Installation Of Insulation Research Articles

Analysis of measures to increase the energy efficiency of educational buildings of the national university of water and environmental engineering

The implementation of energy-efficient measures at the National University of Water and Environmental Engineering (NUWEE) was started since 2000. The buildings of NUWEE are located in different parts of Rivne city and Rivne region. Buildings № 1-7 were selected by the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine for financing their thermal modernization as part of the loan project "Higher Education of Ukraine. Energy efficiency and sustainable development" with the aim of increasing their energy efficiency. The authors analyzed the measures to increase the energy efficiency of the educational buildings of the NUWEE, namely, the installation of thermal insulation of facades, roofs, floors on the ground and first surfaces, replacement of windows and doors, installation of thermal insulation of pipelines, modernization of automated thermal energy regulation units (ATERU), heating system and lighting, implementation of the energy monitoring and dispatching system, installation of the ventilation system with exhaust air heat recovery. Implementation of the proposed measures will reduce energy consumption and related costs by 60 %, namely by 6,232 MWh/year (compared to the baseline level of energy consumption of 10,286 MWh/year). It will result increasing of the buildings’ comfort and functionality. After the implementation of the described measures, the increase of the energy efficiency class of educational buildings is predicted. The implementation of energy-efficient measures will also lead to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by 50 %, namely by 1,648 t/year. Measures that can pay off as soon as possible are the implementation of thermal insulation of pipelines, modernization of ATERU and lighting, implementation of energy monitoring and dispatching systems. The longest payback period will require the installation of ventilation air heat recovery, but this measure is necessary in view of the current reduction in heat energy costs for heating the external supply air in the cold period of the year.

The use of foam glass to protect the degrading permafrost soils

The article is devoted to the study of the use of foam glass to prevent the degradation of permafrost soils due to climate warming. In the Frost 3D software, for the conditions of Norilsk, a foam glass device for thermal insulation of a base composed of clayey soils, as well as transformed with the help of crushed stone or foam glass columns, was modeled without taking into account the thermal influence of the building. In addition, the insulation of the soils of the base transformed by columns in the ventilated underground of a new (in Yakutsk) and existing (in Norilsk) buildings designed according to the I principle of construction on permafrost soils was investigated. The forecast of the temperature distribution in the ground frozen base without taking into account the thermal influence of the building showed that in conditions of climate warming, the installation of thermal insulation of the base with the use of foam glass allows to reduce the thickness of the seasonally thawed layer by 0.3…0.4 m and reduce the temperature of permafrost. Foam glass can be used for thermal insulation of weak soil bases transformed with the help of crushed stone columns, as well as, in the future, as a material for the columns themselves. For a new building on a base transformed by crushed stone columns, covering the surface of the ventilated underground with a heat-insulating foam glass material during the warm season made it possible to significantly reduce the thickness of the seasonally thawed layer (by 0.9 m). The numerical simulation has shown the effectiveness of the use of foam glass to prevent the degradation of permafrost soils due to climate warming. Foam glass is a promising material for the development of technological measures that ensure the operability of the bases and foundations of buildings and structures at permafrost in the conditions of climate change.

INFLUENCE OF ENERGY EFFICIENCY RENOVATION ON INDOOR CLIMATE

The buildings of the 1960s are not designed for today’s conditions and sustainable building standards. One of the solution strategies is renovation, which is not only for energy conservation but also for quality-of-life improvement. However, achieving both factors at once is a challenge, mostly from a financial standpoint. For public establishments, their priority is on energy efficiency retrofits which in return could push the indoor environmental quality (IEQ) to the edge of the comfort zone. IEQ is correlated to the health, comfort, and performance of users according to previous studies. This paper presents a case study of university buildings that underwent an energy-efficient renovation, including the replacement of windows and the installation of walls and roof insulation and mechanical extract ventilation systems. The objective is to analyze if the target energy consumption is achieved while maintaining a good IEQ during the heating period. Using t-test statistics on in-situ measurements of the before and after renovations, the results have shown three important findings. One, the total energy consumption has been reduced by 67%. Two, the t-test shows a significant difference between before and after states, with temperature decreased, and CO2 level increased. Three, a higher CO2 concentration is due to a faulty ventilation control that provides half less of the initial design airflow rate to meet a healthy standard. Overall, both temperature and CO2 rates remain in acceptable ranges despite the variation, but it is crucial to evaluate the HVAC controls after the renovation for safety reasons.

Rekondisi Rumah dan Inti Stator Bekas dan Rekonstruksi Koil untuk Keterbentukan Struktur Belitan Stator Alternator Fasetunggal

Work on the physical conditioning of the used stator housing and core and the reconstruction of a number of coils can be carried out for the establishment of a single-phase alternator stator winding structure. This work has been carried out in order to achieve two research objectives, namely (i) to recondition the physical condition of the used stator housing and core and (ii) to reconstructa number of coils in the stator core. The research method for fulfilling the reconditioning stages includes cleaning the used stator housing and core, determining grooves, calculating and manufacturing for coil availability adjusted to the number of poles and coil winding type, installing the stator winding structure, and the calculation process in coil manufacture. Fulfillment of the stages ofreconstruction of the coil at the stator core, including the installation of insulation, manufacture of a number of coils according to the determination of the number of poles, installation, connection and bonding of the coils, and calculation of the theoretical value of the output voltage and power.

Multi-objective evaluation of different retrofitting scenarios for a typical Greek building

In this study, multiple retrofitting scenarios of a typical Greek house were investigated. These scenarios encompass the addition of insulation to the building’s external walls and roof, a green roof construction, the use of high-quality windows and the installation of an efficient heat pump. The aforementioned techniques were simulated separately and in combination with the use of the DesignBuilder software, on an annual basis, for the city of Athens, Greece. The pivotal innovation of this work lays in the energy simulation and the comprehensive comparison of the 34 retrofitting scenarios according to a multi-objective evaluation procedure. An additional novelty was the investigation of the energy impact of each renovation action when applied separately. The goal of the multi-objective evaluation procedure was to determine the optimum renovation case, for maximizing the energy savings and minimizing the life cycle cost. According to the results, the optimum retrofitting case included the installation of insulation to the building’s external surface and the heat pump retrofitting. The optimum scenario resulted in a 41.7% reduction in the building’s heating loads and a 14.9% reduction in its cooling loads. Finally, the primary energy savings were 66.1% and the life cycle cost analysis showed 6,645 € lifespan savings.

Significance of Insulation and Heat Pumps in Decarbonising the UK

This paper examines the economic case for the UK to proceed urgently with the installation of thermal insulation and heat pumps in most UK buildings, in the context of the legal requirement to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. A recent study by the same authors assumed that such insulation and heat pumps would be in place, and showed how the whole of the UK’s energy demand could be met by low carbon electricity generation and appropriate storage. This paper extends the modelling to consider the risk that insulation is not widely installed, fossil gas boilers are retired (as they must be) but are replaced only by resistive heating, which is the pessimistic but likely outcome in the absence of heat pumps. Unsurprisingly, resistive heating and lack of insulation is shown to consume vastly more electricity: an increase of 608% for space heating and 52% overall. The contribution of this paper is in quantifying the seasonal variations and implications for generation and storage, which make the overall costs increase by an even greater proportion: almost doubling. In particular, peak electricity demand is 130% higher and required peak generation is 140% higher without extra insulation and heat pumps. The paper also illustrates the timely return on capital invested in insulation and heat pumps, primarily because they are cheaper than the additional wind turbines and energy storage required otherwise. The additional costs of failing to insulate and install heat pumps escalate to £63bn per year in levelised energy costs alone, and greatly increase the risk of the UK failing to reach net-zero. The financial break-even point for the costs of retrofitting the entire building stock is shown to be just 15 years from the start of a 28-year retrofitting campaign, with increasing cost savings thereafter. The paper shows that it is both necessary and cost effective to retrofit all buildings with proper insulation and heat pumps.

Особенности оценки пожарной опасности и выбора теплоизоляционных материалов для трубопроводов и оборудования в зданиях и сооружениях

Thermal insulation of pipelines, in addition to energy-saving functions, must ensure the operational reliability and safety of the functioning of heating systems, water supply, heating networks, technological systems and air conditioning in industrial, public, and residential buildings and structures. Use of fire-hazardous thermal insulation of the pipelines and equipment during an ignition creates conditions for the development of a fire, the manifestation of its hazardous factors, which can lead to material damage and death of people. Analysis of the normative documents regulating the installation and operation of thermal insulation for pipes and equipment showed that the fire safety requirements are established only with respect to the combustibility group of thermal insulation materials. At the same time, their ability to spread flame over the surface, smoke formation and the release of gaseous toxic combustion products are not considered. The article presents the results of experimental studies of the complex of fire hazard characteristics of pipe insulation materials, and the study of methodological features of assessing their combustibility group according to GOST 30244 (method 2). The expediency is identified concerning the formulation of the principles of fire-fighting rationing of the pipelines and equipment for industrial, production, residential and public buildings (premises) and structures. These criteria set limits on combustibility, flammability, flame spread, smoke generation and the release of toxic combustion products. It is determined that the selection and justification of fire hazard indicators can be performed for thermal insulation of pipes and equipment with various functional purposes, applications, and technological features.

Assessing the effectiveness of energy efficiency measures in the residential sector gas consumption through dynamic treatment effects: Evidence from England and Wales

Improving energy efficiency (EE) is vital to ensure a sustainable, affordable, and secure energy system. The residential sector represents, on average, 18.6% of the total final energy consumption in the OECD countries in 2018, reaching 29.5% in the UK (IEA, 2020a). Using a staggered differences-in-differences approach with dynamic treatment effects, we analyse changes in residential gas consumption five years before and after the adoption of energy efficiency measures. The analysis includes energy efficiency interventions involving the installation of new heating-related insulation equipment—i.e., of loft insulation and cavity walls, supported by energy efficiency programmes in England and Wales between 2005 and 2017—using a panel of 55,154 households from the National Energy Efficiency Data-Framework (NEED). We control for, among other factors, energy prices and the extent to which gas consumption changes are dependent on household characteristics and variations in weather conditions. Our results indicate that the adoption of EE measures is associated with significant reductions in household residential gas consumption one year after their implementation. However, the effect does not last in the long run and energy savings disappear four years after the retrofitting of cavity wall insulation measures and after two years following the installation of loft insulation. The disappearance of energy savings in the longer run could be explained by the energy performance gap, the rebound effect and/or by concurrent residential construction projects and renovations associated with increases in energy consumption. Notably, for households in deprived areas, the installation of these efficiency measures does not deliver energy savings. These results confirm the existence of effects that reduce the energy savings from the adoption of these efficiency technologies over time and indicates that, for some groups, these net savings do not seem to materialize.

Thermal-Energy Performance of Bulk Insulation Coupled with High-Albedo Roof Tiles in Urban Pitched Residential Roof Assemblies in the Hot, Humid Climate

The high rate of heat transfer through the residential roof assembly aggravates the condition of indoor thermal discomfort. Bulk insulation can be installed in the assembly to improve thermal performance. However, although it can efficiently reduce diurnal heat transfer from the outdoor environment into the indoor space through the roof assembly, it can also suppress nocturnal heat transfer in the opposite direction. Alternatively, high-albedo roof tiles employ cool colors to reflect heat at the roof surface, whereas bulk insulation hinders the conduction of heat through the roof assembly. In light of the potential of high-albedo roof tiles and bulk insulation in reducing heat transfer, thermal-energy performance of an urban pitched residential roof assembly, which adopted varying configurations of high-albedo roof tiles and bulk insulation under a hot, humid climate, was evaluated. Energy savings were generated, which were 15.13% when the change from a conventional to a high-albedo roof surface was performed, and 17.00% when the installation of bulk insulation was performed on the high-albedo roof assembly.

Investigation of the Impact of a Particle Foam Insulation on Airflow, Temperature Distribution, Pressure Profile and Frost Buildup on the Aircraft Structure

Aircraft insulation separates the thermally comfortable cabin interior environment from the extremely cold outside conditions. However, the fabrication and installation of the insulation in the aircraft is a labor-intensive task. Tailored, rigid particle foam parts could be a solution to speed up the installation process. The presented study investigates the feasibility of such a concept from a hygrothermal point of view. Due to the temperature difference between the cold air trapped between aircraft skin and insulation on one side and the warm cabin air on the other side, a buoyancy-induced pressure difference forms. This effect drives the warmer air through leakages in the insulation system towards the cold skin. Here, moisture contained in the air condenses on the cold surfaces, increasing the risk for uncontrolled dripping (“rain in the plane”) when it melts. Therefore, this study compares the condensate build-up of different installations of a rigid particle foam frame insulation with the classical glass fiber capstrip. Tests are hosted in the Fraunhofer Lining and Insulation Test Environment chamber. It is shown that careful installation of the particle foam frame insulation provides similar level of moisture protection as the current state of the art insulation, and that the condensate amount does not depend on the amount of airflow directly behind the sidewall.

Increasing the energy efficiency of a building by thermal insulation to reduce the thermal load of the micro-combined cooling, heating and power system

The paper analyzes the energy consumption of an energy-independent house in two different situations, namely when the exterior insulation is installed and, respectively, in its absence. The result of the analysis was used to assess the reduction of fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions of the auxiliary heating system, namely a biomass boiler. The home’s heating system consists of a Stirling cogeneration system with biogas, which produces 3 kW of electricity and 9 kW of heat, and a 50 kW biomass boiler. The biomass boiler must provide the additional heat necessary to cover the consumption of the house when the Stirling engine is running and respectively ensure the coverage of the complete heat consumption of the building when the Stirling engine is in standby mode. The analysis showed that the installation of external insulation on the building walls will reduce energy consumption by 13%–16%, depending on the variation of the outside air temperature.

Towards Net Zero Carbon Economy: Improving the Sustainability of Existing Industrial Infrastructures in the UK

To comply with the new net zero greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) target set by the United Kingdom government by 2050, different sectors including the industrial sector are required to take action to achieve this target. Improving the building envelope and production of clean energy on site are among the activities that should be considered by businesses to reduce their carbon emissions. This research analysis the current energy performance and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions of an industrial building in Liverpool, UK utilizing the Integrated Environmental Solutions Virtual Environment (IESVE) software modeling. Then it has proposed some methods for improving the current performance and reduce the carbon footprint of the building. The results indicated that the installation of wall and floor insulation could decrease the energy usage and CO2 emissions of the building by about 56.39%. Additionally, the production of clean energy on site using solar photovoltaic (PV) panels could reduce the annual CO2 emissions by up to 16%. Furthermore, this research provided some figures about offsetting the rest of CO2 emissions using different international offsetting schemes to achieve carbon neutrality of the building.

Modeling and thermal calculation of a pipeline insulation system

Energy efficiency of heating networks depends on the costs of the manufacture of insulation materials and components, its installation and exploitation of insulating jacket. As insulation materials for insulation of heating networks, products based on rock wool, polyurethane foam extruded polystyrene foam, foam rubber and polyethylene foam. In this contribution introduced basic principles of calculating the thickness of the thermal insulation of a pipeline by the value of the standard density of the heat flow are given using an example of the use of products based on polyethylene foam. Calculation of the heat flux from the surface of the heat-insulating structure is carried out at a given thickness of the heat-insulating layer if there is a need to determine heat loss (or cold loss). The basis for the calculation is a mathematical model of heat transfer, a developed calculation algorithm and a computer program. The method of installation of thermal insulation depends on the diameter of the pipeline and the selected type of product. Insulating cylinders or cylinders in combination with heat-insulating mats are used for pipelines of small diameters. Roll materials are used to isolate large diameters. Products are fixed on pipelines using mechanical fasteners.

USE OF THERMAL IMAGING IN CONSTRUCTION

Thermovision is a research method based on non-invasive and non-contact evaluation of temperature distribution on the surface of the examined body. These methods are based on observation and recording of the distribution of infrared radiation, sent by each body whose temperature is higher than absolute zero (-273C) and visualization of the temperature field by thermal imaging equipment. In construction, thermovision is used to assess the quality of materials used in construction, structural solutions and the quality of construction work. With its help we can locate, for example, thermal bridges, which are the result of improperly made or damaged during the operation or installation of thermal insulation. Detection of thermal bridges helps to reduce the amount of fuel used and thus save on the costs of heat energy. Using thermal imaging it is also possible to assess the condition of heating pipelines (damage to insulation, corrosion, location of leaks), control heating devices such as: heat substations, radiators. The subject of the study is to show examples of how thermal imaging is used and useful in construction.

The thermal and physical aspects of designing facade heat insulation at capital repairs and reconstruction of civic buildings

The brief analysis of civic buildings condition has been presented in this paper. It has been demonstrated that at present the housing stock doesn’t meet the up-to-date heat engineering, energy saving and energy performance requirements. To create the necessary indoor climate of living accommodations and to provide the comfortable living environment, most of civic buildings, built at different times, are in need of large-scale reconstruction. The leading role in solving these problems is assigned to capital repairs. For its satisfactory implementation an integrated approach to repairs and construction works with the use of up-to-date energy-efficient technologies and materials is needed. The efficient heat insulation of en-closing structures should be preceded with professional engineering survey of structures and with providing the scientifically-grounded recommendations, based on present-day scientific achievements in this sphere, for the subsequent making of design specification. It has been pointed out that the economic and processing efficiency of the selection and installation of heat insulation can be achieved only by means of scientific approach and the knowledge of physical and chemical processes and phenomena, taking place in enclosing structures under the influence of internal and external operational environment.

The effects of wind-driven rain on the hygrothermal conditions behind wooden beam ends and at the interfaces between internal insulation and existing solid masonry

An inevitable measure when energy retrofitting historic buildings in Europe, is the reduction of building envelope heat loss. On preservation-worthy facades where external insulation is not an option, installation of internal insulation is gaining pace. The historic buildings in Denmark are often constructed with solid masonry facades and wooden decks. The internal insulation may, however, entail potential hygrothermal risks in walls and embedded wood. Measures such as vapour barriers and capillary active insulation materials are continuously evolving and the subject of much current research. The hygrothermal conditions are of great importance for the durability of the building constructions, and for the health and wellbeing of occupants. Wind-driven rain (WDR) is a central factor contributing to water penetration and moisture loads of the exterior walls. Numerous studies have shown that WDR loads influence the moisture conditions in masonry walls and embedded wooden beams, and can even affect interior relative humidity. In the present paper WDR loads on existing façades in a cold temperate climate were determined by measurements and compared to a semi-empirical model. Simultaneously, the hygrothermal conditions within internally insulated walls with exposed brick and embedded wooden beams were monitored. Furthermore, numerical simulations were implemented for clarification of WDR impact. Hygrothermal simulations and previous studies, inevitably show that high WDR loads result in higher moisture content behind the interior insulation. Results from the field measurements of WDR however, cannot directly be referred to the moisture content measured in walls behind interior insulation or beam ends. However, fluctuations in external air humidity proved to be influential on condiditons in the construction. Implementation of a semi-empirical model for calculations of WDR agreed with previous studies in predictions being too conservative when compared to measured WDR.

Optimization of insulation in ventilated hinged facade systems

The system of hinged ventilated facades is available for a long time and is now widely used in the construction of new and reconstruction of existing buildings for various purposes. As practice shows, the problems associated with the operation of these facade systems are usually caused by mistakes in the design, selection of components and installation of the system. Ventilated facade is a multi-layered enclosing structure, which includes a layer of insulation. Mineral wool slabs are ideal for this facade system, as it has low thermal conductivity, resistance to temperature changes and excellent vapor permeability, which allows to fully open the potential of a ventilated air layer. In the article two ways of installation of thermal insulation are considered: single-layer and two-layer with different types of air interlayer: closed, weakly and strongly ventilated. In accordance with the requirements of Russian and European regulatory documents, the effect of gaps between the thermal insulation plates in a single-layer and two-layer design on the reduction of the heat transfer resistance of hinged facade systems with an air gap was estimated by calculating 2-dimensional temperature fields. The coefficient of thermotechnic uniformity was also defined. As a result, optimal variants of thermal insulation and types of bases for fixing thermal insulation are suggested.

Reliability Field Test of the Air–Surface Temperature Ratio Method for In Situ Measurement of U-Values

This study proposes the air–surface temperature ratio (ASTR) method as an in situ measurement method to rapidly and accurately measure wall U-values in existing houses. Herein, the wall U-values were measured in situ applying the heat flow meter (HFM) method of ISO 9869-1 and the ASTR method. The results obtained using the HFM and ASTR methods were compared, and the relative error rate and accuracy of the measurements were analyzed. The aging rates of the wall U-values were compared and analyzed by comparing them with the wall U-values before and after the installation of retrofit insulation. Subsequently, the ASTR method was used to analyze the U-value measurement error rates according to the number of measurement days (one day to seven days). In addition, this method calculated the appropriate measurement period required to satisfy the measurement conditions. As a result, the mean relative measurement errors rates of the HFM and ASTR methods were ±3.21%. The short-term (one day) and long-term (seven days or longer) measurement results indicated the average error rates as approximately ±2.63%. These results were included in the tolerance range. Therefore, it was determined that the ASTR method can rapidly and accurately measure wall U-values.

Coupled thermo-mechanical simulation for the performance-based fire design of CFS drywall systems

In the present study, a fully coupled thermo-mechanical simulation methodology is presented, capable of estimating the response of cold-formed steel drywall systems exposed to fire and evaluating whether or not compliance with the performance-based fire safety requirements is achieved, in terms of the load-bearing capacity (R), integrity (E) and insulation (I) criteria. The proposed nonlinear coupled thermo-mechanical approach, accounting for geometry, material and contact nonlinearities, is validated against full-scale furnace test results of typical, commercially available, load-bearing drywall systems, achieving a very good qualitative and quantitative agreement; maximum discrepancies between the predicted and measured fire-resistance ratings do not exceed 2%. Several parametric studies are carried out, concerning the magnitude of the imposed load on the bearing walls and the effect of the cavity insulation placement on the overall fire performance of drywall systems. It is found that installation of thermal insulation inside the drywall cavity may decrease the system's fire-resistance rating, depending on the employed configuration. The proposed numerical approach can be effectively used to estimate the fire-resistance rating of load-bearing lightweight steel drywall systems in support of performance-based fire design standards.

Review of Methods for Buildings Energy Performance Modelling

Research presented in this paper gives a brief review of methods used for buildings energy performance modelling. This paper gives also a comprehensive review of the advantages and disadvantages of available methods as well as the input parameters used for modelling buildings energy performance. European Directive EPBD obliges the implementation of energy certification procedure which gives an insight on buildings energy performance via exiting energy certificate databases. Some of the methods for buildings energy performance modelling mentioned in this paper are developed by employing data sets of buildings which have already undergone an energy certification procedure. Such database is used in this paper where the majority of buildings in the database have already gone under some form of partial retrofitting – replacement of windows or installation of thermal insulation but still have poor energy performance. The case study presented in this paper utilizes energy certificates database obtained from residential units in Croatia (over 400 buildings) in order to determine the dependence between buildings energy performance and variables from database by using statistical dependencies tests. Building energy performance in database is presented with building energy efficiency rate (from A+ to G) which is based on specific annual energy needs for heating for referential climatic data [kWh/(m2a)]. Independent variables in database are surfaces and volume of the conditioned part of the building, building shape factor, energy used for heating, CO2 emission, building age and year of reconstruction. Research results presented in this paper give an insight in possibilities of methods used for buildings energy performance modelling. Further on it gives an analysis of dependencies between buildings energy performance as a dependent variable and independent variables from the database. Presented results could be used for development of new building energy performance predictive model.