Phase change effects on fibrous insulation

The purpose of this paper is to study the effects of the phase change process on the heat losses from a fibrous insulation slab. This is accomplished by studying the multiphase flow in a porous slab with impermeable, adiabatic horizontal boundaries and permeable vertical boundaries. A full understanding of the transient condensation process will greatly enhance the control of thermal, as well as the structural deterioration of the fibrous insulation. A thorough investigation of the interaction between the moisture, temperature, liquid content and vapor density fields is presented. The importance of the Peclet number, Lewis number, and different humidity levels on the condensation process in demonstrated. The results indicate that even small quantities of condensate significantly affect the heat losses from the fibrous insulation slab.