Thermal Inertia Performance via TRNSYS Software of Recycled Wastewater Treatment Plant Sludge as a Construction Material Additive to Ecological Lightweight Earth Bricks

Abstract:

This research investigates the thermal performance of earth bricks made with different percentages of wastewater sludge additive (0%, 1%, 3%, 7%, 15%, 20%) in terms of cooling and heating loads, time lag and decrement factor. The simulation of a reference house (2.5m,10m,6m) using TRNSYS software allows for the evaluation of these parameters, external wall thicknesses, bulk density, thermal conductivity, and specific heat capacity are employed as inputs in dynamic thermal inertia model. The results showed that the use of bricks with higher sludge additive percentages resulted in a drop in cooling and heating loads, the lowest cooling and heating loads of 1720 KWH and 1534 KWH respectively were recorded with the highest percentage of wastewater sludge additive of 20% and the biggest wall thickness of 30cm, it was also noted that the use of higher wastewater sludge additive percentages and bigger wall thicknesses led to higher time lags and lower decrement factor, the highest time lag of 15 hours and the lowest decrement factor of 0.019 were as well recorded with the highest wastewater sludge additive of 20%, and the biggest wall thickness of 30cm. These results were attributed to the higher specific heat capacity, and lower thermal conductivity of the bricks with higher wastewater sludge additive percentages.

• Periodical: International Journal of Engineering Research in Africa (Volume 71)
• Pages: 17-29
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/p-5sLqfi
• Online since: September 2024
• Authors: Ghizlane El Hajoui*, Imad Manssouri, Tajeddine Manssouri, Hassane Sahbi, Houssame Limami
• Keywords: Cooling, Decrement Factor, Heating Loads, Specific Heat Capacity, Thermal Conductivity, Time Lag, Wastewater Sludge Additive

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