Above-ground wineries and interior thermal stability: traditional and contemporary envelope analysis in Mendoza, Argentina

Abstract

Energy flux exchange control between interior and exterior and thermal inertia of constructive materials are key characteristics of the envelope in winery buildings. This situation is particularly important in the case of above-ground buildings in climates with very variable daily and seasonal temperatures. In the case that architecture fails to provide the necessary answer, auxiliary energy is consumed. S.A. winery, located in Mendoza, Argentina consumes auxiliary energy equivalent to 2.500 kW per year. The mentioned a traditional adobe envelope (λ = 0.81W/mK) and a contemporary galvanized steel envelope without insulation (λ = 45 W/mK). The aim of this paper is to analyze materiality, thermal inertia and energy flux exchange of traditional and contemporary envelopes and to compare the obtained results with a theoretical case of an underground winery. Among the results, it can be observed that traditional envelope maintains interior temperatures between 8,5ºC and 10ºC bellow exterior temperatures, while new spaces with light contemporary envelopes do it only 3ºC to 5ºC bellow exterior temperatures. In a subterranean winery, in Mendoza, temperatures will be stables around 16,5ºC; that is, in summer, 20ºC bellow exterior temperatures.