Heat flux and surface temperature variations in an unconditioned room of brick masonry construction in a composite climate

Abstract

This paper analyses the temperatures of different internal surfaces and the heat flow into an unconditioned room located in the top floor of a brick masonry residential building in Delhi. The experimental investigation which included the measurement of surface temperatures and heat flow are described. The two methods of analysis, namely, admittance and transmission matrix methods, with the necessary modifications made for this study, are mentioned. The results showing the comparison between the measured surface temperatures and actual room air temperatures, for three different seasons, are presented and discussed. Similarly, results showing the comparison between the measured heat flow and predicted heat flow by both methods, in all seasons, are presented and discussed. The conclusions show that both the admittance and transmission matrix methods predict the heat flow well during steady cyclic periods. During a persistent unsteady regime, the transmission matrix method could predict values of heat flow slightly better compared to the admittance method. In general, the admittance method predicts a more dampened system.