Optimisation of Thermal Comfort of Building in a Hot and Dry Tropical Climate: A Comparative Approach between Compressed Earth/Concrete Block Envelopes

Compressed earth blocks (CEB) are an alternative to cement blocks in the construction of wall masonry. However, the optimal architectural construction methods for adequate thermal comfort for occupants in hot and arid environments are not mastered. This article evaluates the influence of architectural and constructive modes of buildings made of CEB walls and concrete block walls, to optimize and compare their thermal comfort in the hot and dry tropical climate of Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. Two identical pilot buildings whose envelopes are made of CEB and concrete blocks were monitored for this study. The thermal models of the pilot buildings were implemented in the SketchUp software using an extension of EnergyPlus. The models were empirically validated after calibration against measured thermal data from the buildings. The models were used to do a parametric analysis for optimization of the thermal performances by simulating plaster coatings on the exterior of walls, airtight openings and natural ventilation depending on external weather conditions. The results show that the CEB building displays 7016 hours of discomfort, equivalent to 80.1% of the time, and the concrete building displays 6948 hours of discomfort, equivalent to 79.3% of the time. The optimization by modifications reduced the discomfort to 2918 and 3125 hours respectively;i.e. equivalent to only 33.3% for the CEB building and 35.7% for the concrete building. More study should evaluate thermal optimizations in buildings in real time of usage such as residential buildings commonly used by the local middle class. The use of CEB as a construction material and passive means of improving thermal comfort is a suitable ecological and economical option to replace cementitious material.

Performance Study of Dynamic Intake and Exhaust Fa鏰des in Hot and Dry Climates:Iraq Case Study

This paper is part of a series addressing the urgent need for effective technologies to reduce energy demand and mitigate climate impact.This study focused on the implementation and development of dynamic insulation technology for a sustainable and energy-efficient future in the region,especially in Iraq.The study assessed the energy efficiency of dynamic insulation technology by analyzing three wallmodels(static,dynamic,and modified)during thewinter season.This paper expands the analysis to include a hot,dry summer scenario,providing valuable insights into the year-round performance of dynamic walls and enabling sustainable and energy-efficient solutions for Iraq’s climate.The study evaluates the thermal efficiency of the dynamic intake and exhaust facades during the cooling season for the city of Baghdad.The finding indicated that the dynamic intake facade reduces energy consumption by 16.3%for the dynamic wall and 17.2%for the modified dynamic wall.In addition,the dynamic exhaust front reduces energy consumption by 46%during the cooling season,with the maximum permissible exhaust air level.Dynamic insulation is suitable for hot and dry climates,improving energy consumption.

The Extremely Hot and Dry Climatic Events and Potash Enrichment in Salt Lakes of the Jiangling Depression, Jianghan Basin

Objective A total of 820 million tons of potash reserves are predicted to exist in the Palaeocene-Eocene of the Jianghan Basin. However, the basin history is still unclear concerning the potash enriching conditions and mechanism. The Well SKDI is the first exploration well drilled in the Paleogene of Jianghan Basin with continuous coring, which was implemented in the south-central Jiangling Basin in 2013. It is essential to study the Palaeocene-Eocene paleoclimate, to further constrain the extreme draught events and the potash forming conditions.