E2-E3/Architecture Rev date: 01-04-2011

E2-E3: ARCHITECTURE

CHAPTER-06
SOLAR PASSIVE ARCHITECTURE

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Solar Passive Architecture

Introduction
 Traditional architecture are environment friendly.
 They are developed with regard to local climatic conditions and have features
which provide thermal comfort inside the building in a natural way.
 Modern Architecture on the other hand is regardless to local climate and depends
on the conventional energy for achieving desirable thermal comfort levels.
 However, in the recent past, there is growing concern for conserving energy and
the environment this renewed intense in the aspects of architecture which lead to
thermal comfort led to the development of the subject on solar heating and
cooling of buildings.
 Solar heating of building can be categorized in two.
 One, in which building is healed by simply replacing oil / fuel fired heating plants
by solar heating system i.e. where water is heated by solar collectors and then hot
water is passed through radiators to heat the building.
 Here, no major changes are required in the building design.
 The other, on the other hand, the building itself is designed to accomplish the task
of heating.
 Here, solar heat is collected through the large south facing glazed windows as
well as through various collectors and is absorbed and stored in thick masonry
walls, floors or water filled containers.
 The heat thus collected is then distributed by natural convective flow patterns
within the building to achieve desired thermal comfort level inside the building.
 Solar passive Architecture is distinguished with this category of solar heating.
 Analysis of above passive heating system will show that there are five distinct
elements.

These are solar heat

(1) Collector
(2) Absorber
(3) Storage
(4) Distribution and
(5) Controls or heat regulation devices.

 The success of solar passive architecture depends on these five elements.

 There are various techniques/features by which these five elements can be achieved for
desirable thermal comfort inside the building.

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 The following features are integrated in the design of various types of residential
quarters
 (Type I to Type V, 500 quarters) for I.T.B.P. at Leh. Is situated in cold and sunny
climatic zones in mountainous regions of high altitude 11,000 ft. with little vegetation.
 The winter is long and severe with temperature -15 degree C and with fairly clear
sunshine throughout the year.
 It offers ideal condition for integrating solar passive Architecture in the building.

Features integrated in the designs are:-

(1) Orientation
(2) Maximum surface area of wall exposed to sun
(3) Direct gains
(4) Solarium
(5) Trombe wall
(6) Solar heat storage
(7) Hollow concrete block walls for preventing heat loss and thick stone walls to
absorb solar heat gain.

1.) Orientation:-
 Since in the passive solar heating concept, solar heat is to be collected through the
large South facing glazed windows as well as through various collectors
 The orientation of building with respect to movement of the sun plays vital role.
 It is there fore, essential that desired orientation is analysed properly and then the
building is designed accordingly.
 In the above housing proposal, there are 3 sites located on either sides of the main
road which runs North South direction.
 One battalion (Ist Bn) is located on west side of the road and its called west
campus. Other two battalions (3rdBN&21stBn) are located on the other side i.e.
east side of the road and are called East Campus.
 The designs of all Type I to Type V residential quarters in the above proposal
have been evolved on these concepts.

2. Surface area of wall exposed to the sun

In the designs of all types of residential quarters, living and bed rooms have been
staggered to maximize the surface area of walls exposed to the sun.

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3. Direct Gains.
Large double glass windows have been provided on the South facing walls of living and
bed rooms for solar heat gains (direct gains).

4. Solarium
The verandah/balcony has been covered with double glazing to act as solarium for direct
solar heat gains.

5. Trombe Wall/Tap
 In 1881, Prof. E.L. Morse was grated a patent on a glazed South facing dark wall
for keeping the house warm.
 This was regarded as the first conscious scientific application of solar energy for
passive heating. This concept was later, further developed in France by Prof.
Trombe in 1972 and is called Trombe wall after his name.
 The details of Trombe wall is shown in the drawing.
 The south facing external wall is painted black and covered with double glazing.
 The external glass shall be of toughened glass and the inner glass may be ordinary
glass.
 The gap between wall and the inner glass shall be 10cms.
 It has air inlet at bottom both from outside and inside the room and air outlet at
the top (lintel level) inside the room and air out let at the top lintel level) inside
the room solar heat is collected the trombe wall and absorbed by black painted
wall which in turn the heat cold air getting in through inlet at bottom (skirting
level).
 As the air is heated, it becomes lighter and rises above and enters the room
through the outlet provided at the top.
This warm air is circulated in the rooms by convective flow pattern and when cooled
becomes heavier and gets in the Trombe wall through the air inlet at bottom (skirting
level).
These inlet and outlet have been prided with closing devices for closing it during night.
Area of Trombe wall should be 50% of south facing wall and the south facing wall
should be at least 25% of total wall area of the room.

6.Solar heat storage.

 A courtyard with thick stone wall has been provided in the central location of the
quarter.
 This courtyard is covered with double glazed roof.

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 The external glass should be of toughened glass and the inner glass may be of
ordinary glass.
 Solar heat is gained to this glazed courtyard and is absorbed in the thick stone
wall, solar heat thus absorbed radiates heat in the rooms at night and maintains the
thermal comfort level in the rooms.
 The warm air in the courtyard flows to the rooms through the inlets.
 The glazed roof is provided with insulated covering system which prevent the
heat loss during night.

7. Hollow concrete block walls and thick stone walls.

 Hollow concrete block walls have been provided on the walls which are exposed
to the sun for preventing heat loss and conserve heat inside the rooms.
 Thick stone walls have been provided on the other sides which are not exposed to
the sun to absorbed the solar heat gain during the day time and to radiate heat at
night time to maintain the thermal comfort inside the rooms.

Energy efficient housing for I.T.B.P. at Leh.

Features integrated in the designs are:-
(i) Orientation
(ii) Maximum surface area of wall exposed to sun.
(iii) Direct gain.
(iv) Solarium.

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(v) Trombe wall.

(vi) Solar heat storage.
(vii)Hollow cone. Block walls for preventing heat loss and thick stone walls to absorb
solar heat gam.

Solarium or Greenhouse

 This is a combination of direct gain and indirect gain concepts.

 A glass enclosure called solarium or green house is attached to the thermal
storage walls of the building on south side.
 Solarium or green house receives heat by direct gain while the room receives heat
by indirect gain through the thermal storage wall.

Collectors:-
(i) Direct gain
(ii) Indirect gain.

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Direct Gain:-
Sunlight is allowed to enter the building directly through south facing window and heat
internal walls, floors etc. to provide thermal comfort.

Indirect gain:-
(i) Thermal storage wall
(ii) Trombe wall
(iii) Solarium or green house.

Thermal storage wall:-

Thermal Storage wall is provided on south side between incoming solar radiation and the
room.
The externally glared thermal wall gets heated due to absorption of solar radiation at its
outer surface and radiates heat during night.

5. Distinct elements/features of passive solar heating:-

These are solar heat.
(i) Collector
(ii) Absorber
(iii) Storage
(iv) Distribution
(v) Controls or heat regulating devices.
Computer simulation for energy sufficiency in the in building shows in graphs winter and
summer performance of revised design.

Conclusions:-
Based on the analytical study of the simulation results for the ITBP-Quarter I building
and the corresponding stud of the recommended design changes, it is evident that the
building thermal performance can be enhanced by with the necessary changes. The
outlined recommendations are as follows:-

1.) Addition of single height/double height glass house facing south adjoining at least
2 rooms on ground and two rooms on first floor as may be applicable.
2.) 10 cm thick insulation on East, West and North walls except toilet, kitchen and
store areas as these act as buffer zones against the cool winds.
3.) 15 cm thick roof insulation, partly above roof slab and partly below roof slab.
4.) Interchange positions of trombe walls and direct gain windows to avoid shading
of trombe by adjoining staggered walls.

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5.) Replace hollow concrete blocks in trombe wall by solid concrete blocks.

Conclusions
Extreme Cold, Dry and Sunny Climate (Leh)
• N-S orientation to get maximum sun (buildings on southern slopes).
• Shape of the built-form
• Sun space on south side
• Location of building blocks to avoid shadows
• Orientation of rooms on south, service areas kept on north side
• Provison of Trombe walls on south facing façade to collect heat
• Provision of atrium (solar heat chamber) provided with thick walls, pebbled
flooring and solar collector louvers at roof level (to be closed at night) and
clustering the rooms around atrium to prevent heat loss.

Conclusions
Extreme Cold, Dry and Sunny Climat (Leh)
• Provision of Solarium at entrance facing south to maximize heat gain during day
and prevent heat loss at night.
• Provision of thick stone walls on north façade to act as thermal heat absorbent for
heat retention.
• Provision of vertical thermal insulation at foundation level to prevent heat
dissipation by conduction.
• Systematic maintenance of energy efficient devices and user awareness.
• Gains anticipated:-
• 13 Degree C temperature difference between indoor and outdoor temperature.

Conclusions
Composite (Delhi, Indore) Hot & Dry (Ajmer) Climate
• N-S Orientation of the buildings.
• Shape of the building to get maximum N-S facades.
• Location of functions (rooms) in the right orientation
• Window area as 15-20% of floor area
• Control of direct penetration of solar radiation and shadow pattern through
provision of recessed windows, fins, louvers, Chajjas overhangs etc. and tinted
glass panes.
• Adequate ventilation for maximum air-flow and wind management
• Provision of open courtyards.
• Provision of atrium covered with fiber glass pyramids at roof tops.

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• Location and size of windows in the rooms for better air circulation.
• Earth berm upto cill height of external walls to direct cool breeze into the rooms.

• Reduction of conduction of heat through walls & roof

• Rat-trap bond cavity external walls.
• Perforated parapet walls.
Composite (Delhi, Indore) Hot & Dry (Ajmer) Climate
• Reduction of conduction of heat through walls & roof
• Rat-trap bond cavity external walls.
• Perforated parapet walls.
• Insulation of roofs
• Provision of inverted earthenware posts on roof
• Provision of china mosaic finish on roof top
• Combination inverted earthenware pots and china mosaic finish on roof.
• Provision of thermocol or similar material for over deck roof insulation.
• Landscaping to improve microclimate and to provide shading to sun facing
facades.

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Transmission through ground floor

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Heating Strategies

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Gains anticipated:-
5 degree C Temperature difference between indoor and outdoor.
Provision of Atriums covered with fiber glass pyramids at roof top

South wall for high summer sun and low summer sun

Appropriate design guidelines based on these simple techniques have been presented .
These can be incorporated very easily in building designs. Further they can also be used
as retrofitting techniques in any building

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Question:

Q1) Write down the importance of solar passive Architecture now a days .
Q2) why the building shape is important for air condition building ?
Q3) what is solarium or green house?
Q4) which is the best orientation for extreme cold ,dry and sunny climate?
Q5) which is the best orientation for composite climate like Delhi and Indore.

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