Lecture 1

DR . Nervana Osama
Passive solar Architecture
WHAT IS IT?
 PASSIVE SOLAR ARCHITECTURE IS AWAY OF
DESIGNING THAT:
 TAKES ADVANTAGE OF THE BENEFITS OF
THE LOCAL ENVIRONMENT (SUCH AS
SUNLIGHT )
 WHILE MINIMIZING THE ADVERSE IMPACTS
OF CLIMATE ON THE COMFORT LEVEL OF
THE BUILDING.
Passive solar Components
 Solar thermal concepts consist of four
separate components:
o Collection
o Storage
o Distribution
o Control
Strategies for passive cooling
 Passive cooling maximizes the efficiency of
building envelope by :
• Minimizing heat gain from the external environment.
• Facilitating heat loss by using natural sources of cooling
are:
 Air movement
 Cooling breezes
 Evaporation
 Earth coupling
 Site Planning
MICRO and MESO- CLIMATE
 Large Scale
 Small Scale
 Site Planning
 Meso – Climate
o Coastal : Influence of it`s location on the sea and it`s
breezes which flow from sea to the land, higher winter
temperatures more than in land and lower summer
temperatures
o Flat open country : Deserts and plains, with elevated wind
speeds since there are usually few obstructions
o Woodland and forests: More stable temperatures higher
humidity than open country and higher shade
o Valleys : influenced by topographical shading ,slope
orientation and inclination ( affected by solar access and
local wind effects)
Site Planning
o Mountains : reduced temperatures of 0.7 c for each 100m rise in
altitude.
o Cities : heat effect and reduced air flow at ground level.
 Location
o Hill influence: Flat site experience little variation , air speed increases up
the slop and decrease down it,

Depression valleys experience lower air temperatures

 Site Planning
Location
o Sea influence
On the coast , the land heats up more quickly than the
water . The warm air over the land expands and rises,
And the heavier, cooler air over the water rushes in to
take its place.
 Site Planning
Orientation
Important factor is the prevailing wind direction .
o Better air flowing through the building is
achieved when the
wind is approximately
45 to openings .
 Thermal Mass
Thermal Mass
• Thermal Mass is used to store heat from the sun during
the day and re-release it when it is required.
• Correct use of thermal mass can delay heat flow
through the building envelope as much as 10 to 12
hours.
 Thermal Mass
Thermal Mass
• Winter :In winter, allow thermal mass to absorb
heat during the day from direct sunlight or from
radiant heaters. It will re- radiate this warmth
back in to the home through out the night.
THANKS
Lecture 2

DR . Nervana Osama
Thermal Mass
• Thermal Mass
Heat transfer process
Step 1: Heat is radiated to the surface of the mass by a
warmer object (the sun ,people, light, equipment, etc .)
Step 2 : Heat is conducted from the warmed surface
to the cooler interior of the mass.
Step 3 : When the mass surface becomes warmer than
other objects in the room, it radiates heat to them.
Step 4 : Heat from the warmer interior is conducted to
the cooler surface.
Thermal Mass
Summer
In summer ,allow thermal mass to absorb heat during
the day from direct sunlight . It will re-radiate this
warmth back into the home at night but air movement
help to reduce the heat.
 Thermal Mass
Thermal Mass
Thermal Mass properties
• High density : The more dense material (i.e the less
trapped air) the higher its thermal mass.
• Good thermal conductivity : The material must allow
heat to flow through it.
• Low reflectivity : Dark, matt or textured surfaces
absorb and re-radiate more energy than light,
smooth, reflective surface.
 Insulation
• Insulation
Heat Insulation acts as a barrier to heat flow
and is essential to keep your home warm in
winter and cool in summer.
Insulation
Insulation
• Choosing insulation
To compare the insulating ability , look at their R-value,
this measures resistance to heat flow, the higher of the
R-value, the higher of the level of insulation.
• Bulk insulation
Resists the transfer of
conducted heat, relying on
pockets of trapped air within
its structure( glass wool, fiber)
Insulation
• Insulation
• Reflective insulation:
Resists radiant heat flow due to its high reflectivity and
low emissivity.
Reflective insulation is usually shiny like aluminum foil
laminated .
THANKS