Solar Ventilation: Analysis and Developments

Abstract

ABSTRACT In this article, existing solar heaters used for ventilation purposes are analyzed. Investigation reveals that for the design of solar air heaters, in most cases a rule of thumb should be applied. A method is developed for determining the correct construction parameters of solar air heaters. The analysis made shows the low efficiency of existing ones, including so called “transpired air solar heaters,” which at present are in rather wide use. It is also shown that a glass covering is indispensable to increasing the efficiency of solar heaters. A new, simple construction of an air solar heater for ventilation purposes is developed, as well as a method for evaluating the energy efficiency of solar air heaters. An example of finding the required sizes of a suggested solar air heater to be used for ventilation of a house is presented. The analysis proves that the developed system of solar ventilation and the methods for its calculation allow the design and implementation of high efficiency ventilatio...