Developing a New Model to Optimize Thermal Insulation Thickness for Building Energy Efficiency

Autor: Nima Amani
Jazyk: angličtina
Rok vydání: 2024
Předmět:
Zdroj: Journal of Renewable Energy and Environment, Vol 11, Iss 2, Pp 118-131 (2024)
Druh dokumentu: article
ISSN: 2423-5547
2423-7469
DOI: 10.30501/jree.2024.425845.1739
Popis: Building insulation stands out as one of the most widely employed strategies to enhance energy efficiency in the building sector. Increasing the thickness of thermal insulation is a conventional approach to meet the design requirements of these structures. In this study, a novel approach to augment the thermal resistance of external building walls is explored by simultaneously employing multiple thermal insulation materials, comparing this with a single-layer insulation setup. Three typical insulation materials with varying thicknesses are utilized to create a three-layer insulation system, which is applied to a case study involving a house-like cubicle situated in the 3B climate zone per ASHRAE 169-2006. The findings indicate that merely increasing the thickness of a single-layer insulation does not invariably yield optimal solutions. A comparison of two non-dominated solutions, both with a thickness of 15 cm, reveals that both alternatives achieve approximately 70 percent energy savings compared to the base model lacking wall insulation. Furthermore, the environmental impact of the three-layer solution is 45%, and its cost is 43% lower than that of the single-layer solution. In summary, multi-layer thermal insulation emerges as an effective and environmentally friendly method. The results emphasize that the consideration of multi-layer insulation systems can establish a continuous decision-making space, enabling the identification of at least one insulation scenario aligned with design requirements. To facilitate designers in the initial stages of thermal insulation design, a rapid and simplified design model has been developed based on the results. The methodology proposed in this study is generalizable and can be applied to all climate zones, offering a comprehensive design tool without the need for intricate calculations.
Databáze: Directory of Open Access Journals