Characteristics of Insulating Panels Realised from Coconut Palm Fibres for Low-Temperature Thermal Insulation
Daniel Segla Mededji
Laboratory of Study and Research in Applied Chemistry, Polytechnic School of Abomey-Calavi, University of Abomey-Calavi, Cotonou, Benin and Department of BioMedical Engineering, University of Abomey-Calavi, Cotonou, Benin.
Elie Sogbochi
Laboratory of Study and Research in Applied Chemistry, Polytechnic School of Abomey-Calavi, University of Abomey-Calavi, Cotonou, Benin.
Ayihaou Armand Djossou
Laboratory of Process and Technological Innovation, National Institute of Industrial Technology, Lokossa, Benin.
Omar Cherkaoui
Higher School for the Textile and Clothing Industries, Casablanca, Morocco.
Latif Adeniyi Fagbemi
Department of BioMedical Engineering, University of Abomey-Calavi, Cotonou, Benin.
Dominique Codjo Koko Sohounhloue
*
Laboratory of Study and Research in Applied Chemistry, Polytechnic School of Abomey-Calavi, University of Abomey-Calavi, Cotonou, Benin.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
In recent years, there has been growing interest in issues relating to pollution and energy consumption, and the resulting regulations have led the construction sector to focus on thermal insulation. The application of bio-based insulation materials can help to minimise the environmental impact of buildings by reducing energy demand both during construction and over the lifetime of the building. Agroforestry biomass plays an interesting role, as its use can reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The aim of this work is to produce insulating panels from agroforestry by-products for low-temperature thermal insulation applications. The insulating panels in this study are produced from coconut palm fibres and their thermophysical properties are determined. They were produced using a human-motricity press and the temperature rise was controlled using the hot-tape method. Characteristics such as calorific value and modelling of temperature rise as a function of time to calculate thermal conductivity, thermal effusivity and diffusivity were determined. The calorific value varies from 3668.0 to 4135.0 and from 3742.0 to 4186.0 cal.g-1 when the moisture content is 11.28 and 10.61%, respectively. The thermal conductivity, effusivity and thermal diffusivity are 0.4 W.m-1.K-1, 760.30 J.m-2.°C-1.s-1/2 and 2.73.10-7 m.s-1, respectively. In view of these results, coconut fibre represents a potential precursor to produce insulating panels.
Keywords: Eco-materials, insulation, environment, thermophysical properties