Modeling of Natural Ventilation in Built-in Photovoltaic-Trombe Wall

Abstract

The natural ventilation in a novel built-in photovoltaic-Trombe wall (BiPV-TW) was numerically simulated by CFD method. The effect of solar radiation and channel width on the airflow pattern and ventilation rate was analyzed. Results showed that the solar radiation and channel width influenced the ventilation rate remarkably. As the solar radiation increased, the ventilation rate increased. As the channel width increased from 0.1m to 0.4m, the ventilation rate monotonously increased. However, when the channel width exceeded 0.5m, the reverse flow was formed in the tope zone and the ventilation rate decreased. A maximum air volume flow rate was achieved when the channel width was approximately equal to 0.4m in a 3m tall model.