scholarly journals Thermal comfort optimisation of vernacular rural buildings: passive solutions to retrofit a typical farmhouse in central Italy

2017 ◽  
Vol 48 (3) ◽  
pp. 127 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Elena Menconi ◽  
Massimo Chiappini ◽  
Jan L.M. Hensen ◽  
David Grohmann
Keyword(s):  
Thermal Comfort ◽  
Central Italy ◽  
Energy Performance ◽  
Dynamic Simulations ◽  
Insulating Materials ◽  
Building Model ◽  
Rural Buildings ◽  
Vernacular Building ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
Optimisation Techniques

An adequate retrofitting of traditional rural buildings requires to preserve their formal characteristics and to understand the constructive elements that compose them and which are different in different geographical areas. This paper analyses the typical farmhouses in central Italy. Starting from the definition of a vernacular building model, the paper analyses its performance in terms of thermal comfort and energy efficiency. The methodology involves the use of energy dynamic simulations coupled with optimisation techniques aimed to identify the best combinations of insulating materials in terms of choice of material and its optimal location in the envelope. The paper demonstrates the good thermal and energy performance of farmhouses in central Italy. The results of the optimisation process showed that in these buildings, with the addition of insulation materials with low conductivity the perceived discomfort in the inhabited areas of the building can be reduced by 79% and the energy consumption related to heating can be reduced by 77%. The level of insulation of the pavement that separates the ground and first floor needs to be more moderate to promote the heat flow between floors during summer. The sensitivity analysis shows that the most influential component for thermal comfort is the roof insulation.

scholarly journals Coupling a sunspace to a hyper insulated building: Field tests of different configurations to optimize the energy and comfort performance

2018 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 109-118
Author(s):  
Giulia Ulpiani ◽  
Costanzo di Perna ◽  
Alessandra Romagnoli ◽  
Serena Summa
Keyword(s):  
Central Italy ◽  
Field Tests ◽  
Energy Performance ◽  
Design Parameters ◽  
The Sun ◽  
Dynamic Simulations ◽  
Convective Transfer ◽  
Daily Energy ◽  
Indoor Conditions

An experimental study was conducted on a hyper insulated building coupled with a sunspace, to investigate the role of the major design parameters (depth, glass percentage and typology, etc.) and mechanically controlled convective transfer (VMC) on the energy performance. Based on 132 dynamic simulations, a modifiable sunspace was built on the sun-exposed side of a nZEB mock-up in Central Italy and monitored via an extensive sensor network. The conditioning system tracked the seasonal set point via a bang-bang controller, while the VMC was governed by a bespoke temperature-driven logic. In a previous run, irradiative and combined irradiative-convective modes were tested on a 30% glazed sunspace: VMC was found to dump the daily energy consumption to -27%. Then; a second monitoring campaign compared the 30% and 50% configurations. The former guaranteed very stable indoor conditions (20.1±0.3°C), yet the latter still preserved global comfort at a remarkably lower (-40%) energy expenditure.

scholarly journals Thermal Comfort and Energy Performance of Atrium in Mediterranean Climate

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 1213 ◽  
Author(s):  
Reihaneh Aram ◽  
Halil Alibaba
Keyword(s):  
Thermal Comfort ◽  
Heat Loss ◽  
Mediterranean Climate ◽  
Warm Season ◽  
Energy Performance ◽  
Cold Season ◽  
The Other ◽  
Office Building ◽  
Building Model ◽  
Window Opening

This paper aims to determine the optimal single-story office building model with a corner atrium regarding different atrium orientations and office-building window-opening ratios in the Mediterranean climate via EDSL Tas software. When window-opening ratios were 25% and 50% at the northeast and southeast orientations of atriums and office spaces, thermal comfort was achieved according to categories B and C, respectively, within the cold season. Additionally, for the northeast atrium orientation with 25%, 137.2 W and 189.5 W of heat loss and gain in the office zone, and 37.7 W and 204.7 W of heat loss and gain in the atrium zone were recorded. Moreover, for the northeast atrium orientation with 50%, 134.5 W and 134.2 W of heat loss and gain in the office zone, and 40 W and 192 W of heat loss and gain in the atrium zone were recorded. On the other hand, for the southeast atrium orientation with 25%, 108.7 W and 143 W of heat loss and gain in the office zone, and 68.8 W and 130 W of heat loss and gain in the atrium zone were recorded, while, with 50%, 111.7 W and 142.7 W of heat loss and gain in the office zone, and 67.5 W and 121.2 W of heat loss and gain in the atrium zone were recorded. In the warm season, the atrium and office spaces were not thermally comfortable.

scholarly journals Evaluation of the energy performance of Zero Energy residential Buildings: complexity of dynamic simulations and results variability

2021 ◽  
Vol 312 ◽  
pp. 06002
Author(s):  
Silvia Di Turi ◽  
Ilaria Falcone ◽  
Iole Nardi ◽  
Laura Ronchetti ◽  
Nicolandrea Calabrese
Keyword(s):  
Natural Ventilation ◽  
Residential Buildings ◽  
Residential Building ◽  
Energy Performance ◽  
Climatic Data ◽  
Zero Energy ◽  
Dynamic Simulations ◽  
Zero Energy Building ◽  
Energy Needs ◽  
Definition Of

Due to its energy and environmental impact, the building sector has become a challenging field in order to fulfil the need for energy renovation and obtain low-consumption buildings. The main issue, for those who approach the feasible design of a Zero Energy Building (ZEB), is to assess, in the most realistic way possible, the thermal and energy needs and the energy production of the building, properly considering all the possible variables. Through the analysis of a newly built residential building case study, this work aims at showing the complexity of the ZEB design, analysing the energy performance as the design choices vary. After characterizing envelope and systems components, potential variations in the model are highlighted by applying a set of updated climatic data, varying occupancy, shading systems and natural ventilation functioning, often neglected. It leads to a wide and differentiated range of results, consequently influenced by the design phase. The work aims at providing, in the definition of the energy performance of the building, an evaluation of the variations obtained from the variables analysed that in the modelling phase are normally considered as a boundary but which instead play a key role for achieving the ZEB objective.

The methodology of experimental research of the feed components extrusion process in order to improve its energy performance

2020 ◽  
pp. 147-152
Author(s):  
E. M. Ratnikov ◽  
D. O. Milko
Keyword(s):  
Experimental Studies ◽  
Energy Performance ◽  
Extrusion Process ◽  
Mathematical Methods ◽  
Screw Extruder ◽  
Mathematical Planning ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Extrusion Processing ◽  
Definition Of

Annotation Purpose. Development of a program and methods for conducting experimental studies of the extrusion process with the definition of parameters and modes of operation of the extruder to improve its energy performance. Methods. Methods of mathematical statistics, synthesis, analysis, description and modeling were used. Results. The application of mathematical methods, in particular mathematical planning, reduces the number of experiments several times, and allows to evaluate the role of influencing factors, obtain a mathematical model of the process and determine the optimal conditions for its parameters and modes, etc. Conclusions. The methodology for experimental studies of a screw extruder is presented with the necessary equipment and methodology for processing the obtained experimental data. A mathematical method of planning, which reduces the number of experiments several times, allows us to evaluate the role of factors affecting productivity and energy intensity is presented. Keywords: extruder, auger, nutrients, research methodology, extrusion, processing, feed.

scholarly journals Experimental Data and Simulations of Performance and Thermal Comfort in a Typical Mediterranean House

Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (11) ◽  
pp. 3311
Author(s):  
Víctor Pérez-Andreu ◽  
Carolina Aparicio-Fernández ◽  
José-Luis Vivancos ◽  
Javier Cárcel-Carrasco
Keyword(s):  
Energy Efficiency ◽  
Thermal Comfort ◽  
Energy Demand ◽  
Natural Ventilation ◽  
Thermal Characterization ◽  
Energy Performance ◽  
Building Stock ◽  
Energy Demands ◽  
Dwelling House ◽  
Account Standard

The number of buildings renovated following the introduction of European energy-efficiency policy represents a small number of buildings in Spain. So, the main Spanish building stock needs an urgent energy renovation. Using passive strategies is essential, and thermal characterization and predictive tests of the energy-efficiency improvements achieving acceptable levels of comfort for their users are urgently necessary. This study analyzes the energy performance and thermal comfort of the users in a typical Mediterranean dwelling house. A transient simulation has been used to acquire the scope of Spanish standards for its energy rehabilitation, taking into account standard comfort conditions. The work is based on thermal monitoring of the building and a numerical validated model developed in TRNSYS. Energy demands for different models have been calculated considering different passive constructive measures combined with real wind site conditions and the behavior of users related to natural ventilation. This methodology has given us the necessary information to decide the best solution in relation to energy demand and facility of implementation. The thermal comfort for different models is not directly related to energy demand and has allowed checking when and where the measures need to be done.

scholarly journals Thermal Dynamic Behavior in Bi-Zone Habitable Cell with and without Phase Change Materials

Proceedings ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 63 (1) ◽  
pp. 41
Author(s):  
Hanae El Fakiri ◽  
Lahoucine Ouhsaine ◽  
Abdelmajid El Bouardi
Keyword(s):  
Thermal Behavior ◽  
Thermal Comfort ◽  
Phase Change ◽  
Dynamic Behavior ◽  
Phase Change Materials ◽  
Energy Performance ◽  
High Energy ◽  
Water Heater ◽  
Simplified Modeling

The thermal dynamic behavior of buildings represents an important aspect of the energy efficiency and thermal comfort of the indoor environment. For this, phase change material (PCM) wallboards integrated into building envelopes play an important role in stabilizing the temperature of the human comfort condition. This article provides an assessment of the thermal behavior of a “bi-zone” building cell, which was built based on high-energy performance (HEP) standards and heated by a solar water heater system through a hydronic circuit. The current study is based on studying the dynamic thermal behavior, with and without implantation of PCMs on envelope structure, using a simplified modeling approach. The evolution of the average air temperature was first evaluated as a major indicator of thermal comfort. Then, an evaluation of the thermal behavior’s dynamic profile was carried out in this study, which allowed for the determination of the PCM rate anticipation in the thermal comfort of the building cell.

scholarly journals Water Extraction from Air: A Proposal for a New Indicator to Compare Air Water Generators Efficiency

Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 224
Author(s):  
Lucia Cattani ◽  
Anna Magrini ◽  
Paolo Cattani
Keyword(s):  
Energy Efficiency ◽  
Comprehensive Evaluation ◽  
Specific Energy Consumption ◽  
Energy Performance ◽  
Water Extraction ◽  
Coefficient Of Performance ◽  
Efficiency Evaluation ◽  
Evaluation Approach ◽  
Cycle Systems ◽  
Definition Of

Water extraction from air, based on reverse cycle systems, is becoming a technology more and more diffused and various models of air to water generators (AWG) are now available, all claiming the best efficiency. To date, there is not a standard indicator stating energy efficiency for AWGs, neither in the literature nor in technical practice. The only evaluation parameter, that can be found is a sort of specific energy consumption (SEC) without any clear indications about the involved calculation terms, definition of hypotheses, or environmental conditions. The current work is a first proposal of an indicator to standardise the AWG efficiency evaluation. The indicator is called WET (Water Energy Transformation); it states water production as a useful effect of an AWG machine and calculates its energy performance with an approach similar to COP (Coefficient of Performance) and EER (Energy Efficiency Ratio) evaluation. The indicator is meant to be a normalised tool that permits comparing different AWG machines, but it is also the first part of a wider study, currently under development that is oriented to obtain a global index formulation that combines WET itself, EER and COP, and it is intended for a comprehensive evaluation of all the useful effects of a reverse cycle in integrated machines, in compliance with the current efficiency evaluation approach. The current paper presents the WET equation, with a discussion about involved terms, a set of normalised calculation conditions and some application examples, including a comparison with SEC.

scholarly journals Occupant behaviour and thermal comfort in buildings: Monitoring the end user

2019 ◽  
Vol 111 ◽  
pp. 04056
Author(s):  
Loes Visser ◽  
Boris Kingma ◽  
Eric Willems ◽  
Wendy Broers ◽  
Marcel Loomans ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Thermal Comfort ◽  
Energy Performance ◽  
The Body ◽  
Activity Level ◽  
Biophysical Model ◽  
Zone Model ◽  
Occupant Behaviour ◽  
Ambient Conditions ◽  
Skin Temperatures ◽  
Thermoregulatory Behaviour

Studies indicate that the energy performance gap between real and calculated energy use can be explained for 80% by occupant behaviour. This human factor may be composed of routine and thermoregulatory behaviour. When occupants do not feel comfortable due to high or low operative temperatures and resulting high or low skin temperatures, they are likely to exhibit thermoregulatory behaviour. The aim of this study is to monitor and understand this thermoregulatory behaviour of the occupant. This is a detailed study of two females living in a rowhouse in the city of Heerlen (Netherlands). During a monitoring period of three weeks over a time span of three months the following parameters were monitored: activity level, clothing, micro climate, skin temperatures and thermal comfort and sensation. Their micro climate was measured at five positions on the body to assess exposed near body conditions and skin temperature. Every two hours they filled in a questionnaire regarding their thermal comfort and sensation level (7-point scale), clothing, activities and thermoregulatory behaviour. The most comfortable (optimal) temperature was calculated for each person by adopting a biophysical model, a thermoneutral zone model. This study shows unique indivual comfort patterns in relation to ambient conditions. An example is given how this information can be used to calculate the buildings energy comsumption.

scholarly journals Sustainability of sunflower cultivation for biodiesel production in central Italy according to the Renewable Energy Directive methodology

2014 ◽  
Vol 44 (4) ◽  
pp. 175 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniele Duca ◽  
Giuseppe Toscano ◽  
Ester Foppa Pedretti ◽  
Giovanni Riva
Keyword(s):  
Fossil Fuels ◽  
Central Italy ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
Biodiesel Production ◽  
European Level ◽  
Minimum Threshold ◽  
Irrigated Crops ◽  
Standard Value ◽  
Points Of View ◽  
Definition Of

The use of renewable energies as alternative to fossil fuels has value from different points of view and has effects at environmental, social and economic level. These aspects are often connected to each other and together define the overall sustainability of bioenergy. At European level, the Directive 2009/28/EC gives the basic criteria for the estimation of sustainability of biofuels and indicates a minimum threshold of 35% of greenhouse gas saving for a biofuel in order to be considered sustainable. The Directive gives the possibility to identify standard regional values for the cultivation steps that could be utilized for the certification. This paper aims to give a contribution to the definition of these values considering the RED methodology applied to the sunflower cropped in central Italy which is characterized by a hilly landscape and not-irrigated crops. To determine input and output of sunflower cultivation in the central Italy, the results of PROBIO project, carried out by the Authors, were used. The sustainability of biodiesel produced from sunflower grown in central Italy is variable and depends on the nitrogen input and seasonal climatic conditions that affect the yields. The greenhouse gases savings of the Italian chain is 40% in average, greater than the required 35% and would be possible to assign this value as standard to the biofuel chain <em>biodiesel from sunflower cultivated in central Italy</em>. Using an averaged regional standard value guards against the possibility of considering unsustainable harvesting in unfavourable years and seeing it overestimated in the favourable ones.

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