The architectural implications of passive solar cooling systems in hot-arid climates

The architectural implications of passive solar cooling systems in hot-arid climates

Thesis (M.S.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Architecture, 1988.

Bibliographic Details
Main Author:	Sharag-Eldin, Adil M. K. (Adil Mustafa Kamal)
Other Authors:	Timothy E. Johnson.Although they represent a reasonable alternative for mechanical evaporative coolers, these systems suffer from their limited applications in terms of air circulation and small rate of heat transfer. In this thesis, a new air scoop is developed to overcome the above mentioned limitations. Basically, it is a combination of an air scoop and a chimney. This configuration generates suction pressure at the tower head because of the wind acceleration at a nozzle. When there is no wind, the tower acts as a solar chimney that creates a stack effect between the inlet stack (air scoop) and the the outlet vent. The advantages of this system is summarized in the following: First, the suction pressure is more effective than positive pressure in dragging the air between the two stacks. Also this system performs in the absence of any wind which detracts from the performance of other conventional air scoops. Because of the specific relation between inlet and outlet stacks, the higher the height difference the bener. This means that an inlet air scoops as low as the window sill level gives better result. This in fact may lead to the use of small inlet scoops opening to the windward side and a central chimney to exhaust the hot room air and replace it with fresh outdoor air. Such configuration facilitates a better and controlled indoor air circulation without the need to use windows for natural ventilation. Economic analysis examining a number of scenarios that include the air scoop/ chimney scheme with other strategies such as wall insulation and Light-Green Low-E glazing has shown the tradeoffs between improving the indoor thermal comfort and the payback period or the economic feasibility of each of these scenarios. Finally, architectural designs were proposed to show how some of the systems discussed in this study will be expressed architecturally and to what extend the regional identity can express itself through addressing the environmental aspects of the area.
Format:	Thesis
Language:	eng
Published:	Massachusetts Institute of Technology 2013
Subjects:	Architecture. TH7687.9
Online Access:	http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/79946

Description
Summary:	Thesis (M.S.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Architecture, 1988.