The performance analysis of a novel TC-Trombe wall system in heating seasons

Thermal-catalytic-Trombe (TC-Trombe) wall system can simultaneously realize the dual functions of space heating and air purification without added energy. Adopting the established coupled kinetic, thermal and mass model of TC-Trombe wall system, in terms of the seasonal performance of space heating and formaldehyde degradation in heating seasons in Hefei, the effect of the thermal storage by the massive wall and the comparisons with conventional Trombe wall system are investigated. The results indicate to some degree, the thermal storage by the massive wall decreases the performance of formaldehyde degradation and space heating for TC-Trombe wall system. Compared with the performance of conventional Trombe wall system, although existing the reduction of 28.3% in terms of the total thermal load reduction for TC-Trombe wall system, this combined system can constantly produce the total volume of clean air of 8328.7 m3/m2. Based on the analytical results, TC-Trombe wall with the sandwich structure is proposed. And the calculation results show that with the adding of the sandwich structure in TC-Trombe wall system, the total volume of clean air and total thermal load reduction increases by 20.9% and 34.9%, respectively. And TC-Trombe wall with the sandwich structure obtains the total volume of clean air of 10068.4 m3/m2 and total thermal load reduction of 270.6 MJ/m2 when the thermal insulation layer thickness is 20 mm. Therefore, TC-Trombe wall with the sandwich structure provides an efficient energy-saving strategy for obtaining a healthy and comfortable indoor environment using the solar energy.