Theoretical and Experimental Study on the Thermal Insulation Performance of the Roof with Water-Retained Bricks

• Published in: Entropy (Basel, Switzerland) Vol. 24; no. 11; p. 1528
• Main Authors: Han, Rubing, Xu, Zhimao, Long, Enshen
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basel MDPI AG 25-10-2022; MDPI
• Subjects: Analysis; Attenuation; Bricks; Building, Brick; Delay time; Design and construction; Energy; Green buildings; Heat conductivity; Heat storage; Insulating materials; Insulation; Insulation (Heat); Materials; Methods; roof; Roofing; Roofs; Storage coefficient; Summer; Testing; theoretical and experimental study; Thermal comfort; Thermal insulation; thermal insulation performance; Thermal properties; Ventilation; Water depth; water-retained brick; Winter; China
• ISSN: 1099-4300; 1099-4300
• DOI: 10.3390/e24111528

In this paper, the thermal insulation performance of the roof with water-retained bricks was first analyzed theoretically with respect to the thermal inertia, attenuation and delay time of the roof with water-retained bricks. Then, the experimental rig was established to carry out the experimental research on the thermal insulation performance of the roof with and without water-retained bricks on the sunny, overcast and rainy days in the summer and on the sunny day in the winter. The results showed that: (1) the surface heat storage coefficient is affected by the evaporating heat transfer of the water layer; (2) the thermal inertness, attenuation and delay time of the roof with water-retained bricks are 2.575, 21 and 6.94 h, respectively, when the water depth is 2 cm; (3) on the sunny, overcast and rainy days in the summer, laying water-retained bricks can enhance the heat insulation performance of the roof, and can improve the thermal comfort of the loft; and (4) on the sunny day in the winter, after laying water-retained bricks, the average temperature of the loft in 24 h increases by 2.3 °C, and the temperature fluctuation of the loft decreases by 56.0%. Therefore, the thermal insulation effect is significantly improved after laying water-retained bricks on the roof from the results of both the theoretical and experimental study.