Performance evaluation of Trombe wall systems in enhancing thermal comfort in residential buildings of Subtropical highland climate - A case of Hamirpur, Himachal Pradesh, India

Abstract

The implementation of passive solar technology has a substantial impact on the improvement of thermal comfort in indoor environments through lower consumption of energy. is significantly influenced by the implementation of passive solar technologies. Among these, the Trombe wall stands out as a viable option due to its simplicity and seamless integration with buildings, enabling both heating and cooling functionalities. To enhance thermal comfort in existing residential structures in Hamirpur, this research primarily focuses on evaluating the thermal efficiency of two different Trombe wall systems, the simple Trombe wall, and the modified Trombe wall. Firstly, A total of 11 case study buildings, representing conventional and traditional residential structures, were chosen within the Subtropical highland climate (Cwa) zone as sample cases. On-site measurements were taken and data was collected using a survey questionnaire to record thermal comfort parameters for defining the neutral comfort range of the residents. To ascertain the total discomfort hours during both heating and cooling design days throughout the year, simulation studies were conducted utilizing the Design Builder software. for varying Trombe wall design parameters including Trombe wall area, channel depth, inlet-outlet size, and glazing properties. Based on the results of extensive simulations, design guidelines for the Trombe wall in residential buildings were proposed.