THE OPERATIONAL THERMAL PERFORMANCE OF A SIMPLE PASSIVE SOLAR HOUSE IN WINTER: A CASE STUDY IN KUNMING, CHINA

摘要

In this article, the operational thermal performance of a simple passive solar house in Kunming in winter is studied analytically and experimentally. Such a solar house is ideal for low-income families in rural areas. The analysis shows that the solar house has an energy-saving rate of 70.2% in Kunming in winter. The comparative experiments reveal that on sunny days the average indoor air temperature in the solar house is 4.4℃ higher than that of a comparative experimental house, with the largest temperature difference of 7.3℃ and the smallest of 2.4℃; on cloudy days, the average indoor air temperature in the solar house is 4.1℃ higher than that of the comparative house, with the largest temperature difference of 4.7℃ and the smallest of 3.8℃. The analysis of the calculated Grashof number in the air channels of the heat-collecting components of the solar house with experimental data shows that there is strong natural convection in the air channels for most of the time on sunny days, whereas on cloudy days the natural convection is very weak.