1,295 research outputs found
The Influence of Solar Control Films on Energy and Daylighting Performance by Means of Experimental Data and Preliminary Unsteady Simulations
Abstract Solar control films were investigated as a strategy to improve thermal comfort, lighting conditions, and energy performance in non-residential buildings. The case study follows two adjacent similar offices with large window in the south-west facade of a building in Perugia, investigated by numerical and experimental approaches. The solar control films could strongly reduce the window heat gain (40-60%) and the indoor air temperature (1-1.5 °C), whereas the daily average illuminance level was lowered by about 50-60%. Finally the yearly cooling energy demand decreases of about 25% (only South- West facade) and 39% (all the facades), whereas the heating energy demand increases of about 10-15% thanks to solar control films
Masonry wall panels retrofitted with thermal-insulating GFRP-reinforced jacketing
Today there is a need to provide thermally efficient walls, while at the same time to increase the mechanical properties of old unreinforced masonry walls that will not require large amounts of energy in the retrofitting or deconstruction processes. To address this problem, this paper gives the results of shear tests carried out on masonry panels made of solid bricks retrofitted with a new technique based on the use of glass fiber-reinforced polymers (GFRP) grids inserted into a thermal insulating jacketing. This was made of different low-strength lime-based mortars. Tests were carried out in laboratory and results were used for the determination of the shear modulus and strength of the wall panels before and after the application of the GFRP reinforcement. Retrofitted panels exhibited a significant enhancement in the lateral capacity when compared to the control panels. The thermal performance of the proposed mortars was also investigated both with and without GFRP. Low values of thermal conductivity were found, especially for the samples with GFRP; a reduction of the thermal transmittance value in the 34â45 % range was also obtained by applying 45 mm layer of coating in conventional masonry walls
Thermal and Acoustic Performance Evaluation of New Basalt Fiber Insulation Panels for Buildings
Abstract Thermal insulation of building envelope is very important in energy saving: a growing interest is focused on using insulating recycled and sustainable materials. The thermal and acoustic properties of innovative basalt natural fiber insulating panels were investigated. The thermal conductivity was evaluated by means of a Heat Flow meter apparatus: it is included in 0.030-0.034 W/mK range. The acoustic absorption coefficient was measured by means of Kundt's Tube. The results were compared to traditional solutions with similar chemical composition, but worse mechanical resistance. The easy application of this solution could be useful especially for refurbishments
Experimental and Numerical Energy Assessment of a Monolithic Aerogel Glazing Unit for Building Applications
In the last few decades, the attention of researchers has been focused on the characterization of aerogels in order to improve the thermal performance of transparent building envelopes. Granular aerogel is already spread in the market thanks to the easy manufacturing system, whereas the difficulty in producing monoliths without defects, cracks, and inhomogeneity limited the diffusion of monolithic aerogel systems. A new production process for the monolithic panels was developed at Union College (Schenectady, NY, USA); it is a rapid supercritical extraction technique which allows a reduction in production time (only a few hours) and results in less solvent waste. Panes with maximum dimensions of about 100 Ă 100 mm were fabricated and composed in a unique glazing system, with external dimensions 300 Ă 300 mm. The thermal characterization of the innovative monolithic aerogel glazing system (simple float glazing 4.7-mm-thick monolithic aerogel pane 15-mm-thick simple float glazing 4.7 mm thick), which was carried out by means of a Small Hot Box apparatus, showed a thermal transmittance value of about 1.1 W/(m2K). Data was used in dynamic simulations of a typical non-residential building. They showed that the new investigated solution allows a valuable reduction with respect to a low-e double glazing system in terms of heating energy demand (about 5â7% for Helsinki, 8â12% for Paris, and 10â15% for Turin), for different window-to-wall ratios
Development of Innovative Aerogel Based Plasters: Preliminary Thermal and Acoustic Performance Evaluation
The thermal and acoustic properties of innovative insulating systems used as building coatings were investigated: Granular silica aerogel was mixed with natural plaster in different percentages. This coating solution is transpiring and insulating, thanks to the use of a natural lime coat and aerogel, a highly porous light material with very low thermal conductivity. The thermal conductivity of the proposed solution was evaluated by means of a Heat Flow meter apparatus (EN ISO 12667), considering different percentages of aerogel. The natural plaster without aerogel has a thermal conductivity of about 0.50 W/m
Thermal Behaviour and Energy Saving Evaluation of Innovative Reinforced Coatings
Abstract The use of fibre-reinforced interlayer structures as coatings is very spread in building refurbishment, but it is important to find effective solutions both for mechanical and thermal performance. In the present paper the thermal behaviour of innovative fiber-reinforced coatings was investigated in order to find the best solutions in terms of mechanical strength and energy saving in buildings. Four different coatings (with and without the internal reinforced structure) were considered and their thermal conductivities were preliminary investigated by using an innovative measurement apparatus (Small Hot Box). A thermal analysis was carried out for the evaluation of the effects of the coatings on the building envelope, especially the thermal transmittance, calculated for different thickness. Preliminary results showed that 3-4 cm of coatings allowed to reduce thermal transmittance of building envelope by about 60-70%. In order to evaluate the energy saving, one building was considered and simulated by means of Trnsys software: it was chosen for the evaluation of the refurbishment of the building by using the selected solutions. The simulation model was implemented in SketchUp and the energy demand with and without the innovative coatings was simulated; the simulation model was also used for the evaluation of energy saving in different climate conditions. Results show that for two coatings an important reduction of the heat loss through of the building envelope can be obtained
Sustainable Panels with Recycled Materials for Building Applications: Environmental and Acoustic Characterizationâ
Abstract Sound absorption materials structure is generally based on porous synthetic media (rock wool, glass wool, polyurethane, polyester, ect.): they have expensive production processes, important energy consumptions, and high environmental impact. Recycled materials are becoming an interesting alternative, due to their good acoustic behavior, similar to traditional porous materials; they also allow low impact production costs, thanks to the use of wastes derived from other production cycles. This work focuses on the evaluation of the acoustic absorption properties of new panels made of recycled paper and other scrap materials, as wool and nonwoven polyester fabric: different samples were produced and tested by means of impedance tube, according to ISO 10534-2. In order to present the environmental benefits, Life Cycle Assessment was carried out in terms of primary embodied energy and greenhouse gas emissions, considering a "cradle-to-gate" approach. Furthermore, the behavior of innovative absorption materials was investigated in order to improve the acoustic performance of a lecture room, by means of an acoustic simulation software. A comparison with traditional materials was also carried out for both acoustic and environmental aspects. In the simulation model, calibrated by an in-situ experimental campaign of the main acoustic quality indexes (Reverberation Time, Clarity and Definition Indexes, Speech Transmission Index), different acoustic correction solutions were implemented: both the new recycled and traditional panels were applied as wall and ceiling absorbers. The analysis of the acoustic absorption trends, in 100 - 5000 Hz frequencies range, shows that the new materials are suitable as acoustic correction systems, especially the panel composed by waste paper and wool fibers. The LCA analysis results show that, considering the same acoustic performance, the recycled panels allow to reduce the environmental effects and the global production costs
Towards a holistic approach to indoor environmental quality assessment: Weighting schemes to combine effects of multiple environmental factors
Abstract In the recent past, great attention has been posed on the assessment of the energy performance and of the operating and maintenance costs of the building stock. Currently, new approaches of analysis are considered by the scientific community, which put the occupant's wellâbeing at the centre of the evaluation process. In this context, the IEQ assessment acquires an ever increasing importance, especially if the combined effects of multiple environmental factors are considered. With this purpose, to date, different weighting schemes can be found in the literature, obtained through subjective investigations and mathematical methods. In this paper, the weighting schemes proposed in the literature in the period 2002â2018 were examined, considering the survey methodologies used. The more relevant studies found in the literature were compared and the related weighting schemes were discussed, based on the intended use of the buildings. In particular, 122,000 questionnaires in 18 different countries all over the world were examined and the most relevant environmental factors were selected: Thermal Environment (TH), Air Quality (AQ), Acoustics (AC), and Lighting (LT). Three different average weighting schemes were obtained for each of the following uses: offices, schools, dwellings; a final additional weighting scheme was obtained considering the average values of the normalized weights for all the building uses, a possible solution for buildings with an unspecified or not unique intended use. Moreover, an original weighting scheme was obtained and proposed on the basis of the results of three different subjective surveys, involving about 1400 participants, carried out in some university classrooms at the School of Engineering of the University of Pisa: it was compared with the one obtained by the literature for school buildings. It was observed an overestimation of the importance of TH (0.42 instead of 0.33) and an underestimation of AC (0.19 instead of 0.26), whereas AQ and LT are in accordance (0.17 instead of 0.19 and 0.22, respectively). The results of the present study can be useful to those who intend to deal with holistic approaches to building design, for which accurate assessments of occupants' well-being are taken into consideration as well as aspects related to energy performance and building management costs
Analysis of Nano Silica Aerogel based Glazing Effect on the Solar Heat Gain and Cooling Load in a School under Different Climatic Conditions
Endothelin-1 Drives Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition In Hypertensive Nephroangiosclerosis
BACKGROUND: Tubulointerstitial fibrosis, the final outcome of most kidney diseases, involves activation of epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT). Endothelinâ1 (ETâ1) activates EMT in cancer cells, but it is not known whether it drives EMT in the kidney. We therefore tested the hypothesis that tubulointerstitial fibrosis involves EMT driven by ETâ1. METHODS AND RESULTS: Transgenic TG[mRen2]27 (TGRen2) rats developing fulminant angiotensin IIâdependent hypertension with prominent cardiovascular and renal damage were submitted to drug treatments targeted to ETâ1 and/or angiotensin II receptor or left untreated (controls). Expressional changes of Eâcadherin and αâsmooth muscle actin (αSMA) were examined as markers of renal EMT. In human kidney HKâ2 proximal tubular cells expressing the ET(B) receptor subtype, the effects of ETâ1 with or without ETâ1 antagonists were also investigated. The occurrence of renal fibrosis was associated with EMT in control TGRen2 rats, as evidenced by decreased Eâcadherin and increased αSMA expression. Irbesartan and the mixed ETâ1 receptor antagonist bosentan prevented these changes in a blood pressureâindependent fashion (P < 0.001 for both versus controls). In HKâ2 cells ETâ1 blunted Eâcadherin expression, increased αSMA expression (both P < 0.01), collagen synthesis, and metalloproteinase activity (P < 0.005, all versus untreated cells). All changes were prevented by the selective ET(B) receptor antagonist BQâ788. Evidence for involvement of the Rhoâkinase signaling pathway and dephosphorylation of Yesâassociated protein in EMT was also found. CONCLUSIONS: In angiotensin IIâdependent hypertension, ETâ1 acting via ET(B) receptors and the Rhoâkinase and Yesâassociated protein induces EMT and thereby renal fibrosis
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