Computer model of the thermal performance of a mobile home
Abstract
The purpose of this research was to investigate the thermal response of a typical mobile home using a Fortran IV computer model. A finite difference technique was used to determine the total heat transfer through the structure for the cooling season located in the south central part of the United States.
The total transmitted thermal load obtained as computer output was used as the criteria for the determination of the capacity of an air conditioning system needed to maintain the interior environment of the mobile home. The interior was to be maintained within accepted prescribed limits of temperature and humidity for a 24-hour period.
Parameters such as insulation thickness, building material heat capacity, structure orientation, and other related factors which affected the thermal response of the structure were supplied as computer input data. The computer model, developed and documented as a simulation model on the 360/370 IBM digital computer, was used to predict the thermal behavior of the structure.
Experimental data was obtained from an existing mobile home to verify and refine the computer generated mathematical model.