Review Article

Studies of Parameters on Heat Transfer

through Glazing System using Guarded
Hot Plate Apparatus
Sunny Kumar1, Anuranjan Sharda2

Abstract
Heat transfer through different modes from outside environment to inside occur by conduction,
convection and thermal radiation. Inclusion of automatic-advance-generation-software;
‘WINDOW 6.3’ makes possible the detailed true picture of the impact of glazed material and its
thickness/ pane spacing on its Thermal Transmittance.. This technique makes the user easy to
understand thermal performance of glazing system without extensive knowledge of numerical
methods of heat transfer. The U-value and solar heat gain coefficient are the key parameters to
analyze heat transfer through window 6.3. Therefore, an attempt has been made to carry out the
study to calculate U-value, solar heat gain coefficient of different glazing systems with varying
thickness/pane spacing in prevailing seasons. Composite climate of Una persisting in different
season was well defined. The U-value obtained from simulation were validated using the
guarded hot plate apparatus After analysis the experimental results, it was concluded that the U-
value and Solar Heat gain coefficient was noted maximum in single glazed window consists of
3mm thickness during the hot dry weather. The authors finally recommended Double-glazed
windows with 19mm pane spacing to be preferably used in Una region.

Keywords: Glazing, U-value, Window 6.3

Introduction
Heat transfer through a single/double - Glazed Window take place through three modes of heat transfer i.e.
conduction, convection and radiation. Conduction occurs in window panes and convection in fluid and radiation
through electromagnetic waves. Hence convection/radiation occurs in cavity and at the indoor and outdoor faces
of window. Window with both good looks and desired control for heat flow requires a thorough understanding of
mechanism of how glass responds to solar gain and thereafter measures needs to be taken to control that heat
transfer. Normal clear glass is almost transparent to high frequency solar radiation, but is a difficult to low
frequency or long wave radiation. The solar heat energy passing through the glazing warms up the various
surrounding surface by absorption and these surrounding surface then become heat radiators of low frequency
re-emitted heat which is trapped inside causing the temperature to rise.

1
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Sri Sukhmani Institute of Engineering and Technology, Dera Bassi, Chandigarh, India.
2
Faculty of Engineering and Technology, GNA University, Phagwara, Punjab, India.
Correspondence: Mr. Sunny Kumar, Sri Sukhmani Institute of Engineering and Technology, Dera Bassi, Chandigarh, India.
E-mail Id: er.sunnykumar@gmail.com
Orcid Id: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9186-5664
How to cite this article: Kumar S, Sharda A. Studies of Parameters on Heat Transfer through Glazing System using Guarded
Hot Plate Apparatus.. J Adv Res Glass Leath Plast Tech 2017; 2(1&2): 12-17.

© ADR Journals 2017. All Rights Reserved.

J. Adv. Res. Glass Leath. Plast. Tech. 2017; 2(1&2)
Previously, shading coefficient was used to represent
the heat flowing through the window and was defined
as the solar gain through a given fenestration
compared, to what the solar gain would have been
through an opening of the same size and orientation
glazed with a standard single pane of 1/8” double
strength clear glass.
However complexity of modern glazing systems could
not be properly evaluated by single shading
coefficient. However, ASHRAE devised an alternate
method for determining this heat and presently in
order to calculate the U-value and solar heat gain
coefficient through windows, windows 6.3 software
can be used.
Need for Present Work
From the literature review it was clear that no
systematic study has been carried out so far on the
guarded heater plate method with temperature of hot
and cold plate in conjunction with Indian climate. In
the developing country like India, there is huge
scarcity of energy sources. We have to focus on the
alternatives, which not only conserve the energy but
also help in maximum use of renewable source of
energy. Therefore an attempt was made to study the
energy conservation with double glazed window with
the help of guarded heater plate method. This
apparatus has been used over the last several years to
perform U-value measurement on a variety of
prototypical glazing system. The primary objective of
this system is to control the heat flow through it from
inside to outside in winter and from outside to inside
in summer.
Figure 1.Schematic of Experimental Setup
13
Kumar S et al.
Measurement Technique through Guarded
Heater Apparatus
The apparatus consists of heaters i.e. main and guard
heaters, cold plate, heat plate, baths, power supply
system and other accessories. Cold plate which act as
the heat sinks, hot plate which act as heat source.
Heater Design
The heater used consists baths, power supply system
and instrumentation for ensuring measurements of
two main parts
1. Main heater
2. Guard heater
The cold and hot plates are maintained at constant
temperature separately by passing the heated fluid
through copper tubes, which are brazed in a
rectangular spiral pattern at the backsides of each of
these plates. Three recesses (arranged as top, middle
and bottom) are made symmetrically on the hot plate
within three copper heater plates, each of an overall
thickness of 6 mm thick and of surface area 200x200
mm, are positioned.
The middle heater is used to apply a unidirectional
heat flux through Glazing-unit sample while the guard
heaters are maintained at the same temperature as
that of the main heater so that the entire heat is
transferred through the sample thereby minimizing
the heat losses. The heating material used is copper
due to its high thermal conductivity aiding in achieving
a constant plate temperature.
Kumar S et al.
In order to measures the voltage current from the
exposed surface of the guarded heater plate, it is
necessary to measure the rate at which electrical
energy is supplied to heater plates. The electrical
supplied to the heater plate is simply.
Vh = Qe / Ih … (1)
Where Ih = Current measured through the heater
wire; Vh = Voltage drop through the heater wire
When the experiments are performed to determine
the glazing system U values, Ih is measured directly
using a digital multimeter. This method simplifies the
experimental procedures used for data reduction. We
are providing D.C electrical power supply.
A U-value based on measurement for the glazing
system can be found by using suitable indoor and
outdoor side thermal conductance’s (hi and h0,
respectively).
U =[C-1 + hi-1 + h0-1] -1 … (2)
Simulation through Window 6.3 Software
Window 6.3 is a publicly available LBNL Window LBM
PC compatible computer program developed by the
building technologies group at the Lawrence Berkeley
Laboratory for calculating the thermal and optical
properties necessary for heat transfer analyses of
fenestration products. All the calculations are
discussed in the International System of units (SI).
Window 6.3 is the latest in a series of programs
released by the Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory. The
Table 1.Thermo-physical Properties
ID Name Type Conductivity W/m-K Viscosity g/m-s
1 Air Pure 10.024069 0.000017
Type of Glazing System Used and Pane Spacing
Glazing System
The glazing units can be categorized into single with
multiple glazing layers are often called insulating
Glazing Units IGUs are double glazing, triple glazing,
Table 2.Description of Selected Glazing Library
S. No Name
Layer 1
1 Single glazing 4mm glass
2 Double glazing 4mm glass
3 Double glazing 4mm glass
4 Double glazing 4mm glass
5 Double glazing 4mm glass
6 Double glazing 4mm glass
J. Adv. Res. Glass Leath. Plast. Tech. 2017; 2(1&2)
Window program has roots in a paper detailing a
method for calculating the heat transfer through
windows. The various operating system of window 6.3
software configuration as follows:
Main Screen
Main screen is helpful in calculating the window
properties, these properties includes U-value, Shading
Coefficient, Solar Heat Gain coefficient.
Window Library
Window Library is used to window properties, which
are created on MAIN SCREEN. NO calculations are
associated with this screen.
Glass Library
Glass Library includes glazing layer properties
weighted average optical properties are obtained by
integrating these properties over the various
wavelength ranges, if spectral values of transmittance
and reflectance are available. In the present study
clear that glass were used as the pane spacing.
Gas Library contains two different mixtures of gases.
For the present study only pure air is considered
whose thermo-physical properties are listed below:
Software Parameters for Current Simulation
Studies Gas Used
For the present study only pure air is considered
whose thermo-physical properties are listed below:
Cp J/kg-K Density kg/m3 Prandtl
1006.103271 1.292171 0.7197
and quadruple glazing. The glass pane can be clear,
tinted, or coated with reflective units were
investigated, as listed in Table glass with thermal
conductivity of 1 W/ (m.K). For the present study, a
double glazed window with clear glass was selected
for the analysis of U-value, Shgc and Rhg (ZHOU XU
2011).
Layers
Layer 2 Layer 3
10mm air gap 4mm glass
13mm air gap 4mm glass
16mm air gap 4mm glass
19mm air gap 4mm glass
25mm air gap 4mm glass
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J. Adv. Res. Glass Leath. Plast. Tech. 2017; 2(1&2) Kumar S et al.

Though there have been studies explain the use of Glazing Pane
double glazed windows in the west, very in research
has been done in this area in Indian climate In the present study clear-dat glass of 3mm thickness
conditions. For the purpose this study has considered from generic glass manufacture. The various solar and
the following glazing units to analyze their effect as optical properties of this glass shown in table from
per composite climate of northern India. Gen were used as the pane spacing. Glass consists
fellow:-
Table 3.Glass Properties
Thickness Tsol Rsol1 Rsol2 Tvis Rvis1 Rvis2 Tir Emis1 Emis2
3.048 0.834 0.075 0.075 0.899 0.083 0.083 0.000 0.840 0.840

Environmental Conditions Library monsoon season and brings slightly lower

temperature with the majority of all rainfall for the
The environmental condition parameters important to year and large cloud cover; the final season lasts from
U-value calculation are temperature and airflow October to February, with temperatures getting
velocity. For the present study, the composite climate colder, but with little to no precipitation (ISHRAE
of Una was selected. The composite climate zone, 2005). Based on these three seasons the climate data
defined by 2005 National Building Code, contains for the year 2012 was consider to define wind speed
aspects of all other climates zones, and changes (http://m.accuweater. com/) and solar radiations. The
greatly over the course of the year. peak temperatures of each of the seasons were
chosen as the summers are more prom ante choring
On an annual basic, temperature, relative humidity and max temp. Difference between the extreme
and average rainfall data indicates three distinct outside condition and conditioned room space is 180C
seasons with transitional periods in-between. The first only. The inside conditions are always considered to
seasons is roughly from March to June and is be designed values for conditioned space is 250C as
characterized by hot temperature and little to no below.
precipitation. The second season is known as the
Table 4.Composite Climate Condition for Una Location
S. No Composite climate condition Tout (0C) Tin (0C) Solar radiation W/m2 Wind speed m/s
1 Hot and dry 43.0 25.0 6570 4.815
2 Hot and humid 34.0 25.0 5470 4.02
3 Cold and dry 5 25 3948 3.95
Season: Hot and Dry, Hot and Humid, Cold and Dry simulation value

Convection Force Used

There are so many wind directions, but according to the Indian point of view, particularly this direction is used.

Table 5.Effect of Glazing and its Thickness on U-Value (w/m2K) in Different Season (Predicated and Simulated
Readings for Hot and Dry)
Season - Glazing and its thickness/spacing Hot and dry predicated Hot and dry simulated (Software)
Single glazed 3MM 5.62 6.46
Double glazed 10MM Pane Spacing 2.98 3.35
Double glazed 13MM Pane Spacing 2.68 3.20
Double glazed 16MM Pane Spacing 2.87 3.13
Double glazed 19MM Pane Spacing 2.86 3.08
Double glazed 25MM Pane Spacing 2.73 3.07

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Kumar S et al. J. Adv. Res. Glass Leath. Plast. Tech. 2017; 2(1&2)

Table 6.Effect of Glazing and its Thickness on U-Value (w/m2K) in Different Season (Predicated and Simulated
Readings for Hot and Humid)
Season - Glazing and its thickness/ spacing Hot and humid predicated Hot and humid simulated (Software)
Single glazed 3MM 5.11 5.88
Double glazed 10MM Pane Spacing 2.8 3.15
Double glazed 13MM Pane Spacing 2.68 3.02
Double glazed 16MM Pane Spacing 2.7 2.94
Double glazed 19MM Pane Spacing 2.67 2.88
Double glazed 25MM Pane Spacing 2.5 2.82

Table 7.Effect of Glazing and its Thickness on U-Value (w/m2K) in Different Season (Predicated and Simulated
Readings for Cold and Dry)
Season - Glazing and its thickness/spacing Cold and dry predicated Cold and dry simulated (Software)
Single glazed 3MM 5.06 5.82
Double glazed 10MM Pane Spacing 2.59 2.92
Double glazed 13MM Pane Spacing 2.48 2.79
Double glazed 16MM Pane Spacing 2.53 2.75
Double glazed 19MM Pane Spacing 2.53 2.73
Double glazed 25MM Pane Spacing 2.44 2.75

Results and Discussions
U-Value Software & U-Value Experimental
A perusal data represented in the Table 5, 6 and 7
shows the significant variation in the U-value due to
all the three factors i.e. season, type of glazing system
and pane spacing (for Double glazed windows). With
regard to the type of glazing system in the hot and dry
season the highest U-value was found in single glazed
window having 3mm thickness i.e. 6.46 (w/m2K).
Lowest U-value was noted in double glazed window
having 25mm pane spacing i.e. 3.07 (w/m2K). In
another case of hot and humid season U-value with
respect to glazing and its thickness was found highest
(5.88) in single glazed window having thickness 3mm,
whereas, lowest (2.82) was found in double glazed
window having 25mm pane spacing. As in the case of
cool and dry weather conditions, U-value ranged from
2.73 to 5.82 with respect to glazing and its thickness.
However highest value was recorded in single glazed
window having 3mm thickness and lowest was
recorded in double glazed window having thickness
19mm. In the interaction effect of both glazing and its
thickness/pane spacing and seasons, the maximum U-
value was recorded in the single glazed window
having thickness 3mm during the hot and humid
weather condition. The minimum U-value was
recorded in double glazed window having 19mm
thickness during the cool and dry season. As the
pictorial representation of data recorded shown in Fig.
1, 2 and 3 indicated that there is gradual decrease in
the U-value from single glazed window to double
glazed window with the increase in thickness/pane
spacing. The possible reason for the increased U-value
in single glazed system than double glazed is that
there is higher heat conduction through single pane
than double pane with air in the gap. Moreover the
resistance offered by the air gap increases with
increase in pane spacing and hence the U-value
decreases. Present finding is also supported by Wright
JL, Sullivan HF.2 In relation to the U-value with all the
seasons, the U-value is found lowest in cool and dry
season and vice - versa. This may be due the fact that
in cold and dry climate there is less incidence of solar
radiation which allows for a lesser temperature rise
of the outer pane of window and hence the lesser
thermal transmittance.1 Similar findings have also
been reported by Wright JL, Sullivan HF; Curcja D,
Goss WP; Reilly S.2-4
Conclusion
From the present investigation it can be concluded
that the U-value was highest in single glazed window
with lowest thickness in hot and dry weather
condition in Una city. U-values become the deciding
factor in choosing windows for composite climate.
Though Double Glazed windows with 19mm Pane
spacing, gives us the lowest value of U-factor i.e. 2.73
in cold and dry season, still it is not recommended for
use in Una region. This is so because in composite
climate summers are comparatively longer and
preference needs to be given to Double glazed
windows with 25mm pane spacing having lowest U-
values of summer season i.e. 3.07 and 2.82 for Hot-
Dry and Hot-Humid season respectively. Thus the use
of Double glazed windows with 25mm pane spacing is

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J. Adv. Res. Glass Leath. Plast. Tech. 2017; 2(1&2)
recommended for the composite climate of Una.
However if there is a constraint of cost or of space
occupied, Double glazed windows with 19mm pane
spacing must be used. By using the GHP apparatus, we
are able to decrease the U-value and the difference
between experimental and software value is 0.07%.
References
1. Singh I, Bansal NK. Thermal and optical
parameters for different window system in India.
International Journal of Ambient Energy 2002;
17
Kumar S et al.
23(4): 201-11.
2. Wright JL, Sullivan HF. A 2-D numerical model for
glazing system thermal analysis. ASHRAE
Transactions 1995; 101(1): 819-31.
3. Curcja D, Goss WP. Two dimensional finite
element model of heat transfer in complete
fenestration systems. ASHRAE Transactions 1994;
100(1): 1207-21.
4. Reilly S. Spacer effects on the edge of glass and
frame heat transfer. ASHRAE Transactions 1994;
100(1): 1718-23.