Analysis of the Dynamic Thermal Barrier in Building Envelopes

Abstract

This article focuses on the investigation of the dynamic thermal barrier (TB) and dynamic thermal resistance (DTR) of the building envelope. The aim is to analyze the DTR as a function of the temperature change of the heat transfer medium supplied to the dynamic TB layer and to determine the energy potential of several materially different fragments of the building envelope. The functions of TB and DTR depend on the uniform and continuous maintenance of temperature in a given layer of the building structure. The methodology is based on the analysis and synthesis of thermal resistance calculation, wall heating, and computer simulation. The research results show that the relatively low mean temperature of the heat transfer medium of approximately θm = 17 °C delivered to the TB layer represents RDTR = up to 30 ((m2·K)/W) for an equivalent dynamic thermal insulation thickness of 1000 mm for a required standard resistance of RSTANDARD = 6.50 ((m2·K)/W) of the individual fragments analyzed with static thermal insulation of 65 to 210 mm. The energy potential of a thermal barrier (TB) represents an increase of approximately 500% in the thermal resistance and up to 1500% in the thickness of the dynamic thermal insulation. Further research on the dynamic thermal barrier and verification of the results of the parametric study will continue with comprehensive computer simulations and experimental measurements on the test cell.