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Thermally Anisotropic Composites for Improving the Energy Efficiency of Building Envelopes

Author

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  • Kaushik Biswas

    (Oak Ridge National Laboratory, One Bethel Valley Road, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, USA)

  • Som Shrestha

    (Oak Ridge National Laboratory, One Bethel Valley Road, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, USA)

  • Diana Hun

    (Oak Ridge National Laboratory, One Bethel Valley Road, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, USA)

  • Jerald Atchley

    (Oak Ridge National Laboratory, One Bethel Valley Road, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, USA)

Abstract

This article describes a novel application of thermal anisotropy for improving the energy efficiency of building envelopes. The current work was inspired by existing research on improved heat dissipation in electronics using thermal anisotropy. Past work has shown that thermally anisotropic composites (TACs) can be created by the alternate layering of two dissimilar, isotropic materials. Here, a TAC consisting of alternate layers of rigid foam insulation and thin, high-conductivity aluminum foil was investigated. The TAC was coupled with copper tubes with circulating water that acted as a heat sink and source. The TAC system was applied to a conventional wood-framed wall assembly, and the energy benefits were investigated experimentally and numerically. For experimental testing, large scale test wall specimens were built with and without the TAC system and tested in an environmental chamber under simulated diurnal hot and cold weather conditions. Component-level and whole building numerical simulations were performed to investigate the energy benefits of applying the TAC system to the external walls of a typical, single-family residential building.

Suggested Citation

  • Kaushik Biswas & Som Shrestha & Diana Hun & Jerald Atchley, 2019. "Thermally Anisotropic Composites for Improving the Energy Efficiency of Building Envelopes," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(19), pages 1-15, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:12:y:2019:i:19:p:3783-:d:273786
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Yang, Liu & Yan, Haiyan & Lam, Joseph C., 2014. "Thermal comfort and building energy consumption implications – A review," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 115(C), pages 164-173.
    2. Kaushik Biswas, 2018. "Development and Validation of Numerical Models for Evaluation of Foam-Vacuum Insulation Panel Composite Boards, Including Edge Effects," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(9), pages 1-16, August.
    3. Krese, Gorazd & Lampret, Žiga & Butala, Vincenc & Prek, Matjaž, 2018. "Determination of a Building's balance point temperature as an energy characteristic," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 165(PB), pages 1034-1049.
    4. Sadineni, Suresh B. & Madala, Srikanth & Boehm, Robert F., 2011. "Passive building energy savings: A review of building envelope components," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 15(8), pages 3617-3631.
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    Cited by:

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    2. Jorge de Brito & M. Glória Gomes, 2020. "Special Issue “Building Thermal Envelope”," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(5), pages 1-5, February.

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