ANALYSIS OF THE EFFECT OF HUMIDITY

DIFFUSION, OCCURRED AT POLYURETHANE

USED FOR INSULATING MATERIAL, ON
THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY COEFFICIENT
ASLI SOYTRK, MUSTAFA ZDEMR
Asl Soytrk, Sakarya niversitesi-Trsan Treyler A.., Mustafa zdemir, Sakarya niversitesi.

ABSTRACT
In this research, effect of the humidity diffusion, which is occurred at composite layer polyurethane sandwich
panels used at refrigerated semi-trailers, on the heat transfer coefficient is analysed. The obligation to transport
food at constant heat and humidity rates at changing external environment conditions necessitates using of light
materials with high level of thermal insulation and resistance during the production of refrigerated semi-trailers.
Especially during the transportation, as a consequence of external environment conditions (high wind speed and
sun rays) that raise heat gains, materials used at production of refrigerated vehicles must have high level of
thermal insulations. These materials are generally rigid polymer foam that is used at all cooling systems.
At this research, moisture content is measured by assay balance and heat transfer coefficient of panels are
determined through applying energy balance for each layer as a result of measuring heat from different distances
within the panel. At the end of the research, change of the thermal conductivity coefficient connected with the
moisture content emerged at polyurethane is determined.
Keywords: Refrigerated Semi-Trailer, Humidity Diffusion, Data acquisition, Heat transfer coefficient

INTRODUCTION
Similarly, to other plastic polymers, Polyurethane (PU) foam is also known to have a gas permeability problem.
For this reason, packaging materials that prevent gas permeability are generally used in the packaging of foods
that require long-term storage.
It is known that sandwich panels with PU core material and polymer-based exterior layers can have panel
bubbling problems. While such problems can be production-related, they can also occur when the internal water
vapor saturation pressure corresponding to a lower temperature is less than the external water vapor saturation
pressure corresponding to higher relative humidity. Combined with the panels water vapor permeability, this
difference in saturation pressure causes a transfer of mass from the exterior to the interior of the panel. The
amount of liquid within the sandwich panel consequently increases over time, causing the panels to swell and
rupture, and increasing their thermal conductivity coefficient. As a result, the material gradually loses its thermal
insulation properties.
In this study, we investigate the amount of humidity diffusion in polyurethane foam, and its effect on thermal
conductivity coefficient.

METHODS
The complex nature of heat transmissions through the external walls of refrigerating vehicles has been the
subject of numerous studies. Sandwich panels used in refrigerated panel vans/vehicles are constituted of metal
sheets, empty space and PU foam. The shape of these constituents changes depending on the way they are
applied. For this reason, we developed a solution and method in which, for the three different types of wall
structure, the heat gained from the environment through external radiation was taken into account. [1]
Based on the temperature measurements performed at different distances within the panel, the thermal
conductivity coefficient of the panels was determined by using an energy equation for each layer. [1]
Polyurethane foam is a material consisting of micro bubbles, or cells, that contain a gas mixture. It is this gas
mixture that is used to form bubbles during polyurethane production. In closed-cell polyurethane, the gas
mixture is encapsulated and confined, while in open-cell polyurethane, air gradually replaces the gas mixture in
the bubbles. Heat transmission from one bubble to the other occurs through radiation, convection and
conduction. However, since solving heat transfer problems for polyurethane foam is quite complex, the foam is
considered as a single and homogenous material. A solution for the heat transfer problem is then obtained by
determining a thermal transmission coefficient and using the Fourier Law. [2]
In this study, by measuring the increase in mass with the gravimetric method and the thermal conductivity
coefficient with a TPS2500S device, we determined the effect of increasing mass on the thermal conductivity
coefficient.

GRAVIMETRIC METHOD
The gravimetric method was used to determine the amount of humidity which entered the polyurethane foam.
In this context, we also sampled the environmental conditions to which the foam is normally exposed to. Since
their internal temperature and humidity conditions are similar to those of refrigerated vehicles, we used
refrigerators known as deep freezers.

Figure 1. Gravimetric Method Measurement

Daily gravimetric measurements were performed and recorded.

For the 150x360x50 mm experimental sample placed inside the deep freezer.

.
Figure 2. Placing the experimental sample inside the deep freezer

During the experiments, the deep freezer temperature was maintained at -20 C, the ambient temperature was
maintained at 25 C, and the ambient relative humidity was maintained at 70%.

Measurement of the thermal conductivity coefficient

Measurements with the TPS2500S device was performed in accordance with the ISO 22007-2 standards. The
TPS2600S device was used with level probes that can ignore heat capacities by becoming a heat source itself.
These probes were placed inside the samples. Following this, power was gradually given to the probes to form a
dynamic heated area within the sample. The temperature changes in this area were then recorded as a time-
dependent function. The temperature-dependent change in the thermal resistance of the probe was also
measured. The thermal conductivity coefficient was calculated by analyzing within the frame of the developed
model and the accepted boundary conditions the electrical resistance and temperature responses which
occurred in the probe. [3]

Figure 2. TPS2500S Sensors and Device

In this study, the duration of the experiment was 15 days. All calculations were performed using the data
obtained with the abovementioned methods. Gravimetric measurements were performed daily, while thermal
conductivity coefficient measurements with the TPS2500S device were performed at the beginning to the end of
the experiment.

RESULTS
The increased in mass measured with the gravimetric method.

Graph 1. The increased in mass measured

Graph 2. The increased in mass measured

Graph 3. Thermal conductivity coefficient measurement with the TPS2500S Device

Graph 4. Thermal conductivity coefficient measurement with the TPS2500S Device

 Day-0 Day-15
Thermal Thermal
Sample Conductivity Conductivity
Number Coefficient Coefficient
Polyurethane
Value Value
W/(mK) W/(mK)

1 0,02152 0,02562
Table 1. Result Table

The study results indicate that the mass of the 150x360x50 mm experimental sample increased by 28.5 g by the
end of the 15-day period. It was determined that at the end of the 15 days, mass increased by 28.5 g, while the
thermal conductivity coefficient increased by 0.0041 W/mK.

REFERENCES
[1]-Experimental and Numerical Study of heat transfer across insulation Wall of a refrigereted integral Panel Van
[2]-nternational Symposium on district heating and Cooling september 3-5 2006 Ulf Jarfelt, Olle Ramnas
[3]-ISO 22007-2