Microclimate numerical simulation to obtain the minimum safe distances between a painted wood panel and the inner face of an exterior wall

Abstract

This study provides a detailed understanding of the heat fluxes and temperatures that take place in the channel between the inner face of an exterior wall and the back of a painted wood panel hung on it. This is performed by means of a numerical simulation with a 2 dimensional CFD software. Distributions of temperatures, heat fluxes, and other parameters are quantified for 56 cases where the classical equations¿Raithby-Hollands and similar¿cannot be applied as these require vertical isothermal plates or isofluxes. Studied scenarios include different panel heights, channel widths, and room heights. Combining these data with outside temperature (− 3 °C) and heating air supply temperature (20 °C), to provide a nearly constant 19.6 °C in the room except in the channel between panel and wall, and with two values of specific humidity in the room, we provide for every studied case, advised distances, for these conditions, between the panel and the wall.