THE EFFECTS OF SOLAR RADIATION AND THERMAL INSULATION ON ENERGY CONSUMPTION AND SAVING IN BUILDINGS

Abstract

The solar energy falling on the earth is a huge energy. Research and studies are still being developed to improve this energy. This research works on the optimal exploitation of solar radiation falling directly on the building of the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Sirt and calculating the amount of heat in summer and winter. The amount of heat energy transferred in winter is much less than that which enters the building in summer. Calculations proved that the amount of heat gained through the wall of the room reached (8662.27 W) in the summer on the date (10/7/222), while the amount of heat energy in the winter (5705.10 W) on (10/1/2022), The amount of heat gained through a concrete wall is less than that gained through glass.The room was insulated using polystyrene with thermal conductivity properties (0.036 W/m2) and the amount of heat entering the room was 702.77W in summer and 5702.36 W in winter. Through the comparisons, it becomes clear the importance of using thermal insulation, as the thermal energy entering the building without insulation was higher than it was when using insulation. In the same circumstances, the use of photovoltaic panels for electricity is very important, which explains the possibility of using solar energy in the same site to produce electricity to run air conditioning units in the summer and operate heating units in winter, and the possibility of this succeeding or not.