Determination of Effective Thermal Conductivity of Stipa ichu: Numerical Shape Factor Calibration in a Reduced-Scale Hot Box

Quispe Esperilla Y.; Taylor Ramos Yapo A.; Alex Mayta Lampa S.; Tito Cruz Cabrera A.; Fredy Chura Acero J.; Farwest Chura Yaresi M.; Carlos Yana Benito E. · Proceedings of the LACCEI international Multi-conference for Engineering, Education and Technology (2026) · DOI: 10.18687/laccei2026.1.1.1705

Resumen

Energy vulnerability in High-Andean dwellings necessitates the development of efficient, indigenous thermal insulation solutions. This study characterizes the thermal conductivity of Stipa Ichu fiber using a geometrically corrected, reduced-scale Hot Box method. To mitigate the metrological uncertainty inherent to low-cost devices, a hybrid experimental-numerical (CFD) methodology was implemented. Analysis using the SST k-ω turbulence model showed that scale reduction induces multidimensional heat fluxes and lateral losses at the edges, making the assumption of fully one-dimensional heat transfer physically inconsistent. Therefore, a global efficiency factor η = 0.47 was adopted within an experimental-numerical calibration strategy to correct the prototype geometric bias. Upon applying this correction, an effective thermal conductivity of 0.094 ± 0.005 W/(m ∙ K) was obtained for a compaction density of 150 kg/m3

Instituciones: Universidad Nacional del Altiplano