Exergetic analysis of a wooden building envelope in a tropical region
This study analyzes the energy and exergy performance of a wooden building envelope in a tropical region. The case study focuses on an office located in Yaoundé, Cameroon. A dynamic heat transfer model was developed, assuming uniform temperatures across the walls, based on the lumped capacitance met...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2025-09-01
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| Series: | Results in Engineering |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590123025021127 |
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| author | Tiendjou Tiombou Michael Maeschauer Penlap Landry Hervé Ngohe-Ekam Paul-salomon Pemha Elkana |
| author_facet | Tiendjou Tiombou Michael Maeschauer Penlap Landry Hervé Ngohe-Ekam Paul-salomon Pemha Elkana |
| author_sort | Tiendjou Tiombou Michael Maeschauer |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This study analyzes the energy and exergy performance of a wooden building envelope in a tropical region. The case study focuses on an office located in Yaoundé, Cameroon. A dynamic heat transfer model was developed, assuming uniform temperatures across the walls, based on the lumped capacitance method. This model was numerically solved using the explicit Euler method, enabling the simulation of the indoor and outdoor surface temperature evolution. These temperatures were then used to establish a complete exergy balance, covering four subsystems: the room, the walls, the roof, and the windows, using the annual average temperature as a reference.The results highlight the significant impact of wall configuration (materials, insulation, and environmental conditions) on thermal gradients. In terms of exergy destruction, the wooden envelope generates approximately 15.23 W, compared to 41.15 W for a concrete envelope, representing a 63 % reduction in exergy destruction when wood is used as the primary material. Overall, the wooden envelope is 2.7 times less exergy-destructive than its concrete counterpart. Additionally, about 95 % of total exergy destruction stems from internal thermal exchanges. This study emphasizes the importance of material selection to enhance the energy and exergy performance of tropical buildings while reducing their carbon footprint. These results highlight the importance of materials and envelope design to improve energy and exergy performance, reduce carbon footprint, and enhance thermal comfort in tropical buildings. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-34fd6dd9673a47a1b96d62da682eeef0 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2590-1230 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-09-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Results in Engineering |
| spelling | doaj-art-34fd6dd9673a47a1b96d62da682eeef02025-08-20T03:27:52ZengElsevierResults in Engineering2590-12302025-09-012710604010.1016/j.rineng.2025.106040Exergetic analysis of a wooden building envelope in a tropical regionTiendjou Tiombou Michael Maeschauer0Penlap Landry Hervé1Ngohe-Ekam Paul-salomon2Pemha Elkana3Applied Mechanics Laboratory, Faculty of Science, University of Yaoundé I, P.O. Box 812, Yaoundé, Cameroon; Energy Laboratory, National Advanced School of Engineering, P.O. Box 8390, Yaoundé, Cameroon; Corresponding author.Energy Laboratory, National Advanced School of Engineering, P.O. Box 8390, Yaoundé, CameroonEnergy Laboratory, National Advanced School of Engineering, P.O. Box 8390, Yaoundé, CameroonApplied Mechanics Laboratory, Faculty of Science, University of Yaoundé I, P.O. Box 812, Yaoundé, CameroonThis study analyzes the energy and exergy performance of a wooden building envelope in a tropical region. The case study focuses on an office located in Yaoundé, Cameroon. A dynamic heat transfer model was developed, assuming uniform temperatures across the walls, based on the lumped capacitance method. This model was numerically solved using the explicit Euler method, enabling the simulation of the indoor and outdoor surface temperature evolution. These temperatures were then used to establish a complete exergy balance, covering four subsystems: the room, the walls, the roof, and the windows, using the annual average temperature as a reference.The results highlight the significant impact of wall configuration (materials, insulation, and environmental conditions) on thermal gradients. In terms of exergy destruction, the wooden envelope generates approximately 15.23 W, compared to 41.15 W for a concrete envelope, representing a 63 % reduction in exergy destruction when wood is used as the primary material. Overall, the wooden envelope is 2.7 times less exergy-destructive than its concrete counterpart. Additionally, about 95 % of total exergy destruction stems from internal thermal exchanges. This study emphasizes the importance of material selection to enhance the energy and exergy performance of tropical buildings while reducing their carbon footprint. These results highlight the importance of materials and envelope design to improve energy and exergy performance, reduce carbon footprint, and enhance thermal comfort in tropical buildings.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590123025021127Exergy analysisWooden buildingBuilding envelope;TRopical regionEnergy efficiency |
| spellingShingle | Tiendjou Tiombou Michael Maeschauer Penlap Landry Hervé Ngohe-Ekam Paul-salomon Pemha Elkana Exergetic analysis of a wooden building envelope in a tropical region Results in Engineering Exergy analysis Wooden building Building envelope;TRopical region Energy efficiency |
| title | Exergetic analysis of a wooden building envelope in a tropical region |
| title_full | Exergetic analysis of a wooden building envelope in a tropical region |
| title_fullStr | Exergetic analysis of a wooden building envelope in a tropical region |
| title_full_unstemmed | Exergetic analysis of a wooden building envelope in a tropical region |
| title_short | Exergetic analysis of a wooden building envelope in a tropical region |
| title_sort | exergetic analysis of a wooden building envelope in a tropical region |
| topic | Exergy analysis Wooden building Building envelope;TRopical region Energy efficiency |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590123025021127 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT tiendjoutiomboumichaelmaeschauer exergeticanalysisofawoodenbuildingenvelopeinatropicalregion AT penlaplandryherve exergeticanalysisofawoodenbuildingenvelopeinatropicalregion AT ngoheekampaulsalomon exergeticanalysisofawoodenbuildingenvelopeinatropicalregion AT pemhaelkana exergeticanalysisofawoodenbuildingenvelopeinatropicalregion |