Effect of electricity tariff on the optimum insulation-thickness in building walls as determined by a dynamic heat-transfer model

Thermal insulation is one of the most effective energy-conservation measures in buildings. Despite the widespread use of insulation materials in recent years, little is known regarding their optimum thickness under dynamic thermal conditions. Insulated concrete blocks are among the units most commonly used in the construction of building walls in Saudi Arabia. Typically, the insulation layer thickness is fixed at a value in the range 2.5–7.5 cm, regardless of the climatic conditions, type and cost of insulation material, and other economic parameters. In the present study, a numerical model based on a finite-volume, time-dependent implicit procedure, which has been previously validated, is used to compute the yearly cooling and heating transmission loads under steady periodic conditions through a typical building wall, for different insulation thicknesses. The transmission loads, calculated by using the climatic conditions of Riyadh for a west-facing wall, are fed into an economic model in order to determine the optimum thickness of insulation (L_opt). The latter corresponds to the minimum total cost, which includes the cost of insulation material and its installation plus the present value of energy consumption cost over the lifetime of the building. The optimum insulation thickness depends on the electricity tariff as well as the cost of insulation material, lifetime of the building, inflation and discount rates, and coefficient of performance of the air-conditioning equipment. In the present study, the effect of electricity tariff on the computed optimum insulation thickness is investigated. Different average electricity tariffs are considered; namely, 0.05, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3 and 0.4 SR/kWh (designated as Cases 1–5, respectively; 1 US$ = 3.75 Saudi Riyals). Results using moulded polystyrene as an insulating material show that the values of L_opt are: 4.8, 7.2, 10.9, 13.7 and 16.0 cm for Cases 1–5. Under the conditions of optimal insulation thickness for each electricity tariff, Case 1 gives the lowest total cost of 17.4 SR/m², while Case 5 gives the highest total cost of 53.1 SR/m². Corresponding thermal performance characteristics in terms of yearly total and peak transmission loads, R-value, time lag and decrement factor are presented.     

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高层建筑结构设计的分析判断与优化

对高层建筑设计而言,设计前期的初步结构方案需通过结构软件的计算分析,判断该方案是否正确与合理,从而对其进行有针对性的修改和优化。文章结合具体实例,介绍了分析判断计算结果的主要几项内容及可采取的相应优化措施,从而可以提高设计的准确性和工作效率。     

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实施绿色建筑的主要途径之一是开发和使用绿色建筑材料，使得建筑与人和环境的关系和谐融洽。本文介绍了建筑材料对环境和人类健康的不利影响，并对绿色建筑材料的设计和开发作了探讨。     

利用微机设计保护煤柱

根据保护煤柱设计原理 ,利用微机采用垂线法留设保护煤柱的数学模型、程序流程以及得到的算例结果。利用该方法 ,只要将有关资料输入计算机 ,就能快速准确地自动计算出煤柱角点坐标、煤柱面积和压煤量。     

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介绍了设计绿色生态住宅小区的水环境系统各个子系统时应满足的水质、水量和应遵循的设计规范。提出了对节水设施、器具和绿色管材的选用原则     

多层砖砌体房屋震害分析及抗震措施

介绍了我国砖砌体房屋历年来遭受震害的程度以及砖砌体的抗震性能，针对一些震害现象，分别从建筑布置和抗震措施加强对砖砌体的抗震性能进行论述。     

现代智能建筑防雷措施浅析

主要介绍系统防雷技术的具体防护方法。包括电源系统、UPS电源系统、终端设备电源、通讯网络系统、电话线及专线、局域网线路、卫星接收天馈线的防护以及接地保护系统。     

电信建筑在岩溶发育地区的地基基础设计

结合新密电信综合生产楼工程和贵阳第二长途电信枢纽楼工程的设计，介绍在岩溶发育场地上，对浅层岩溶地基的处理方法及基础类型的选择思路。     

Cross-Border Migration of Hong Kong Residents Under the 'One Country, Two Systems' Policy

Hong Kong is known as a migrant city because its population was sourced from mainland China, and because there has always been outflows of people to overseas countries, especially from the mid-1980s to mid-1990s. Emigration to mainland China has become a significant recent trend. This article discusses this phenomenon in the theoretical contexts of migration and trans-border residential development. It contends that the trend will intensify more quickly than other cross-border movements because the two systems are separated by a political border within one country, and because there are common cultural ties and rapid economic integration.