Determination of Equivalent Thermal Conductivity of Window Spacers in Consideration of Condensation Prevention and Energy Saving Performance

Mi-Su Shin, Kyu-Nam Rhee, Ji-Yong Yu and Gun-Joo Jung
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Mi-Su Shin: Department of Architecture, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea
Kyu-Nam Rhee: Department of Architectural Engineering, Pukyong National University, Busan 48513, Korea
Ji-Yong Yu: Building Business Unit, Division of Construction, Samsung C&T Corporation, Gyeonggi-do 13530, Korea
Gun-Joo Jung: Department of Architectural Engineering, Pukyong National University, Busan 48513, Korea

Energies, 2017, vol. 10, issue 5, 1-21

Abstract: This study investigated the impact of thermally improved spacers (TISs) on the condensation prevention and energy saving performances of residential windows. The temperature factor and total U-value were analyzed with the two-box model, by which the TISs are represented with the equivalent thermal conductivity. The results showed that the TISs could increase the temperature factor by up to 12%, and this significantly improved the condensation prevention performance. In addition, it was proved that the TIS enables the prevention of the condensation at an outdoor temperature that is 4.2 °C to 15.7 °C lower compared with the conventional spacer. Also, it was shown that the TISs reduce the total U-value by an amount from 0.07 W/m 2 K to 0.12 W/m 2 K, implying that the heat loss through the window is reduced by a rate from 2.8% to 8.2%. In addition, the results of the whole building energy simulation proved that the TISs can reduce the annual heating-energy consumption by a rate from 3.0% to 6.3%. The results were then used for the development of monographs to determine the equivalent thermal conductivity of a window spacer that can meet the performance criteria in terms of condensation prevention and energy saving.

Keywords: thermally improved spacer (TIS); condensation prevention; temperature factor; energy saving; total U-value; monograph (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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