Title: Impact of support pillars geometry on thermal insulation performance of vacuum glazing: CFD research and exergy analysis

Authors: Pinar Mert Cuce; Erdem Cuce; Harun Sen

Addresses: Department of Architecture, Faculty of Engineering and Architecture, Recep Tayyip Erdogan University, Zihni Derin Campus, 53100 Rize, Turkey; College of Built Environment, Birmingham City University, B4 7XG, Birmingham, UK ' Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Architecture, Recep Tayyip Erdogan University, Zihni Derin Campus, 53100 Rize, Turkey; University Centre for Research and Development, Chandigarh University, Mohali, Punjab, 140413, India; School of Engineering and the Built Environment, Birmingham City University, B4 7XG, Birmingham, UK ' Bergama Vocational School, Department of Motor Vehicles and Transportation Technologies, Dokuz Eylul University, Izmir, Turkey

Abstract: Vacuum glazing technology is based on evacuating the gas between the double glasses and aims to prevent heat losses by eliminating convection effects. This study evaluates the effect of thermal conductivity and column design on the window heat transfer coefficient with a 2D CFD study, taking 200 × 350 mm vacuum glass as a reference. The effect of changing the glass thermal conductivity between 0.1-0.4 W/mK on the window heat transfer coefficient (U_w) is analysed. For thermal conductivity of support pillars, solutions in the range of 0.04-0.20 W/mK are taken. Model results are evaluated for convergent and divergent column design. The reference U_w value of 1.21 W/m²K was determined as 0.76 W/m²K in the converging cylindrical column design and 0.92 W/m²K in the divergent one.

Keywords: vacuum glazing; heat transfer coefficient; support pillar design; thermal resistance; exergy analysis.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEX.2024.140172

International Journal of Exergy, 2024 Vol.44 No.3/4, pp.188 - 203

Received: 13 Aug 2023
Accepted: 16 Nov 2023
Published online: 27 Jul 2024 *

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