Numerical And Experimental Study Of A Supply Air Wall Based On Integrated Insulation Clay Hollow Blocks

Abstract

Integrated insulation clay hollow blocks is an interesting constructive system in the context of Near Zero Energy Buildings and building energy efficiency. Their simple modification into supply air wall can increase their thermal performance without great effort. This paper deals with the creation of an original supply air wall or window test bench and with the numerical and experimental study of a supply air wall (or ventilated wall) based on modified modern integrated insulation clay hollow blocks where large cavities (about 4 cm) are filled by mineral wool. In some cavities, mineral wool is removed to create a flow pattern, which aims to recover heat losses from inside and solar energy from outside. At first, a 3D CFD numerical model is presented to assess the energy performance of a 1 m2 sample of ventilated wall. Then, an experimental test bench, based on a modified guarded hot box simulating solar effects and airflows between the two chambers, is carried out to assess the real performances. A comparison between these two studies allows validating the results which show a good correlation in terms of temperature difference gains between outdoor temperature and pre-heated temperature going up to a maximum of 14 K for only 1 m2 of wall and for a volume flow rate of 4 m3/h (4,5 K for 32 m3/h).