Chapter I.

Physics of Heat

Principles of heat
Heat transfer
Design strategies and heat
Temperature – a property of a body
Heat – an energy flow to or from a body by virtue of
temperature difference

Sensible heat 90W Ambient temperature on the immediate

Heat that can be sensed
through the changes in
temperature
•Heat loss from skin or
clothing through
convection and radiation,
respiration
Specific heat
Quantity of heat required to
elevate the temperature of unit
mass of a substance by 1 degree
J/kg.K
surrounding area
•when it drops the body will reduce heat
loss by reducing blood flow to the surface,
reducing the skin’s temperature by not
sweating
Latent heat
Heat taken up or released at a fixed
temperature during a change of
phase e.g. from liquid to gas
•Evaporation of sweat
•Evaporation of moisture during
25W respiration
115W
Which has higher specific heat water
or steel?
Q = CMΔT ÷ heat input
Heat flow rate = specific heat of (ex. water) x
mass x change of temperature
 specific heat ex. metal deck 480,
thatch straw 1420, water 4176J/kg.K
 100˚C – given 20˚C
Ex.1 Given 0.5kg of water at 20˚C in an Problem 1. Given 0.5kg of metal
electric jug with an 800W immersion heater at 20˚C in an electric jug with
element, how long will it take to bring it to an 800W immersion heater
boil? element, how long will it take
Q = CMΔT to reach 100˚C?
= 0.5kg x 4176J/kg.K x Q = CMΔT
(100-20)K ÷ 800J = 0.5kg x 480J/kg.K x (100-
= 167,040J ÷ 800J/s 20)K ÷ 800J
= 208s  3.5min. = 19,200J ÷ 800J/s
Thus it will take 3.5 = 24s
minutes to bring a Thus it will take 24s to bring a
0.5kg, 20˚C water to 0.5kg, 20˚C metal to reach
boil 100 ˚C
 Heat Transfer

warm cold
Heat Transfer through Conduction
Heat Energy Heat Energy
Point A Point B

Heat Transfer through Convection

Heat Energy Heat Energy

Point A Point B
Heat Transfer through Radiation
 Heat transfer and thermal
comfort
1. Thermal radiation
2. Air temperature
3. Humidity
4. Air movement
5. Thermal properties of surfaces
contacted by the body

As shown : When the floor surface is heated by the sun, it

warms the air above itself, radiates heat to the human body,
and conducts heat to the human foot that contacts it. The
warmed air rises above the surrounding air, creating a
convective circulation, and the air’s relative humidity is
reduced as its temperature is raised.
Predominant season Process of heat transfer Bioclimatic design strategy

conduction convection radiation

1. Winter and summer ✓ ✓ Delay periodic heat flow

✓ ✓ ✓ Provide thermal storage

2. Summer overheated ✓ Minimize heat flow

✓ Minimize infiltration

3. Winter ✓ Promote solar gain

✓ Minimize external air flow

4. summer ✓ Promote ventilation

✓ Minimize solar gain

✓ Promote radiant cooling

Promote evaporative cooling

* evaporation

Design Strategies and Heat

 Conduction
Problem 2. Given a 6mm glass of
Q= AxUxΔT 6sqm and U-value of 5
Example 2. If the outside W/m2K; and a double glazing
temperature is To = 6sqm with a U-value of
10˚C and the inside is 2.9W/m2K, both are exposed
Ti= 22˚C, thus ΔT = to To = 20 ˚C and Ti = 18 ˚C,
10-22 = -12K over a which has higher heat flow
10cu.m brick wall rate?
with a U value of Q6mm glass = 6 x 5 x 2= 60W
1.5W/m2K, what will
be the heat flow rate? Q double glazing = 6 x 2.9 x 2 =
34.8 W
Q = 10 x 1.5 x (-12) = -
180W Higher heat gain can be achieved
with 6mm glazing
END OF PART 1
Calculating the Thermal System
of a Building
 Heat flow is quantified by:
Qi = Internal heat gain
Qc = Conduction heat gain or heat loss
Qs = Solar heat gain
Qv = Ventilation heat gain or heat loss
Qm = Mechanical heating or cooling
Qe = Latent heat gain or loss

Qi + Qc + Qs + Qv + Qm + Qe = 0
 Qi = Internal heat gain
electric lights, people, power
equipment and appliances
Qi = Q people + Q appliances + Q
lighting + Q heating
Qp = #people x 115 watts
Qa = # appliances x watts/hr
Ql = # light fixtures x watts/hr
Qh = #mechanical heaters/coolers x
watts/hr
Example:
Qp = 50 people x 115 watts = 5750 watts
*Same number of people at 7am, 7pm, 12 noon, 3pm
none so the average is 4312 watts
Qa = 2 electric ovens x 1000 watts + 2 refrigerator x 800
watts = 3600 watts/hr
*refs are used 24 hours and oven 2x a day so the average
is 1400
Ql = 20 fluorescent lamps x 40 watts = 800 watts/hr
*Daylight @ 7am, 12 noon and 3pm, and 800 watts at 7pm
so the average is 200 watts
Qh = there are no mechanical air conditioning system or
heaters inside the building
Qi = Q people + Q appliances + Q lighting + Q
heating
Qi = 4312 watts + 1400 + 200 + 0
Qi = 5912 watts per day
 Qc = Conduction
heat gain or heat loss
through the enclosing Qc = (A wall x U wall +
elements, caused by a A window x U
temperature difference window) ΔT
between outside and Qc = UA ΔT
inside the building Where
1. Analyze the surface ΔT = Toutside – Tinside
types of the building (˚C)
– wall and window
2. Get the surface area
3. Get the U value
 Example: The building has 5 exterior boundaries
of 20cm CHB, plasterboard and single panel
glass windows
1. Area of boundaries:
A wall 1 = 8 A wall 2 = 15 A wall 3 = 20 A wall 4 = 23 A wall 5 = 35 A wall total =
sqm sqm sqm sqm sqm 101 sqm
A wdw 1 = A wdw 2 = 8 A wdw 3 = 4 A wdw 4 = 4 A wdw 5 = A wdw total
4sqm sqm sqm sqm 15 sqm = 35 sqm

2. U value of materials:
CHB 20cm plasterboard = 1.83 W/m2K and single panel 6mm glass = 5.0 W/m2K

3. Interior and exterior temperatures at 4 times where ΔT = Te – Ti

Negative = heat loss, positive = heat gain
Te,7am = 15˚ C Te, 12noon = 19˚ C Te, 3pm = 21˚ C Te, 7pm = 14˚ C

Ti, 7am = 20˚ C Ti, 12 noon = 22˚ C Ti, 3pm = 19˚ C Te, 7pm = 16˚ C

ΔT, 7am = -5 ˚ C ΔT, 12 = -3˚ C ΔT, 3pm = 2˚ C ΔT, 7am = -2 ˚ C

 4. Get the u-value of the walls and windows
Qc = UA ΔT

Interval Qc CHB wall (W) + Qc glass wdw (W) = Qc total

7am 101sqm x 1.83 W/m2K x - 5˚ C -924 35sqm x 5.0 W/m2K x - 5˚ C -875 -1799
12noon 101sqm x 1.83 W/m2K x - 3˚ C -554.49 35sqm x 5.0 W/m2K x - 3˚ C -525 -1079.49
3pm 101sqm x 1.83 W/m2K x 2˚ C 369.66 35sqm x 5.0 W/m2K x 2˚ C 350 719.66
7pm 101sqm x 1.83 W/m2K x - 2˚ C -369.66 35sqm x 5.0 W/m2K x - 2˚ C -350 -719.66
 CHECKLIST OF ACTIVITIES
Heat flow is quantified by:
✓Qi = Internal heat gain
✓Qc = Conduction heat gain or heat loss
Qs = Solar heat gain

Qv = Ventilation heat gain or heat loss

✓Qm = Mechanical heating or cooling

✓Qe = Latent heat gain or loss

Qi + Qc + Qs + Qv + Qm + Qe = 0