to investigate the effects of the size and weight content of waste rubber particles on the relevant performances of rubberized concrete. First, the fine aggregates were partially replaced by rubber particles of different sizes to produce rubberized concrete. Secondly, the mechanical and thermal insulation properties of rubberized concrete were investigated. Finally, microstructural analyses of rubberized concrete including scanning electronic microscope (SEM) and energy distribution spectroscopy (EDS) were examined. Experimental results indicated that uniaxial compressive strength of rubberized concrete was reduced, while the peak strain was gradually increased and thermal insulation properties were improved with the increase of rubber content or decrease of rubber particle size. In addition, rubber particles affected the failure modes, endowing concrete with weak brittleness and strong cracking resistance. Additionally, it was observed that the interfacial adhesion between the matrix rubber and the aggregates was weak under SEM, which seemed to be a key factor that reduced the strength of rubberized concrete. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Energy Efficiency in Buildings and Innovative Materials for Building Construction)

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19 pages, 11112 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Full-scale Studies of Improving Energy Performance by Renovating Historic Swedish Timber Buildings with Hemp-lime

by Paulien Strandberg-de Bruijn, Anna Donarelli and Kristin Balksten

Appl. Sci. 2019, 9(12), 2484; https://doi.org/10.3390/app9122484 - 18 Jun 2019

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 4112

Abstract

With an increased focus on reducing greenhouse gas emissions, energy saving is of great importance in all sectors of society. EU directives set targets for member states to reduce energy use in buildings. Energy saving in historic buildings requires special measures, balancing energy-saving [...] Read more.

With an increased focus on reducing greenhouse gas emissions, energy saving is of great importance in all sectors of society. EU directives set targets for member states to reduce energy use in buildings. Energy saving in historic buildings requires special measures, balancing energy-saving renovations against the preservation of heritage values. Traditional constructions are open to vapor diffusion and generally work differently from modern constructions. Modern materials in traditional constructions sometimes damages the original material as they are usually diffusion-tight. The aim of this study was to investigate whether hemp-lime could be used as an insulation material to improve the energy efficiency of historic timber building envelopes with a rendered façade in Sweden. The objective was to determine the actual energy savings for space heating. An additional objective was to determine the actual thermal transmittance and to study thermal buffering through in-situ measurements in a full-scale wall renovated with hemp-lime. Two full-scale wall sections were constructed at the Energy and Building Design laboratory at Lund University: A traditional post-and-plank wall with a lime render (80 mm), and a post-and-plank wall with a hemp-lime render (90 mm). Energy use for space heating was monitored continuously over a period of one year. The wall with a hemp-lime render required 33% less energy for space heating than the traditional post-and-plank wall with a lime render. This was accomplished without changing the framework, appearance or material in the render and without drastically changing the hygric properties of the façade. From the gathered data, the thermal transmittance (U-values) for both walls was calculated using two different methods, one based on material properties and the other based on energy use data. For both walls, thermal transmittance based on actual energy use data during the heating period was lower than what was expected from their material properties. This indicates that more material properties than thermal conductivity and material thickness need to be taken into account when performing energy use calculations. With hemp-lime, a renovation can be accomplished without damaging the timber structure and wooden slats, and it can be done with local traditional materials and building methods with no difference in appearance to a traditional lime render. This allows for heritage values to be preserved, while also allowing the building to comply with modern standards and with increased thermal comfort and reduced energy use. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Energy Efficiency in Buildings and Innovative Materials for Building Construction)

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15 pages, 3695 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Characterization of Natural Gypsum Materials and Their Composites for Building Applications

by Said Bouzit, Said Laasri, Mohamed Taha, Abdelaziz Laghzizil, Abdelowahed Hajjaji, Francesca Merli and Cinzia Buratti

Appl. Sci. 2019, 9(12), 2443; https://doi.org/10.3390/app9122443 - 14 Jun 2019

Cited by 33 | Viewed by 4589

Abstract

Building retrofitting plays a key-role in energy saving and a growing interest is focused on insulating materials that allow a reduction in heat loss from envelopes with low thickness, by a process of reducing heating and cooling demand. In this context, a complete [...] Read more.

Building retrofitting plays a key-role in energy saving and a growing interest is focused on insulating materials that allow a reduction in heat loss from envelopes with low thickness, by a process of reducing heating and cooling demand. In this context, a complete characterization of the physical properties of Moroccan natural gypsum materials was carried out. Basic information on the mineralogical, microstructure, thermal, mechanical, and acoustic characteristics of the rocks sampled from two Moroccan regions is provided. It was found that mineralogy, porosity, and water content are the main factors governing the development of the structure and the strength of the samples. The measured values of the porosity were 8.94%, the water content varied between 2.5–3.0% for the two studied typologies, coming from Agadir and Safi, respectively. Gypsum powder was used for fabricating samples, which were investigated in terms of thermal and acoustic performance. Thermal properties were measured by means of a hot disk apparatus and values of conductivity of 0.18 W/mK and 0.13 W/mK were obtained for Agadir and Safi Gypsum, respectively. The acoustic performance was evaluated in terms of absorption coefficient and sound insulation, measured by means of a Kundt’s Tube (ISO 10534-2). The absorption coefficients were slightly higher than the ones of conventional plasters with similar thickness. A good sound insulation performance was confirmed, especially for Safi Gypsum, with a transmission loss-value up to about 50 dB at high frequency. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Energy Efficiency in Buildings and Innovative Materials for Building Construction)

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12 pages, 3016 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Study of the Hygrothermal Behavior of Wood Fiber Insulation Subjected to Non-Isothermal Loading

by Zakaria Slimani, Abdelkrim Trabelsi, Joseph Virgone and Roberto Zanetti Freire

Appl. Sci. 2019, 9(11), 2359; https://doi.org/10.3390/app9112359 - 09 Jun 2019

Cited by 16 | Viewed by 2769

Abstract

Building envelopes are constantly subjected to temperature and moisture gradients. This loading induces a complex response, particularly for highly hygroscopic insulating materials. Latent effects can no longer be neglected for these materials in which heat and moisture transfers are strongly coupled. The purpose [...] Read more.

Building envelopes are constantly subjected to temperature and moisture gradients. This loading induces a complex response, particularly for highly hygroscopic insulating materials. Latent effects can no longer be neglected for these materials in which heat and moisture transfers are strongly coupled. The purpose of this article is to analyze the behavior of a wood fiber insulation subjected to non-isothermal loading under a vapor concentration gradient. An experimental setup and a mathematical model of hygrothermal transfer were developed to analyze the behavior of the wall. The mathematical model describes the main physical phenomena involved, notably water vapor adsorption and the dependence of thermophysical properties in state variables. The experimental setup developed allows studying a wall under controlled conditions. The temperature and relative humidity profiles within the wall were measured. The evolution of the profiles with time suggests that the adsorption of the water vapor occurs together with the redistribution of liquid water within the envelope. The comparison of the experimental results with the numerical model shows good agreement although the prediction can be improved during the transient phase. The comparisons of these results with a purely diffusive thermal transfer model show the limits of the latter and permit quantifying the latent effects on the total heat transfer. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Energy Efficiency in Buildings and Innovative Materials for Building Construction)

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29 pages, 5385 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effectiveness of Automatic and Manual Calibration of an Office Building Energy Model

by Cristina Cornaro, Francesco Bosco, Marco Lauria, Valerio Adoo Puggioni and Livio De Santoli

Appl. Sci. 2019, 9(10), 1985; https://doi.org/10.3390/app9101985 - 15 May 2019

Cited by 15 | Viewed by 4969

Abstract

Energy reduction can benefit from the improvement of energy efficiency in buildings. For this purpose, simulation models can be used both as diagnostic and prognostic tools, reproducing the behaviour of the real building as accurately as possible. High modelling accuracy can be achieved [...] Read more.

Energy reduction can benefit from the improvement of energy efficiency in buildings. For this purpose, simulation models can be used both as diagnostic and prognostic tools, reproducing the behaviour of the real building as accurately as possible. High modelling accuracy can be achieved only through calibration. Two approaches can be adopted—manual or automatic. Manual calibration consists of an iterative trial and error procedure that requires high skill and expertise of the modeler. Automatic calibration relies on mathematical and statistical methods that mostly use optimization algorithms to minimize the difference between measured and simulated data. This paper aims to compare a manual calibration procedure with an automatic calibration method developed by the authors, coupling dynamic simulation, sensitivity analysis and automatic optimization using IDA ICE, Matlab and GenOpt respectively. Differences, advantages and disadvantages are evidenced applying both methods to a dynamic simulation model of a real office building in Rome, Italy. Although both methods require high expertise from operators and showed good results in terms of accuracy, automatic calibration presents better performance and consistently helps with speeding up the procedure. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Energy Efficiency in Buildings and Innovative Materials for Building Construction)

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18 pages, 2485 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Life-Cycle Optimization of a Chiller Plant with Quantified Analysis of Uncertainty and Reliability in Commercial Buildings

by Chengchu Yan, Qi Cheng and Hao Cai

Appl. Sci. 2019, 9(8), 1548; https://doi.org/10.3390/app9081548 - 14 Apr 2019

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 4462

Abstract

Conventional and most optimal design methods for chiller plants often address the annual cooling load distribution of buildings and their peak cooling loads based on typical meteorological year (TMY) data, while the peak cooling load only appears a few times during the life-cycle [...] Read more.

Conventional and most optimal design methods for chiller plants often address the annual cooling load distribution of buildings and their peak cooling loads based on typical meteorological year (TMY) data, while the peak cooling load only appears a few times during the life-cycle and the sized chiller plant usually operates within its low efficient region. In this paper, a robust optimal design method based on life-cycle total cost was employed to optimize the design of a chiller plant with quantified analysis of uncertainty and reliability. By using the proposed design method, the optimized chiller plant can operate at its highly efficient region under various cooling load conditions, and provide sufficient cooling capacity even alongside some equipment/systems with failures. The minimum life-cycle total cost, which consists of the capital cost, operation, and availability-risk cost, can be achieved through optimizing the total cooling capacity and the numbers/sizes of chillers. A case study was conducted to illustrate the detailed implementation process of the proposed method. The performance of this design method was evaluated by comparing with that of other design methods. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Energy Efficiency in Buildings and Innovative Materials for Building Construction)

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31 pages, 7392 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Potential on Energy Performance Upgrade of National Stadiums: A Case Study for the Pancretan Stadium, Crete, Greece

by Dimitris Al. Katsaprakakis, Irini Dakanali, George Zidianakis, Yiannis Yiannakoudakis, Nikolaos Psarras and Spyros Kanouras

Appl. Sci. 2019, 9(8), 1544; https://doi.org/10.3390/app9081544 - 13 Apr 2019

Cited by 16 | Viewed by 3720

Abstract

Energy performance upgrade of stadiums constitutes a complex and demanding task because of both the size and the variety of the involved energy loads. The present article aims to summarize the basic results of the implemented study on the energy performance upgrade of [...] Read more.

Energy performance upgrade of stadiums constitutes a complex and demanding task because of both the size and the variety of the involved energy loads. The present article aims to summarize the basic results of the implemented study on the energy performance upgrade of the Pancretan Stadium, Crete, Greece. This target was approached with a cluster of passive and active measures: replacement of old openings, a photovoltaic station, an open loop geothermal system, installation of energy-efficient lighting devices, a solar-biomass combi system and a Building Energy Management System (BEMS) for the control of the main energy consumptions. The dimensioning of all the proposed active systems is optimized through the computational simulation of their annual operation. With the applied technologies, the achieved annual energy saving percentage exceeds 83%. The Renewable Energy Sources annual penetration percentage is calculated at 82% versus the annual energy consumption. The Stadium’s energy performance is upgraded from rank D to rank A+, according to the European Union’s directives. The set-up cost of the under consideration energy performance upgrade systems is approximately calculated at 2,700,000 €, with a payback period of 12 years, calculated versus the achieved monetary savings due to the reduction of the consumed energy resources. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Energy Efficiency in Buildings and Innovative Materials for Building Construction)

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19 pages, 8110 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Retrofitting a Building’s Envelope: Sustainability Performance of ETICS with ICB or EPS

by José D. Silvestre, André M. P. Castelo, José J. B. C. Silva, Jorge M. C. L. de Brito and Manuel D. Pinheiro

Appl. Sci. 2019, 9(7), 1285; https://doi.org/10.3390/app9071285 - 27 Mar 2019

Cited by 24 | Viewed by 3636

Abstract

This paper analyses the environmental, energy, and economic performances of the External Thermal Insulation Composite System (ETICS) using agglomerated insulation cork board (ICB) or expanded polystyrene (EPS) as insulation material applied in the energetic renovation of the building envelope during a 50-year study [...] Read more.

This paper analyses the environmental, energy, and economic performances of the External Thermal Insulation Composite System (ETICS) using agglomerated insulation cork board (ICB) or expanded polystyrene (EPS) as insulation material applied in the energetic renovation of the building envelope during a 50-year study period. A comparison between ETICS using ICB and EPS, for the same time horizon, is also presented. The environmental balance is based on “Cradle to Cradle” (C2C) Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), focusing on the carbon footprint and consumption of nonrenewable primary energy (PE-NRe). The characteristics of these products in terms of thermal insulation, the increased energy performance provided by their installation for retrofit of the buildings’ envelope, and the resulting energy savings are considered in the energy balance. The estimation of the C2C carbon and PE-NRe saved is considered in the final balance between the energy and environmental performances. ETICS with ICB is environmentally advantageous both in terms of carbon footprint and of PE-NRe. In fact, the production stage of ICB is less polluting, while EPS requires lower energy consumption to fulfil the heating and cooling needs of a flat, due to its lower U-Value, and its lower acquisition cost results in a lower C2C cost. Comparing both ETICS’ alternatives with reference solutions, it was found that the latter only perform better in the economic dimension, and only for an energy consumption to fulfil less than 25% of the heating and cooling needs. This paper represents an advance to the current state-of-the-art by including all the life-cycle stages and dimensions of the LCA in the analysis of solutions for energy renovation of building envelopes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Energy Efficiency in Buildings and Innovative Materials for Building Construction)

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17 pages, 3570 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Thermal Properties of New Insulating Juncus Maritimus Fibrous Mortar Composites/Experimental Results and Analytical Laws

by Zahia Saghrouni, Dominique Baillis, Naim Naouar, Nawfal Blal and Abdelmajid Jemni

Appl. Sci. 2019, 9(5), 981; https://doi.org/10.3390/app9050981 - 08 Mar 2019

Cited by 17 | Viewed by 3339

Abstract

This study aims to study the thermal properties and the microstructure of composite materials based on mortar combined with Juncus maritimus fibers. Effective thermophysical properties of the composite materials containing Juncus maritimus fibers are experimentally and theoretically investigated. To better understand the morphology [...] Read more.

This study aims to study the thermal properties and the microstructure of composite materials based on mortar combined with Juncus maritimus fibers. Effective thermophysical properties of the composite materials containing Juncus maritimus fibers are experimentally and theoretically investigated. To better understand the morphology of these new composites, the corresponding microstructures were characterized in 2D by scanning electron microscope and in 3D using micro computed tomography. The local thermal conductivity of the Juncus maritimus fibers was identified using theoretical models and experimental measurement of the effective thermal conductivity of packed bed of crushed fibers. The thermal conductivity of the mortar matrix at given porosity was also determined using experimental measurement data and a theoretical model. The most appropriate analytical laws to predict effective thermal conductivity of mortar composites containing fibers are deduced from experimental thermal conductivity results. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Energy Efficiency in Buildings and Innovative Materials for Building Construction)

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11 pages, 9734 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Optimization of Glass Edge Sealing Process Using Microwaves for Fabrication of Vacuum Glazing

by Jae Kyung Kim, Young Shin Kim and Euy Sik Jeon

Appl. Sci. 2019, 9(5), 874; https://doi.org/10.3390/app9050874 - 28 Feb 2019

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2400

Abstract

Among the various methods used for glass edge sealing, this study uses microwaves to seal glass edges. Through basic experiments, the main process conditions for edge sealing of glass were derived, and the experimental plan and analysis were carried out using the Box-Behnken [...] Read more.

Among the various methods used for glass edge sealing, this study uses microwaves to seal glass edges. Through basic experiments, the main process conditions for edge sealing of glass were derived, and the experimental plan and analysis were carried out using the Box-Behnken method of response-surface analysis based on 3 factors and 3 levels. The step height which influences sealing was set as a response variable. If the step height becomes too large, the glass can be damaged, and if the step height is too small, the edge sealing will not be performed. Accordingly, process optimization that edge sealing is possible while minimizing the step height was carried out. A predictable regression equation was derived for the step height of edge sealing and the main-effect analysis was performed for the step height. Using the response-optimization tool, we derived the optimum process condition that minimized the step height of the edge sealing and verified that it matched the error value of 4.1% compared with the target value of the step height measurement result confirmed through the verification experiment. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Energy Efficiency in Buildings and Innovative Materials for Building Construction)

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28 pages, 7644 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A State-Space Analysis of a Single Zone Building Considering Solar Radiation, Internal Radiation, and PCM Effects

by Amirreza Fateh, Davide Borelli, Alessandro Spoladore and Francesco Devia

Appl. Sci. 2019, 9(5), 832; https://doi.org/10.3390/app9050832 - 26 Feb 2019

Cited by 20 | Viewed by 3513

Abstract

This paper deals with the dynamic modeling of a typical single-zone building. It describes the development of a dynamic model for thermal transient analysis and its application to a simplified test case considering solar irradiation and internal radiation. The dynamic behavior of the [...] Read more.

This paper deals with the dynamic modeling of a typical single-zone building. It describes the development of a dynamic model for thermal transient analysis and its application to a simplified test case considering solar irradiation and internal radiation. The dynamic behavior of the indoor air temperature has been investigated by means of a lumped approach using a state-space representation developed in MATLAB/Simulink. A set of daily temperature profiles, which are representative of the Mediterranean climatic condition, on a few different winter days, has been used as boundary conditions for the dynamic simulations. In addition, the model has been validated using two different sets of experimental data available in the literature, both statically and dynamically. Finally, a layer of insulation with a phase change material (PCM) is applied to the single zone building to quantify its effect on the building’s behavior. The results showed that the rate and amount of energy consumption in the building with PCM are moderately lower than the building without PCM. In addition, the variation of inlet air temperature, solar effects, and energy consumption have been evaluated for a case study example, as well as comfort in transient simulation to achieve a complete evaluation of the test building investigated. A satisfactory agreement was obtained between the experimental and the simulation results and shows that the model can be used for a wide range of materials, dimensions, thermal resistances, and boundary conditions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Energy Efficiency in Buildings and Innovative Materials for Building Construction)

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