Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Modeling thermal performance of exterior walls retrofitted from insulation and modified laterite based bricks materials

  • Original
  • Published:
Heat and Mass Transfer Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Uninsulated concrete block walls commonly found in tropical region have to be retrofitted to save energy. The thickness of insulation layer used can be reduced with the help of modified laterite based bricks layer (with the considerably lower thermal conductivity than that of concrete block layer) during the retrofit building fabrics. The aim of this study is to determine the optimum location and distribution of different materials. The investigation is carried out under steady periodic conditions under the climatic conditions of Garoua in Cameroon using a Simulink model constructed from H-Tools (the library of Simulink models). Results showed that for the continuous air-conditioned space, the best wall configuration from the maximum time lag, minimum decrement factor and peak cooling transmission load perspective, is dividing the insulation layer into two layers and placing one at the exterior surface and the other layer between the two different massive layers with the modified laterite based bricks layer at the interior surface. For intermittent cooling space, the best wall configuration from the minimum energy consumption depends on total insulation thickness. For the total insulation thickness less than 8 cm approximately, the best wall configuration is placing the half layer of insulation material at the interior surface and the other half between the two different massive layers with the modified earthen material at the exterior surface. Results also showed that, the optimum insulation thickness calculated from the yearly cooling transmission (estimated only during the occupied period) and some economic considerations slightly depends on the location of that insulation.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11
Fig. 12
Fig. 13

Similar content being viewed by others

Abbreviations

A s :

Annual energy savings ($ . m−2)

C :

Specific heat (J . kg−1 . K−1)

C :

Cost ($)

COP :

Coefficient of performance of air-conditioning system

G :

Inflation rate (%)

h :

Convection and/or radiation heat transfer coefficient (W . m−2 . K−1)

L :

Wall thickness (m)

L op :

Optimum insulation thickness (m)

I :

Interest rate (%), order of node

I :

Total solar radiations on the horizontal surface (W . m−2)

I b :

Direct solar radiations on the horizontal surface (W.m−2)

I d :

Diffuse solar radiations on the horizontal surface (W . m−2)

N :

Number of nodes

n :

Lifetime of building (years)

M :

Number of layers of composite wall

p b :

Payback period (years)

Q c :

Annual cooling transmission load (MJ . m−2)

R d :

Diffuse radiation conversion factor

T :

Time (s)

T :

Temperature (°C)

x :

Coordinate direction normal to wall (m)

Α :

Solar absorptivity of outside surface of wall

β :

Tilted surface angle (°)

δ :

Declination angle (°)

Λ :

Thermal conductivity (Wm−1 K−1)

ϕ :

Latitude (°)

ω :

Hour angle (°)

ω s :

Sunset-hour angle for a horizontal surface (°)

ρ :

Density of material (kg.m−3)

ρ r :

Ground reflectivity

El :

Electricity

Enr :

Energy

I :

Inside

in :

Interior

Ins :

Insulation

o :

Outside

Sa :

Solar-air

t :

Total

References

  1. Goodhew S, Griffiths R (2005) Sustainable earth walls to meet the building regulations. Energy Build 37:451–459

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Morel JC, Mesbah A, Oggero M, Walker P (2001) Building houses with local materials: means to drastically reduce the environmental impact of construction. Build Environ 36:1119–1126

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Bribián IZ, Capilla AV, Usón AA (2011) Life cycle assessment of building materials: comparative analysis of energy and environmental impacts and evaluation of the eco-efficiency improvement potential. Build Environ 46:1133–1140

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Taylor P, Fuller RJ, Luther MB (2008) Energy use and thermal comfort in a rammed earth office building. Energy Build 40:793–800

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Pacheco-Torgal F, Jalali S (2012) Earth construction: lessons from the past for future eco-efficient construction. Constr Build Mater 29:512–519

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Collet F, Serres L, Miriel J, Bart M (2006) Study of thermal behaviour of clay wall facing south. Build Environ 41:307–315

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Binici H, Aksogan O, Bodur MN, Akc E, Kapur S (2007) Thermal isolation and mechanical properties of fibre reinforced mud bricks as wall materials. Constr Build Mater 21:901–906

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Meukam P, Jannot Y, Noumowe A, Kofane TC (2004) Thermo physical characteristics of economical building materials. Constr Build Mater 18:437–443

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Bal H, Jannot Y, Gaye S, Demeurie F (2013) Measurement and modelisation of the thermal conductivity of a wet composite porous medium: laterite based bricks with millet waste additive. Constr Build Mater 41:586–593

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Ozkahraman HT, Bolatturk A (2006) The use of tuff stone cladding in buildings for energy conservation. Constr Build Mater 20:435–440

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Ozel M, Pihtili K (2007) Optimum location and distribution of insulation layers on building walls with various orientations. Build Environ 42:3051–3059

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Al-Sanea SA, Zedan MF, Al-Hussain SN (2012) Effect of thermal mass on performance of insulated building walls and the concept of energy savings potential. Appl Energy 89:430–442

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Ibrahima M, Biwole PH, Wurtz E, Achard P (2014) A study on the thermal performance of exterior walls covered with a recently patented silica-aerogel-based insulating coating. Build Environ 81:112–122

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Al-Sanea SA, Zedan MF (2011) Improving thermal performance of building walls by optimizing insulation layer distribution and thickness for same thermal mass. Appl Energy 88:3113–3124

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Kossecka E, Kosny J (2002) The influence of insulation configuration on heating and cooling loads in a continuously used building. Energy Build 34:321–331

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Tsilingiris PT (2006) Wall heat loss from intermittently conditioned spaces- the dynamic influence of structural and operational parameters. Energy Build 38:1022–1031

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Bojic M, Yik F, Sat P (2001) The influence of thermal insulation position in building envelope on the space cooling of high rise residential buildings in Hong Kong. Energy Build 33:569–581

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Barrios G, Huelsz G, Rojas J (2012) Thermal performance of envelope wall/roofs of intermittent air-conditioned rooms. Appl Therm Eng 40:1–7

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Ozel M (2014) Effect of insulation location on dynamic heat-transfer characteristics of building external walls and optimization of insulation thickness. Energy Build 72:288–295

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Perez R, Ineichen P, Seals R (1990) Modeling of daylight availability and irradiance components from direct and global irradiance. Sol Energy 44:271–289

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Claessens J, Coulibaly Y, Kemajou A, (2014) Efficacité energétique de la climatisation en région tropicale. <www.ifdd.francophonie.org/docs/prisme/ee TOME1.PDF>, [accessed 20.09.14]

  22. Samri D (2008) Analyse physique et caractérisation hygroscopique des matériaux de construction : approche expérimental et modélisation numérique. Thèse de Doctorat, Institut National des Sciences Appliquées de Lyon

  23. Daouas N (2011) A study on optimum insulation thickness in walls and energy savings in Tunisian buildings based on analytical calculation of cooling and heating transmission loads. Appl Energy 88:156–164

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Wati E, Meukam P, Nematchoua KM (2015) Influence of external shading on optimum insulation thickness of building walls in a tropical region. Appl Therm Eng 90:754–762

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Ozel M (2013) Determination of optimum insulation thickness based on cooling transmission load for building walls in a hot climate. Energy Convers Manag 66:106–114

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. Kalagasidis AS (2003) The whole model validation for HAM-Tools. Case study: hygro-thermal conditions in the cold attic under different ventilation regimes and different insulating materials. Report R:03–6, 2003. Department of Building Technology, Chalmers University of Technology, Gothenburg, Sweden. Also available for free downloading on www.ibpt.org

  27. Ibpt library. IBPT-1. (2014) <http://www.ibpt.org/libraries.html>, [accessed 12.05.14].

  28. Nielsen TR, Peuhkuri R, Weitzman P, Gudum C. (2002) Modeling Building Physics in Simulink, Report SR-02-03, BYG DTU

  29. Crawley DB, Lawrie LK, Winkelmann FC, Buhl WF, Huang YJ, Pedersen CO, Strand RK, Liesen RJ, Fisher DE, Witte MJ, Glazer J (2001) EnergyPlus: creating a new-generation building energy simulation program. Energy Build 33(4):319–331

    Article  Google Scholar 

  30. Witte MJ, Henninger RH, Glazer J, Crawley DB, (2001) Testing and validation of a new building energy simulation program, Proceedings of Building Simulation 2001, IBPSA

  31. Arıcı M, Karabay H (2010) Determination of optimum thickness of double-glazed windows for the climatic regions of Turkey. Energy Build 42:1773–1778

    Article  Google Scholar 

  32. Inflation, consumer prices (annual %) (2014) <http://data.worldbank.org/indicator/FP.CPI. TOTL.ZG>, [accessed 29.08.14].

  33. Prêt Foncier Epargne Logement Ordinaire. (2014) <http://www.creditfoncier.cm/index. php/fr/pret-foncier-epargne-logement/pret-foncier-epargne-logementordinaire>, [accessed 29.08.14].

  34. Al-Homoud MS, Abdou AA, Budaiwi IM (2009) Assessment of monitored energy use and thermal comfort conditions in mosques in hot-humid climates. Energy Build 41(6):607–614. doi:10.1016/ j.enbuild.2008.12.005

    Article  Google Scholar 

  35. Suehrcke H, Peterson EL, Selby N (2008) Effect of roof solar reflectance on the building heat gain in a hot climate. Energy Build 40:2224e2235

    Article  Google Scholar 

  36. Asan H (2006) Numerical computation of time lags and decrement factors for different building materials. Build Environ 41:615–620

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to acknowledge the Department of National Meteorology of Cameroon for providing the long-term dry bulk air temperature data.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Environmental Energy Technologies Laboratory, University of Yaoundé I, Yaounde, Cameroon

    Elvis Wati

  2. Laboratory L3E:Energy, Water and Environment, National Advanced School of Engineering, University of Yaoundé I, Po Box 8390, Yaounde, Cameroon

    Pierre Meukam & Jean Claude Damfeu

Authors
  1. Elvis Wati
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Pierre Meukam
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Jean Claude Damfeu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Pierre Meukam.

Additional information

Highlights

• Thermal retrofit solutions of walls using laterite and insulation layers were studied.

• Optimum configuration of fixed resistance and capacitance walls was determined.

• Comparative performance of some configurations depends on insulation thickness.

• Insulation thicknesses of walls were optimized for intermittent air-conditioned space.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Wati, E., Meukam, P. & Damfeu, J.C. Modeling thermal performance of exterior walls retrofitted from insulation and modified laterite based bricks materials. Heat Mass Transfer 53, 3487–3499 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00231-017-2059-7

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00231-017-2059-7

Keywords

Search

Navigation