INVESTIGATION OF THERMAL PERFORMANCE OF A PASSIVE SOLAR BUILDING WITHFLOOR RADIANT HEATING

This paper presents a theoretical study of an integrated radiant floor heating-direct gain passive solar system. Thermal mass is utilized bo th for storage of auxiliary heating energy and direct solar gains inci dent on the floor. An explicit finite difference model is developed to accurately model nonlinear effects and auxiliary heating control. The numerical simulation model is employed to study the performance of a passive solar outdoor test-room with different amounts of thermal mass under various control strategies with constant and sinusoidal room th ermostat setpoints. A satisfactory thermal mass is determined based on energy savings, reduction of room temperature swings, and prevention of floor surface overheating. Control of auxiliary heating based on a room effective (operative) temperature is shown to result in improved thermal comfort and higher utilization of passive solar gains as compa red to room air temperature control. (C) 1997 Published by Elsevier Sc ience Ltd.