Zbigniew Suchorab

Determination of Moisture Diffusivity using the Time Domain Reflectometry (TDR) Method

The time domain reflectometry (TDR) method is commonly used for the measurement of moisture content in soil science. In this study, the method is employed for the measurement of moisture profiles in building materials. The practical applications of the method are presented on an example of water penetration into cellular concrete (aerated autoclaved concrete) samples. The measured results are then used for the determination of moisture diffusivity as a function of moisture content.

Mechanical and Physical Properties of Hydrophobized Lightweight Aggregate Concrete with Sewage Sludge

This article is focused on lightweight aggregate-concrete modified by municipal sewage sludge and lightweight aggregate-concrete obtained from light aggregates. The article presents laboratory examinations of material physical parameters. Water absorptivity of the examined material was decreased by the admixture of water emulsion of reactive polysiloxanes. Water transport properties were determined using Time Domain Reflectometry, an indirect technique for moisture detection in porous media. Together with basic physical parameters, the heat conductivity coefficient λ was determined for both types of lightweight aggregate-concrete. Analysis of moisture and heat properties of the examined materials confirmed the usefulness of light aggregates supplemented with sewage sludge for prospective production.

Application of Gas Sensor Arrays in Assessment of Wastewater Purification Effects

A gas sensor array consisting of eight metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) type gas sensors was evaluated for its ability for assessment of the selected wastewater parameters. Municipal wastewater was collected in a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) in a primary sedimentation tank and was treated in a laboratory-scale sequential batch reactor (SBR). A comparison of the gas sensor array (electronic nose) response to the standard physical-chemical parameters of treated wastewater was performed. To analyze the measurement results, artificial neural networks were used. E-nose—gas sensors array and artificial neural networks proved to be a suitable method for the monitoring of treated wastewater quality. Neural networks used for data validation showed high correlation between the electronic nose readouts and: (I) chemical oxygen demand (COD) (r = 0.988); (II) total suspended solids (TSS) (r = 0.938); (III) turbidity (r = 0.940); (IV) pH (r = 0.554); (V) nitrogen compounds: N-NO3 (r = 0.958), N-NO2 (r = 0.869) and N-NH3 (r = 0.978); (VI) and volatile organic compounds (VOC) (r = 0.987). Good correlation of the abovementioned parameters are observed under stable treatment conditions in a laboratory batch reactor.

Composite Materials Based on Hemp and Flax for Low-Energy Buildings

The article presents the results obtained in the course of a study on prospective application of flax/hemp wastes as a filling material of lime-based composites in the construction of low-energy buildings. The utilized filler comprised the hydrated lime with clay and Portland cement used as additives. The analysis involved evaluation of such properties as porosity, density, thermal conductivity, absorptivity, permeability, as well as compressive and flexural strength. Depending on the quantity of the filler, the properties of the composite changed. This, in turn, enabled to evaluate whether the utilized composite met the thermal requirements established for low-energy buildings. Afterwards, the obtained data were cross-referenced with the results gathered in the case of a room built of autoclaved aerated concrete. In order to prevent reaching the critical surface humidity, the internal surface temperature had to be calculated. Moreover, the chances of interstitial condensation occurring in the wall made of the analyzed lime–flax–hemp composite were determined as well. The study showed that the composite exhibits low strength, low density, low thermal conductivity, and high absorptivity. The external walls made of the lime–flax–hemp composite receive a limited exposure to condensation, but not significant enough to constitute any threat. The requirements established for low-energy buildings can be met by using the analyzed composite.

Evaluating Soil Moisture Status Using an e-Nose

The possibility of distinguishing different soil moisture levels by electronic nose (e-nose) was studied. Ten arable soils of various types were investigated. The measurements were performed for air-dry (AD) soils stored for one year, then moistened to field water capacity and finally dried within a period of 180 days. The volatile fingerprints changed during the course of drying. At the end of the drying cycle, the fingerprints were similar to those of the initial AD soils. Principal component analysis (PCA) and artificial neural network (ANN) analysis showed that e-nose results can be used to distinguish soil moisture. It was also shown that different soils can give different e-nose signals at the same moistures.

Free of Volatile Organic Compounds Protection against Moisture in Building Materials/Zabezpieczenia Przegród Budowlanych Przed Wilgocią Wolne Od Lotnych Związków Organicznych

Abstract The article presents information about moisture protection of building materials. The discussed parameters determining the efficiency of the water protection are material porosity, water absorptivity and surface condition of building materials. Moreover the ecological aspect of hydrophobic VOC-free preparations available on the market has been underlined. The first part of the article is a description of moisture problem in the building envelopes and the possibilities of its prevention. The special attention is put on the electric methods of moisture estimation with a special emphasis on the Time Domain Reflectometry (TDR) method. The second part of the article is devoted an experiment of model red-brick walls exhibited on capillary uptake process. For the experiment three model red-brick walls were built and prepared for water uptake process. The experiment was monitored by the capacitive and surface TDR probes thanks to which the necessity of sampling and material destruction could be avoided. Conducted experiments show the progress of water uptake phenomenon in the model walls which differ in type of protection against moisture and prove the potential of the non-invasive measurements using the surface TDR probes. Basic physical parameters of the applied bricks were determined together with the reflectometric measurements. Furthermore, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) was used to analyze the hydrophobic layer continuity. Abstrakt W artykule przedstawiono parametry materiałów budowlanych, które wpływają na skuteczność stosowania preparatów hydrofobowych. Należą do nich porowatość, nasiąkliwość i stan powierzchni. Podkreślono również ekologiczne aspekty stosowania dostępnych na rynku budowlanym hydrofobowych preparatów wolnych od lotnych związków organicznych. Pierwsza część pracy jest omówieniem problemów wilgotnościowych w przegrodach budowlanych. Duży nacisk położono na elektryczne techniki detekcji wilgoci ze szczególnym uwzględnieniem metody TDR. Druga część ma charakter eksperymentalny. W celu zbadania zjawiska podciągania kapilarnego przygotowano trzy modelowe ścianki z cegły ceramicznej pełnej. Omawiany proces był monitorowany za pomocą czujników pojemnościowych oraz powierzchniowych sond TDR. Uzyskane wyniki pozwalają na śledzenie procesu podciągania kapilarnego w modelowych ściankach z cegły ceramicznej różniących się od siebie rodzajem zastosowanego preparatu hydrofobowego i potwierdzają możliwości sondy powierzchniowej TDR w pomiarach wilgotnościowych murów. Równolegle do badań za pomocą technik elektrycznych wyznaczono podstawowe parametry fizyczne cegły wykorzystanej do wymurowania ścianek, wykonano również zdjęcia za pomocą skaningowego mikroskopu elektronowego (SEM) w celu przeanalizowania ciągłości warstwy hydrofobowej.

Estimation of building material moisture using non-invasive TDR sensors

The article presents the noninvasive attempt to measure moisture of building materials with the use of electric methods. Comparing to the other techniques of moisture detection like chemical or physical, the electric methods enable quick moisture estimation and they seem to be a suitable solution to monitor moisture changes. Most of electric moisture meters are the capacitance and resistance sensors. A perspective technique to determine moisture of building materials and barriers is Time Domain Reflectometry (TDR) method. This method has been successfully applied for moisture determination of the soils and since a few years has been used to measure moisture of building materials. The attempts to measure moisture of building materials require modification of traditional TDR sensor construction and extra calibration procedures. Sensors applied for building materials, comparing to the traditional ones are noninvasive. The advantages of surface sensors proposed in this article are the following: no influence ...

Estimation of water absorption coefficient using the TDR method

Moisture accumulation and transport in the building barriers is an important feature that influences building performance, causing serious exploitation problems as increased energy use, mold and bacteria growth, decrease of indoor air parameters that may lead to sick building syndrome (SBS). One of the parameters that is used to describe moisture characteristic of the material is water absorption coefficient being the measure of capillary behavior of the material as a function of time and the surface area of the specimen. As usual it is determined using gravimetric methods according to EN 1925:1999 standard. In this article we demonstrate the possibility of determination of water absorption coefficient of autoclaved aerated concrete (AAC) using the Time Domain Reflectometry (TDR) method. TDR is an electric technique that had been adopted from soil science and can be successfully used for real-time monitoring of moisture transport in building materials and envelopes. Data achieved using TDR readouts show h...

Classification of buildings mold threat using electronic nose

Mold is considered to be one of the most important features of Sick Building Syndrome and is an important problem in current building industry. In many cases it is caused by the rising moisture of building envelopes surface and exaggerated humidity of indoor air. Concerning historical buildings it is mostly caused by outdated raising techniques among that is absence of horizontal isolation against moisture and hygroscopic materials applied for construction. Recent buildings also suffer problem of mold risk which is caused in many cases by hermetization leading to improper performance of gravitational ventilation systems that make suitable conditions for mold development. Basing on our research there is proposed a method of buildings mold threat classification using electronic nose, based on a gas sensors array which consists of MOS sensors (metal oxide semiconductor). Used device is frequently applied for air quality assessment in environmental engineering branches. Presented results show the interpretation of e-nose readouts of indoor air sampled in rooms threatened with mold development in comparison with clean reference rooms and synthetic air. Obtained multivariate data were processed, visualized and classified using a PCA (Principal Component Analysis) and ANN (Artificial Neural Network) methods. Described investigation confirmed that electronic nose – gas sensors array supported with data processing enables to classify air samples taken from different rooms affected with mold.Mold is considered to be one of the most important features of Sick Building Syndrome and is an important problem in current building industry. In many cases it is caused by the rising moisture of building envelopes surface and exaggerated humidity of indoor air. Concerning historical buildings it is mostly caused by outdated raising techniques among that is absence of horizontal isolation against moisture and hygroscopic materials applied for construction. Recent buildings also suffer problem of mold risk which is caused in many cases by hermetization leading to improper performance of gravitational ventilation systems that make suitable conditions for mold development. Basing on our research there is proposed a method of buildings mold threat classification using electronic nose, based on a gas sensors array which consists of MOS sensors (metal oxide semiconductor). Used device is frequently applied for air quality assessment in environmental engineering branches. Presented results show the interpretati...

Computational fluid dynamics simulation of an earth-air heat exchanger for ventilation system

Directive 2010/31/EU (EPBD Recast) obligates European Union members to improve energetic performance of the buildings. One of the crucial standards of energy-saving buildings are the passive houses, which are characterized by annual maximum space heating below 15 kWh/(m2·a) and the use of the specific primary energy for all domestic applications (also heating, hot water production and electricity) below 120 kWh/(m2·a). To achieve this standard there should be applied the solutions based on ground energy acquisition. One of them is the earth-air heat exchanger (EAHC) for ventilation systems. The article presents numerical simulations conducted by solving partial differential equations for three dimensional heat transfer. For the simulations it was applied Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) technique. The efficiency of EAHC was considered under different values of external temperature during the winter period (from –24 to –8 °C). Obtained results prove linear correlation with calculations of EAHC according to standards of the Polish National Energy Conservation Agency (NAPE). The slope of regression between outlet temperatures calculated with CFD model and NAPE standards, equals 0.59 which means, that according the CFD model, the efficiency of the exchanger is lower.Directive 2010/31/EU (EPBD Recast) obligates European Union members to improve energetic performance of the buildings. One of the crucial standards of energy-saving buildings are the passive houses, which are characterized by annual maximum space heating below 15 kWh/(m2·a) and the use of the specific primary energy for all domestic applications (also heating, hot water production and electricity) below 120 kWh/(m2·a). To achieve this standard there should be applied the solutions based on ground energy acquisition. One of them is the earth-air heat exchanger (EAHC) for ventilation systems. The article presents numerical simulations conducted by solving partial differential equations for three dimensional heat transfer. For the simulations it was applied Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) technique. The efficiency of EAHC was considered under different values of external temperature during the winter period (from –24 to –8 °C). Obtained results prove linear correlation with calculations of EAHC according ...