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Case revision date:
2010-05-31
Source:
Length:
7 Pages (Case study)
Summary:
In August 1999, Steve Lambert, a Professor in the Department of Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering at the University of Waterloo, purchased a stone house, Figure 1, in Elora, Ontario, Canada. The house was originally constructed in about 1860, and the structure had not been significantly updated. The house was heated using a forced-air natural gas furnace but there was no significant insulation in the walls. As a consequence, the house is drafty, cold and uncomfortable in the winters. The stone construction results in significant ‘thermal mass’, so that the house responds slowly to outside temperature changes, and remains relatively comfortable and cool, especially on the main floor, in the summers. The house was purchased with the intention of significantly updating the interior, especially the insulation and windows, to significantly improve both comfort levels and energy efficiency. Professor Lambert is in the process of upgrading this house, primarily the insulation, and implementing radiant in-floor heating based on hot water. It is necessary to choose a heating source for the hot water used to heat the house.
Learning objectives:
This case study is intended to illustrate thermal modeling in design, especially simple one-dimensional steady-state heat transfer models. The importance of verification of models is stressed.
Key words:
Thermal modeling, steady-state heat transfer, insulation, modeling, design.
CEAB attributes:
Modules:
Module 01 – Case Study
Module 02 – Thermal Model (available to educators only)
Module 03 – Solar-Thermal Analysis (available to educators only) Also available to Educators only: Excel Simulations and presentations
