Thermal Performance Simulation of Attic Roof Retrofitting Strategies in Hot and Humid Malaysian Climate
摘要
The present research comprehensively explored the thermal performance of various roof retrofitting strategies, including insulation, solar reflectance, and their combination, to avoid high temperatures in the attic and thus improve indoor thermal conditions in the master bedroom in a typical terrace house in Malaysia’s hot and humid climate. In this study, 17 strategies were simulated in DesignBuilder to evaluate their effects on indoor temperature and heat flux in the master bedroom and the attic. The innovation lies in modeling a bio-based phase change material (Bio-PCM) panel as a roof component, both as a standalone strategy and in combination with other strategies. The heat-reflective paint strategy excelled at managing indoor temperatures by reflecting solar radiation, lowering temperatures by 1.3 °C and 2.0 °C in the master bedroom and the attic, respectively. However, the combined strategy of single-sided aluminum woven foil, heat-reflective paint, and Bio-PCM panel is the most effective in minimizing conductive and radiant heat transfer. The reduction in heat flux in the master bedroom by 67 % and in the attic by 49 % compared to the baseline heat flux of 3.67 W/m2 in the master bedroom and − 5.09 W/m2 in the attic, leading to an improvement in the overall thermal environment.