Hygrothermal Processes in Porous Materials
2023
Ritvars Freimanis

Defending
21.12.2023. 14:00, Rīgas Tehniskās universitātes Elektrotehnikas un vides inženierzinātņu fakultātē, Āzenes ielā 12/1, 212. telpā.

Supervisor
Andra Blumberga

Reviewers
Paal Ingebrigt Davidsen, Peter David Lund, Gatis Bažbauers

The biggest consumer of energy in Europe is the building sector, which uses about 40 % of the total energy consumption and generates about 36 % of the total CO2 emissions in the European Union (EU). Of the total EU building stock, only 25 % of buildings are classified as energy efficient and it is predicted that 85 % – 95 % of the existing building stock will still be in operation in 2050 [1]. Residents’ demands for increased comfort, wider use of electrical equipment, etc., contribute to the increase in energy consumption. The increase in energy consumption is one of the contributors to climate change. There are several areas where it would be possible to use energy more efficiently, thus reducing consumption and, as a result, reducing greenhouse gas emissions. In order for the EU to achieve carbon neutrality in 2050, ambitious goals have been set – which include increasing the energy efficiency of buildings, using renewable energy resources and overall reducing greenhouse gas emissions [2]. Building insulation is an effective measure for increasing the energy efficiency of buildings, but in order to implement it, several barriers must be overcome, which can be both financial and sentimental. In order to achieve the goals, it is necessary to find a solution to the dilemma between the environment in which we live, which includes preserving the cultural and historical heritage and increasing energy efficiency. The built environment is one of the essential cultural values – it forms the environment necessary for living and is essential for the quality of life [3]. This dilemma shows that, on the one hand, there is great potential for energy efficiency in the existing building stock, but on the other hand, the preservation of cultural values must be ensured. One of the solutions to this dilemma is insulating of historic buildings from the inside, which allows preserving the built environment, e.g. the facade of historic buildings, while increasing the building's energy efficiency. However, such a solution contributes to changes in the hygrothermal processes of the building, which can contribute to undesirable consequences, such as mold, brick deterioration, salt stains, etc. The aim of the work is to assess the possibilities of creating a positive energy balance quarter in a cultural and historical urban environment, using moisture-proof building insulation from the inside. The thesis is developed as a set of ten interrelated international scientific publications. The thesis consists of an introduction, three chapters, conclusions and an appendix of publications. Four hypotheses are put forward in the work, which have been studied with various scientific research methods, including measurements in real objects, measurements in laboratory conditions, multi-criteria analysis and computer simulation of hygrothermal processes. The work begins with an introduction, followed by a literature review and a chapter on methodology. The third chapter describes the obtained results. The work ends with Conclusions and an appendix of publications.


Keywords
Higrotermālie procesi, ēku energoefektivitāte,
DOI
10.7250/9789934370106

Freimanis, Ritvars. Hygrothermal Processes in Porous Materials. PhD Thesis. Rīga: [RTU], 2023. 213 p.

Publication language
Latvian (lv)
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