Study on optimizing aerosil layer thickness and enhancing wall insulation with air cavities under Moroccan climatic conditions

In recent years, the use of biobased materials for building thermal insulation has garnered increasing interest due to their environmental sustainability and energy efficiency benefits. Integrating these materials into building structures not only helps reduce energy consumption but also limits greenhouse gas emissions. As part of the exploration of new ecological insulators, this study focuses on the application of Aerosil, an innovative insulating material, to the exterior walls of buildings located in six distinct climatic zones of Morocco. The primary objective is to assess the effectiveness of Aerosil as a thermal insulator, aiming to minimize energy consumption. The study also seeks to determine the optimal material thickness using a life-cycle cost analysis (LCCA) approach, ensuring a balance between energy performance and profitability over a 20-year period. To evaluate the environmental impact of this ecological insulator, a comparative analysis was conducted to estimate its potential contribution to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Additionally, a two-dimensional computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modeling was used to examine two wall configurations: one using only the optimal thickness of Aerosil, and the other incorporating an air gap to enhance thermal performance while reducing the overall wall thickness. The results reveal that Aerosil demonstrates significant effectiveness in reducing energy consumption across Morocco’s different climatic zones. The optimal material thickness varies by region: 7 cm in Ifrane, 6 cm in Fez and Errachidia, and 5 cm in Marrakech. Furthermore, the study highlighted a 52% reduction in CO 2 emissions across various climatic zones. The integration of an air gap in the multilayer structure proved effective, reducing the required insulation thickness while maintaining excellent thermal performance.