Description and contextualization of the subject

This course focuses on teaching the students how a high performance envelope is designed based on the local weather conditions, building orientation and use. The course starts with the heat, air and moisture transfer mechanisms that occur within the building envelope. Then, selecting the best thermal resistance and thermal inertia combination for building envelops walls is given. The selection of the windows regarding thermal transmittance, solar heat gains and how to optimize the solar shadowing or reflecting systems are also studied. To finalize the course, different solar active and passive building envelope solutions are presented and explained, such as: green roofs and walls, Building Integrated photovoltaic systems, ventilated façades, etc.

Learning outcomes of the subject

LO1. Knowledge and skills to identify the heat transfer mechanisms that occur in buildings.

LO2. Analyze and predict the heat losses and heat gains in buildings.

LO3. Analyze and predict the moisture behavior of buildings.

LO4. Knowledge and skills to identify the relationship between the configuration of the pore system of construction materials and their hygroscopic properties.

LO5. Knowledge and skills to recognize and evaluate the moisture storage and transport properties and the testing techniques necessary for a complete hygrothermal characterization of building materials.

LO6. Moisture transport simulation software skills.

LO7. Knowledge and skills to identify the air transfer mechanisms.

LO8. Air transfer measuring and calculation skills.

LO9. Knowledge and skills to select appropriate materials and building components under high energy efficiency criteria.

Ordinary call: orientations and renunciation

In case the student fails to take the exam, it will be considered as a waiver of the call and will be classified as NOT TAKEN.

Extraordinary call: orientations and renunciation

In the extraordinary call, the evaluation will be carried out in exactly the same way as in the ordinary call.

Temary

Heat transfer : (2.0 ECTS)

- Introduction.

- Steady heat transfer.

- Transient heat transfer. Time-domain methods: Response factors. Coefficients of the transfer functions. Space domain.

- Transient heat transfer. Frequency-domain methods: Admittance method.

- Numerical methods: Finite difference. Finite volume. Finite element.

Mass transfer: (1.0 ECTS)

- Moisture in buildings

- Porous media characterization

- Moisture storage properties

- Moisture transport properties

- Transient moisture transfer.

- Moisture transfer through building envelope simulations tools.

- Moisture Buffering.

Air transfer: (1.0 ECTS)

- Air pressure differences: Wind pressure. Stack pressure. Mechanical air infiltration.

- Air leakage characteristics in buildings: Flow through openings (large and small).

- Air infiltration measurement and modeling: Blower-door test. Tracer gas methods. Infiltration models.

High energy performance building envelopes (2.0 ECTS)

- Design criteria.

- High thermal performance materials.

- Passive building envelope solutions.

- Active building envelope solutions.

Bibliography

Compulsory materials

The material of obligatory use will be the notes of the teacher

Basic bibliography

- Lecturer notes

- A. Aksamija (2013) Sustainable facades. John Wiley & Sons, New Jersey

- Hens, H. (2007). Building Physics-Heat, Air and Moisture. Fundamentals and Engineering Methods with Examples and Exercises. Ernst & Son.

- Bomberg M., (1974) Moisture flow through building materials, Report 52, Division of building technology, Lund institute of technology

Journals

Energy & Buildings. ELSEVIER



Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer. ELSEVIER



Building and Environment. ELSEVIER



Journal of Building Physics and Thermal Envelopes. SAGE