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

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.

A Parametric Study and Performance Evaluation of Energy Retrofit Solutions for Buildings Located in the Hot-Humid Climate of Paraguay—Sensitivity Analysis

“…It is important to highlight that the simulations tools employed in this research are highly recommended by several international and renowned standards, which have been greatly used in several scientific investigations [41][42][43][44][45][46]. Accordingly, the simulation tools accuracy supports the results reliability of the energy efficiency of the building in its original state, without thermal insulation materials, and the results of the energy efficient version, demonstrating thus the effectiveness of the strategies implemented for the climate under analysis.…”

An exploration on the performance of using phase change humidity control material wallboards in office buildings

“…In existing studies [41,42], this method had been demonstrated as having high accuracy when calculating heat and moisture transfers in materials. Combining this method and the effective heat capacity method, a mathematical model was established for calculating heat and moisture transfer processes of PCHCM wallboards.…”

“…In this study, there were two aspects needed to be verified. Firstly, the humidity control process had already been verified as reliable in reference [41,42]. Then close humidity control function in the heat and moisture transfer model, considering phase change process only.…”

Influence of Superabsorbent Polymers on Moisture Control in Building Interiors

“…Unfortunately, the application of thermal insulation materials resulted in substantial airtightness of buildings [2][3][4]. Besides the thermal performance of building envelopes, the moderation of the interior level of relative humidity became an important issue in order to achieve and preserve sufficient quality of indoor air [5].…”