Abstract
The purpose of this study was to compare insulation performance between a base case that applied the existing steel pipe frame and an alternative case that reduced thermal bridging by applying a truss-shaped insulation frame (TIF) to a back frame type curtain wall. Insulation performance was compared by obtaining the effective U-factor and the lowest indoor surface temperature through a three-dimensional steady-state heat transfer simulation. In addition, mock-up tests were performed to compare the U-factors of the base case and alternative case. The simulation results showed that the effective U-factor of the alternative case was 36% lower than in the base case, a significant heat loss reduction. The lowest indoor surface temperature of the alternative case was 0.5 °C higher than in the base case, showing that the surface condensation risk also decreased. In the mock-up test results, the alternative case U-factor was 33% lower than in the base case, confirming the associated large heat loss reduction. For the base case, both the effective U-factor by simulation and the U-factor by the mock-up test were much higher than the design U-factor according to the Korean Design Standard, which neglects thermal bridging, indicating a significantly increased heat loss caused by this factor. For the alternative case, however, both U-factors were similar to the design U-factor.
Highlights
The insulation performance of the alternative case was compared with that of the base case based on the heat loss through the entire analysis area and the resulting effective U-factor as well as the lowest indoor surface temperature and the resulting temperature difference ratio (TDR)
The insulation performance of the alternative case was compared with that of the base case based on the heat loss through the entire analysis area and the resulting effective U-factor as well as the lowest indoor surface temperature and the resulting TDR
Mock-up tests were performed to compare the U-factors of the base case and alternative case
Summary
The Paris Agreement signed in 2015 dealt with measures to reduce GHG emissions after 2020, and the South Korean government established and announced the “Revision of the basic roadmap for achieving the national greenhouse gas reduction target in 2030 [1]” by reflecting the Paris Agreement. In the case of the building sector, which represents 22% of GHG emissions from South Korea as of 2017, a reduction target of 32.7% compared to the expected GHG emissions by 2030 was set. The reinforcement of building permit standards for new buildings, improvement of the energy performance of the existing buildings, improvement of equipment efficiency, and expansion of the distribution of renewable energy systems were presented as the main measures to reduce GHG emissions. Zero energy building certification has become mandatory for new public buildings with a total floor area of 1000 m2 or larger since 2020, and the certification will be mandatory for all new buildings with a total floor area of 500 m2 or larger after 2030 [2]
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