Simulation of modified Trombe wall

Abstract

Passive systems are becoming increasingly popular among designers, which is reflected in their frequent use in the construction of modern buildings. The prevailing material in façade design is glass which enables i.a. photothermal conversion of solar energy either in the so-called direct systems or in one of a number of the collector-and-storage Trombe wall variants. In order to estimate how the aforementioned passive solutions affect the energy balance of a building, the efficiency of such solutions needs to be determined first. This paper presents the research proposal that would use a simple-structure laboratory simulator. The proposed method is based on the analogy of supplying heat into the TW itself with an internal heat source. In order to simulate the absorption of solar radiation that takes place in the absorber, the heat was produced by the heating cable embedded in such an absorber. The results of tests carried out according to one of the Design of Experiments (DOE) methods enabled the development of an empirical model showing the operation efficiency of the originally modified Trombe wall.