Abstract
Modeling solar radiation in street canyons is crucial to understanding the solar availability of building façades. This article describes the implementation of a simulation routine, developed in the Matlab® computer language, which is aimed at predicting solar access for building façades located in dense urban conglomerates comprising deep long street canyons, under high solar radiation conditions, typical in southern countries of Europe. Methodology is primarily based on the configuration factor theory, also aided by computer simulation, which enables to assess the interplay between the surfaces that compose the so-called street canyon. The results of the theoretical model have been cross-checked and verified by on-site measurements in two real case studies, two streets in Cadiz and Seville. The simplified simulation reproduces the shape of the curve for on-site measured values and weighted errors for the whole model do not surpass 10%, with a maximum of 9.32% and a mean values of 6.31%. As a result, a simplified predictive model that takes into account direct, diffuse and reflected solar radiation from the surfaces that enclose the canyon, has been devised. The authors consider that this research provides further improvement, as well as a handy alternative approach, to usual methods used for the calculation of available solar radiation in urban canyons, such as the Sky View Factor or the ray tracing.
Highlights
In the urban context, solar availability has a significant influence in building performance [1]
Most of the simulation procedures conceive buildings as isolated entities, encircled somehow by contour conditions. This hypothesis takes into account the surroundings, it either neglects or excessively simplifies their real interaction with the object of study. As they assume that elements of the surrounding urban tissue, that is, surfaces that compose nearby structures, are just an aseptic framework, these elements not directly interact with the building, far beyond obstructing solar radiation
The main objective of this research is to establish a rapid and efficient predictive model for assessing solar radiation availability on building façades located within street canyons, finding a balance between simplification of the real model and accuracy of the results
Summary
Solar availability has a significant influence in building performance [1]. It is not feasible to assume open field conditions as a valid input Due to this specific situation, researchers have devised specific tools for a better understanding of daylight illuminance [7], heat transfer [8] energy demand [9] and human comfort [10] in street canyons, making a simplification of the real object of study to a certain extent. Further research is needed to advance in the understanding of the radiative transfer and the complex interchange of radiant energy between buildings envelopes, urban canyons but in deep urban canyons [11], which comprise a H/W ratio over 2; validation of the method with real measurements should be highly advisable To accomplish this task, the proposed self-developed calculation model, created in Matlab® programming language, aimed at predicting solar radiation availability and design conditions deep street canyons, focusing special attention on the phenomenon of mutual reflections between planes. The calculation model is intended to present an alternative to Sky View Factors [15] or ray tracing methods; in addition, it is intended to be used in early stages of design or for an overview analysis on extant canyon façades or for predicting radiation levels in planned urban developments, applying this approach to the concept of “building envelope”
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