INTRODUCTION OVERVIEW OUTDOOR INDOOR CONCLUSIONS REFERENCES APPENDICES

5. INDOOR | COMPUTER LAB 02

5.8 THERMAL STUDIES

5.8.3 Typical Winter Week

The thermal performance for the base case, over a typical winter week, is seen in this section. As seen in figure 5.8.3.1, the period chosen for this week dates from 30 November to 6 December, where the outdoor temperature is ranging between 2°C to 13°C. The daily global horizontal solar radiation is seen to reach a maximum of 200 Watts. The indoor thermal comfort band is between 19°C to 25°C for the entire month. It is important to note that the operational hours are considered from Monday to Saturday, with Sunday being non-operational. According to the simulation results it can be seen that, for free-running mode, with maximum occupancy, the temperature ranges from 9°C (minimum) to 20°C (maximum). However, the simulations with minimum occupancy show a temperature variation from 9.5°C (minimum) to 17°C (maximum). With regards to the base case, it is seen that only a small period of operational hours is within the comfort zone.

Annual heat gains and losses, from different parameters for this case, can be seen in figure 5.8.3.2. It is observed that the air exchanges per hour, ranging from 4 ac/h to 9 ac/h, which is clearly not sufficient to decrease the indoor temperature (Figure 5.8.3.3).

Typical Winter Week

5. INDOOR | COMPUTER LAB 02

5.8 THERMAL STUDIES

5.8.4 Winter | Night Shutters + Insulation

The thermal performance for the base case winter along with the solution case is seen in figure 5.8.4.1. The use of night shutters during non-operational hours, considering this scenario as the solution case, along with introducing change in glazing properties for improving insulation.

Similar to the previous simulation results it can be seen that the temperature variations in the operational hours are within the comfort band, for the solution case, however, there is an impact in the reduction of annual heating demand.

Double Low-e argon glass, as additional insulation with a U-value of 2.08 W/K is used. Furthermore, the introduction of 50mm thick night shutters with a thermal conductivity as a common insulation material (0.04W/mK) is done.

Annual heat gains and losses, from different parameters for this case, can be seen in figure 5.8.4.3. It is observed that the air exchanges per hour, ranging from 4 ac/h to 15 ac/h, help in improving the thermal performance of the space (Figure 5.8.4.3).