Heat exchange processes
The thermal balance, i.e. the existing thermal condition is maintained if:
Qi + Qs ± Qc ± Qv ± Qm – Qe = 0
If the sum of this equation is less than zero (negative), the building will be cooling
and if it is more than zero, the temperature in the building will increase
Heat exchange processes
The calculation method is best illustrated by a simple example:
• a 5 × 5 m and 2.5 m high office is located on an intermediate floor of a large building,
therefore it has only one exposed wall facing south, all other walls adjoin rooms kept at
the same temperature: Ti = 20 °C
• the ventilation rate is three air changes per hour, three 100 W bulbs are in continuous
use to light the rear part of the room, which is used by four clerical workers.
• The exposed 5 × 2.5 m wall consists of a single glazed window, 1.5 × 5 m = 7.5 m2 U =
4.48 W/m2 degC
• a clinker concrete spandrel wall, 200 mm, rendered and plastered, 1 × 5m = 5m2 U =
1.35 W/m2degC
• Outdoor temperature is -1°C
Conduction Qc
Conduction heat flow rate through a wall of a given area can be described by the
equation:
Qc = A × U × ΔT
where Qc = conduction heat flow rate, in W
A = surface area, in m2
U = transmittance value, in W/m2degC
ΔT = temperature difference
For a whole building, enclosed by various elements and possibly the temperature
differences varying from side to side, the above equation is solved for each element and
the results are added.
Temperature difference (ΔT) = 20°C – ( –1 °C) = 21 degC.
Qc = (7.5 × 4.48 + 5 × 1.35)21
= (33.60 + 6.75)21 = 40.35 × 21 = 847 W
Convection Qv
Internal Heat Gain Qi
• Heat output from a human body (inside the building) is a heat gain for the building.
Thus the heat output rate appropriate to the activity to be accommodated must be
selected and multiplied by the number of occupants.
• The total rate of energy emission of electric lamps and other appliances can be taken
as internal heat gain as Qi
Heating by air:
• The required heating rate of 1.5 kW is to be provided by warm air heating and air is to
be used as a heat carrying medium.
• Here the room temperature (20°C) but the supplied-air temperature will have to be
higher if any heat is to be conveyed into the room.
• With normal air inlet diffusers a supplied-air temperature of 26°C will be acceptable,
with induction (mixing-) units 30°C is quite normal.
Thus, with a temperature difference of 10 degC, the air supply rate will have to be:
• a 5 × 5 m and 3 m high office is located on an intermediate floor of a large building,
therefore it has only one exposed wall facing south, all other walls adjoin rooms kept at
the same temperature: Ti = 25 °C
• the ventilation rate is three air changes per hour, three 120 W bulbs are in continuous
use to light the rear part of the room, which is used by three lightweight machine
workers.
• The exposed 5 × 3 m wall consists of a single glazed window, 1.5 × 5 m = 7.5 m2 U =
4.68 W/m2 degC
• a clinker concrete spandrel wall, 200 mm, rendered and plastered, 1.5 × 5m = 7.5m2 U
= 1.4 W/m2degC
• Outdoor temperature is 0 °C
Qv=2300W
ΔT = (30-25) °C= 5 °C
2300 5
2300
0.354
6500
Radiation through windows Qs
If the intensity of solar radiation (l) incident on the plane of the window is
known
Qs = A × l × θ
where A = area of window, in m2
l = radiation heat flow density, in W/m2
θ = solar gain factor of window glass
Evaporation Qe
The rate of cooling by evaporation can only be calculated if the rate of
evaporation itself is known. If the evaporation rate is expressed in kg/h, the
corresponding heat loss rate can be found:
Qe = 666 × kg/h
Sol-Air Temperature:
For building design purposes it is useful to combine the
heating effect of radiation incident on a building with
the effect of warm air. This can be done by using the
sol-air temperature concept.
a
r
Heat gain Calculation
• Heat gain is usually calculated for the purposes of air conditioning
design.
• It is obvious that this installation should cope with the warmest
conditions at its peak capacity.
• Again, the highest temperature for 90% of the time is taken as 'design
out door temperature' and a solar radiation intensity is taken on similar
grounds.
Heat gain Calculation
The calculation method:
• a 5 × 5 m and 2.5 m high office is located on an intermediate floor of a large building, therefore
it has only one exposed wall facing south, all other walls adjoin rooms kept at the same
temperature: Ti = 20 °C
• the ventilation rate is three air changes per hour, three 100 W bulbs are in continuous use to light
the rear part of the room, which is used by four clerical workers.
• The exposed 5 × 2.5 m wall consists of a single glazed window, 1.5 × 5 m = 7.5 m2 U = 4.48
W/m2 degC
• a clinker concrete spandrel wall, 200 mm, rendered and plastered, 1 × 5m = 5m2 U = 1.35
W/m2degC
• Ti = 20 °C, To= 26 °C
• The exposed 5 × 2.5 m wall consists of a single glazed window, 1.5 × 5 m = 7.5 m2 U
= 4.48 W/m2 degC
• a clinker concrete spandrel wall, 200 mm, rendered and plastered, 1 × 5m = 5m2 U =
1.35 W/m2degC
Temperature difference (ΔT) = 26°C – 20°C = 6 degC
• The exposed 5 × 2.5 m wall consists of a single glazed window, 1.5 × 5 m = 7.5 m2 U = 4.48
W/m2 degC
Radiation through windows Qs
If the intensity of solar radiation (l) incident on the plane of the window is known
Qs = A × l × θ
= 7.5 x 580 x 0.75 m² x W/m²
= 3262.5 W
Convection Qv
6 405.6 W
Internal Heat Gain Qi
• the ventilation rate is three air changes per hour, three 100 W bulbs are in continuous use to
light the rear part of the room, which is used by four clerical workers.
Cooling by air:
Thermal design
Mechanical engineers and heating or air conditioning designers often use calculation
methods similar to those described.
Qi + Qs ± Qc ± Qv ± Qm – Qe = 0
Qm – that is, the mechanical controls – are
expensive: therefore it should be the designer's
aim to produce a zero sum without a Qm
component.
Qc = A × U × ΔT Qv
Qs = A × l × θ Qs
Qc
Can you solve this?
29
• a 5 × 5 m and 3 m high office is located on an intermediate floor of a large building,
therefore it has only one exposed wall facing south, all other walls adjoin rooms kept at
the same temperature: Ti = 25 °C
• the ventilation rate is three air changes per hour, three 120 W bulbs are in continuous
use to light the rear part of the room, which is used by three lightweight machine
workers.
• The exposed 5 × 3 m wall consists of a single glazed window, 1.5 × 5 m = 7.5 m2 U =
4.68 W/m2 degC
• a clinker concrete spandrel wall, 200 mm, rendered and plastered, 1.5 × 5m = 7.5m2 U
= 1.4 W/m2degC
