Analysis of the thermal performance of the closing systems applied in a school building

Abstract

In this paper, the thermal performance of a building of the Instituto Federal de Educação, Ciência e Tecnologia do Sudeste de Minas Gerais – Campus Barbacena, Brazil – was analyzed. The simulation was done using EnergyPlus software. It was evaluated the thermal performance of the existing building and of the project proposal to replace the system of covering the existing building, taking into account the conditions of natural ventilation. The numerical simulation was performed in two models. The first model corresponds to the constructed and used building that is called Model_1. The second model is a project proposal for recovery of the shed structure built on the heated pool which is called Model_2. In order to facilitate the modeling, the configuration of only one thermal zone was assumed. The bioclimatic data used were from the city of São João del Rei-MG. The presence of internal sources of heat was not considered, so the occupancy profile of the building was disregarded. The simulations were performed for typical summer and winter days. Model_1 did not meet the criteria of minimum thermal performance, however Modelo_2 met the minimum thermal performance criteria for the typical summer and winter days. From the results obtained, it can be inferred that the replacement of some closing materials directly influences the thermal performance of the building, improving the comfort of the user.