Martin Tenpierik

Analytical Models for Calculating Thermal Bridge Effects Caused by Thin High Barrier Envelopes around Vacuum Insulation Panels

Although vacuum insulation panels (VIPs) are thermal insulators with very low center-of-panel thermal conductivity, their effective thermal conductivity is raised significantly due to large edge heat fluxes caused by a continuously enveloping high barrier laminate, especially if metal based foils are applied. This study therefore presents and validates two analytical approximating models for calculating this thermal edge effect for thin high barrier laminates around VIPs. A comparison of these models with numerical simulations shows that they can be applied with an inaccuracy of <5% for idealized barrier laminates, considering the limitations specified. These models also demonstrate that the linear thermal transmittance, representing this edge effect, amongst others depends on envelope thickness and thermal conductivity, panel thickness, and center-of-panel thermal conductivity. Moreover, this study shows that these models are able to estimate the linear thermal transmittance resulting from more realistic VIPs with seams near their edges, as well. For these realistic panels, deviations between numerical data and prediction model maximally amount to about 9%. Using the presented models then, enables VIP designers, architects, and building engineers to estimate the overall thermal performance of a VIP.

Integrating vacuum insulation panels in building constructions: an integral perspective

Purpose – Although vacuum insulation panels (VIPs) are thermal insulators that combine high thermal performance with limited thickness, application in the building sector is still rare due to lack ...

An Analytical Model for Calculating Thermal Bridge Effects in High Performance Building Enclosure

Although vacuum insulation panels (VIPs) are excellent thermal insulators, edge effects decrease their overall thermal performance. Moreover, they are often used with protections, such as integration into a panel. These panels typically use spacers that cause a significant additional thermal bridge. The effect of this thermal bridge is either determined accurately with numerical simulation tools or estimated with simple thermal resistance networks. The first approach is laborious, while the latter approach lacks accuracy. This study therefore presents and validates an analytical approximation model for calculating this thermal edge effect. A comparison of this model with numerical simulation shows that it can be applied with an inaccuracy of <10%. The total inaccuracy, however, also includes an error due to the schematization of the edge of the building panel. Yet, this model appears to be very useful for estimation of the linear thermal transmittance of the edge of building panels.

The creation of SenseLab : a laboratory for testing and experiencing single and combinations of indoor environmental conditions

ABSTRACT Research has shown that staying indoors is not good for our health. People spend more and more of their time indoors. Therefore, providing a healthy and comfortable indoor environment is very important. The SenseLab will contribute to the understanding of and coping with the indoor environment. Students, teachers, researchers, but also the general public are able to experience and test different combinations of environmental conditions. The SenseLab is built around the four indoor environmental quality (IEQ) factors (air, thermal, light and acoustical quality), including: the experience room, for integrated perception of IEQ, so studying all factors together. And four test chambers, open to the public, where you can take a sniff of materials, feel heat and cold, see how light influences perception and experience how acoustics can be improved. A genuine playground for your senses.

More than just a green facade: Vertical gardens for sound absorption and architectural acoustics

Noise can become uncomfortable for us in many situations both indoors and outdoors. External noise consists of activities (airplanes flying overhead, traffic on the road, etc.) that are either loud enough to be considered uncomfortable when outdoors, or are of an elevated volume to the extent that they infiltrate buildings at levels considered uncomfortable. In the case of internal uncomfortable noise, this can either stem from noisy activities that occur inside the building (people speaking loudly, printers, etc.), or when an unexpected sound suddenly permeates an area that has a very low level of background noise. The most common manner by which to mitigate excess noise is through the use of certain materials, which either insulate against noise passing through the material, or absorb the noise wavelengths. In the case of the latter, vertical gardens present themselves as not only an aesthetic element in architecture, but also as a potential acoustic control tool in building design. For this work 10 m2 of vertical garden substrate modules was tested in a full size reverberation chamber. The objective was to open the doors for vertical gardens to be used in architectural acoustic design.