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Unsteady Coupled Moisture and Heat Energy Transport through an Exterior Wall Covered with Vegetation

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  • Leopold Škerget

    (Itecons—Institute for Research and Technological Development in Construction, Energy, Environment and Sustainability, Rua Pedro Hispano s/ n., 3030-289 Coimbra, Portugal)

  • António Tadeu

    (Itecons—Institute for Research and Technological Development in Construction, Energy, Environment and Sustainability, Rua Pedro Hispano s/ n., 3030-289 Coimbra, Portugal
    ADAI—LAETA, Department of Civil Engineering, University of Coimbra, Pólo II, Rua Luís Reis Santos, 3030-788 Coimbra, Portugal)

  • João Almeida

    (Itecons—Institute for Research and Technological Development in Construction, Energy, Environment and Sustainability, Rua Pedro Hispano s/ n., 3030-289 Coimbra, Portugal
    Chemistry Centre, Department of Chemistry, University of Coimbra, Rua Larga, 3004-535 Coimbra, Portugal)

Abstract

A mathematical model that governs unsteady coupled moisture and heat energy transport through an exterior wall covered with vegetation is described. The unknown temperature and moisture content of the plants and canopy air are represented by a system of nonlinear ordinary differential equations (ODEs). The transport of moisture and heat through the support structure, which includes insulation and soil layers, is defined in a series of nonlinear partial differential equations (PDEs). After setting out the model, this article presents and discusses a set of numerical applications. First, a simplified system consisting of a brick wall covered with climbing vegetation is used to study the role of individual variables (e.g., wind speed, minimum stomatal internal leaf resistance, leaf area index, and short-wave extinction coefficient) on the hygrothermal behaviour of the green wall. Thereafter, more complex green wall systems comprising a bare concrete wall, mortar, cork-based insulation (ICB), soil and vegetation are used to evaluate the influence of the thermal insulation and substrate layers on the heat flux distribution over time at the interior surface of the wall, and on the evolution of the relative humidity, water content, and temperature throughout the cross section of the green wall. The numerical experiments proved that vegetation can effectively reduce exterior facade surface temperatures, heat flux through the building envelope and daily temperature fluctuations.

Suggested Citation

  • Leopold Škerget & António Tadeu & João Almeida, 2021. "Unsteady Coupled Moisture and Heat Energy Transport through an Exterior Wall Covered with Vegetation," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(15), pages 1-26, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:14:y:2021:i:15:p:4422-:d:599245
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Reza Broun & Hamed Babaizadeh & Abolfazl Zakersalehi & Gillian F. Menzies, 2014. "Integrated Life Cycle Energy and Greenhouse Gas Analysis of Exterior Wall Systems for Residential Buildings," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 6(12), pages 1-12, November.
    2. Manso, Maria & Castro-Gomes, João, 2015. "Green wall systems: A review of their characteristics," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 41(C), pages 863-871.
    3. Šuklje, Tomaž & Medved, Sašo & Arkar, Ciril, 2016. "On detailed thermal response modeling of vertical greenery systems as cooling measure for buildings and cities in summer conditions," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 115(P1), pages 1055-1068.
    4. Jesús Feijó-Muñoz & Irene Poza-Casado & Roberto Alonso González-Lezcano & Cristina Pardal & Víctor Echarri & Rafael Assiego De Larriva & Jesica Fernández-Agüera & María Jesús Dios-Viéitez & Víctor Jos, 2018. "Methodology for the Study of the Envelope Airtightness of Residential Buildings in Spain: A Case Study," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(4), pages 1-20, March.
    5. Marchi, Michela & Pulselli, Riccardo Maria & Marchettini, Nadia & Pulselli, Federico Maria & Bastianoni, Simone, 2015. "Carbon dioxide sequestration model of a vertical greenery system," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 306(C), pages 46-56.
    6. Lee, Louis S.H. & Jim, C.Y., 2019. "Energy benefits of green-wall shading based on novel-accurate apportionment of short-wave radiation components," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 238(C), pages 1506-1518.
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