Performance evaluation of solar chimneys in providing the thermal comfort range of the building using phase change materials

Abstract

Among passive systems, Solar Chimney (SC) is so beneficial in providing thermal comfort (Ventilation and heating), decreasing electricity cost (Economical) and pollution (Environmental). In addition, solar chimneys can reduce the risk of infection spreading by changing indoor air with fresh air. A numerical model of a house was simulated in three different modes in EnergyPlus: without SC, with SC, and with SC combined with a layer of phase change material (PCM). For these cases, terms of thermal comfort have been determined under three different climates: Hot-Arid (Yazd), Hot-Humid (Bandar Abbas), and Cold Semi-Arid (Tehran) climates. The results showed that combining PCM in solar chimneys causes dissatisfaction in Hot-Arid climate in both modes of SC operation (Ventilation and Heating). But in Hot-Humid and Cold Semi-Arid, PCM assists SC in providing indoor thermal comfort. The average thermal comfort indices (PMV) improve from “0.75″ to ”0.67″ (Summer-SC) and “-0.07″ to ”0.04″ (Winter-SC) for the Hot-Humid city. Also, PMV index changed from “1.24″ to ”1.16″ (Summer-SC) and “-1.1″ to ”-0.85″ (Winter-SC) in the Semi-Arid city after adopting PCM. Among all cases, PCM had the most positive effect in the cooling mode of Cold Semi-Arid climate (Tehran).