Experimental and numerical investigation of the thermal transmittance of PVC window frames with silica aerogel
Authors:
- Umberto Berardi,
- Tomasz Kisilewicz,
- Sumin Kim,
- Agnieszka Lechowska,
- Jason Paulos,
- Jacek Schnotale
Abstract
The poor thermal performance of windows can largely be attributed to their frames, which typically have higher thermal transmittance than the glazing portions. This study investigates an innovative polyvinyl chloride (PVC) window frame modified by inserting silica aerogel granules in the frame cavities. Experimental tests done in a hot box are described and compared with numerical modeling results. The direct object of the comparison was the difference in thermal transmittance of the frame, obtained by insulating frame cavities with aerogel. Both types of tests have confirmed that even with a simple PVC frame, it is possible to achieve at least 30% decrease of its thermal transmittance. The investigations allow discussing the importance of different frame cavities and of the frame orientation. Infrared imaging of the frame within the hot box enables analyzing the significance of the aerogel particle distribution and the edge effects. This paper supports experimentally the results obtained with numerical simulations. The research concludes that filling most of the existing cavities with aerogel granules would reduce the thermal transmittance of the case study frame to 0.80 W/m2K. Finally, this study confirms the feasibility of enhancing window frames with aerogel granules within the frame cavities.
- Record ID
- CUT446b928599144a17a8e84c936c4a4c30
- Publication categories
- ;
- Author
- Journal series
- Journal of Building Engineering, ISSN 2352-7102, e-ISSN 2352-7102
- Issue year
- 2020
- Vol
- 32
- Pages
- [1-12]
- Article number
- 101665
- Other elements of collation
- fot.; schem.; tab.; Bibliografia (na s.) - 11-12; Bibliografia (liczba pozycji) - 33; Oznaczenie streszczenia - Abstr.; Data udostępnienia on-line - 2020-07-30; Numeracja w czasopiśmie - Vol. 32
- Keywords in English
- aerogel, window frames, thermal transmittance, hot box measurements, thermal simulations
- DOI
- DOI:10.1016/j.jobe.2020.101665 Opening in a new tab
- URL
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352710220313577 Opening in a new tab
- Language
- eng (en) English
- Score (nominal)
- 140
- Additional fields
- Indeksowana w: Scopus
- Uniform Resource Identifier
- https://cris.pk.edu.pl/info/article/CUT446b928599144a17a8e84c936c4a4c30/
- URN
urn:pkr-prod:CUT446b928599144a17a8e84c936c4a4c30
* presented citation count is obtained through Internet information analysis, and it is close to the number calculated by the Publish or PerishOpening in a new tab system.