IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jeners/v13y2020i2p293-d306118.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Computational Prediction of Susceptibility to Biofilms Growth: Two-Dimensional Analysis of Critical Construction Details

Author

Listed:
  • Václav Kočí

    (Department of Materials Engineering and Chemistry, Faculty of Civil Engineering, Czech Technical University in Prague, Thákurova 7/2077, 166 29 Prague 6, Czech Republic
    Institute of Technology and Business in České Budějovice, Okružní 517/10, 370 01 České Budějovice, Czech Republic)

  • Jan Kočí

    (Department of Materials Engineering and Chemistry, Faculty of Civil Engineering, Czech Technical University in Prague, Thákurova 7/2077, 166 29 Prague 6, Czech Republic)

  • Jiří Maděra

    (Department of Materials Engineering and Chemistry, Faculty of Civil Engineering, Czech Technical University in Prague, Thákurova 7/2077, 166 29 Prague 6, Czech Republic)

  • Jaroslav Žák

    (Institute of Technology and Business in České Budějovice, Okružní 517/10, 370 01 České Budějovice, Czech Republic)

  • Robert Černý

    (Department of Materials Engineering and Chemistry, Faculty of Civil Engineering, Czech Technical University in Prague, Thákurova 7/2077, 166 29 Prague 6, Czech Republic)

Abstract

Retrofitting of historical and traditional buildings is an effective thermal protection measure. The presence of thermal insulation in the composition of building envelopes might, however, bring some shortages due to a decrease of exterior surface temperatures or possible water vapor condensation. These shortages can improve living conditions for various microorganisms on the exterior surfaces, especially in the case of interior thermal insulation systems that are typical with thermal bridges and thus supply the surface with heat to a greater extent. This paper, therefore, aims at the investigation of hygrothermal conditions in selected critical construction details and evaluates the results from the point of view of potential biofilms growth. Two-dimensional modeling of coupled heat and moisture is applied and the hygrothermal patterns are evaluated based on an adjusted isopleth growth model. The results showed that the duration of favorable conditions for biofilms growth is relatively low, accounting for less than 180 h in the worst-case scenario. It means the exterior surfaces of historical buildings provided with interior thermal insulation systems are not threatened by biofilms growth. Anyway, other negative aspects have been revealed that should be treated individually. Possible wood decay or increased hygrothermal straining are the typical examples in that respect.

Suggested Citation

  • Václav Kočí & Jan Kočí & Jiří Maděra & Jaroslav Žák & Robert Černý, 2020. "Computational Prediction of Susceptibility to Biofilms Growth: Two-Dimensional Analysis of Critical Construction Details," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(2), pages 1-17, January.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:13:y:2020:i:2:p:293-:d:306118
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/13/2/293/pdf
    Download Restriction: no

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/13/2/293/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Webb, Amanda L., 2017. "Energy retrofits in historic and traditional buildings: A review of problems and methods," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 77(C), pages 748-759.
    2. Cansino, José M. & Pablo-Romero, María del P. & Román, Rocío & Yñiguez, Rocío, 2011. "Promoting renewable energy sources for heating and cooling in EU-27 countries," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 39(6), pages 3803-3812, June.
    3. Giuffrida Giada & Rosa Caponetto & Francesco Nocera, 2019. "Hygrothermal Properties of Raw Earth Materials: A Literature Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(19), pages 1-21, September.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Jan Kočí & Robert Černý, 2020. "Special Issue “Recent Developments in Building Physics”," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(23), pages 1-3, December.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Cho, Hyun Mi & Yang, Sungwoong & Wi, Seunghwan & Chang, Seong Jin & Kim, Sumin, 2020. "Hygrothermal and energy retrofit planning of masonry façade historic building used as museum and office: A cultural properties case study," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 201(C).
    2. Aleksandra Matuszewska-Janica & Dorota Żebrowska-Suchodolska & Urszula Ala-Karvia & Marta Hozer-Koćmiel, 2021. "Changes in Electricity Production from Renewable Energy Sources in the European Union Countries in 2005–2019," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(19), pages 1-27, October.
    3. José M. Cansino & Antonio Sánchez-Braza & Teresa Sanz-Díaz, 2018. "Policy Instruments to Promote Electro-Mobility in the EU28: A Comprehensive Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(7), pages 1-27, July.
    4. Seyithan Ahmet Ate, 2013. "A Novel Approach to Development of Renewable Heating Support Policies in Turkey," International Journal of Energy Economics and Policy, Econjournals, vol. 3(Special), pages 115-126.
    5. Sánchez-Braza, Antonio & Pablo-Romero, María del P., 2014. "Evaluation of property tax bonus to promote solar thermal systems in Andalusia (Spain)," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 67(C), pages 832-843.
    6. Alessia Buda & Ernst Jan de Place Hansen & Alexander Rieser & Emanuela Giancola & Valeria Natalina Pracchi & Sara Mauri & Valentina Marincioni & Virginia Gori & Kalliopi Fouseki & Cristina S. Polo Lóp, 2021. "Conservation-Compatible Retrofit Solutions in Historic Buildings: An Integrated Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(5), pages 1-19, March.
    7. Valentina Marincioni & Virginia Gori & Ernst Jan de Place Hansen & Daniel Herrera-Avellanosa & Sara Mauri & Emanuela Giancola & Aitziber Egusquiza & Alessia Buda & Eleonora Leonardi & Alexander Rieser, 2021. "How Can Scientific Literature Support Decision-Making in the Renovation of Historic Buildings? An Evidence-Based Approach for Improving the Performance of Walls," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-20, February.
    8. He, Guoqing & Zheng, Yun & Wu, Yong & Cui, Zhenhua & Qian, Kuangliang, 2015. "Promotion of building-integrated solar water heaters in urbanized areas in China: Experience, potential, and recommendations," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 42(C), pages 643-656.
    9. Kadri Keskküla & Tambet Aru & Mihkel Kiviste & Martti-Jaan Miljan, 2020. "Hygrothermal Analysis of Masonry Wall with Reed Boards as Interior Insulation System," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(20), pages 1-10, October.
    10. Monica Castaneda & Sebastian Zapata & Andres Aristizabal, 2018. "Assessing the Effect of Incentive Policies on Residential PV Investments in Colombia," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(10), pages 1-17, October.
    11. Kranzl, Lukas & Kalt, Gerald & Müller, Andreas & Hummel, Marcus & Egger, Christiane & Öhlinger, Christine & Dell, Gerhard, 2013. "Renewable energy in the heating sector in Austria with particular reference to the region of Upper Austria," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 59(C), pages 17-31.
    12. Cristina S. Polo López & Elena Lucchi & Eleonora Leonardi & Antonello Durante & Anne Schmidt & Roger Curtis, 2021. "Risk-Benefit Assessment Scheme for Renewable Solar Solutions in Traditional and Historic Buildings," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(9), pages 1-35, May.
    13. Liu, Shiyu & Bie, Zhaohong & Lin, Jiang & Wang, Xifan, 2018. "Curtailment of renewable energy in Northwest China and market-based solutions," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 123(C), pages 494-502.
    14. Henrik Engelbrecht Foldager & Rasmus Camillus Jeppesen & Muhyiddine Jradi, 2019. "DanRETRO: A Decision-Making Tool for Energy Retrofit Design and Assessment of Danish Buildings," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(14), pages 1-19, July.
    15. Egusquiza, A. & Ginestet, S. & Espada, J.C. & Flores-Abascal, I. & Garcia-Gafaro, C. & Giraldo-Soto, C. & Claude, S. & Escadeillas, G., 2021. "Co-creation of local eco-rehabilitation strategies for energy improvement of historic urban areas," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 135(C).
    16. Rosa Caponetto & Massimo Cuomo & Maurizio Detommaso & Giada Giuffrida & Antonio Lo Presti & Francesco Nocera, 2023. "Performance Assessment of Giant Reed-Based Building Components," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(3), pages 1-18, January.
    17. Aurora Greta Ruggeri & Laura Gabrielli & Massimiliano Scarpa, 2020. "Energy Retrofit in European Building Portfolios: A Review of Five Key Aspects," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(18), pages 1-38, September.
    18. Wang, Kui & Zhang, Yuanyuan & Sekelj, Gasper & Hopke, Philip K., 2019. "Economic analysis of a field monitored residential wood pellet boiler heating system in New York State," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 133(C), pages 500-511.
    19. Belén Onecha & Alicia Dotor & Carlos Marmolejo-Duarte, 2021. "Beyond Cultural and Historic Values, Sustainability as a New Kind of Value for Historic Buildings," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(15), pages 1-18, July.
    20. Pablo-Romero, M.P. & Sánchez-Braza, A. & Pérez, M., 2013. "Incentives to promote solar thermal energy in Spain," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 22(C), pages 198-208.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:13:y:2020:i:2:p:293-:d:306118. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.