Authors : Djamel Beggas , A.J. Wilson and Jahid Zighiche
Abstract: The aim of this study is to present the modeling of passive solar building using the thermal networks methods for the thermal analysis the use of such modeling as an efficient computer formulation and analysis tools are especially suited to passive solar systems since they permit the analysis of system whose structure varies over time(e.g., due to the daily installation of windows or due to convection within building. etc.) and also permit hourly (or even more frequent) simulations of reasonably complex systems over an entire year the systems are divided into a number of nodes each of which has its own temperature, nodes can represent surface, air or internal parts of a surface and the number required to model a given building is a function of the variation of temperature distribution within the building and the accuracy required in the final result. The temperature of every node can be predicted at future time given the thermal properties or the structure and the variation in the boundary conditions which are usually outside air temperature and solar radiation. Thus, the thermal behavior of the building within its environment over a large period of time can be easily predicted and make possible to consider the effect of various parameters and construction variations over the thermal performance of the building. This gives designers in particular architects information about their passive systems at an early stage of the design process, in order to increase the possibility of producing a successful passive buildings, which can satisfy their occupants needs for space heating, cooling and lighting by natural means as far as possible and to reduce the peak cooling/heating power demands of a building, thus, reducing the size of the air conditioning/heating equipment and the period for which its required.
Djamel Beggas , A.J. Wilson and Jahid Zighiche , 2007. Simulation Analysis of Passive Solar Building Based on the Thermal Network Methods . Journal of Engineering and Applied Sciences, 2: 1613-1619.