Solar Radiation vs.

Architecture

Submitted to

Rajendra K. Kunwar, MSc. (Arch)

salman muhammad , MSc.(Arch)

Prepared by Migbaru Abera

Pramit/ 087/12
Solar Radiation vs. Architecture

KEY WORDS
 site location,
 building orientation
 building materials
 indoor thermal comfort
The energy that generates life on earth but also causes thermal discomfort
wherever the ambient temperature is higher than the body temperature.

…………………………………………………………….………………………………………………..……………

Naturally ventilated and comfortable buildings are only those that incorporate
structural features that are specifically designed; to mitigate the effects of this
radiation.
 IRRADIANCE

The earth's thermal balance is maintained due to its axial rotation and its
inclination at 66 ½ ® to the plane of its solar orbit.

ATMOSPHERIC CONSTITUENT:

Astronomical factors
Atmospheric factors:
Terrestrial factors:

Generally the extraterrestrial solar intensity is reduced to 70 per cent by the

time it reaches the earth's surface
 SOLAR RADIATION

The effect of solar radiation on a building is discernible by the

increase of the fabric temperature

The daily radiation intensity varies with solar altitude angle.

The potential to utilize solar radiation is predetermined by

site location, surrounding structures and building shape.
When addressing the issue of solar radiation in ARCHITECTURE ,
separate between strategies for summer and winter are commonly
established

The sun’s path follows a daily and seasonal pattern. That path is
closely linked TO LATITUDE: thus an architectural form experiences
different degrees of exposure to radiation.
We systematically ASSESS THE RADIATION accumulated during winter
(21-dec to 21-mar ) and summer (21-jun to 22-sep )……………………………………

DESIGN ASPECTS ARE NOT INCORPORATED DESIGN ASPECTS ARE INCORPORATED

Orientation Design Alternatives

Compares radiation received by the
same surface at different orientation
Different exposures of a surface in terms
of its orientation raises design aspects
that improve the performance of a
project in regard to radiation. Each
aspect provides design alternatives with
different impact in terms of radiation.
Provides the best response to Radiation and Reconciles
the situations of Winter and Summer
S
O The earth’s movement around the sun results to
different solar paths characterized by variable heights
BASIC CONCEPT
L
and lengths depending on the time of the year and
A latitude
R

GEOMETRY : Its position at different times of the year can be found though two angular
coordinates namely:
Solar azimuth α, which is the angle,
measured on the horizontal plane,
from the south-pointing coordinate
axis to the projection of above
joining line.

Solar altitude β, represented by the angle

between the line joining the center of the
sun with the observation point and the
horizontal plane
Not CONSIDERING DESIGN ASPECTS

consists in assessing the amount of solar energy received by the different planes of a
cube the vertical surfaces of which are strictly orientated towards north , south , east
and west ……,it also adds the energy received on a horizontal flat surface corresponding
to a hypothetical flat roof

Orientation
 CONSIDERING DESIGN ASPECTS

Proportion of the rectangular layout: analysis of

various layout proportions

A general consideration that linear forms have better thermal performance throughout

the year if they are elongated in an east west direction because they are more likely to
capture radiation in winter with the large area of expositions represented by the
south façade and in the contrast they capture very little in summer because the east and
west facades are smaller
 CONSIDERING DESIGN ASPECTS
Proportion of the rectangular layout: analysis of
various layout proportions

Case study
The objective is to verify from the stand point of solar radiation gain ,what the optimal
rectangular shape is.

The s tudy was conducted based on two parameters:

•
the ratio between width and length and
• orientation of the shape.
 CONSIDERING DESIGN ASPECTS
Proportion of the rectangular layout: analysis of
various layout proportions

Three layout relationships are under : 1:4 (3*12

•
the ratio between width and length and
m ), 1:2 (4*9 m) ,1:1 (6*6m) . • orientation of the shape.

The floor area is, therefore , always the same : 36

m2 . MOREOVER , if the same height (6m ) is
always used in the evaluation , The internal
volume is always the same: 216 m3 .

E valuation / comparison

The two rectangular relationships of the layout

were evaluated by positioning them based on
two orientations:
 CONSIDERING DESIGN ASPECTS
Proportion of the rectangular layout: analysis of
various layout proportions

•
ratio between width and length and
E valuation / comparison
the

• orientation of the shape.

based on two orientations:

I. orienting the long façade to the east

and west or
II. orienting the long facades to north and
south.

A square shape is symmetrical in the two possible

orientations and its behavior is the same finally
summer and winter behavior are assessed seeking
a balanced solution that reconciles protection in
summer and gain in winter.
 CONSIDERING DESIGN ASPECTS
Proportion of the rectangular layout: analysis of
various layout proportions

Case study : The objective is to verify from the stand point of solar radiation gain ,what the optimal rectangular
shape is.

Findings regarding proportions and layouts

The interest lies in following the behavior of the graph that describes what happened in terms of total
gain to the volume.

• In summer , the 4*9 proportion that orients its long facades to the north and south is

f
the most avorable one since it is the one with lower gain

• In winter , the most favorable situation is also to lengthen the volume of the longer
façade to the north and south . The capture capacity of the south façade ,despite the nearly
zero contribution of the north façade ,is greater than the sum of the capacity of the east
and west facades
 CONSIDERING DESIGN ASPECTS
Proportion of the rectangular layout: analysis of
various layout proportions

Case study : The objective is to verify from the stand point of solar radiation gain ,what the optimal rectangular
shape is.

Findings regarding proportions and layouts

The interest lies in following the behavior of the graph that describes what happened in terms of total
gain to the volume.

IN short , the most favorable relationships , if the purpose is to reconcile winter and
summer , are those that have ELONGATED LAYOUTS orienting their largest façade to the
North and south . The south façade is , undoubtedly ,the crucial one due to its
previously mentioned high gain capacity in winter
CONSIDERING DESIGN ASPECTS
Protection elements of the southern facade: dimensioning
of the horizontal overhangs

IF The south side is critical, let us look at how to optimize its performance . The
role the south face plays in gain in winter is fundamental . In contrast , in summer ,
the south façade receives a significant amount of radiation .

As a result ; to improve the performance of the south facade., it is advisable

to lower its gain in summer without being detrimental to gain in winter , in
order to achieve this , we must study an alternative design : overhangs
for screening the sun
 CONSIDERING DESIGN ASPECTS
Protection elements of the southern facade: dimensioning
of the horizontal overhangs
Given that :
The sun follows a higher path in the sky in summer that in
winter ,
it is possible to dimension over hangs to screen radiation in
summer and allow radiation in winter

CASE STUDY
design of the overhangs seeking the most favorable
relationship between the height of the facade to be
protected in the summer and the length of the overhangs.

An attempt is made to determine the compatible option

for the two seasons
 CONSIDERING DESIGN ASPECTS
Protection elements of the southern facade:
dimensioning of the horizontal overhangs

Case study
The overhangs are labeled “o” and the height of the façade
“h”. evaluated the following relationship :0=h ,0=h/2,
0=h/3, 0=h/4, 0=h/5, 0=h/6, with out o

Of all the relationships between the height of the facade

and the lengths over hang , the best is 0=h/2 .

In summer , the percentage of intercepted radiation is

high and the façade receives only 36% of the radiation , in
winter , the same over hang intercepted little radiation and
allow 73% of the radiation to reach to the façade .
 CONSIDERING DESIGN ASPECTS
Protection elements of the eastern and western
facades: choice of horizontal or vertical protection

Given that :
The particularity of the east and west facades is that each ,
in summer , receive AS MUCH RADIATION as the south
facade. This does not occur in winter.

r
The amount of adiation received by the two facades
does not equal the radiation received by the south façade .

Therefore : to improve performance in comparison to

radiation on these facades , must strengthen protection in
the summer , while trying not to harm the lower winter
gain.
 CONSIDERING DESIGN ASPECTS
Protection elements of the eastern and western
facades: choice of horizontal or vertical protection

Case analysis :

First ; The east and west are associated at the time of

sunrise and sunset. Radiation is quite flush at that time of
day. This implies , geometrically an angle of incidence of
radiation that is quite perpendicular to the vertical plan

Furthermore , in winter , sunrise and sunset occur in the

southeast and south west respectively . In contrast in
summer , they in the northeast and north west

THEREFORE , in summer ,the radiation around the east and west occupies many more
hours a day and much of the time ,the height of the sun is considerable and radiation is no
longer flush.
 CONSIDERING DESIGN ASPECTS
Protection elements of the eastern and western
facades: choice of horizontal or vertical protection

Case analysis :
(given the above)

The question of how to approach effective solar

protection on the east and west is reformulated as
follows:

Should the overhangs be horizontal (as in the case of

southern orientation) that impede radiation from above ?
or
should protections be vertical to intercept flush
radiation?
CONSIDERING DESIGN ASPECTS
Protection elements of the eastern and western
facades: choice of horizontal or vertical protection

Case analysis :
(given the above) :the heliodor software program

The response was evaluated in summer and in winter ,

with no protection , with a horizontal overhang , with
vertical protection on the north ,with vertical
protection on the south …

• the vertical protective effect on the north is

negligible.

• The discussion comes down to choosing between

vertical protection on the south or the overhang.
CONSIDERING DESIGN ASPECTS
Protection elements of the eastern and western
facades: choice of horizontal or vertical protection

Case analysis :
(given the above) :the heliodor software program

The response was evaluated in summer and in winter ,

with no protection , with a horizontal overhang , with
vertical protection on the north ,with vertical
protection on the south …

The over hang is the more successful of the two

options

It reduces the amount of radiation received in

summer (58%) and allows a greater amount of
radiation to be received in winter (75 %)
CONSIDERING DESIGN ASPECTS
Radiation control shading salts to protect a
window

Case analysis :

Considering the previous study , it is advisable to

suspect that horizontal positioning of the slats will
be most suitable ……

the benefit of horizontal shading is clearly superior

to the vertical shade protection . In winter , when
radiation is desired , 36% versus 17% of that
possible is received it is in summer , however ,
when the benefit is blatantly superior. When the
radiation is not desired ,the total received is lower.
CONSIDERING DESIGN ASPECTS
Slope of the roof: flat or sloped with different inclinations and orientations

CONCLUSION
 CONSIDERING SOLAR

DESIGN ASPECTS

Solar Radiation
Considerations in Building
Planning and Design
 Solar Radiation Considerations in Building Planning CONSIDERING SOLAR
and Design
DESIGN ASPECTS
Solar radiation reaches a building by direct rays, by rays reflected from adjacent buildings
or the ground, or by rays diffused by clouds and atmosphere

Since
Climate consists of the combined effects of
temperature, humidity, precipitation, wind, and
solar radiation.

Although climates of the world vary greatly, most

have temperature patterns that require heating of
buildings during the winter and cooling during the
summer. In addition, there are some periods
when both heating and cooling can be required
during the same day.
Solar Radiation Considerations in Building Planning CONSIDERING SOLAR
and Design
DESIGN ASPECTS
Controlling solar radiation is one of the
best ways the architect/ engineer team can
reduce energy consumption in a building or
group of buildings.

Basically this control consists of maximizing solar

energy during periods requiring heating (winter)
and reducing to a minimum the solar energy
entering the building during cooling periods
(summer).
Solar Radiation Considerations in Building Planning CONSIDERING SOLAR
and Design
DESIGN ASPECTS

Solar heat should not be permitted to enter

occupied spaces during the summer; it can,
however, be collected and used with absorption
chillers to air condition interior spaces . During
the intermediate periods, solar radiation can be
collected and stored daily so excessive heat
received during the day can be released to the
interior at night.
Solar Radiation Considerations in Building Planning CONSIDERING SOLAR
and Design
DESIGN ASPECTS
MATERIALS
Material selection has a definite effect on how a building uses or misuses the heat
received from solar radiation. The architect/engineer is concerned with two types of
materials: opaque and transparent. Heat from solar radiation enters a building by
conduction through opaque walls and roofs or by direct radiation through
transparent materials such as window walls or skylights.

While opaque materials such as brick, concrete, wood, and aluminum prevent
the passage of light, their thermal characteristics vary considerably because of
different degrees of mass, color, and surface reflectivity. With current construction
methods, opaque walls and roofs usually are combinations of several materials and
the architect/engineer can therefore combine various elements to achieve the most
advantageous overall performance
Solar Radiation Considerations in Building Planning CONSIDERING SOLAR
and Design
DESIGN ASPECTS
MATERIALS
Two major properties of opaque walls that
help determine their thermal performance
are color and reflectivity. Dark colors
absorb solar radiation and add heat to the
building. By contrast, light colors reflect a
larger portion of sunlight and reduce the
cooling load. Careful consideration should
be given to the selection of opaque walls
with the proper mass, insulation, color, and
reflectivity.
 Solar Radiation Considerations in Building Planning CONSIDERING SOLAR
and Design
DESIGN ASPECTS
MATERIALS
Transparent materials, such as clear glass, admit up to 80 percent of all radiant solar
energy that strikes the surface . This can be beneficial during periods of the year when
space heating is required, since it reduces the amount of heat that must be supplied by
fossil fuel or electricity
Solar Radiation Considerations in Building Planning CONSIDERING SOLAR
and Design
DESIGN ASPECTS
MATERIALS
This type of glass is particularly effective in reducing summer heat gains and,
thus, allows a reduction in the size of the air conditioning system, which, in
turn, reduces energy consumption
Solar Radiation Considerations in Building Planning CONSIDERING SOLAR
and Design
DESIGN ASPECTS
SHADING
Shading is the most effective method of reducing heat gain through transparent
materials, and, ideally, a good shading device should keep sunlight in during the
winter. Internal shading can reduce the amount of heat dispersed within a space,
but it is not as effective as external shading, since much of the radiant heat that
enters the space is trapped inside the space at the exterior wall. The most common
internal shading devices are venetian blinds, vertical blinds, shades, and draperies,
and these devices can reject up to 65 percent of the solar radiation that strikes the
glass directly

External shading is most effective against overall heat gain, since it can block out
up to 95 percent of the solar radiation that otherwise would enter the building
Solar Radiation Considerations in Building Planning CONSIDERING SOLAR
and Design
DESIGN ASPECTS
SHADING
• Many devices are available for exterior shading. Horizontal overhangs,
using both fixed and movable elements, are very effective in south
elevations, because the solar angles are highest as they approach due south
during midday. The sun also is higher in summer than in winter, and the
overhang can be proportioned to screen out the sun in summer but admit it
in winter . On east or west elevations, however, the sun's angle is too low to
be blocked out by horizontal overhangs, and properly oriented vertical
louvers have proven more beneficial on these elevations . If the louvers are
movable, the user can control them to provide a better view or greater
diffusion of light at times when the sun is located on the opposite face of
the building.
Solar Radiation Considerations in Building Planning CONSIDERING SOLAR
and Design
DESIGN ASPECTS

SHADING
Solar Radiation Considerations in Building Planning CONSIDERING SOLAR
and Design
DESIGN ASPECTS
SHADING Combinations of vertical
and horizontal elements
can be used effectively to
control solar radiation if
the proportions are
carefully related to sun
angles during the critical
times of the day.

The low sun angles of early

morning and late afternoon
may be blocked by interior
shading devices if the
building is occupied during
these hours
This classic principle, which allows heat to be rejected in
summer when it is not needed and received in winter when it
is most needed,
Thank you