Energy performance evaluation of direct solar floor in traditional and modern buildings

This paper reports results of a series of year-long simulations using TRNSYS computer code applied to Direct Solar Floor of a building made of local materials in Algeria. The Direct Solar Floor system was modeled and implemented using TRNSYS code. Then, energy saving was assessed through a mathematical approach calculating the heating load during winter. The internal climate was also evaluated by analyzing indoor temperatures and PMV along with PPD indices. Moreover, a parametric study was performed in order to evaluate the main characteristics that affect the performance of DSF with different construction materials used in Algeria. Practical application: The use of renewable energies in Algeria is still not widespread despite its strategic geographical location. Because that the residential sector seems to be the biggest consumer of energy and it widely contributes to greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions, the technique of heating by Direct Solar Floor (DSF) could be a very interesting solution to reduce both of energy consumption and GHG emissions. The DSF is still a relatively novel heating technology in Algeria. This paper describes the use of this technique in some typical Algerian constructions: old traditional buildings which are rarely used and modern buildings which are very common. Such as presented in this article, the use of local materials contribute to improving DSF performance. The parametric study presented in the paper offers designers decision-making tools to size appropriately a DSF heating system according to the construction materials used.