Dynamic Hygrothermal Models for Monumental, Historic Buildings with HVAC Systems: Complexity shown through a case study

Abstract

Our global climate is changing and the problem got so serious that the European Commission is calling for a climate-neutral Europe by 2050. To reach such an ambitious and urgent goal, an energy efficient renovation of the existing building stock is needed. Nonetheless, some buildings must be treated with special attention because of their historical value. Thus, it is advisable to evaluate their retrofit with the aid of calibrated hygrothermal simulation models, whose calibration can be complex and time demanding. This work shows the strategy adopted for obtaining a calibrated model for a XVI-century construction located northern Italy, by means of indoor air temperature and relative humidity monitoring, plus CO2 measurements and in situ inspection. This study accounts for the first 9 months of measurements performed on the case study and it adopts HAMBase as a simulation tool because of its ability to combine heat and moisture calculations in monumental buildings with HVAC systems. This paper aims at showing the main problems found in developing and calibrating the simulation model while defining a procedure to overcome them. The major outcome of the study is that the stratification of temperature detected in the main monumental room could be successfully modelled via dividing this space into different zones, vertically, by introducing fictitious interzonal surfaces made of a material with high thermal conductivity and vapour permeability. All in all, the strategy adopted in this work can be used by other researchers and professionals to overcome problems that can be commonly met when modelling similar historic constructions.

Bio-Wastes as Aggregates for Eco-Efficient Boards and Panels: Screening Tests of Physical Properties and Bio-Susceptibility

“…The material was removed, and the container was filled with water and weighed. The loose bulk density was determined by Equation (1). The average value of the three tested samples was considered significant when the coefficient of variation was less than 5%.…”

“…The global climate is changing as a consequence of human activity and the problem has become so serious that the European Commission is calling for a climate-neutral Europe by 2050 [1]. To reach such an ambitious goal, the strategic importance of the construction sector is clear.…”

A Discussion on Winter Indoor Hygrothermal Conditions and Hygroscopic Behaviour of Plasters in Southern Europe

“…The indoor monitoring campaign was performed by means of two data-loggers HOBO UX100-003 (accuracy: ±0.21 • C, ±3.5% for 25-85% RH and 5% out of this range) and two HOBO U12-013 (accuracy: ±0.35 • C, ±2.5% for 10-90% RH and 5% out of this range). The sampling interval adopted was 10 min and the final hygrothermal data were defined as the hourly average values of T and RH obtained from the recordings, as in previous studies [26,27]. The data-loggers were positioned inside paper boxes (open on the top) to avoid the interference of drafts and solar radiation in the measurements.…”

Retrofitting Historic Walls: Feasibility of Thermal Insulation and Suitability of Thermal Mortars

“…The strategic role of an energy-efficient renovation of the existing building stock in the fight against climate change is evident, but historic buildings must be treated with special attention [48,49]. Even though climate change mitigation in the heritage sector is necessary, it is a very challenging task that needs holistic approaches [50].…”