Problem:
You are asked to identify a house (bungalow or townhouse or 2/3 storey house) and reduce its total energy (gas and electricity) consumption by 30% by redesigning the walls, windows (double-pane), doors and roof in order to minimize the heat transfer losses. In this regard, you need to check out the utility bills to find the highest energy consumption for a particular day and get the outside temperature for that day from the weather network's website. You can choose a comfortable indoor temperature, but may not need to keep it same for all rooms.
First, make the calculations to find how much heat is lost through the walls, windows (double-pane), doors, roof, etc. for the coldest day where you have the highest energy consumption.
Second, try alternative designs, resizing the windows, larger spacing in the double pane windows, putting insulation on the roof, changing some materials, doing better sealing, etc. to be able to reduce the energy consumption at least by 30%.
Third, compare all these results for the above two cases with an adequate cost analysis, and make recommendations.
Reference:
Heat and Mass Transfer: Fundamentals & Applications5th Edition, Yunus A. Çengel, Afshin J. Ghajar, McGraw-Hill, 2015.
Remarks:
- Use EES software for the above design and analysis calculations.
- Use the textbook for all heat transfer data and thermophysical properties.
- Benefit from the examples and problems available in the book.
- Make a cost analysis in addition to heat transfer analysis.
- Feel free to make reasonable assumptions based on the concepts introduced in the course.
- Prepare the project report using the Lab Report Template