Optimal Specifications of a Trombe Wall in Low-Rise Residential Buildings of Mashhad

Abstract

Thermal performance of the building envelope can be improved by applying passive solar systems. The current research aims to investigate the role of a Trombe wall in reducing energy demand in cold and hot periods of the year in low-rise residential buildings of Mashhad. To save energy consumption at the lowest cost and by using a Trombe wall, which is suitable for existing buildings with masonry structures, this research is dedicated to finding the best characteristics of a Trombe wall, including vent dimensions, air gap width, type of glass and construction materials. The present research was carried out using energy simulation. The simulation was performed in an integrated way to create a correlation between different factors to take advantage of the maximum heat in the cold period of the year. With a surface of 12.6 m² 20B–10Al–0.18V–2G and 20C–5Al–0.18V–1G walls, the amount of energy saving increased by 6.5 and 10.5 percent, and the obtained heat is 444 307 and 710 103 kJ, with a payback period of 3 and 19 yr, respectively. Trombe wall alone cannot provide thermal comfort in the interior space when auxiliary systems are off. In October, the predicted mean vote for thermal comfort with 40B–5Al–0.18–2G and 40C–10Al–0.18V–1G walls are, –1.5, –1.9, respectively. To reduce the effect of overheating in hot periods of the year, with brick and concrete materials, the use of internal and external shadings is suggested, when internal vents are closed and external vents are opened.