Energy performance of Trombe walls: Adaptation of ISO 13790:2008(E) to the Portuguese reality

• The improvement of buildings energy performance can be obtained through the use of Trombe walls.
• A calculation methodology for the Trombe wall based on ISO 13790:2008(E) is presented.
• It was analysed the influence of the heat transfer in the Trombe wall global heat gains.
• The highest contribution is given by the heat transfer by conduction, convection and radiation.
• The use of a ventilated Trombe wall can reduce the building energy heating demands in 16.36%.

The improvement of energy performance in buildings can be achieved through the integration of a Trombe wall system. The literature review reveals that more research work is still required to evaluate the real impact of this system on the building thermal performance. The study here presented aims to define a calculation methodology of the Trombe wall energy performance, based on ISO 13790:2008(E), adapted to the Portuguese climatic conditions. The massive wall thickness, the ventilation system and the external shutters influence in the system thermal performance is demonstrated. It was concluded that the highest contributions to the global heat gains is given by the heat transfer by conduction, convection and radiation. However, the existence of a ventilation system in the massive wall has a significant role in the thermal performance of the Trombe wall, which contribution increases with the increasing of the massive wall thickness. It was also applied the Portuguese thermal regulation to a residential building with this system. It was concluded that energy heating needs can be reduced in 16.36% if a Trombe wall is added to the building envelope. The results also showed that the proposed methodology provides a valid approach to compute the Trombe wall thermal performance.

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