Enhanced Ventilation and Energy Efficiency of an Optimized Double-Channel Solar Chimney

This study explores the use of solar chimneys to harness solar radiation, generating a chimney effect that promotes natural ventilation in buildings. However, the performance of double-channel solar chimneys is heavily influenced by their installation conditions. We propose an optimized double-chann...

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Main Authors: Chenle Ye, Yanfei Zhang, Qinming Lv, Shaoyang Lou, Xiaojun Luo, Zhonggou Chen, Guoyi Zhang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-04-01
Series:Buildings
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2075-5309/15/8/1380
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author Chenle Ye
Yanfei Zhang
Qinming Lv
Shaoyang Lou
Xiaojun Luo
Zhonggou Chen
Guoyi Zhang
author_facet Chenle Ye
Yanfei Zhang
Qinming Lv
Shaoyang Lou
Xiaojun Luo
Zhonggou Chen
Guoyi Zhang
author_sort Chenle Ye
collection DOAJ
description This study explores the use of solar chimneys to harness solar radiation, generating a chimney effect that promotes natural ventilation in buildings. However, the performance of double-channel solar chimneys is heavily influenced by their installation conditions. We propose an optimized double-channel solar chimney with a deflector placed at the base of the collector. Through numerical simulations, we analyze how different deflector installation conditions affect the ventilation performance of the optimized system. Key parameters for the deflector installation include its angle and length. Our findings reveal that the optimal configuration for the double-channel solar chimney occurs when the deflector has a horizontal angle of γ = 35° and a length-to-diameter ratio (l/D) of 0.3. Under a solar radiation intensity of 800 W/m<sup>2</sup>, the optimized system achieved a ventilation rate of 0.185 kg/s and a thermal efficiency of 41.2%. Compared with conventional double-channel solar chimneys, this configuration enhanced ventilation performance by 8.2% and increased thermal efficiency by 7.4%. In the calculations, the optimized system resulted in a 13.6% reduction in energy consumption, underscoring its potential for sustainable architectural design.
format Article
id doaj-art-97c3c4049e0448bfa23e7251c41b16da
institution OA Journals
issn 2075-5309
language English
publishDate 2025-04-01
publisher MDPI AG
record_format Article
series Buildings
spelling doaj-art-97c3c4049e0448bfa23e7251c41b16da2025-08-20T02:17:20ZengMDPI AGBuildings2075-53092025-04-01158138010.3390/buildings15081380Enhanced Ventilation and Energy Efficiency of an Optimized Double-Channel Solar ChimneyChenle Ye0Yanfei Zhang1Qinming Lv2Shaoyang Lou3Xiaojun Luo4Zhonggou Chen5Guoyi Zhang6Department of Landscape and Architecture, Zhejiang Agriculture and Forestry University, Hangzhou 311300, ChinaDepartment of Landscape and Architecture, Zhejiang Agriculture and Forestry University, Hangzhou 311300, ChinaBureau of Housing and Urban-Rural Development of Pingyang County, Wenzhou 325400, ChinaDepartment of Landscape and Architecture, Zhejiang Agriculture and Forestry University, Hangzhou 311300, ChinaChina Construction Fifth Engineering Division Co., Ltd., Hangzhou 311300, ChinaDepartment of Landscape and Architecture, Zhejiang Agriculture and Forestry University, Hangzhou 311300, ChinaDepartment of Landscape and Architecture, Zhejiang Agriculture and Forestry University, Hangzhou 311300, ChinaThis study explores the use of solar chimneys to harness solar radiation, generating a chimney effect that promotes natural ventilation in buildings. However, the performance of double-channel solar chimneys is heavily influenced by their installation conditions. We propose an optimized double-channel solar chimney with a deflector placed at the base of the collector. Through numerical simulations, we analyze how different deflector installation conditions affect the ventilation performance of the optimized system. Key parameters for the deflector installation include its angle and length. Our findings reveal that the optimal configuration for the double-channel solar chimney occurs when the deflector has a horizontal angle of γ = 35° and a length-to-diameter ratio (l/D) of 0.3. Under a solar radiation intensity of 800 W/m<sup>2</sup>, the optimized system achieved a ventilation rate of 0.185 kg/s and a thermal efficiency of 41.2%. Compared with conventional double-channel solar chimneys, this configuration enhanced ventilation performance by 8.2% and increased thermal efficiency by 7.4%. In the calculations, the optimized system resulted in a 13.6% reduction in energy consumption, underscoring its potential for sustainable architectural design.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-5309/15/8/1380double-channel solar chimneydeflectorenergy efficiencyventilation ratethermal efficiency
spellingShingle Chenle Ye
Yanfei Zhang
Qinming Lv
Shaoyang Lou
Xiaojun Luo
Zhonggou Chen
Guoyi Zhang
Enhanced Ventilation and Energy Efficiency of an Optimized Double-Channel Solar Chimney
Buildings
double-channel solar chimney
deflector
energy efficiency
ventilation rate
thermal efficiency
title Enhanced Ventilation and Energy Efficiency of an Optimized Double-Channel Solar Chimney
title_full Enhanced Ventilation and Energy Efficiency of an Optimized Double-Channel Solar Chimney
title_fullStr Enhanced Ventilation and Energy Efficiency of an Optimized Double-Channel Solar Chimney
title_full_unstemmed Enhanced Ventilation and Energy Efficiency of an Optimized Double-Channel Solar Chimney
title_short Enhanced Ventilation and Energy Efficiency of an Optimized Double-Channel Solar Chimney
title_sort enhanced ventilation and energy efficiency of an optimized double channel solar chimney
topic double-channel solar chimney
deflector
energy efficiency
ventilation rate
thermal efficiency
url https://www.mdpi.com/2075-5309/15/8/1380
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AT qinminglv enhancedventilationandenergyefficiencyofanoptimizeddoublechannelsolarchimney
AT shaoyanglou enhancedventilationandenergyefficiencyofanoptimizeddoublechannelsolarchimney
AT xiaojunluo enhancedventilationandenergyefficiencyofanoptimizeddoublechannelsolarchimney
AT zhonggouchen enhancedventilationandenergyefficiencyofanoptimizeddoublechannelsolarchimney
AT guoyizhang enhancedventilationandenergyefficiencyofanoptimizeddoublechannelsolarchimney