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

The accuracy of three models for the interpretation of moisture redist ribution experiments with fiber glass slabs is investigated. The initi al quasi-steady state of the evaporation-condensation process is well predicted by all three models. The quasi-steady model and the numerica l model predict much faster changes in the heat flux and temperature d istribution during the final drying-redistribution process. The semi-e mpirical model which incorporates the 'falling rate' evaporation perio d gives more accurate predictions of the experimental data. This model is used to obtain additional physical information on the moisture red istribution and drying process in the slab.