A simple method for estimating thermal response of building materials in tropical climate

Abstract

This paper develops a simple method for estimating the thermal response of building materials in the tropical climatic zone using the basic heat equation. The efficacy of the developed model has been tested with data from three West African cities, namely Kano (lat. 12.1 ºN) Nigeria, Ibadan (lat. 7.4 ºN) Nigeria and Cotonou (lat. 6.4 ºN) Republic of Benin, by considering a reference building with a flat ceiling option. Results show that the interior air temperature obtained as a direct response to the fluctuations of the outside air temperature indicate daily temperature reductions of varying magnitudes, depending on the building insulation, material thickness used and also on property value of the material adopted. It is concluded from the model's estimates that interior temperatures for thermal comfort can be realized through the appropriate application of passive systems.

Global Journal of Pure and Applied Sciences Volume , No 1 January (2001) pp. 161-166



KEY WORDS:

Thermal Response, Heat equation, Flat ceiling option, Building insulation, Passive systems.