Enhancement of natural ventilation in a solar house with solar chimney and adsorption cooling cavity

This paper presents a parametric analytical study of a solar house with enhanced natural ventilation driven by a solar chimney and a solid adsorption cooling cavity. Some details on sizing such a system are also provided. Theoretical analyses are carried out to investigate the ventilation in the solar house with solar chimney alone, cooling cavity alone or with combined solar chimney and solar adsorption cooling cavity. It is found that on a typical day, the solar house, comprising of a 2.5m(2) solar chimney, is able to create an airflow rate of more than 100kg/h in a 20m(2) room. In addition, the ventilation rate at night is also increased by about 30similar to40% with the solar adsorption cooling cavity. It is believed that such a solar house, incorporated with other air conditioning systems if necessary, can create a comfortable indoor environment, and is energy efficient and environmental-friendly. It is expected that the proposed concept is useful to be incorporated with a stand-alone building or with a cluster of buildings for some favorable climates.