Solar Energy for Passive House Design
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International Journal of Engineering Research & Technology (IJERT) ISSN: 2278-0181 Vol. 3 Issue 1, January - 2014 Solar Energy for Passive House Design Dr. Amit Kumar Assistant Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, National Institute of Technology Patna - 800005, Bihar, India, Abstract Solar energy from the sun has been harnessed by humans since ancient times using a range of ever- evolving technologies. Solar radiation, along with secondary solar-powered resources such as wind and wave power, hydroelectricity and biomass accounts for most of the available renewable energy on earth. The Earth receives 174 petawatts (PW) of incoming solar radiation at the upper atmosphere and only a minuscule fraction of the available solar energy is being used. A partial list of solar applications includes space heating and cooling through solar architecture, potable water via distillation and disinfection, day lighting, solar hot water, solar cooking. Solar technologies may be broadly characterised as either passive or active depending on the way they capture, convert and distribute sunlight. Sunlight has influenced building design since the beginning of architectural history. The common features of passive solar architecture are orientation relative to the Sun, compact proportion (a low surface area to volume ratio), selective shading (overhangs) and thermal mass. When these features are tailored to the local climate and environment they can produce well-lit spaces that stay in a comfortable temperature range. The paper presents various aspects of passive solar building design concept and design elements for residential buildings in temperate climate. If passive solar building design is adopted on large scale, it is likely to restrict the formation of Urban Heat Island. Keywords:Passive house design, Solar energy, Insulation, Landscaping, Solar gain, Air tightness IJERTIJERT 1.0 INTRODUCTION whole depends both on population and impact per person, which in turn depends in There has been a close correlation complex ways on what resources are being between economic growth and environmental used, whether or not those resources are degradation. As communities grow, renewable, and the scale of the human consequently, the environment declines. This activity relative to the carrying capacity of trend is clearly demonstrated on graphs of the ecosystems involved. Utilisation of solar human population numbers, economic energy for passive house design is step growth, and environmental towards preservation of ecosystem. indicators. Unsustainable economic growth has been starkly compared to the malignant 2.0 SOLAR ENERGY growth of a cancer because it eats away at the Earth's ecosystem services which are its life- Solar energy, radiant light and heat from support system. A major driver of human the sun, has been harnessed by humans impact on Earth systems is the destruction of since ancient times using a range of ever- biophysical resources, and especially, the evolving technologies. Solar radiation, along Earth's ecosystems. The total environmental with secondary solar-powered resources such impact of a community or of humankind as a as wind and wave power, IJERTV3IS10409 www.ijert.org 955 International Journal of Engineering Research & Technology (IJERT) ISSN: 2278-0181 Vol. 3 Issue 1, January - 2014 hydroelectricity and biomass accounts for The spectrum of solar light at the Earth's most of the available renewable energy on surface is mostly spread across the earth. Only a minuscule fraction of the visible and near-infrared ranges with a small part in the near-ultraviolet [2]. Earth's land available solar energy is being used. surface, oceans and atmosphere absorb solar Solar powered electrical generation relies radiation, and this raises their temperature. on heat engines and photovoltaic. Solar Warm air containing evaporated water from energy's uses are limited only by human the oceans rises, causing atmospheric ingenuity. A partial list of solar applications circulation or convection. When the air includes space heating and cooling reaches a high altitude, where the through solar architecture, potable water via temperature is low, water vapor condenses distillation and disinfection, day lighting, into clouds, which rain onto the Earth's solar hot water, solar cooking and high surface, completing the water cycle. temperature process heat for industrial The latent heat of water condensation purposes. To harvest the solar energy, the amplifies convection, producing atmospheric most common way is to use solar panels. phenomena such as wind, cyclones and anticyclones. Sunlight absorbed by the Solar technologies are broadly characterized oceans and land masses keeps the surface at as either passive solar or active an average temperature of 140C solar depending on the way they capture, [3]. By photosynthesis green plants convert convert and distribute solar energy. Active solar energy into chemical energy, which solar techniques include the use of produces food, wood and the biomass from photovoltaic panels and solar thermal which fossil fuels are derived [4]. collectors to harness the energy. Passive solar techniques include orienting a building to the Sun, selecting materials with favorable thermal mass or light dispersing properties, and designing spaces that naturally circulate air. IJERTIJERT Sunlight, in the broad sense, is the total frequency spectrum of electromagnetic radiation given off by the Sun on earth. The sunlight is filtered through the Earth’s atmosphere and solar radiation is obvious as daylight when the Sun is above the horizon. When the direct solar radiation is not blocked by the clouds, it is experienced as sunshine, a combination of bright light and radiant heat. When it is blocked by the clouds or reflects Fig. 1, About half the incoming solar energy off of other objects, it is experienced as reaches the Earth's surface. diffused light. 2.2 Application of Solar Technology 2.1 Energy From The Sun Solar technologies are broadly characterized The Earth receives 174 petawatts (PW) of as either passive or active depending on the incoming solar radiation (insolation) at the way they capture, convert and distribute upper atmosphere [1]. Approximately 30% is sunlight. Active solar techniques use reflected back to space while the rest is photovoltaic panels, pumps, and fans to absorbed by clouds, oceans and land masses. convert sunlight into useful outputs. Passive IJERTV3IS10409 www.ijert.org 956 International Journal of Engineering Research & Technology (IJERT) ISSN: 2278-0181 Vol. 3 Issue 1, January - 2014 solar techniques include selecting materials Using these methods, a hypothetical "cool with favorable thermal properties, designing communities" program in Los Angeles has spaces that naturally circulate air, and projected that urban temperatures could be referencing the position of a building to the reduced by approximately 3 °C at an Sun. Active solar technologies increase the estimated cost of US$1 billion, giving supply of energy and are considered supply estimated total annual benefits of side technologies, while passive solar US$530 million from reduced air- technologies reduce the need for alternate conditioning costs and healthcare savings [9]. resources and are generally considered 3.0 PASSIVE SOLAR BUILDING demand side technologies [5]. DESIGN 2.3 Architecture and Urban Planning In passive solar building design, windows, Sunlight has influenced building design since walls, and floors are made to collect, store, the beginning of architectural history and distribute solar energy in the form of heat [6]. Advanced solar architecture and urban in the winter and reject solar heat in the planning methods were first employed by summer. This is called passive solar design the Greeks and Chinese, who oriented their or climatic design because, unlike buildings toward the south to provide light active solar heating systems, it doesn't and warmth [7]. involve the use of mechanical and electrical The common features of passive devices. solar architecture are orientation relative to the Sun, compact proportion (a low surface area to volume ratio), selective shading (overhangs) and thermal mass. When these features are tailored to the local climate and environment they can produce well-lit spaces that stay in a comfortable temperature range. Socrates’ Megaron House is a classicIJERT IJERT example of passive solar design. The most recent approaches to solar design use computer modeling tying together solar lighting, heating and ventilation systems in an integrated solar design package Fig. 2. Elements of passive solar design, [8]. Active solar equipment such as pumps, shown in a direct gain application fans and switchable windows can complement passive design and improve system performance. The key to designing a passive solar building is to best take advantage of the local climate. Urban heat islands (UHI) are metropolitan Elements to be considered include window areas with higher temperatures than that of placement and glazing type, thermal the surrounding environment. The higher insulation, thermal mass, and shading. temperatures are a result of increased Passive solar design techniques can be absorption of the Solar light by urban applied most easily to new buildings, but materials such as asphalt and concrete, which existing buildings can be adapted or have lower albedos and higher heat "retrofitted". capacities than those in the natural environment. A straightforward method of Passive solar technologies use sunlight