Research on the Comprehensive Performance of Hygroscopic Materials in an Office Building Based on EnergyPlus

Shui Yu, Yumeng Cui, Yifei Shao and Fuhong Han
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Shui Yu: School of Municipal and Environmental Engineering, Shenyang Jianzhu University, Shenyang 110168, China
Yumeng Cui: State Key Laboratory of Subtropical Building Science, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510641, China
Yifei Shao: School of Municipal and Environmental Engineering, Shenyang Jianzhu University, Shenyang 110168, China
Fuhong Han: School of Municipal and Environmental Engineering, Shenyang Jianzhu University, Shenyang 110168, China

Energies, 2019, vol. 12, issue 1, 1-17

Abstract: This paper presents the research status of hygroscopic materials, points out the weak links as targets for major breakthroughs, and introduces humidifying mechanisms and their categories. In this paper, we simulated a single-monomer Shenyang office building with different envelopes of inner-surface hygroscopic materials for indoor humidity conditions, energy consumption, and economy, which are three aspects of energy consumption analysis in EnergyPlus software. To obtain the best moisture buffering performance from hygroscopic materials, we also simulated different cases including the laying area, ventilation strategy, thickness, and initial moisture content of different hygroscopic materials. The humidity fluctuation, with changes in the style of hygroscopic materials and usage conditions, of a room in a building can be analyzed by numerical simulation. This allows the determination of the best moisture buffering performance of the building structure. The results show that hygroscopic materials have great advantages in three energy saving aspects of building assessment. Hygroscopic materials can regulate indoor air humidity and reduce energy consumption. In addition, the entire life-cycle cost can be minimized. Lower rates of air exchange and larger usable areas can help enhance the level of performance of hygroscopic materials. The thickness and initial moisture content of hygroscopic materials have little impact on the moisture buffering value. This study strived to provide a theoretical basis and technical guidance for the production and installation of hygroscopic materials. It also promoted the passive materials market and the building’s energy savings. The best moisture buffering performance, evaluated at room level in this paper, can be obtained through real-world environmental simulation.

Keywords: indoor humidity condition; energy consumption; economics of wall construction; hygroscopic materials; moisture buffering performance (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: 2019
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (5)

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