Effective heat transfer design for solid and cavity wall configuration.

Abstract

This paper seeks to outline good practice in the design, installation and operation of building cooling systems. It encompasses the discussion on the different types of cooling systems that must be applied for particular needs. The paper also deals with the philosophy of building heat gain, the methodology in the prediction of cooling load energy and ultimately the importance of optimizing heat transfer. In the methodology section, Fourier’s law was used to design the cooling systems for a solid wall and a cavity wall of same area made from material of similar heat transfer coefficient. Results showed that the cavity wall permitted less heat transfer into the confined space hence less electricity required to cool it. It is recommended therefore that, large public buildings should be designed in this manner so as to reduce the need for unnecessary electrical power to maintain them.