In situ quantitative diagnosis of insulated building walls using passive infrared thermography

ABSTRACT

The research project DPE-IITI aims to carry out the in situ diagnosis of energy performance of buildings by quantifying the insulation level of walls. The on site monitoring method is based on the use of passive infrared thermography, meteorological measurements (air temperatures, solar flux), thermal modelling and identification algorithm. A measurement campaign was conducted in a school in the city of Noisiel (suburb of Paris, France). Experimental results based on a radiometric model and finite element simulation parameter identification approach show the potential of the method to quantify the thermal insulation level of a building wall. The structure of the wall is considered as known and the identification procedure estimates either the thermal conductivity or the thickness of the insulation layer. It is therefore a situation of control of the insulation. It shows that a satisfactory estimation could be reached for an analysis duration of one day. This prospective work could lead to the integration of infrared thermography into standard diagnosis procedures.

KEYWORDS:

• Passive infrared thermography
• on site monitoring
• thermal modelling
• identification
• insulation control
• energy performance of building

Acknowledgements

The authors want to thank the ADEME (French agency for environment and energy saving) for the financial support and FLIR Systems Advanced Thermal Solutions for the technical support of the DPE-IITI project. The authors want also to thank the town of Noisiel (near Paris) for its participation to this project by giving us a free access to some public buildings to perform thermographic measurements.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

M. H. A. Larbi Youcef

Mohamed Habib Aboubaker Larbi Youcef is a fellow researcher in CERTES Laboratory of Paris-Est Créteil University since 2003. He has directed and conducted research projects funded by ANR (National Agency of Research) and ADEME (National Agency of Environment and Sustainable Energy). He works in infrared thermography applied to buildings. Currently, he leads a project on heat and moisture transfers in old buildings. Previously, he was Associate Professor at Center for Renewable Energies in Algiers, Algeria.

V. Feuillet

Vincent Feuillet is an Associate Professor in CERTES Laboratory (Center for Studies and Research in Thermal, Environment and Systems) at Paris-Est Créteil University. His research interest includes inspection of building walls and nondestructive testing of building and composite materials by infrared thermography. He teaches in the Department of Physical Measurements Departement of the IUT of Créteil-Vitry.

L. Ibos

Laurent Ibos has a PhD in Polymer Physics from Paul Sabatier University (Toulouse, France) and a HDR in Thermal Metrology of Paris-Est University. He is at this time Associated Professor in CERTES Laboratory (UPEC, Créteil, France). His research activity mainly concerns the thermal characterization of construction materials and the inspection of structures using infrared thermography.

Y. Candau

Yves Candau is an exceptional class professor at Paris-Est Créteil University. He has directed more than twenty thesis. His field of research is thermal buildings, infrared thermography and material sciences. He teaches in the Department of Electrical and Industrial Informatics of the IUT of Créteil-Vitry.