Abstract
In this study, optimization of thermal insulation thickness applied to the external walls of buildings has been carried out comparatively based on the seasonal (space-heating and cooling) and the annual energy requirements considering solar radiation effect. This study has been performed for four degree-day regions of Turkey, namely, Iskenderun (in the first region), Istanbul (in the second region), Ankara (in the third region) and Ardahan (in the fourth region). By determining the sol-air temperatures for each region and maximizing the present worth value of seasonal and annual energy savings, the optimum thermal insulation thicknesses have been calculated. The effects of solar radiation on heating-cooling energy requirements, the variation of optimum insulation thicknesses and payback periods with respect to degree-day regions, the differences between the analyses based on seasonal and annual have been presented in tabular and graphical form.
Highlights
In many countries, the energy requirements for space heating and cooling in buildings has the highest share of all which is about 50% of total energy consumed in buildings (Ozkahraman and Bolatturk 2006, Kalfa and Yaşar 2015)
When the heat load caused by solar radiation on the surface is added in the calculations, the heating load in winter season is obtained smaller and the cooling load in summer season is obtained greater (HDDCDD*)
If only the heating load is considered, the optimum insulation thicknesses vary in the range of 0.9 – 7.5 cm depending on cities
Summary
The energy requirements for space heating and cooling in buildings (both housing sector and commercial-industrial buildings) has the highest share of all which is about 50% of total energy consumed in buildings (Ozkahraman and Bolatturk 2006, Kalfa and Yaşar 2015). Another study was carried out by Bolatturk (2008) to investigate the optimum insulation thicknesses and payback periods for seven cities located in the warmest zone in Turkey on the basis of heating and cooling degree-hour values of these cities. He emphasised that the optimisation of the insulation thickness with respect to the cooling load is more appropriate for warm regions because the thicknesses of the insulation material (polystyrene) varied between 3.2 and 3.8 cm for cooling degree-hours and between 1.6 and 2.7 cm for heating degree-hours. As can be seen from above-mentioned studies, both the heating and cooling loads were not considered together in the calculation of optimum insulation thickness, and the effect of solar radiation on these loads were not investigated. The annual heating and cooling DDs were calculated using recent (about 5 year-measurements) outside air temperatures for each considered city
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