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Building envelope with a new aerogel-based insulating rendering: Experimental and numerical study, cost analysis, and thickness optimization

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  • Ibrahim, Mohamad
  • Biwole, Pascal Henry
  • Achard, Patrick
  • Wurtz, Etienne
  • Ansart, Guillaume

Abstract

In France, renovation of existing buildings has a high priority. The thickness of insulation layers becomes a major issue of concern especially in cities. In this study, we present a recently developed insulating rendering based on silica aerogels that can be applied to new buildings and to retrofit existing ones. A full scale experimental house is built near Chambery in France, with the rendering applied on its external facades. The results of a numerical model developed in EnergyPlus are compared to the on-site measurements. After validating the numerical model, the thickness of the rendering is optimized based on a cost analysis for different climates for the case of retrofitting an old building. Then, a sensitivity analysis is carried out to determine the thickness dependency on annual heating load, present worth factor, rendering’s cost, and heating set-point. Results show that the optimum rendering thickness is in the range of 1.7–4.4cm and the payback period in the range of 1.4–2.7years depending on the climate. The optimum thickness increases with the increasing heating set-point and increasing present worth factor; however, it decreases with the increasing rendering cost.

Suggested Citation

  • Ibrahim, Mohamad & Biwole, Pascal Henry & Achard, Patrick & Wurtz, Etienne & Ansart, Guillaume, 2015. "Building envelope with a new aerogel-based insulating rendering: Experimental and numerical study, cost analysis, and thickness optimization," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 159(C), pages 490-501.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:appene:v:159:y:2015:i:c:p:490-501
    DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2015.08.090
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    4. Yang, Jiangming & Wu, Huijun & Xu, Xinhua & Huang, Gongsheng & Xu, Tao & Guo, Sitong & Liang, Yuying, 2019. "Numerical and experimental study on the thermal performance of aerogel insulating panels for building energy efficiency," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 138(C), pages 445-457.
    5. Zhang, Chong & Gang, Wenjie & Xu, Xinhua & Li, Liao & Wang, Jinbo, 2019. "Modelling, experimental test, and design of an active air permeable wall by utilizing the low-grade exhaust air," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 240(C), pages 730-743.
    6. Nayara R. M. Sakiyama & Joyce C. Carlo & Leonardo Mazzaferro & Harald Garrecht, 2021. "Building Optimization through a Parametric Design Platform: Using Sensitivity Analysis to Improve a Radial-Based Algorithm Performance," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(10), pages 1-25, May.
    7. Mazzeo, D. & Oliveti, G. & Arcuri, N., 2016. "Influence of internal and external boundary conditions on the decrement factor and time lag heat flux of building walls in steady periodic regime," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 164(C), pages 509-531.
    8. Abraham Nathan Zoure & Paolo Vincenzo Genovese, 2023. "Comparative Study of the Impact of Bio-Sourced and Recycled Insulation Materials on Energy Efficiency in Office Buildings in Burkina Faso," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(2), pages 1-26, January.
    9. Souayfane, Farah & Biwole, Pascal Henry & Fardoun, Farouk & Achard, Patrick, 2019. "Energy performance and economic analysis of a TIM-PCM wall under different climates," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 169(C), pages 1274-1291.
    10. Kumar, Dileep & Alam, Morshed & Zou, Patrick X.W. & Sanjayan, Jay G. & Memon, Rizwan Ahmed, 2020. "Comparative analysis of building insulation material properties and performance," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 131(C).
    11. Dileep Kumar & Morshed Alam & Jay G. Sanjayan, 2021. "Retrofitting Building Envelope Using Phase Change Materials and Aerogel Render for Adaptation to Extreme Heatwave: A Multi-Objective Analysis Considering Heat Stress, Energy, Environment, and Cost," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(19), pages 1-29, September.
    12. Berger, Julien & Mendes, Nathan, 2017. "An innovative method for the design of high energy performance building envelopes," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 190(C), pages 266-277.

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