When referring to maximizing the energy efficiency of a building, one must first look at the contents of the structure: the make-up of the interior and exterior walls and the contents of the buildings envelope. Generally, when we think of insulation, we think of thermal insulation, which protects us from the blistering, hot days in summer to the dreaded cold days of winter. However, when constructing a building one must ...
To maximize the energy efficiency of a building, and to minimize its carbon footprint, novel insulants have been extensively studied. Novel insulants such as phase change materials (PCMs) and hemp-lime insulation are proven to have extremely low thermal conductance. However, because these insulants are novel, they unfortunately have not been tested for fire safety. The purpose of this study was to create a fire framework to enable researchers to test ...
As buildings are constructed, pores and cavities are formed within the building envelope and can cause issues with coupled transient radiation-natural convection heat transfer. This research aims to develop a model to minimize the empty space in the area lining the exterior and interior of the building (building envelope). As cavities and pores are present within the building envelope, issues of heat loss and high energy consumptions arise. An improved ...
This paper highlights the use of the transient plane source (TPS) technique to test the thermal properties of porous building materials, such as autoclaved aerated concrete and calcium silicate boards reinforced by cellulose fibers. Transient methods relay multiple thermophysical parameters, such as thermal diffusivity, specific heat, and thermal conductivity, all in one measurement – a highly sought after trait. Measurements were performed to compare the transient method to other methods of ...
