CFD analysis of heat collection in a glazed gallery

A glazed gallery in most old buildings is a space located on the first floor (and/or higher floors), facing south and almost fully glazed. As a result of the large glazed area and the orientation of the gallery, its temperature is warmer than the exterior and, in cold weather, it is used both as a space to insulate the adjacent rooms and as a leisure area, among other applications. In the framework of the ARFRISOL project (Bioclimatic Architecture and Solar Cooling), a demonstration container has been constructed in northern Spain (Asturias) which includes, among other bioclimatic elements, a glazed gallery. This gallery is considered as an element of Bioclimatic Architecture that enables solar radiation to be collected and the energy obtained to be used to support the building's air conditioning system. It consists of a south-facing glazed exterior wall, an intermediate space or passage and a partially glazed interior wall. Dampers located in the floor and ceiling of the intermediate space and connected to the air ducts enable the air circulating inside the gallery to be heated or cooled, depending on the season of the year, before it is further conditioned and conveyed to the rooms. This paper focuses on the three-dimensional numerical simulation of the airflow inside the gallery. The aim is to obtain a model to evaluate the thermal energy obtained in this architectural feature, integrating the effect of certain variables, such as the incident solar irradiation, the outdoor temperature and the air flow rate circulating in the gallery.

Research highlights▶ The gallery behaviour is linked to weather conditions and mass flow rate. ▶ Thermal energy collected in the gallery increases linearly with radiation and outdoor temperature. ▶ Thermal energy collected in the gallery increases with flow rate, but it tends to stabilise. ▶ The gallery studied can provide between 15% and 32% of the heating energy. ▶ The energy savings can help to cover the gallery costs.