A numerical and experimental analysis of the air vent management and heat storage characteristics of a trombe wall

The optimum opening and closing modes in the management of air vents has been obtained by testing and analyzing thermal performance parameters of a trombe wall installation. The parameters considered include air vent velocity, air vent temperature, the temperature distribution of air layer and indoor air temperature. The temperature and velocity distribution of the air layer has been obtained by numerical calculation, together with experimental data including the heat storage and release characteristics and the influencing factors of the trombe wall. The research results show: the optimum time to open the air vent of the trombe wall is 2–3 h after sunrise with closure 1 h before sunset. On the condition of optimum air vent management mode, surface and average temperature of heat storage wall computer simulations were run with CFD to analyze the heat storage and release performance of trombe wall. Then, we can find out the heat storage capacity of the trombe wall reaches its maximum value at 4 pm, its minimum value at 7–8 am. These research results provide a reference base for the optimization of design and the operational management of a passive solar house with trombe wall.

► The optimum air vent management mode of trombe wall is obtained.
► The heat storage characteristic of trombe wall is obtained.
► The heat release characteristic of trombe wall is obtained.