Thermal design: passive

controls

By Dawit.N
The first step in any bioclimatic design
approach is to examine the given climate and
establish the nature of the climatic problem:
relate the climate to human requirements.
A good way of doing this is to use the
psychrometric chart as the base.
Cold climates,
where the main
problem is the lack
of heat (under
heating), or
excessive heat
dissipation for all or
most of the year.
Temperate
(moderate)
climates, where
there is a seasonal
variation between
under heating and
overheating, but
neither is very
severe.
Hot-dry climates,
where the main
problem is
overheating, but the
air is dry, so the
evaporative cooling
mechanism of the body
is not restricted.
There is usually a
large diurnal (day–
night) temperature
variation.
Warm-humid
climates, where the
overheating is not as
great as in hot-dry
areas, but is
aggravated by high
humidity, restricting
the evaporation
potential.
The diurnal
temperature variation
is small.
The next step would
then be the choice of
passive control strategy.
Four basic strategies
can be distinguished,
with some subdivisions
in each.
1) passive solar
heating ;
2) The mass effect ;
3) Air movement ;
4) evaporative cooling .
Passive solar heating
its simplest form
requires no more than a
good window facing the
equator.
An appropriate
horizontal shading
device could provide
shading in the summer
but allow the entry of
solar radiation in the
winter. Adjustable
shading could also be
considered
The performance of
such a system would
also depend on the
available thermal
storage mass.
In a lightweight
building the solar heat
input would overheat
the interior, which may
lead to discomfort, but
also to a large heat
loss.
The mass effect
In a typical hot-dry climate,
with a large diurnal
variation, where the
temperature varies over the
daily cycle between too
high and too cold, (where
the day’s mean is within the
comfort zone) massive
construction may provide
the full solution, it may
ensure comfortable indoor
conditions without any
mechanical cooling (or
night heating).
A massive wall
exposed to solar
radiation would also
act as a heat collector
and storage device,
but much heat would
be lost through the
outside surface, both
whilst it is heated by
the sun and after
sunset.
Air Movement
a sensible air velocity can
be relied on to provide
physiological cooling.
The critical point is to
ensure an air velocity at
the body surface of the
occupants. This may be
provided by cross-
ventilation, relying on the
wind effect, or by electric
fans, most often by low-
power ceiling fans.
Cross ventilation
demands that there
should be both an inlet
and an outlet opening.
The difference
between positive
pressure on the
windward side and
negative pressure on
the leeward side
provides the driving
force.
Evaporative cooling

can be provided as
part of a passive
system, e.g. by a
roof pool or a
courtyard pond, or
by a spray over the
roof or some other
building surface.
A direct evaporative cooler
would draw air in through
fibrous pads, which are
kept moist by a perforated
pipe and feed it into the
space to be cooled.
In the process the latent
heat of evaporation is
taken from the air, so it is
cooled, but the humidity
(thus also the latent heat
content) of the supply air is
increased.
Control functions of design variables
What factors influence the
magnitude of each of the
components of
Qi + Qc + Qs + Qv + Qe = ΔS?
What attributes of major design
variables affect the building’s
thermal behavior?
Qi (internal heat
gain) can be
influenced only in a
minor way, by
planning:
 by separating any heat
emitting functions
from occupied spaces,
or
 attempting to
dissipate the
generated heat at or
near the source.
Qs (solar heat gain)
on opaque surfaces
are influenced not only
by surface properties
(reflectance), but also
by the shape and
orientation of the
building. If it is to be
reduced, the solar
geometry should
determine the shape:
Qc (conduction heat
flow) is affected by
 The shape of the
building,
 The surface-to-volume
ratio
 the thermal insulating
qualities of the
envelope.
 Reflective insulation
 resistive insulation
 capacitive insulation
Qc (conduction heat
flow) is affected by
 The shape of the
building,
 The surface-to-
volume ratio and
 the thermal insulating
qualities of the
envelope.
 Reflective insulation
 resistive insulation
 capacitive insulation
Qc (conduction heat
flow) is affected by
 The shape of the
building,
 The surface-to-
volume ratio and
 the thermal insulating
qualities of the
envelope.
 Reflective insulation
 resistive insulation
 capacitive insulation
Qc (conduction heat
flow) is affected by
 The shape of the
building,
 The surface-to-
volume ratio and
 the thermal insulating
qualities of the
envelope.
 Reflective insulation
 resistive insulation
 capacitive insulation
Qc (conduction heat
flow) is affected by
 The shape of the
building,
 The surface-to-
volume ratio and
 the thermal insulating
qualities of the
envelope.
 Reflective insulation
 resistive insulation
 capacitive insulation
Qv (ventilation heat
flow) is influenced by
the openings, their
orientation with
respect to the wind
direction, their closing
mechanisms and
generally the air
tightness or wind
permeability of the
envelope.
Qe (evaporative
cooling) is a useful
technique, especially
under hot-dry
conditions.
It can be provided by
mechanical
equipment, but also
by purely passive
systems, such as a
pond or a spray.
Climatic design archetypes
1. In cold climates
the main concern is
to minimize any heat
loss
The surface to-
volume ratio is
important and the
idea should be kept
in mind.
a compact building
form is desirable.
2. In temperate climates
 Any large (equator facing)
windows used for winter solar
heating may cause summer
overheating. Overhanging
eaves or other horizontal
shading devices may ensure
summer shading but allow
winter entry of solar radiation
 In most temperate climates
the night time temperatures
are too low even in the
summer. For this reason a
heavy construction (capacitive
insulation) may be preferable.
3. In hot-dry
climates
large thermal mass:
massive walls but
also a roof with high
thermal capacity
inward-looking,
courtyard type
building
4. Warm-humid climates
are the most difficult
ones to design for.
The best the designer can
do is to ensure that the
interior does not become
(much) warmer than the
outside (it cannot be any
cooler), which can be
achieved by adequate
ventilation removing any
excess heat input.
cntd…
THANKS