An evaluation of the embedment of a Radio Frequency Integrated Circuit with a temperature detector in building envelopes for energy conservation

Concrete is the primary material for building envelopes in some parts of the world, and its ability to store heat as well as its dynamic temperature changes will not only affect the deterioration rate of the exterior wall but will also greatly influence the energy efficiency of interior air conditioning. There are many methods for measuring the inner temperature of concrete, but they often have limitations, such as indirect estimation, cable installation requirements, high cost, or heterogeneity of the sample structure. In order to measure the internal temperature of concrete, this study integrated a Radio Frequency Integrated Circuit (RFIC) with a temperature sensor chip and embedded the device in concrete structures. A Smart Temperature Information Material (STIM) was thus developed. This device overcomes the aforementioned constraints, allows direct measurement and wireless transmission, and is able to constantly monitor temperature changes from a distance. The experiment embedded STIM into 5 concrete specimens that simulated rooftop insulation (50 cm × 50 cm × 15 cm) to measure the thermal performance of each insulation material, and the effect of weather conditions and the heat release/absorption rates on the thermal performance. The results of the study can be used as a reference for selecting materials for building design or maintenance and analysis of the energy efficiency of building envelopes.