2021 ENHANCING THERMAL COMFORT OF RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS THROUGH A DUAL FUNCTIONAL PASSIVE SYSTEM (SOLAR-WALL)

Enhancing Thermal Comfort of Residential Buildings through a Solar Wall

Abstract

  • Thermal Comfort Importance: Crucial to occupants’ productivity and well-being as individuals spend 80–90% indoors.

  • Focus of Study: Design a dual functional passive system (Solar Wall) that combines Trombe wall and solar chimney, adapting to seasonal needs for heating or cooling.

  • Simulation Tool: Utilized DesignBuilder to analyze impacts on indoor operative temperature.

  • Best Design: Case 11 with triple glazed glass and 0.1 cm copper absorber yielded optimal results, achieving extended thermal comfort levels in winter and summer.

Introduction

  • Population Growth in Jordan: Home to ~8 million people, with high energy expenditure (19% of GDP).

  • Energy Generation: Only 4% from renewables; reliance on fossil fuel imports.

  • Building Sector's Role: Accounts for 35.3% of energy consumption focused on HVAC systems to maintain indoor environmental quality (IEQ).

  • Importance of Passive Solar Design: Can enhance energy efficiency and comfort.

Passive Design Strategies

  • Concepts: Directly utilize solar radiation and wind for heating and cooling.

  • Trombe Wall: Massive wall design that absorbs solar energy to heat indoor spaces.

  • Solar Chimneys: Facilitate ventilation by converting solar energy to kinetic energy for airflow.

System Configuration

  • Solar Wall Mechanism: Functions to provide heating or cooling based on requirements of the indoor space.

  • Design Parameters: Fixed heights, cavity widths, and materials for absorbers and insulation.

  • Simulation Study: Conducted to explore multiple design configurations affecting thermal performance.

Thermal Comfort Assessment

  • ASHRAE Standards: Evaluated using the PMV/PPD model and adaptive thermal comfort model, focusing on environmental parameters.

  • Simulation Results: Significant increases in comfort hours compared to baseline conditions.

Results Summary

  • Case Analysis: Best results observed in Case 11 (triple glazing and specific copper thickness).

  • Comfort Hours: Increased thermal comfort hours during winter (15-24 hours) and summer (10-19 hours) with the solar wall compared to base case (0-5 hours).

Discussion

  • Green Building Impact: Aligns with global trends in designing energy-efficient spaces.

  • Future Implications: Need for further studies on varying building designs and configurations across climates.

Conclusion

  • Solar Wall Efficiency: Proven to extend thermal comfort hours and reduce energy consumption.

  • Design Implementation: Should explore application on different building facades and assess long-term sustainability.

Future Implications: Need for further studies on varying building designs and configurations across climates.

Results Summary

  • Case Analysis: The optimal design configuration identified during the simulations was Case 11, which featured the integration of triple glazing combined with a precisely calibrated copper absorber thickness of 0.1 cm. This configuration was critical in optimizing thermal performance and energy efficiency within residential buildings.

  • Thermal Comfort Hours: The implementation of Case 11 significantly enhanced the thermal comfort levels during both winter and summer seasons. Specifically, the solar wall system facilitated an increase in thermal comfort hours, achieving 15-24 hours during winter, compared to just 0-5 hours in the baseline case scenario. During summer, comfort hours expanded to 10-19 hours, demonstrating the effectiveness of this design in maintaining a comfortable indoor environment throughout the year.

  • Additional Observations: The choice of materials and design parameters in Case 11 contributed not only to improved thermal comfort but also to a reduction in energy consumption. The triple-glazed glass provided superior insulation, minimizing heat loss in winter and preventing excessive heat gain in summer. This efficiency aligns well with the growing emphasis on sustainable building practices and the global shift towards energy-efficient architectural solutions.