Estimation of heat exchange coefficients in indoor environments

The current construction trend of minimizing buildings’ heat losses by means of large heat coats rises the problem of limiting the increase of the cooling energy consumption, especially in the Mediterranean climates. This is usually achieved by controlling the internal gains and the direct radiant energy entering through the windows during the summer season, by dimensioning and positioning conveniently shading and heat capacitances in the wall layers, and by developing effective designs of natural ventilation flows. Observed heat exchange dynamics among room walls show that different parts of the same wall may have different roles in the overall heat exchange behavior depending on its morphology, on the external climate conditions, on the ventilation regime and, of course, on its recent thermal history. A rather precise knowledge of the heat exchange dynamics among room walls is therefore necessary to guide any design procedures aimed at minimizing the effects of large heat coats on the summer cooling energy consumption.

This research entails the development of a practical one side indoor measurement technique, combining dynamic thermography with traditional contact thermal measurements, in order to provide an effective mean for the estimation of the thermal flux at each point depicted by the thermal image.

Working Group
Massimo Lemma, Alberto Giretti, Roberta Ansuini, Roberto Larghetti, Costanzo Di Perna (Department of Energetics)