PRINCIPLE OF HEAT

&
THERMAL INSULATION
 HEAT ENERGY

• HEAT (H or Q) is a form of energy

• Unit: joule (j)
 HEAT ENERGY cont’d
• Heat energy is an internal molecular
property of material
• Other forms of energy include
mechanical energy, electrical energy, and
chemical energy.
 HEAT ENERGY cont’d
 For example:

• The mechanical energy of moving

surfaces is converted to heat by
friction
• Electric currents flowing in
conductors produce heat
• Combustion converts the chemical
energy contained in materials to
heat
 POWER
 Power is a measure of the rate at which
work is done, or which energy is
converted from one form to another.

POWER (P) = Heat energy (H)

time (t)
UNIT : watt (W)
 TEMPERATURE
 Temperature is not the same thing as heat.
 i.e.: a red hot spark has much higher
temperature than a pot of boiling water, but
the water has a much higher heat content
than the spark and is more damaging.
 TEMPERATURE is the condition of a body
that determiners whether heat shall flow
from it.
 UNIT : degree Kelvin (K)
 HEAT CAPACITY
 The same mass of different materials
can ‘hold’ different quantities of heat.
 Hence water must be supplied with more
heat than the oil in order to produce the
same rise in temperature.
 Water has a greater heat capacity than
oil.
 HEAT CAPACITY
 The specific heat capacity (c) of a material is
the quantity of heat energy required to raise
the temperature of 1 degree Kelvin (or 1
degree celcius)
 Unit: J/kg K (or J/kg ºC)
 HEAT CAPACITY
Material Specific heat capacity (J/kg K)
Water 4190
Concrete and brickwork 3300
Ice 2100
Paraffin oil 2100

Wood 1700
Aluminum 910
Marble 880
Glass 700
Steel 450
Copper 390
HEAT TRANSFER
 HEAT TRANSFER
 Heat energy can be transferred by three
different mechanisms:
 Conduction
 Convection
 Radiation
 HEAT TRANSFER
 Convection: is the transfer of the heat energy
through a material by the bodily movement of
particles.

 Can occur in fluids (liquid and gases), but

never in solids.
 Movement of “heated" molecules from one
point to another
 Moving “heat” from one point to another within
an air mass
 HEAT TRANSFER
 Conduction-is the transfer of heat energy
through a material without the molecules of the
material changing their basic positions.
 Energy flows from the higher energy molecules
(warmer material) to the lower energy molecules
(colder ones).
 Rate of flow depends on the temperature
differential.
 Thermal conductivity: ability of a material to
transfer heat energy through conduction.
 HEAT TRANSFER
 RADIATION is the transfer of heat energy by
electromagnetic waves
 Occurs when the thermal energy of surface
atoms in a material generates electromagnetic
waves in the infra-red range of wavelength.
 The rate of radiant heat depends upon the nature
and temperature of it surface.
 Dull black surfaces have the highest absorption
and emission of radiant heat.
 Shiny silver surface have the lowest absorption
and emission of radiant heat.
HEAT TRANSFER
THERMAL INSULATION
 THERMAL INSULATION
 Insulation reduces the heat transfer
through roofs, walls, the floor and
windows. Depending on the temperature
difference between inside and outside the
heat flows through the building envelope
from inside to outside or vice versa. This
effect is very important in winter and
summer.
 THERMAL INSULATION
 In cold regions insulation reduces the heating
demand in winter, when the outside
temperature is colder than inside.
 For all regions where the outside temperature
is higher than the acceptable indoor
temperature, insulation is recommended due
to its reducing effect on the cooling demand.
 In moderate and warm climate there is a
significant potential for reductions of cooling
energy demand if appropriate insulation is
applied in combination with other measures.
 THERMAL INSULATION
 Places in a building where insulation should be installed.
 THERMAL INSULATION
 Examples of where to insulate

1 attic spaces: between and over the floor joists.

1A attic access door
2 In finished attic rooms with or without dormer
2A between the studs of “knee” walls
2B between the studs and rafters of exterior walls and roof
2C ceilings with cold spaces above
2D extend insulation into joist space to reduce air flows
3 All exterior walls
3A walls between living spaces and unheated areas
3B foundation walls above ground level
 THERMAL INSULATION
3C foundation walls in heated basements, full wall either interior
or exterior
4 Floors above cold spaces
4A portion of the floor in a room that is cantilevered beyond the
exterior wall below
4B slab floors built directly on the ground
4C as an alternative to floor insulation, foundation walls of un-
vented crawl spaces
4D extend insulation into joist space to reduce air flows
5 Band joists
6 Replacement or storm windows and caulk and seal around
all windows and doors
 THERMAL INSULATION
 Types of insulator
 Rigid preformed materials. i.e. aerated concrete
block
 Flexible materials. i.e. fiberglass quilts
 Loose fill materials. i.e. expanded polystyrene
granules.
 Materials formed on site. i.e. foamed
polyurethane
 Reflective materials. i.e. aluminum foil.
foamed polyurethane expanded polystyrene granules.

aerated concrete block

aluminum foil.
 THERMAL INSULATION
 Properties of insulators

 Thermal insulation suitable for the purpose

 Strength or rigidity suitable for the purpose
 Moisture resistance
 Resistant to pests and fungi
 Compatibility with adjacent materials
 Harmless to humans and the environment
 THERMAL INSULATION
 In placing thermal insulation, it’s necessary to
place particular attention to the thermal bridges
presents in the constructions. Energy
consumption is affected by the number and size
of the thermal bridges in the envelope of a
building. Large numbers of thermal bridges can
increase in energy consumption, and at the
same time decrease of the level of satisfaction.
 A thermal bridge is created when materials
that are poor insulators come in contact,
allowing heat to flow through the path created.
 THERMAL INSULATION
 Thermal bridges, which in general occur at any
junction between building components or
where the building structure changes
composition, have two consequences: a
change in heat flow rate and a change in
internal surface temperature.
Typical linear thermal bridges.
 THERMAL INSULATION
 Operation and Maintenance
 About operation and maintenance of insulation it
can observe the following aspects:
 Moisture control: the presence of condensation and
mould can be avoided in the first place by limiting the
humidity level in the building, which is strongly
dependent on the building type and the activities of the
occupants. In general it can be stressed that the
humidity level in a building is determined by: the humidity
level of the outdoor air, the moisture production in the
building and the ventilation rate. An insulation layer can
alter the hygrometric regimen; in planning step it is
necessary to considerer this aspect.
 THERMAL INSULATION
 Regulation of ventilation: if a building have high internal
gains, it is necessary to evacuate them: natural
ventilation represent a simple technique to reach this
objective.
 Internal gains: insulation can reduce the building’s ability
to lose heat; it is necessary to decrease the heat from
appliances, persons and lighting systems.
 THERMAL INSULATION
 Further (non energy) benefits

 It is possible to consider as additional benefits

of insulation:
 the high energy savings in winter
 acoustic insulation: fiberglass, rock wool,
polystyrene and other insulations are excellent
sound absorbers as well as energy savers. When
installed in the walls and ceilings, they can reduce
the transmission of sound from other rooms or from
the outside.
 THERMAL INSULATION
 Possible obstacles
 When installing insulation on walls and ceilings, should
take into consideration:
 the possible reduction of internal space
 the impact that the insulation weight can have on the ceiling
structure of the building
 the fire safety: fire resistance is an important attribute of any
insulation material. It is in a homeowner's best interest to
consider the flame-resistance properties of the insulation.
 The safety: the value of scientific research regarding the health
aspects of insulation materials cannot be overstated in relation
to the safety of workers and the public.
Thermal Conductivity
k-value
 Thermal conductivity
• Is the fundamental property of a material
which relates its ability to conduct heat which
the values depend on the chemical
composition, porosity, density, structure, and
fabric of the material

• Heat transfer by conduction involves transfer

of energy within a material without any
motion of the material as a whole.
• THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY (k) is a measure of the
rate at which heat is conducted through a particular
material under specified conditions.
• Unit: W/mK
• K-value, is measured as the heat flow in watts
across a thickness of 1m for a temperature
difference of 1 degree (K or ºC) and a surface area
of 1 m².
• Remember that the thermal conductivity of practical
building materials varies with moisture content as
the presence of water increases conduction.
• Variations in density have significant effects on the
K-values.
• Values of thermal conductivity
The exact thermal conductivity of practical
building material can vary for the following
reason:
-Manufacturing variations in density and
thickness
-Changes in moisture content
-Effects of time on insulating properties
 Thermal resistance
• Thermal resistance (R) is a measure of the
opposition to heat transfer offered by a particular
component in a building element.
• UNIT :m² K/W
• Higher thermal resistance gives better thermal
insulation.
• There are three general types of thermal resistance
which need to be determined.
 1) Material resistance
• The thermal resistance of each layer of material in a
structure depends on the rate at which the material
conducts heat and the thickness of the material.
• Formula: R=d/k
• R=thermal resistance of that component (m²K/W)
• d=thickness of the material (m)
• K =Thermal conductivity of the material (W/mK)
 2) Surface resistance

• Thermal resistance depends upon the conduction,

convection and radiation at that surface.
• The air in contact with a surface forms a stationary
layer which opposes the flow of heat.
• Factors which affect surface resistances are given
below:
– Direction of heat flow: upward or downward
– Climatic effects: sheltered or exposed
– Surface properties: normal building materials with high
emisivity or polished metal with low emissivity.
 3) Air space resistance

• Depends on the nature of any conduction,

convection and radiation within the cavity.
• Factor which affect airspace resistance are
given below:
– Thickness of the airspace
– Flow of air in airspace: ventilated or
unventilated.
– Lining of airspace: normal surface or reflective
surfaces of low emissivity.
 Thermal Transmittance, U-
Value
• Heat in transferred through an element of
a building by number of mechanisms.
• Layers of different materials conduct heat
at different rates to inside and outside
surfaces of the wall.
• The heat transfer by radiation and
convection is affected by factors such as
surface color and exposure to climate.
 U-VALUES
• U-VALUE is a measure of the overall rate of heat
transfer, by all mechanism under standard
conditions, through a particular section of
construction.
• The coefficient, or U-value, is measured as the rate
of heat flow in watt through 1m² of a structure when
there is a temperature difference across the
structure of 1 ºC.
• Lower U-values provide better thermal insulation.
Typical U-value of common
construction
Calculation of U-values
 U= 1
RT

• UNIT:W/m²K
• U= 1
Rsi + R1 + R2 +….+Ra +Rso
• U=U-value
• RT =sum of all component thermal resistances
(R values)
• Rsi = standard inside surface resistance
• R1 ,R2 = resistance of that particular material
• Ra =standard resistance of any airspace
• Rso = standard outside surface resistance
 calculation
Calculate the U-value of a cavity wall with a
105mm thick brick outer leaf, a 75 mm
unventilated cavity containing 50mm of
fibreglass guilts, then a 100mm lightweight
concrete block inner leaf with a 15mm layer of
lightweight plaster. Thermal conductivities in
W/m K are : brickwork 0.84, lightweight
concrete blocks 0.19, lightweight plaster 0.16,
fibreglass 0.04.
Standard thermal resistance in W/m²K are:
internal surface 0.123, external surface 0.055,
cavity 0.18
 d k R

External surface 0.055

Brick outer leaf 0.105 0.84

Cavity 0.18

Fiberglass 0.05 0.04

Plaster 0.015 0.16

Lgweight 0.1 0.19

concrete
Internal urface 0.123