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Principles and Performance of Solar Energy Thermal Systems: A Web Course by

V.V.Satyamurty
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MODULE 25 Lecture Nos: 39

Passive Architecture, Overhangs and wing walls
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In this Module 25, Lecture Nos. 36, 37, 38, 39, 40 deal with
Lecture 39

25.6 INSTANTANEOUS SHADING FACTOR

25.7 SHADING PLANE CONCEPT AND THE SHADING FACTORS

Lecture 39

25.6 INSTANTANEOUS SHADING FACTOR

The instantaneous shading factor designated by, fi∞ , calculation gets simplified, if the over hang is
infinitely long, practically, 2-5 times the window width.
The shadow will always be a rectangle

W
A

As

Hw

Fig. 25.2 Shaded area for an infinite overhang

AS  YW (25.6)

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P P cos  z
Y  (25.7)
tan  z cos(  s   ) sin  z cos(  s   )

 s is the solar azimuthal angle

Zenith

Sun Normal to
horizontal surface

z

N
W
a 

rs

r E
S

Fig. 25.3 Different angles (Fig. 3.3, reproduced)

PW cos  z
AS  (25.8)
cos 
P cos  z
fi  1   1  (tan / Rb ) (25.9)
H w cos 
Sun

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Fig. 25.4 Shading plane concept

Hw


25.7 SHADING PLANE CONCEPT AND THE SHADING FACTORS

It is not difficult (optically) to envisage that the solar radiation reaching the window, passes through
the plane that joins the edge of the overhang to the base of the window. This plane appears as the line
shown to be at an angle of ψ with rrespect to the window plane in Fig. 25.4. This plane is referred to as
‘shading plane’ .In general, the window may be inclined at a slope of β , not necessarilu equal to π/2. Thus,
the slope of the shading plane, β* is given by,
 *    (25.10)
Having envisaged that the solar radiation passing through the plane that joins the edge of the overhang
to the base of the window reaches the window, It follows,

As* I b Rb*  f i Aw I b Rb (25.11)

As* , in Eq. (25.11) is the area of the shading plane. As* can be expressed as,

As*  Aw / cos (25.12)

Thus, the instantaneous shading factor f i is given by,

Aw Rb R
fi  * *
 cos b* (25.13)
As Rb Rb

In Eq. (25.13), Rb and Rb* are to be calculated from, for a south facing window,

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cos(   ) cos  cos   sin(   ) sin 

Rb  (25.14)
cos  cos  cos   sin  sin 

cos(   * ) cos  cos   sin(   * )sin 

Rb*  (25.15)
cos  cos  cos   sin  sin 

Where β* is given by Eq.(25.11). When the window is not south facing, The numerators in Eqs.
(25.14) and (25.15) need to be evaluated using the general expression for the angle of incidence given by
Eq. (3.6)

Eq. (25.13) can be extended to evaluate the long term (valid for a day or month) as,

Aw Rb R
fi  * *
 cos b* (25.16)
As Rb Rb

In Eq. (25.16) for a south facing window are calculated from,

cos(   ) cos  sin s' cos   sin(   )sin  s'
Rb  (25.17)
cos  cos  sin s  sin  sin  s

cos(   * ) cos  sin s' cos   sin(   * ) sin  s'

Rb*  (25.18)
cos  cos  sin s  sin  sin  s

It may be noted that, when Eqs. (25.17) and (25.18) are applied for a day,  and s' are the day’s

declonation and the apparent sunset hour angle corresponding to  . And when applied to amonth,  is the
monthly mean declination,  m and s' corresponds to  m . As stated, for non-south facing windows,
numerators in Eqs. (25.17) and (25.18) correspond to general angle of incidence given by Eq. (3.6).

It should be noted that a) the shading plane concept is valid for infinitely long overhangs and b) for
non-south facing windows certain additional difficulties arise, in determining the apparent sunrise ans
sunset hour angles. The duration, shape, of the shadows may become the controlling parameters,
particularly for finite overhangs

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