Title: Energetic and exergetic analysis of optimum insulation thickness for cold storages

Authors: Nuri Alpay Kürekci; Özlem Emanet

Addresses: Heat and Thermodynamics Division, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Yildiz Technical University (YTU), Yildiz, Besiktas, Istanbul, 34349, Turkey ' Heat and Thermodynamics Division, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Yildiz Technical University (YTU), Yildiz, Besiktas, Istanbul, 34349, Turkey

Abstract: In this study, the optimum insulation thickness of cold storage walls was calculated energetically and exergetically for five selected insulation materials, whose payback periods were calculated and compared. The effect of each material's unit volume price on the optimum insulation thickness and payback period was also examined. The values of the optimum insulation thickness for polyurethane, extruded polystyrene, rock wool, glass wool, and expanded polystyrene are 2.35-8.43 cm, 5.01-16 cm, 5.81-18.76 cm, 8.10-24.40 cm, and 9.28-28.08 cm, respectively, based on energetic analysis, and 0.08-7.73 cm, 0.91-14.74 cm, 0.97-17.26 cm, 2.01-22.52 cm, and 2.26-25.91 cm, respectively, based on exergetic analysis.

Keywords: optimum insulation thickness; cold storage; energy saving; thermo-economic analysis; exergetic analysis; cooling degree-day value.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEX.2022.125526

International Journal of Exergy, 2022 Vol.39 No.2, pp.215 - 231

Received: 24 Sep 2021
Accepted: 24 Jan 2022
Published online: 13 Sep 2022 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article