Numerical Investigation of a Multi-Functional Solar Passive System Located in Shiraz, Iran: Natural Ventilation and Heating

Solar chimneys and thermal storage walls can provide comfortable conditions for occupants. In this paper, numerical investigations are conducted of a system which is functional in terms of both natural ventilation and passive heating. The system is applied to a south-facing one-story building located in Shiraz, Iran. Initially, the most effective angle for a diagonal part of the system to maximize ventilation rate for the specific site is specified via computational fluid dynamics (CFD). Then, three designs of the system are introduced and assessed. It is observed that an angle of 45 degrees from horizontal for the diagonal solar collector is the best angle for the system to maximize its performance. Furthermore, the results show that, when the system has three inlets and one outlet, the greatest ventilation rate and thermal efficiency are achieved relative to the other designs considered.