This paper studies the defect detection problem of adhesive layer of thermal insulation materials. A novel detection method based on an improved particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm of Electrical Capacitance Tomography (ECT) is presented. Firstly, a least squares support vector machine is applied for data processing of measured capacitance values. Then, the improved PSO algorithm is prop...

The authors develop slim and light-weight vacuum insulation panels (VIPs) by producing vacuum layers with spacers and plastic plates. The developed VIPs have the advantages of a low cost and easy installation, thus facilitating retrofitting insulation of existing buildings. In addition, one of the developed VIPs is slim and translucent so it can be easily used for windows in an internal install...

Buildings consume too much energy. For example, 16.6% of all the energy used in the United States goes towards just the heating and cooling of buildings. Many governments, organizations, and companies are setting very ambitious goals to reduce their energy use over the next few years. Because the time periods for these goals are much less than the average lifetime of a building, existing buildi...

Power transformers use Kraft paper as insulation in the electrical windings present in the core, which is immersed in oil. In service, the temperature of the windings of core will go to 75C to 85C. If the transformer is over loaded, then the temperature can exceed upto 100°C causing the cellulose chains in the paper to cleave at an accelerated rate, which results in the degradation of mechanica...

The data in this article are the simulation results of 1248 cases that were carried out to detect anti-insulation behaviour in the article titled "Anti-insulation mitigation by altering the envelope layers' configuration" (Idris and Mae, 2017) [1]. These cases are generated by a matrix of 13 climates, 6 envelope layer configurations, 4 occupancy profiles and 4 levels of insulation thickness. Th...

Cold protective clothing was studied in 2 European Union projects. The objectives were (a) to examine different insulation calculation methods as measured on a manikin (serial or parallel), for the prediction of cold stress (IREQ); (b) to consider the effects of cold protective clothing on metabolic rate; (c) to evaluate the movement and wind correction of clothing insulation values. Tests were...

The thermal insulation market is dominated by petroleum insulations. A gap has been identified for the manufacture of “green” insulations. These insulations must perform to the same levels of heat transfer resistance as their petroleum based counterparts. Modern petroleum derived insulations can be carcinogenic, toxic to manufacture and release toxins as they degrade. The majority are not envir...

Cold protective clothing was studied in 2 European Union projects. The objectives were (a) to examine different insulation calculation methods as measured on a manikin (serial or parallel), for the prediction of cold stress (IREQ); (b) to consider the effects of cold protective clothing on metabolic rate; (c) to evaluate the movement and wind correction of clothing insulation values. Tests were...

OBJECTIVE To compare the thermal environment of infants who died of the sudden infant death syndrome with that of age matched control infants. DESIGN Case-control study. Infants who died were matched with two controls, one for age and one for age and birth weight. Thermal measurements were conducted at the death scene for cases and at the scene of last sleep for control infants, who were visi...