Validation of the Load Collector Ratio (LCR) Method for Predicting the Thermal Performance from Five Passive Solar Test Rooms Using Measured Data
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UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations 1-1-2007 Validation of the load collector ratio (LCR) method for predicting the thermal performance from five passive solar test rooms using measured data Daniel James Overbey University of Nevada, Las Vegas Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalscholarship.unlv.edu/rtds Repository Citation Overbey, Daniel James, "Validation of the load collector ratio (LCR) method for predicting the thermal performance from five passive solar test rooms using measured data" (2007). UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations. 2255. http://dx.doi.org/10.25669/bucv-ouog This Thesis is protected by copyright and/or related rights. It has been brought to you by Digital Scholarship@UNLV with permission from the rights-holder(s). You are free to use this Thesis in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s) directly, unless additional rights are indicated by a Creative Commons license in the record and/ or on the work itself. This Thesis has been accepted for inclusion in UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations by an authorized administrator of Digital Scholarship@UNLV. For more information, please contact [email protected]. VALIDATION OF THE LOAD COLLECTOR RATIO (LCR) METHOD FOR PREDICTING THE THERMAL PERFORMANCE FROM FIVE PASSIVE SOLAR TEST ROOMS USING MEASURED DATA by Daniel James Overbey Bachelor of Architecture Ball State University 2005 A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Master of Architecture Degree School of Architecture College of Fine Arts Graduate College University of Nevada, Las Vegas December 2007 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. UMI Number: 1452267 Copyright 2008 by Overbey, Daniel James All rights reserved. INFORMATION TO USERS The quality of this reproduction is dependent upon the quality of the copy submitted. Broken or indistinct print, colored or poor quality illustrations and photographs, print bleed-through, substandard margins, and improper alignment can adversely affect reproduction. In the unlikely event that the author did not send a complete manuscript and there are missing pages, these will be noted. Also, if unauthorized copyright material had to be removed, a note will indicate the deletion. UMI UMI Microform 1452267 Copyright 2008 by ProQuest LLC. All rights reserved. This microform edition is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States Code. ProQuest LLC 789 E. Eisenhower Parkway PC Box 1346 Ann Arbor, Ml 48106-1346 Reproduced witfi permission of tfie copyrigfit owner. Furtfier reproduction profiibited witfiout permission. Copyright by Daniel James Overbey 2008 All Rights Reserved Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Thesis Approval The Graduate College University of Nevada, Las Vegas September 11 . 20 07 The Thesis prepared by Daniel James Overbey Entitled Validation of the Load Collector Ratio (LCR) Method for Predicting the Thermal Performance from Five Passive Solar Test Rooms Using Measured Data is approved in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Architecture Examination Committee Chair C l Dean of the Graduate College Examination Committee Examimtion Committee Member Gramate College Faculty Representative 11 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. ABSTRACT Validation of the Load Collector Ratio (LCR) Method for Predicting the Thermal Performance from Five Passive Solar Test Rooms Using Measured Data by Daniel James Overbey Alfredo Femândez-Gonzâlez, Examination Committee Chair Associate Professor University of Nevada, Las Vegas The standard procedure used to analyze buildings that feature passive solar heating strategies is the load collector ratio (LCR) method. This procedure was developed by the Los Alamos National Laboratory between 1977 and 1984. As a result of the LCR method, one will obtain the solar savings fraction (SSF) of the input passive solar building. The SSF is the most widely accepted metric used to evaluate the effectiveness of passive solar heated buildings. The SSF may be defined as the extent to which a building’s passive solar feature(s) reduces a building’s auxiliary heat requirement relative to a comparable building devoid of passive solar feature(s). This thesis compares nearly two-years of monitored data collected fi'om five passive solar test rooms in Muncie, Indiana against the performance predicted by the LCR method as well as three other procedures related to passive solar heating analysis developed at the Los Alamos National Laboratory along with the LCR method. The conclusions of this thesis validate the LCR method with regard to projecting the SSF and auxiliary heat requirements for a range of passive solar heating strategies in a severe winter climate with predominantly cloudy sky conditions. Ill Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT.................................................................................................................................iii NOMENCLATURE ............................................................................................................... vii LIST OF FIGURES ................................................................................................................ xv LIST OF TABLES...................................................................................................................xxx ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS................................................................................................xxxiii DEDICATION.................................................................................................................... xxxiv CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION ......................................................................................... 1 Purpose of the Research ...................................................................................................... 4 Research Question .............................................................................................................. 4 Significance of the Research .............................................................................................. 5 CHAPTER 2 REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE AND RESEARCH .............. 6 A Brief History of Passive Solar Heating Systems ......................................................... 6 The Effects of Mechanical HVAC Systems on Architectural D esign ....................... 12 A Definition of Passive Solar Heating Systems ........................................................... 13 General Principles for Passive Solar Design ................................................................. 14 Classification Schemes ..................................................................................................... 17 Direct Gain System ........................................................................................................... 19 Thermal Storage Wall: Trombe-Wall System .............................................................. 25 Thermal Storage Wall: Water-Wall System .................................................................. 31 Sunspace System ............................................................................................................... 35 Thermal Storage Roof System (Roofpond System) ...................................................... 43 Convective Loop System ................................................................................................. 54 Hybrid Solar Heating Systems ......................................................................................... 55 Review of Related Research Precedents ........................................................................ 55 Standard Methods of Passive Solar Heating Analysis ................................................. 59 Summary ............................................................................................................................. 62 CHAPTER 3 DESCRIPTION OF MPSP......................................................................... 63 Project Overview .............................................................................................................. 63 Project Goals...................................................................................................................... 66 Macroclimate Summary for Muncie, Indiana................................................................ 67 Experimental Setup and Data Acquisition ..................................................................... 69 IV Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Site-Specific Weather and Insolation Data Summary ................................................. 71 Description of Test Cells ................................................................................................. 72 Synopsis of Previously Published Findings ................................................................... 91 Current Status of Project.................................................................................................. 92 Sum m ary............................................................................................................................