A simplified model for calculating heat transfer through the double skin facade

Abstract

Double skin façade (DSF) has been recognized as a flexible type of envelope that can adapt to various building needs, such as insulation, solar heat gain, ventilation, and shading. This adaption ability makes the DSF a potentially high performance envelope. However, the reliable calculation of the heat flow in the DSF has been a challenging task due to the complex heat transfer process involved in the DSF. In this study, we propose a simple model that aims to simplify the heat transfer calculation involved in the DSF. In this model, a characteristic function of heat transfer coefficient (CFHTC) was proposed for the heat transfer between the inner layer and the outside air, which would otherwise call the complex convective heat transfer in the cavity. We use experimental data to demonstrate that this function can be expressed as a function of the incident solar intensity. This CFHTC is supposed to be dependent on the geometry of the DSF. With the CFHTC, the calculation of the heat transfer between the inner layer of the DSF and the outside air is simplified and can be incorporated in energy simulation tools.