Chapter 8

1. For a properly-designed 2500 ft 2 passive solar house in Meridian, MS, how much
auxiliary energy is needed? How much solar energy is captured? Use the rules of
thumb first-level estimate.

The NLC, net building load coefficient, is not provided; however, the discussion in the textbook
indicates the NLC/ft 2 varies from 4.8-6.4 Btu/F-HDD ft 2 . In a mild heating climate, the NLC/ft2
generally varies on the high side; so select 6.0 Btu/F-HDD ft 2 . The F-HDD cana be estimated
from NREL weather data or from Figure 8.6. Figure 8.6 indicates for Meridian, MS an F-HDD of
2300 HDD.

The anticipated SSF from Figure 8.7 is 0.6 (as Meridian, MS is very close to the 60-70 and 50-60
dividing line.

deg := 1 R SSF := 0.60

BTU 2
FHDD := 2300 deg day NLCsqft := 6.0 A := 2500 ft
2
deg day ft

The total energy required is the NLCsqft times the area times the heating degree days
7
Qtotal := NLCsqft A FHDD Qtotal = 3.45 10 BTU

7
Qsolar := SSF Qtotal Qsolar = 2.07 10 BTU
7
Qaux := ( 1 SSF) Qtotal Qaux = 1.38 10 BTU
2. A 2500 ft2 house has an NLC = 10,000 BTU/F-day and 250 ft2 of south double
glazing. The passive solar system consists of a 12-inch thick vented trombe wall
with a selective wall surface and night insulation. For the house located in
Albuquerque, Boston, Madison, Medford, Nashville, and Santa Maria estimate how
much auxiliary heat is needed and how much solar energy is captured? Discuss the
effectiveness of these passive solar features for the different climates and locations.
Use the second-lever LCR method.

The passive solar features describe either TWE3 or TWE4. TWE4 that features double
glazing will be selected as more in keeping with passive features.
deg := 1 R

BTU 2 2
NLC := 10000.0 A := 2500 ft Asouth := 250 ft
deg day

NLC BTU
LCR := LCR = 40
Asouth 2
deg day ft

Using the passive type TWE4 and Appendix 8A, the SSF for the various cities can be found.

City SSF F-HDD

Albuquerque 0.68 4292

Boston 0.34 5621
Madison 0.34 7730
Medford 0.48 4930
Nashville 0.47 3696
Santa Maria 0.84 3053

Albuquerque
BTU 7
SSF := 0.68 Qtotal := 10000 4292 deg day Qtotal = 4.292 10 BTU
deg day
7
Qsolar := SSF Qtotal Qsolar = 2.919 10 BTU
7
Qaux := ( 1 SSF) Qtotal Qaux = 1.373 10 BTU

Boston
BTU 7
SSF := 0.34 Qtotal := 10000 5621 deg day Qtotal = 5.621 10 BTU
deg day
7
Qsolar := SSF Qtotal Qsolar = 1.911 10 BTU
7
Qaux := ( 1 SSF) Qtotal Qaux = 3.71 10 BTU
 Madison
BTU 7
SSF := 0.34 Qtotal := 10000 7730 deg day Qtotal = 7.73 10 BTU
deg day
7
Qsolar := SSF Qtotal Qsolar = 2.628 10 BTU
7
Qaux := ( 1 SSF) Qtotal Qaux = 5.102 10 BTU

Medford
BTU 7
SSF := 0.48 Qtotal := 10000 4930 deg day Qtotal = 4.93 10 BTU
deg day
7
Qsolar := SSF Qtotal Qsolar = 2.366 10 BTU
7
Qaux := ( 1 SSF) Qtotal Qaux = 2.564 10 BTU

Nashville
BTU 7
SSF := 0.47 Qtotal := 10000 3696 deg day Qtotal = 3.696 10 BTU
deg day
7
Qsolar := SSF Qtotal Qsolar = 1.737 10 BTU
7
Qaux := ( 1 SSF) Qtotal Qaux = 1.959 10 BTU

Santa Maria
BTU 7
SSF := 0.84 Qtotal := 10000 3053 deg day Qtotal = 3.053 10 BTU
deg day
7
Qsolar := SSF Qtotal Qsolar = 2.565 10 BTU
6
Qaux := ( 1 SSF) Qtotal Qaux = 4.885 10 BTU

As the results indicate, the F-HDD value is dominant in determing the required energy and the
SSF. In general the harsher the climate, the more auxilliary heat is required.
3. Work Problem 2 if the house has a 6-inch vented trombe wall with no nighttime
insulation. Contrast the effectiveness of the different passive solar features in the
different locations.

None of the cases with the 6-inch trombe wall have nightime insulation or selected
surfaces. The passive solar features describe either TWA1, TWB1, or TWC1. TWA1
is selected as more in keeping with passive features.
deg := 1 R

BTU 2 2
NLC := 10000.0 A := 2500 ft Asouth := 250 ft
deg day

NLC BTU
LCR := LCR = 40
Asouth 2
deg day ft

Using the passive type TWE4 and Appendix 8A, the SSF for the various cities can be found.

City SSF F-HDD

Albuquerque 0.38 4292

Boston 0.19 5621
Madison 0.19 7730
Medford 0.26 4930
Nashville 0.25 3696
Santa Maria 0.56 3053

Albuquerque
BTU 7
SSF := 0.38 Qtotal := 10000 4292 deg day Qtotal = 4.292 10 BTU
deg day
7
Qsolar := SSF Qtotal Qsolar = 1.631 10 BTU
7
Qaux := ( 1 SSF) Qtotal Qaux = 2.661 10 BTU

Boston
BTU 7
SSF := 0.19 Qtotal := 10000 5621 deg day Qtotal = 5.621 10 BTU
deg day
7
Qsolar := SSF Qtotal Qsolar = 1.068 10 BTU
7
Qaux := ( 1 SSF) Qtotal Qaux = 4.553 10 BTU

Madison
BTU 7
SSF := 0.19 Qtotal := 10000 7730 deg day Qtotal = 7.73 10 BTU
deg day
7
Qsolar := SSF Qtotal Qsolar = 1.469 10 BTU
7
Qaux := ( 1 SSF) Qtotal Qaux = 6.261 10 BTU
 Medford
BTU 7
SSF := 0.26 Qtotal := 10000 4930 deg day Qtotal = 4.93 10 BTU
deg day
7
Qsolar := SSF Qtotal Qsolar = 1.282 10 BTU
7
Qaux := ( 1 SSF) Qtotal Qaux = 3.648 10 BTU

Nashville
BTU 7
SSF := 0.25 Qtotal := 10000 3696 deg day Qtotal = 3.696 10 BTU
deg day
6
Qsolar := SSF Qtotal Qsolar = 9.24 10 BTU
7
Qaux := ( 1 SSF) Qtotal Qaux = 2.772 10 BTU

Santa Maria
BTU 7
SSF := 0.56 Qtotal := 10000 3053 deg day Qtotal = 3.053 10 BTU
deg day
7
Qsolar := SSF Qtotal Qsolar = 1.71 10 BTU
7
Qaux := ( 1 SSF) Qtotal Qaux = 1.343 10 BTU

The passive features in this example are markedly less effective and extensive than the
features of the system in Problem 2. The results are that the SSF decreases significantly for
all cities and the auxilliary heating required increases. Climate and location still have
important influences.
4. For a properly-designed 3000 ft2 passive solar house in a specified location, how
much auxiliary energy is needed? How much solar energy is captured? Use the rule
of thumb first-level estimate.

Chicago has about 6500 F-DHDD (Figure 8.6). The NLC, net building load coefficient, is not
provided; however, the discussion in the textbook indicates the NLC/ft 2 varies from 4.8-6.4
Btu/F-HDD ft 2 . In a moderately severe heating climate, the NLC/ft 2 generally varies on the low
side; so select 5.0 Btu/F-HDD ft 2 . The F-HDD can be estimated from NREL weather data or
from Figure 8.6.

The anticipated SSF from Figure 8.7 is 0.3 (as Chicago is very close to the 30-40 and 20-30
dividing line.

deg := 1 R SSF := 0.30

BTU 2
FHDD := 6500 deg day NLCsqft := 5.0 A := 3000 ft
2
deg day ft

The total energy required is the NLCsqft times the area times the heating degree days
7
Qtotal := NLCsqft A FHDD Qtotal = 9.75 10 BTU

7
Qsolar := SSF Qtotal Qsolar = 2.925 10 BTU
7
Qaux := ( 1 SSF) Qtotal Qaux = 6.825 10 BTU
5. A 3000 ft2 house in a specified location is being designed with an NLC = 15,000
BTU/F-day and 350 ft2 of south double glazing. The passive solar system consists of
a 12-inch thick vented trombe wall with a selective wall surface and night insulation.
How much auxiliary heat is needed and how much solar energy is captured? Use the
second-level LCR method.

Select Albuquerque as the location. The passive solar features describe TWE4.
deg := 1 R
BTU 2 2
NLC := 15000.0 A := 3000 ft Asouth := 350 ft
deg day

NLC BTU
LCR := LCR = 42.857
Asouth 2
deg day ft

Using the passive type TWE4 and Appendix 8A, the SSF is 0.66 with 4292 F-HDD.
BTU 7
SSF := 0.66 Qtotal := 15000 4292 deg day Qtotal = 6.438 10 BTU
deg day
7
Qsolar := SSF Qtotal Qsolar = 4.249 10 BTU
7
Qaux := ( 1 SSF) Qtotal Qaux = 2.189 10 BTU
6. A 2400 ft2 house in Nashville, TN is being designed with an NLC = 8,000
BTU/F-day and 250 ft2 of south double glazing.
(a) Using the first-level method, estimate the solar saving fraction for a
designed passive solar home.
(b) If the passive solar system consists of a 12-inch vented trombe wal
with a normal wall surface and night insulation, estimate the solar savings
fraction using the second-order method.
(c) Comment on the relative accuracy of the two methods.

(a) First-level method

deg := 1 R SSF := 0.48 From Figure 8.7

FHDD := 3696 deg day From Appendix 8a for Nashville

BTU 2
NLC := 8000.0 A := 2400 ft
deg day
7
Qtotal := NLC FHDD Qtotal = 2.957 10 BTU

7
Qsolar := SSF Qtotal Qsolar = 1.419 10 BTU
7
Qaux := ( 1 SSF) Qtotal Qaux = 1.538 10 BTU

(b) Second-level method

The passive solar features describe TWD4.

deg := 1 R
BTU 2 2
NLC := 8000.0 A := 2400 ft Asouth := 250 ft
deg day

NLC BTU
LCR := LCR = 32
Asouth 2
deg day ft

Using the passive type TWD4 and Appendix 8A, the SSF is 0.47 with 3696 F-HDD.
BTU 7
SSF := 0.47 Qtotal := 8000 3696 deg day Qtotal = 2.957 10 BTU
deg day
7
Qsolar := SSF Qtotal Qsolar = 1.39 10 BTU
7
Qaux := ( 1 SSF) Qtotal Qaux = 1.567 10 BTU

The results (to the accuracy of reading the figure and table) are essentially the same.
However, different passive solar configurations would yield different results. Indeed, the
trombe wall arrangement specified yields about the largest SSF of any trombe wall
arrangement.
 7. A residence in Nashville is constructed with a direct gain passive solar system
with 60 Btu/ft2-F thermal capacity, double glazing, and no night time insulation. What is
the expected solar savings fraction (SSF) if the LCR is 17 Btu/F-day-ft2?
The passive solar features describe DGC1.
deg := 1 R
BTU 2 2
NLC := 8000.0 A := 2400 ft Asouth := 250 ft
deg day

BTU
LCR := 17
2
deg day ft

Using the passive type DGC1 and Appendix 8A, the SSF is 0.40 with 3696 F-HDD.
h