Title: How heat flows through walls with and without insulation?
1How Heat Flows through Walls with And without
Insulation?
We all have heard of the good and bad conductors
of electricity. However, this question of how
heat flows still comes to everyones head. To
ensure safety, energy efficiency, and comfort
within the building, it tends to get necessary to
understand the various ways heat travels through
a building.
There are three main mechanisms that describe the
entire process of how heat flows through the
walls- conduction, convection, and radiation. And
this process is controlled by the insulation
that also influences the thermal performance of
construction. If you want to buy the best wall
insulation products, first you must understand
how heat flows with and without insulation. Heat
Transfer Mechanisms Explained Lets understand
the three mechanisms involved in the process of
heat transfer
2- Conduction Conduction is the prime method of
heat transfer through any building. Everyone
knows that heat flows from the warmer side to the
cooler in any wall. However, few people know
that the thermal conductivity of the products
used in the construction of the wall influences
the rates of conduction. Metal is a material that
has high thermal conductivity and can transfer
heat quickly. On the contrary, wood or
refractory bricks are not considered a good
conductor of electricity and transfer the heat
more slowly. - Convention This controls the movement of air or
liquid within the walls. Air can circulate
through gaps in uninsulated walls leading to heat
loss in the cold weather and heat gain in
summer. - Radiation Heat flow through radiation causes the
emission of infrared energy. The reflective
surface of walls reduces the efficiency of heat
transfer by reflecting radiant energy. - Now, Lets Understand How Heat Flows through
Uninsulated Walls - The above-mentioned three mechanisms can freely
operate in an uninsulated wall that leads to
significant loss or gain in heat. - Summer condition The outdoor air is hot and
conducts through the wall into the interior
which is cooler in summer. In this scenario,
convection currents transport the heat inside
and the suns radiant energy causes heating of
the wall surface that easily transfers the heat
inside. - Winter Condition In winter when the weather is
cool, the heat transfers from the inside to the
outside which leads to high heating costs.
3- Role of Insulation
- Insulation is a perfect solution that one can use
as a barrier to heat flow and reduce the rate of
conduction. You can minimize the heat transfer by
incorporating insulation. This results in
reduced consumption of energy for heating and
cooling while maintaining indoor temperature. - Since various wall insulation products are
available, you will see each has unique
properties and advantages. The most popular wall
insulation products are glasswool insulation and
rockwool boards for the wall. - Glasswool Insulation It is made of recycled
glass and has excellent thermal properties that
help in reducing heat flows through walls. This
is an efficient insulator as its fibrous
structure traps air. - Rockwool Insulation Rockwool is made from
volcanic rock and processed into fibers and
formed into boards. Rockwool insulation for heat
absorption is considered an ideal product. This
is not just an effective insulator but enhances
the safety of the building. - A Comparison between Insulated and Uninsulated
Walls - Have a look at the below-mentioned points to
understand the difference between insulated and
uninsulated walls - Energy Efficiency Insulated walls ensure no heat
loss in winter and gain in summer which promises
low electricity bills. However, uninsulated
walls result in higher energy consumption by
allowing more heat transfer. - Comfort Insulated walls maintain moderate indoor
temperature but uninsulated leads to cold spots
in winter and hot temperatures in summer.
4- Environment Impact Insulated walls lower the
carbon emission while uninsulated walls
contribute to emissions of greenhouse gases. - Fire Safety Materials like refractory bricks and
rockwool insulators ensure enhanced fire
resistance. However, uninsulated walls lack this
protection layer. - It is very crucial to determine how heat flows
through insulated and insulated walls. Investing
in wall insulation products is always a wise move
in terms of comfort and energy savings.
Therefore, incorporate these materials and create
a more efficient and comfortable space for
living. - Source Link
- https//www.linkedin.com/pulse/how-heat-flows-thro
ugh-walls-without- insulation-refmon-industries-w
h1wc/