Numerical and computer modeling for assessing heat transfer in double-glazed windows

E. I. Gurina, P. A. Somova

National Research Tomsk State University, Tomsk, Russia

Abstract: In this study, we analyze the heat transfer of single-chamber and double-chamber glass units installed in the outer and inner sashes of a composite window unit with the inter-glass space filled with dehumidified air and inert gases. We construct the mathematical model based on the solution of the heat conductivity equation with constant coefficients in a two-dimensional setting, taking into account the layered structure of the structure and using boundary conditions of the III and IV kind. Our numerical implementation of the problem uses the finite difference method on a uniform grid using the C++ programming language. To take into account convective heat exchange through glass units, we perform a series of numerical calculations in ANSYS Fluent software. We show that convective heat loss in glass units can be reduced by increasing the thickness of the spacer frame and using inert gases with low thermal conductivity. We identify the optimal thickness of the gas-filled chamber of a single-chamber glass unit (when filled with air, dry air, argon, krypton, xenon), ensuring maximum thermal resistance.

Keywords: heat transfer, double glazed window, heat conduction equation, numerical solution, finite difference method.

UDC: 519.6, 532.5

DOI: 10.22363/2413-3639-2025-71-2-221-232