Numerical Method Based on FE for Heat Flow Computation of Curtain Walls with Complex Sections

As one of the biggest parts of total national energy consumption (TNEC), building energy consumption (BEC) catches public eyes and has been regarded as a crucial problem of the current society. Energy used on windows and curtain walls in buildings account for 50% of the total buildings energy consumption. In this paper the process of heat transfer in curtain wall with complex cross-section is analyzed and simulated using finite element method, in which the influence of convection and radiation in frame and glazing cavity is considered and the fixed conductivity is placed by an effective one. Finally, a numerical example is studied and the results are obtained and compared with ANSYS software. The method presented in this paper provides a basis for the calculation of heat transfer coefficient and will promote the energy efficiency study of windows and curtain walls.