Análisis térmico comparativo de las cubiertas mayormente utilizadas en la ciudad de Cuenca, a partir de simulación digital térmica

Abstract

The building envelope is the part of the structure that interacts with the environment. In buildings, approximately 33% of heat loss occurs through the walls. However, in countries with low latitudes, the roof is the critical structure because it is the main component exposed to solar radiation, which accounts for about 50 to 60% of the thermal energy exchange between the interior and exterior. In recent decades, Cuenca and Ecuador have undergone significant changes in their construction systems. The displacement of vernacular construction with new, more industrialized systems has resulted in greater productivity in construction time and costs, but has also led to the neglect of the climatic characteristics of the place. As a consequence, light tile roofs made of reed, mud, and stucco have been completely replaced by roofs with other technologies. The methodology used for this study is based on digital simulations utilizing the Design Builder software and the Energy Plus calculation engine. The analyzed case studies pertain to the most commonly used roof types in Cuenca construction. The study concluded that optimizing the radiative properties on the exterior surface of the roof, along with thermal mass and air cavity, is crucial. By applying these strategies, we were able to regularize the heat flow, resulting in low thermal oscillations and improved interior temperature conditions. This led to better performance for a heavy roof and, most importantly, significantly enhanced the performance of a light roof in our climatic environment.