TRANSIENT HEAT-TRANSFER THROUGH AN INSULATION SLAB WITH SIMULTANEOUS MOISTURE REDISTRIBUTION

The accuracy of three models for the interpretation of moisture redistribution experiments with fiber glass slabs is investigated. The initial quasi-steady state of the evaporation-condensation process is well predicted by all three models. The quasi-steady model and the numerical model predict much faster changes in the heat flux and temperature distribution during the final drying-redistribution process. The semi-empirical model which incorporates the 'falling rate' evaporation period gives more accurate predictions of the experimental data. This model is used to obtain additional physical information on the moisture redistribution and drying process in the slab.