Instantaneous field measurements of thermal bridge parameters in ground floor residential room

Abstract

The “thermal bridges” are defined as an isolated building’s areas, where the construction elements have higher thermal conductivity, compared with the rest of the building envelope. Thus, at cold winter conditions, a significant temperature difference may occur between neighbouring solid and air volumes within the construction. Moreover, it has been documented, that the heating energy demand of a building may be increased with more than 30%, due to the existence of thermal bridges and the increased heat losses from the indoors. Consequently, in the recent years, norms and standards have been developed, for avoiding thermal bridges during the building design process. But still, thermal bridges exist in the indoor environment, especially in older buildings, where no energy efficient measures have been applied. That is why, the presented study focuses on instantaneous field measurements of thermal bridge parameters in real existing ground floor residential room. The thermal bridge propagation is analysed relative to the indoor and outdoor air temperature and relative humidity, as well as with infrared thermal images of the affected external walls. The achieved results give valuable information about the generic conditions for thermal bridge existence, without considering the building envelope properties.

Moisture accumulation analyses over windowpane, based on onsite measurements in sleeping room

“…But still, very important issue, which have significant influence over the risk of windowpane condensation, is the dynamic load, coming from the occupants in the enclosed space and their activities indoors. Similar studies are performed by the author, presented in [9] and [10], in which the influence of the inhabitants over the generic conditions for thermal bridge presence in the residence space is considered. Thus, further experimental studies in the windowpane zones are needed, especially for obtaining boundary and initial conditions for predictive numerical simulations of the related thermal process.…”

Dew point temperature analyses in ground floor residential room with existing thermal bridge

“…For the purpose of the presented study, only the results for the measured temperatures, relative humidity, CO2 concentration and the calculated dew point temperature will be presented, in terms of figures and tables. The outdoor atmospheric conditions were also measured and presented in [9]. The corresponding parameters, measured in the two room locations, are presented on Fig.…”

“…The rest of the study methods are also described in [9], which is supplementary paper to the same research. The thermal bridge zone in the selected experimental room is confirmed by preliminary taken thermal images of the outer walls.…”

“…This system shows the air parameters, near the thermal bridge zone, which are summarized in Table 2. The surface temperature is evaluated by the thermal camera, and the images are analysed in [9]. The minimum measured surface temperature values are also presented in Fig.4.…”

Development of thermal bridge numerical model, based on conjugate heat transfer and indoor and outdoor environment parameters

“…Thus, analyses of the generic conditions for thermal bridge appearance is important issue for the presented area. [8,9] Numerical modelling of the described above phenomena is generally not an easy task, though it does help the thermal bridge avoidance in the building design process. The calculation of the steady-state temperature in the affected zones could be performed by standard finite element or temperature method, and by statically admissible flow method.…”