Thermal Insulation and Radiation Control Technologies for Buildings

This book offers a unique treatment of building insulating products and the integration of these products with building components. This book was written for all those involved in building design, specification, construction, and commissioning, providing them with an understanding of and appreciation for the wide variety of thermal insulation products and technologies available for use in all types of buildings. The book proceeds from basic definitions and discussion of heat-transfer topics and thermal insulation concepts, to the design and use of these products. The impact of thermal insulation on dynamic building performance, including factors other than heating and cooling, is also discussed.

The book does not require an advanced mathematical background. The authors provide sufficient information to provide a qualitative understanding, with more mathematical sections included for those interested in modeling and analysis. The basic physics associated with heat transfer in buildings are presented, along with the steady-state and transient analysis techniques needed for the effective implementation of thermal insulation and assemblies.

Modern building design involves the integration of comfort, safety, economics, durability and cost considerations, all of which impact the selection and use of thermal insulation materials in buildings. In addition to theoretical explanations of the underlying science, the book details the properties and application of new thermal insulation materials, including vacuum panels, gas-filled panels, aerogels, phase-change materials, and radiation control technologies.

Given its scope, the book will be of interest to researchers and building engineers wishing to understand the latest technologies and materials available, so as to achieve reduced energy consumption in commercial and residential buildings.

Dr. Kosny is a leading building envelope researcher with 40 years of experience in the areas of building energy efficiency, building physics, thermal insulation, thermal storage, and building integrated solar technologies. Since 2019, he has been at the University of Massachusetts, Lowell (UML) as a faculty member in the Department of Mechanical Engineering. From 2010 to 2019, he led the Building Enclosures and Advance Materials Research at the Fraunhofer Center for Sustainable energy Systems (CSE), in Boston, MA. The main focus of this R&D program was on building physics, high-performance thermal control materials, and building integrated PV technologies. Prior to joining the Fraunhofer CSE, Dr. Kosny spent 18 years at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, where he developed several high-performance building envelopes and BIPV concepts. Since 1981, he has held faculty positions in Europe and North America and authored books, book chapters and more than 150 technical papers, as well as numerous conference presentations and patents related to advanced building concepts. Dr. Kosny is an active member of ASTM Committee C16, ASHRAE TC 4.4, and ASHRAE TC 4.7. He has represented the United States in various international organizations and standards bodies including the International Energy Agency. Dr. Kosny together with Dr. Yarbrough are the winners of a 2009 R&D 100 Award for the development of a novel phase-change product. Dr. Kosny holds a Ph.D. in Building Physics from the Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland.

Dr. Yarbrough, Vice-President of R&D Services, Inc., located in Watertown, TN, USA, is a Professor of Chemical Engineering, Emeritus at Tennessee Technological University, where he served for 32 years as a faculty member and Departmental Chairperson. In 2011, he retired from the Oak Ridge National Laboratory after 30 years as a part-time research participant in thermal insulations and materials. Dr. Yarbrough’s research in both above positions included thermal insulation design, evaluation, and use. He holds a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology and registration as a professional engineer. Dr. Yarbrough, an ASTM Fellow, is an active member of ASTM Committee C16 (Thermal Insulation) with task-group leadership and subcommittee assignments. Dr. Yarbrough is a fellow and governing board member of the International Thermal Conductivity Conference, a fellow and past president of the Tennessee Academy of Science, and a member of ASHRAE. In addition to an active history of publications and presentations, and he is the author of handbook chapters dealing with thermal insulation and a book chapter dealing with reflective insulation. He is a member of the Editorial Boards for the Journal of Building Physics and the Journal of the Tennessee Academy of Science.