Variant Analysis of Partition Renovation by Assessing the Change in Temperature Field

Abstract

Climate change and limited energy resources encourage more efficient energy use in residential houses. The modernization of housing stock is already reflected in statistical data: in the last decade household thermal energy consumption for heating has decreased by about 15%, even though in the same time span the total area of housing stock has increased by about 14%. Thermographic analysis is acknowledged as an effective non-destructive method for detecting possible thermal energy losses through partitions and their joints. The heat exchange in constructions is described by using analysis of a temperature field, which allows the possibility to evaluate the changes in construction exploitation after renovation and their aging tendencies. The article analyses the renovation variations of a residential house outer partition. The thermal condition of the partition construction was determined according to the results of the thermographic analysis. After calculations, it was determined, that the analyzed wall satisfies only current C energy class requirements. Based on theoretical calculations and construction limitations it is recommended to additionally insulate the partition from the inside. The two analyzed insulations types would allow improving the thermal isolation properties of the partition up to the A+ energy efficiency class. The more fitting approach based on construction work technology properties and price would be the insulation by use of rock wool with a steel carcass. The evaluation of the temperature field after the renovation showed, that second analyzed insulation method – attaching polystyrene foam panels – would be more efficient: in the temperature field graph on average 31,2% of the width of the current wall is in the negative temperature zone, while the for the first method the number is 23,7%, the second – 21,5%. While insulating the partition by use of polystyrene foam, besides the lesser part of the construction in the negative temperature zone, the occurrence of a dew point would also be limited by the better steam isolation properties.
Keywords: thermal characteristics, thermography, temperature field, partition.