The Experts below are selected from a list of 270 Experts worldwide ranked by ideXlab platform

Luisa F. Cabeza - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.

  • Life Cycle Assessment of alveolar Brick Construction system incorporating phase change materials (PCMs)
    Applied Energy, 2013
    Co-Authors: Albert Castell, A. De Gracia, Karim Menoufi, Lídia Rincón, Dieter Boer, Luisa F. Cabeza
    Abstract:

    Abstract An evaluation of the environmental impact of Construction systems that are composed of facades based on alveolar Bricks and macroencapsulated phase change materials done using Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is presented. Their energy consumption rates for both heating and cooling have been measured and registered in two experimental cubicles located in Puigverd de Lleida (Spain). This work examines if the reduction of the environmental impact that is reached due to the energy savings achieved during the operational phase of these cubicles compensates the increase of the environmental impact that is induced during the manufacturing phase. Theoretical case studies, such as assuming different climatization and weather conditions, are proposed and studied to determine the most suitable climatic conditions for using the alveolar Bricks and PCM technologies. Within the context of the LCA study, it is concluded that the overall benefit of PCM is the highest when summer weather conditions throughout the whole year is theoretically assumed, where for different assumed lifetime periods of the cubicles the reduction of the overall global impact of the cubicle containing PCM ranges from 12% to 14% in comparison to the other cubicle without PCM.

  • Dynamic thermal performance of alveolar Brick Construction system
    Energy Conversion and Management, 2011
    Co-Authors: A. De Gracia, Albert Castell, Marc Medrano, Luisa F. Cabeza
    Abstract:

    Alveolar Bricks are being introduced in building sector due to the simplicity of their Construction system and to the elimination of the insulation material. Nevertheless, it is not clear if this new system is energetically efficient and which is its thermal behaviour. This paper presents an experimental and theoretical study to evaluate the thermal behaviour of the alveolar Brick Construction system, compared with a traditional Mediterranean Brick system with insulation. The experimental study consists of measuring the thermal performance of four real house-like cubicles. The thermal transmittance in steady-state, also known as U-value, is calculated theoretically and experimentally for each cubicle, presenting the insulated cubicles as the best Construction system, with differences around 45% in comparison to the alveolar one. On the other hand, experimental results show significantly smaller differences on the energy consumption between the alveolar and insulated Construction systems during summer period (around 13% higher for the alveolar cubicle). These values demonstrate the high thermal efficiency of the alveolar system. In addition, the lack of agreement between the measured energy consumption and the calculated U-values, guides the authors to analyze the thermal inertia of the different building components. Therefore, several transient parameters, extracted from the heat transfer matrix and from experimental data, are also evaluated. It can be concluded that the alveolar Brick Construction system presents higher thermal inertia than the insulated one, justifying the low measured energy consumption.

Aino Nevalainen - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.

  • Indoor air microbes and respiratory symptoms of children in moisture damaged and reference schools.
    Indoor air, 2002
    Co-Authors: Teija Meklin, Tuula Husman, Asko Vepsäläinen, Mikko Vahteristo, Jari Koivisto, J. Halla-aho, Anne Hyvärinen, Demetrios J. Moschandreas, Aino Nevalainen
    Abstract:

    Microbial indoor air quality and respiratory symptoms of children were studied in 24 schools with visible moisture and mold problems, and in eight non-damaged schools. School buildings of concrete/Brick and wooden Construction were included. The indoor environment investigations included technical building inspections for visible moisture signs and microbial sampling using six-stage impactor for viable airborne microbes. Children's health information was collected by questionnaires. The effect of moisture damage on concentrations of fungi was clearly seen in buildings of concrete/Brick Construction, but not in wooden school buildings. Occurrence of Cladosporium, Aspergillus versicolor, Stachybotrys, and actinobacteria showed some indicator value for moisture damage. Presence of moisture damage in school buildings was a significant risk factor for respiratory symptoms in schoolchildren. Association between moisture damage and respiratory symptoms of children was significant for buildings of concrete/Brick Construction but not for wooden school buildings. The highest symptom prevalence was found during spring seasons, after a long exposure period in damaged schools. The results emphasize the importance of the building frame as a determinant of exposure and symptoms.

A. De Gracia - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.

  • Life Cycle Assessment of alveolar Brick Construction system incorporating phase change materials (PCMs)
    Applied Energy, 2013
    Co-Authors: Albert Castell, A. De Gracia, Karim Menoufi, Lídia Rincón, Dieter Boer, Luisa F. Cabeza
    Abstract:

    Abstract An evaluation of the environmental impact of Construction systems that are composed of facades based on alveolar Bricks and macroencapsulated phase change materials done using Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is presented. Their energy consumption rates for both heating and cooling have been measured and registered in two experimental cubicles located in Puigverd de Lleida (Spain). This work examines if the reduction of the environmental impact that is reached due to the energy savings achieved during the operational phase of these cubicles compensates the increase of the environmental impact that is induced during the manufacturing phase. Theoretical case studies, such as assuming different climatization and weather conditions, are proposed and studied to determine the most suitable climatic conditions for using the alveolar Bricks and PCM technologies. Within the context of the LCA study, it is concluded that the overall benefit of PCM is the highest when summer weather conditions throughout the whole year is theoretically assumed, where for different assumed lifetime periods of the cubicles the reduction of the overall global impact of the cubicle containing PCM ranges from 12% to 14% in comparison to the other cubicle without PCM.

  • Dynamic thermal performance of alveolar Brick Construction system
    Energy Conversion and Management, 2011
    Co-Authors: A. De Gracia, Albert Castell, Marc Medrano, Luisa F. Cabeza
    Abstract:

    Alveolar Bricks are being introduced in building sector due to the simplicity of their Construction system and to the elimination of the insulation material. Nevertheless, it is not clear if this new system is energetically efficient and which is its thermal behaviour. This paper presents an experimental and theoretical study to evaluate the thermal behaviour of the alveolar Brick Construction system, compared with a traditional Mediterranean Brick system with insulation. The experimental study consists of measuring the thermal performance of four real house-like cubicles. The thermal transmittance in steady-state, also known as U-value, is calculated theoretically and experimentally for each cubicle, presenting the insulated cubicles as the best Construction system, with differences around 45% in comparison to the alveolar one. On the other hand, experimental results show significantly smaller differences on the energy consumption between the alveolar and insulated Construction systems during summer period (around 13% higher for the alveolar cubicle). These values demonstrate the high thermal efficiency of the alveolar system. In addition, the lack of agreement between the measured energy consumption and the calculated U-values, guides the authors to analyze the thermal inertia of the different building components. Therefore, several transient parameters, extracted from the heat transfer matrix and from experimental data, are also evaluated. It can be concluded that the alveolar Brick Construction system presents higher thermal inertia than the insulated one, justifying the low measured energy consumption.

Teija Meklin - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.

  • Indoor air microbes and respiratory symptoms of children in moisture damaged and reference schools.
    Indoor air, 2002
    Co-Authors: Teija Meklin, Tuula Husman, Asko Vepsäläinen, Mikko Vahteristo, Jari Koivisto, J. Halla-aho, Anne Hyvärinen, Demetrios J. Moschandreas, Aino Nevalainen
    Abstract:

    Microbial indoor air quality and respiratory symptoms of children were studied in 24 schools with visible moisture and mold problems, and in eight non-damaged schools. School buildings of concrete/Brick and wooden Construction were included. The indoor environment investigations included technical building inspections for visible moisture signs and microbial sampling using six-stage impactor for viable airborne microbes. Children's health information was collected by questionnaires. The effect of moisture damage on concentrations of fungi was clearly seen in buildings of concrete/Brick Construction, but not in wooden school buildings. Occurrence of Cladosporium, Aspergillus versicolor, Stachybotrys, and actinobacteria showed some indicator value for moisture damage. Presence of moisture damage in school buildings was a significant risk factor for respiratory symptoms in schoolchildren. Association between moisture damage and respiratory symptoms of children was significant for buildings of concrete/Brick Construction but not for wooden school buildings. The highest symptom prevalence was found during spring seasons, after a long exposure period in damaged schools. The results emphasize the importance of the building frame as a determinant of exposure and symptoms.

B. Agyei-tuffour - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.

  • Fabrication and Characterisation of Ghanaian Bauxite Red Mud-Clay Composite Bricks for Construction Applications
    American Journal of Materials Science, 2013
    Co-Authors: David Dodoo-arhin, Ds Konadu, Ebenezer Annan, F. P Buabeng, Abu Yaya, B. Agyei-tuffour
    Abstract:

    The behaviour of Ghanaian based bauxite red mud-Tetegbu clay composites have been investigated for their applicability in the ceramic Brick Construction industry as a means of recycling the bauxite waste. The initial raw samp les were characterized by X-ray d iffraction (XRD), X-ray Fluorescence spectroscopy (XRF), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and thermograv imetric analysis (Tg-DTA). The red mud -clay co mposites have been formu lated as 80% -20%, 70%-30%, 60%-40%, 50%-50% and fired at sintering temperatures of 800o C, 900o C and 1100o C. Generally, mechanical strengths (modulus of rupture) increased with higher sintering temperature. The results obtained for various characterizat ion analyses such as bulk densities of 1.59 g/cm 3 and 1.51 g/cm 3 co mpare very well with literature and hold