Environmental Control Systems - 1

Passive Architectural Design

PASSIVE SOLAR HEATING:
SYSTEMS & STRATEGIES
Usman M. Mirza
Incorporating the principles of
passive design in early
building design process
ensures that it:

Significantly improves comfort

Reduces or eliminates heating and

cooling bills

Reduces greenhouse gas emissions

from heating, cooling, mechanical
ventilation and lighting
(a.k.a “carbon footprint”)

(left: Solar Umbrella House, L.A. California, USA)

There are two main objectives of passive
design strategies depending upon the
location of the building site. These are:

Passive solar heating

(for cold regions)

Passive cooling
(for hot regions)
In cold climates, there is a need to conserve
the heat from the sun in order to achieve
human comfort zones.
There are two types of systems that conserve
the heat from the sun:

1. Active Solar Heating Systems

2. Passive Solar Heating Systems

 Active Solar Heating Systems are those
which uses forced distribution of heat.
The design of the solar heating systems need
not be integrated with the building itself.

Active Systems

Architecture

Examples include solar panels/collectors that collect

heat from the sun, and convert it to electrical energy.

The positioning and placement of these panels does

not depend on architecture.
 Passive Solar Heating Systems

A passive solar heating system is one in

which the thermal energy flow is by radiation,
conduction and natural convection.
Passive Systems
+
Architecture

Passive systems are intimately integrated into the

architecture of the building.

This level of integration is essential if the proper flow

of heat is to occur naturally.
 Passive Solar Heating Systems

Because the position and movement of the sun in the

sky and the fact that interior heat movement is
predictable, it is possible to design buildings in such
a way as to maximize the benefits of this movement.
Placement of temperature zones with respect
to the sun movement
Placement of temperature zones with respect
to the sun movement
 Key Design Elements
for Passive Solar Heating

The four most important elements affecting

thermal performance of a passive solar
building are:

1. Solar aperture (size of the opening)

2. Heat conservation
3. Thermal storage mass
4. Local Climate
 Key Design Elements for Passive Solar Heating

1. SOLAR APERTURE (Properties)

• Glazed openings like windows are excellent collectors

of heat energy from the sun.

• Solar energy readily transmits through glass, strikes

interior surfaces, and warms them.

• Larger the aperture, the greater the solar heat gain. Too
large can be counterproductive, as the glazed opening
can waste collected heat to the environment.

• Maximum solar heat can be collected by south facing

apertures, tilted at an angle normal to the winter sun.
Key Design Elements for Passive Solar Heating

1. SOLAR APERTURE
Key Design Elements for Passive Solar Heating

1. SOLAR APERTURE
Key Design Elements for Passive Solar Heating

2. HEAT CONSERVATION

Prevention of heat loss through building envelope is

essential to efficient passive solar heating.

The most important means of heat

conservation is insulation.

The more effective the building is in reducing heat loss,

the less energy required to properly heat the building.
Key Design Elements for Passive Solar Heating

2. HEAT CONSERVATION
Key Design Elements for Passive Solar Heating

2. HEAT CONSERVATION
Key Design Elements for Passive Solar Heating

2. HEAT CONSERVATION
 Key Design Elements for Passive Solar Heating

3. THERMAL STORAGE MASS

Heat is stored in passive solar buildings in those

components that absorb, store, and later release the heat
to the interior. These materials are called thermal storage
masses.

These materials include masonry walls, concrete floors,

water containers, etc.

Thermal masses absorb excess heat to prevent

overheating, and release the heat during the night to keep
the building warm.
Key Design Elements for Passive Solar Heating

3. THERMAL STORAGE MASS

Key Design Elements for Passive Solar Heating

3. THERMAL STORAGE MASS

 Key Design Elements for Passive Solar Heating

2. LOCAL CLIMATE

Ambient dry-bulb air temperature and insolation are two

climatic variables of interest in passive solar design.

Humidity has virtually no impact on building heating

performance.

Wind speed affects the building heat loss. Faster the wind,
greater the heat loss.
 Types of Passive Solar Heating Systems

Passive Solar Heating Systems are most

commonly classified according to their physical
configuration:

1. Direct Gain
2. Thermal Storage Wall
3. Sunspace
Passive Solar Heating Systems

1. Direct Gain
 Direct Gain

The direct-gain passive solar building has south-

facing windows that admit the winter sun directly
into the occupied space.

These solar gains serve either to meet heating needs of the

building, or are stored in the thermal mass to meet heating
needs that arise later.
 Direct Gain

Most direct-gain buildings include:

1. Large, south-facing windows to admit winter sun

2. Thermal mass inside to reduce temperature swings

3. Overhang above the south-facing window to shade the

glass from the summer sun
 Direct Gain

Advantages

Direct gain buildings provide daylight inside the building

and provide views to the south.

The heat gain achieved through this method is

cost-effective.
 Direct Gain

Disadvantages

Because of requirements of thermal masses, direct-gain

buildings place limitations on the choice of materials.
Carpets, for instance, act as insulating covers, and prevent
heat from being absorbed and stored in the floor slab.

Presence of large amounts of sunlight in a living space

presents several visual problems, such as direct glare.

Privacy can be compromised by large south windows

which must be left undraped in order to remain thermally
effective.
Passive Solar Heating: Direct-Gain

CASE STUDIES
 Direct Gain

1. David Wright’s Sunscoop

David Wright’s Sunscoop is the most influential direct-gain

passive solar heating designs. It was built in 1974, and is the
purest example of this type of passive design.
 Direct Gain

1. David Wright’s Sunscoop

Direct Gain

David Wright’s
Sunscoop

This building incorporates all

the important features of a
direct-gain building:

• South-facing glazing,
• Internal thermal mass,
• Overhang, etc.
 Direct Gain

David Wright’s Sunscoop: Winter Day

 Direct Gain

David Wright’s Sunscoop: Winter Night

 Direct Gain

David Wright’s Sunscoop: Summer Day

 Direct Gain

2. Patoka Interpretative Nature Center

Fuller Moore’s Patoka Interpretative Nature Center is a fine

example of direct-gain passive solar heating strategies
employed in a building.
 Direct Gain

2. Patoka Interpretative Nature Center

Winter Day
 Direct Gain

2. Patoka Interpretative Nature Center

Winter Night
 Direct Gain

2. Patoka Interpretative Nature Center

Summer Day
 Direct Gain

2. Patoka Interpretative Nature Center

Summer Night
Passive Solar Heating Systems

2. Thermal Storage Wall

 Thermal Storage Wall
A passive solar heating system type consisting of a south-
facing wall constructed of heavy masonry or water filled
containers. The outside south facing surface is glazed to admit
sunlight and reduce night heat losses.

In day, this arrangement requires the absorbed heat to transfer

through the entire thermal mass, warming entire mass in the
process. At night, it buffers the living space from direct
exposure of cold glazing.
Thermal Storage Wall: Trombe Wall Systems
The most widely used thermal storage wall system
is called Trombe Wall System, which uses heavy
masonry walls for passive solar heating.

A Trombe Wall System

 Thermal Storage Wall: Trombe Wall Systems
The thickness of the heavy masonry wall directly influences
the temperature swings inside the building.

The thicker the masonry, the smaller the temperature swings in the living space,
thereby increasing the time taken by heat to enter the wall. For instance, a 12”
thick concrete wall delays midday summer heat to enter just before bedtime.
 Thermal Storage Wall: Trombe Wall Systems
Introduction of vents in the Trombe Wall increase its
efficiency during daytime.

Vents allow faster warm up in the morning due to convection warming.

 Thermal Storage Wall: Trombe Wall Systems
Introduction of vents in the Trombe Wall increase its efficiency.

During night, convective heat loss is excessive due to cool air from the
collector space seeping inside.
A solution to this will be introduction of vent controls
Thermal Storage Wall: Trombe Wall Systems

Advantages

Trombe Walls perform well compared to other passive

systems. They position the thermal mass between the
living space and the sun and glazing, thus providing a
buffer zone in between.

They transfer heat from the insolation slowly by

conduction, which moderates temperatures in a reliable
and predictable manner.
Thermal Storage Wall: Trombe Wall Systems

Advantages

The masonry wall also serves structural functions, and is

typically used to support part of the roof.

Because the glazing is isolated from the living space due to

the masonry wall, the night time heat loss is minimal.
Thermal Storage Wall: Trombe Wall Systems

Disadvantages

Unvented Trombe Walls are slow to transfer heat to the

living space in the morning. The addition of vents
increases the rate of heat transfer in the morning, but at the
expense of night time heat loss.

Vented walls also accumulate dust in the space between

the Trombe Wall and the glazing.
Passive Solar Heating: Thermal Storage Walls

CASE STUDIES
(Trombe Walls)
Thermal Storage Wall: Trombe Wall Systems

1. Kelbaugh House by Douglas Kelbaugh

Kelbaugh House designed in 1976 in United States is one of

the first examples of Trombe Wall application in architectural
design and is credited with popular acceptance.
Thermal Storage Wall: Trombe Wall Systems

1. Kelbaugh House by Douglas Kelbaugh

Kelbaugh House is a 2-storey frame construction, with linear

plan arrangement to provide all rooms southern exposure.

The dominant feature of this house is a 15” thick concrete

Trombe Wall painted black.

The Trombe Wall used here has vent openings which double as
windows.
Thermal Storage Wall: Trombe Wall Systems
1. Kelbaugh House by Douglas Kelbaugh

Ground Floor Plan

Thermal Storage Wall: Trombe Wall Systems
1. Kelbaugh House by Douglas Kelbaugh

First Floor Plan

Thermal Storage Wall: Trombe Wall Systems
1. Kelbaugh House by Douglas Kelbaugh

Kelbaugh House winter operation (day)

Thermal Storage Wall: Trombe Wall Systems
1. Kelbaugh House by Douglas Kelbaugh

Kelbaugh House winter operation (night)

 Thermal Storage Wall: Water Walls
A thermal storage wall system consisting of water
filled containers located behind a south-facing
glazing.

Comparison of heat transfer through thermal storage walls: a)

conduction through masonry, and b) convection through water.
Passive Solar Heating: Thermal Storage Walls

CASE STUDIES
(Water Walls)
Thermal Storage Wall: Trombe Wall Systems

1. Baer Residence, New Mexico

Baer Residence is one of the first and most influential uses of

water wall systems in architecture.
Thermal Storage Wall: Trombe Wall Systems
Baer Residence, New Mexico

The plan of the house. Notice water drums placed at south-

facing walls that act as thermal storage walls.
Thermal Storage Wall: Trombe Wall Systems
Baer Residence, New Mexico

Water wall operation in Baer House

(Winter Day)
Thermal Storage Wall: Trombe Wall Systems
Baer Residence, New Mexico

Water wall operation in Baer House

(Winter Night)
Thermal Storage Wall: Trombe Wall Systems
Baer Residence, New Mexico

Water wall operation in Baer House

(Summer day)
Passive Solar Heating Systems

3. Sunspace
 Sunspace
A passive solar heating system type consisting of a glassed-in
room (like a greenhouse) located on the south side of a
building and separated from other building spaces by a
common wall

A sunspace is a solar collector that is also space capable of

serving other building functions. Other names for this system
include “solarium”, “atrium”, “conservatory” and “sunroom”. It
is also sometimes called an “attached greenhouse”.
 Sunspace
The sunspace is a direct-gain space in which heat is used
directly to maintain a temperature for its intended secondary
functions such as occasional living and plant growth.

The primary purpose of a sunspace however is to act as a solar

heating system by delivering heat through conduction to
adjoining living areas.
 Sunspace

A sunroom that doubles as a passive heating device.

 Sunspace

Advantages

The sunspace itself warms up quickly, while heat to the

adjacent spaces may be transferred promptly (eg. by
convection through open windows and doors)

The heating performance can be impressive, often exceeding the

performance of other passive solar heating systems

The separation of the glazing from the thermal storage mass

ensures easy maintenance of the glazing.
 Sunspace

Disadvantages

It is difficult to shade a sunspace when required during

warmer months, specially if the sunspace is sloped.

Night insulation is poor in this system because heat is easily lost.

Passive Solar Heating: Sunspace

CASE STUDIES
 Sunspace
Unit One, First Village

Sunspace operation during winter day.

 Sunspace
Unit One, First Village

Sunspace operation during winter night.

The End