Evaluation of a Trombe wall system in a subtropical location

Trombe wall systems are based on the use of solar gains and the stack effect in winter, which takes place through an air gap between a glazed façade and a heat-absorbing wall with high thermal mass. The solar orientation of the wall and the vertical angle should allow solar gains in winter while minimizing this effect in summer. The correct operation of the system is based on the principles of heat storage from direct gains and of natural ventilation by stack effect, sometimes enhanced by forced convection. With the aim of analyzing the healing/cooling potential of a Trombe wall system, two test cells were built with an internal volume of 5.4 m3, one of them with a naturally ventilated Trombe wall attached to it and another one without it (reference test cell). Indoor temperature measurements were carried out in cold periods of 2011 and during summer 2012. Results suggest a higher performance of the Trombe wall system relative to the reference test cell, which is more pronounced under cold conditions. In addition, an assessment of the seasonal benefits of the system was carried out by means of indoor temperature predictions of the two test cells for three subtropical locations.