Effect of Design Parameter Changes on the Thermal Performance of a Transwall Passive Solar Heating System

摘要

Thermal performance data for a test-prototype Transwall system in a passive test room are analyzed and used to revise and validate a thermal network model of the Transwall system. The mathematical model is then used to predict Transwall thermal performance as a function of design parameters in an hour-by-hour simulation throughout the heating season for the climates of Boston, Madison, and Albuquerque. System parameters are varied one at a time, holding all other parameters at the values for a standard reference design. The Transwall design parameters varied are: collector area to building load ratio, Transwall thickness, transmittance of the absorber plate, and amount of internal thermal mass. The solar savings fraction is calculated for each condition and compared to that of the reference design in a graphical presentation. Results indicate that excellent thermal performance may be obtained while still allowing substantial design flexibility to achieve a viable system. (ERA citation 06:005939)