Syllabus Module 4 : Passive Cooling

3.0 Passive Solar Cooling

Ventilation & Operable Windows
A primary strategy for cooling buildings without mechanical assistance
(passive cooling) in hot humid climates is to employ natural ventilation.
In such area, prevailing summer breezes are from the south and
southeast. Most of the plateau of peninsula India enjoys this climate,
except a semi-arid tract to the east of the Western Ghats. Winter and
early summer are long dry periods with temperature above 18 °C.
Summer is very hot and the temperatures in the interior low
level areas can go above 45 °C during May.
.
Passive Cooling
For passive cooling the house must emphasize different, though
complementary features. These include reducing unwanted heat gain
in summer with solar control, shading, light colors, and similar
features. Cooling can be provided by night ventilation (with cool night
air), night sky cooling (to space), or evaporation. The following rules
apply to all passive cooling systems. Six Rules for Low Cost Passive
Cooling ™Orient house properly with most windows on the south and
north, few on the east and west. ™Provide solar control and shading for
windows in summer (overhang, awning, landscaping, shadescreen,
etc.) ™Use light roof color (and walls as possible). ™Provide windows,
vents, and fans (if necessary, for good ventilation and convective
cooling). ™Use water wall thermal mass to store night time cooling for
use during the day. ™Consider heating demand as well, and integrate
design to achieve the lowest possible cost. ™Use landscaping effectively
In most areas a super-insulated water wall building with
south window orientation and appropriate thermal mass
will meet all, or almost all, of the yearly cooling demand. In
very hot areas, or areas with limited night cool down, a
more sophisticated passive system can be used to provide
more cooling. This might be a cooling radiant panel system
with fountain or evaporative cooler. Or a heat exchanger
can be installed in water tanks and coupled to a cool water
source, perhaps running cool groundwater through the tank
on its way to lawn sprinklers. Or a very small PV powered
evaporative cooler or a small air conditioner can be
installed.
This matches nicely with the increased glazing on the south side needed for passive
heating, making it possible to achieve helpful solar gain and ventilation with the
following strategies:

1) Place operable windows on the south exposure.

2) Casement windows offer the best airflow. Awning (or hopper) windows should
be fully opened or air will be directed to ceiling. Awning windows offer the best
rain protection and perform better than double hung windows.
3) If a room can have windows on only one side, use two widely spaced windows
instead of one window
EVAPORATIVE COOLING ?
Evaporative Cooling is the ideal solution for reducing temperatures in
large Indoor Areas. It Provides significant cooling at a fraction of the
price of Traditional air conditioning, typically 70 % less. This
makes cooling large commercial and industrial premises a viable
option.

One or more evaporative coolers are installed either on the ground

directly outside the building, or on the wall or Roof. The Unit cools air
by drawing it in through continually wetted pads. This chilled air is
then pumped into and distributed around a building via ductwork.

VMC -> Vapor mechanical Compression

Desert Coolers
An evaporative cooler (also swamp cooler, desert cooler and wet air
cooler) is a device that cools air through the evaporation of water.
Evaporative cooling differs from typical air conditioning systems which
use vapor-compression or absorption refrigeration cycles. Evaporative
cooling works by employing water's large enthalpy of vaporization

Desert coolers are based on the simple principle that when unsaturated
air comes in contact with water, the water evaporates. In the process,
the moisture content of air increases, while its temperature decreases.
The resulting cold but moist air is used for providing cooling. Thus a
desert cooler is a simple device, which consists of an arrangement for
blowing dry and hot air over a wet surface and an arrangement for
keeping the surface wet continuously. The cooler normally consists of a
blower and a pump. Desert coolers are economical (both initial and
running costs are low) and are effective in hot and dry areas. They are
not effective in humid areas
The cooling potential for evaporative cooling is dependent on the wet
bulb depression, the difference between dry-bulb temperature
andwet-bulb temperature. In arid climates, evaporative cooling can
reduce energy consumption and total equipment for conditioning as
an alternative to compressor-based cooling. In climates not
considered arid, indirect evaporative cooling can still take advantage
of the evaporative cooling process without increasing humidity.
Passive evaporative cooling strategies offer the same benefits of
mechanical evaporative cooling systems without the complexity of
equipment and ductwork.
Adiabatic cooling with humidification: (Direct Evaporative cooling).
Cooling of air with the help of water available at room
temperature (initially) is accompanied by addition of water
vapor in air. When this water is circulated again and again
adiabatically (i.e. without addition of external heat to water)
this process is called Evaporative Cooling.
Air is passed horizontally through a vertically downward water
spray of fresh water coming down from the nozzles of air
washers. Water is re-circulated by pumps which suck water
from a drain pit and pump it through nozzles of air washer
bank. Due to continuous circulation of water air washer will
soon attain a temperature equal to wet bulb temperature of
air entering the air washer. Temperature of air washer will
remain now constant till the outside air condition remains
constant.
Indirect Evaporative Cooling (IEC) System
Wet-bulb temperature IEC system are packaged unit of flat-plate-stack,
cross-flow heat exchanger, the most common configuration and flow
pattern, which can lower air temperature close to, but not below, the
wet-bulb temperature of the inlet air. Fig. shows a schematic drawing of
the working principles of a typical HX configuration of a wet-bulb
temperature IEC system which comprises of several pairs of adjacent
channels: wet passages of the working (secondary) air and dry passages
of the supply (primary) air.
Earth Berming essentially uses the earth around the home as your
insulation, helping to provide ambient and constant temperatures in
the building. The method involves piling earth around the external
walls of the building so that the earth provides protection from the
elements and saves energy for the owner.
As basic as this method sounds, the flexibility of the construction
materials leads to the possibility of creating a completely individual
dwelling. Despite a common preconception of dark cave-like living
areas, successful designs are light, airy and bright.
Earth Berming: This involves piling up the earth around the external
walls and sometimes the roof (at least to some extent). The earth is
packed down and slopes away from the building. The obvious
advantage here is that windows or doors can be put on any side of the
building.
In an earth sheltered building or earth bermed structure the reduced
infiltration of outside air and the additional thermal resistance of the
surrounding earth considerably reduces the average thermal load.
Further the addition of earth mass of the building acts like a large
thermal mass and reduces the fluctuations in the thermal load. Besides
reducing solar and convective heat gains, such buildings can also utilize
the cooler sub-surface ground as a heat sink. Hence with reference to
thermal comfort, an earth sheltered building presents a significant
passive approach
The obvious advantages of earth berm homes are the money
saving and energy savings aspects. Also, as the earth covers
most or the entire exterior of the building, berm homes
require a lot less exterior maintenance than more
conventional houses. Earth Berm houses are also less
susceptible to the extreme outdoor weather conditions. And
since there are fewer entry points exposed, earth berm
houses are more secure when it comes to burglars and other
intruders.
The main potential disadvantage of earth berm homes
include the danger of water seepage into the building from
the surrounding earth, however routine maintenance will
help to avoid this. The other main disadvantage is that the
materials used are normally concrete and plastic and so they
are not carbon neutral.
Earth Sheltered Homes
Earth-sheltered homes are one of those creations by man, which
brings him closer to nature. Unlike the normal traditional houses that
are built on the ground, these earth-sheltered homes are built using
the shelter of the ground.
The aim of building this sort of home is to cut down on the humidity
and heat (plus security) and for this reason, the homes are built "into
the air". This makes them cut away from the normal movements of
the sun and the ground.
This is what prevents the excess heat and humidity in the house and
keeps the house cool in the heat. In this concept, the ground is used
like an insulating layer and this protects the house from harsh
weather conditions like rain, wind, heat and humidity.
The basic idea behind the construction of such a house is that they are
built with the idea of being environmentally friendly and each of these
homes are built entirely different from each other, according to the
possible layouts
Some of the major benefits of these earth sheltered homes are that
they are naturally insulating. This makes it easier for the residents to
enjoy a cool atmosphere. The structure of the house is such that it
keeps the earth sheltered homes cool in summers but keeps the house
cozy and warm in the winters.

Other major benefits are that they can even safeguard the homes from
earthquakes as well as windstorms. Damage is averted to a substantial
level with these homes. The construction is such that it protects the
inside of the homes by maintaining oxygen-nitrogen balance. These
homes can be easily made in hilly areas. There is more green space
available due to this type of construction of the house.

These homes are also safe from fire and are well protected in terms of
natural calamities. Many earth-sheltered homes are also defended
against intruders since there are usually only one or two entry and exit
points to guard.
Straw
bales --
the
cheapest
way to
provide
super-
insulation
A desiccant is a hygroscopic substance that induces or sustains a state of
dryness (desiccation) in its vicinity; it is the opposite of a humectant.
Commonly encountered pre-packaged desiccants are solids that absorb
water.
Although some desiccants are chemically inert, others are extremely
reactive and require specialized handling techniques. The most common
desiccant is silica, an otherwise inert, nontoxic, water-insoluble white
solid. Tens of thousands of tons are produced annually for this purpose.
Other common desiccants include activated charcoal, calcium sulfate
(Drierite), calcium chloride.

Desiccants attract moisture from the air by creating an area of low

vapor pressure at the surface of the desiccant. The partial pressure of
the water in the air is high, so the water molecules move from the air to
the desiccant and the air is dehumidified (Harriman III, 1990). Thus, the
essential characteristic of desiccant is their low surface vapor pressure.
Desiccant cooling
Desiccant cooling is effective in warm and humid climates. Natural
cooling of human body through sweating does not occur in highly humid
conditions. Therefore, a person’s tolerance to high temperature is
reduced and it becomes desirable to decrease the humidity level. In the
desiccant cooling method, desiccant salts or mechanical dehumidifiers
are used to reduce humidity in the atmosphere. Materials having high
affinity for water are used for dehumidification. They can be solid like
silica gel, alumina gel and activated alumina, or liquids like triethylene
glycol. Air from the outside enters the unit containing desiccants and is
dried adiabatically before entering the living space. The desiccants are
regenerated by solar energy. Sometimes, desiccant cooling is employed
in conjunction with evaporative cooling, which adjusts the temperature
of air to the required comfort level
If the desiccant is cool and dry, its surface vapor pressure is low and
it can attract moisture from the air, which has a high vapor pressure
when it is moist. Actually, the adsorbents more used are SiO2 (Silica
Gel), ClLi (Lithium Chloride), Al2O3 (Activated Alumina), LiBr (Lithium
Bromide) and Zeolithe. These substances are usually deposited in a
support structure of fiberglass or aluminum. The aspect seams to a
fine honeycomb. This process is regenerative because the adsorbent
material, after saturated by the humidity, sets the water free, when
submitted to a heat source (desorption). The thermal energy to the
regeneration can be obtained by electric power, water vapor or hot
air.
A wind tower is an architectural element used in traditional
building design to provide natural ventilation. The function of
this tower is to catch cooler breeze that prevail at a higher level
above the ground and to direct it into the interior of the buildings.
Wind towers are mainly used in hot, hot-dry and hot-humid climates
and look similar to chimneys and have vertical shafts with vents on
top. A wind tower is essentially a tall, capped tower that catches the
wind, bringing it down into the tower into the heart of the building
to maintain air flow, thus cooling the interior of the building. This is
the most direct way of drawing air into the building, but relies on a
rate of air flow to provide a cooling effect. Inside, there are several
vertical air passages, and the air is guided into each passage by
internal partitions and shafts. Architectural wind towers also operate
in reverse, primarily using the stack effect, pulling hot air up through
a building and bringing fresh cool air in from the bottom.
Examples of windcatchers can be found in traditional Persian
influenced architecture throughout the Middle East , Pakistan and
Afghanistan. Central Iran has a very large day-night temperature
difference, ranging from cool to extremely hot, and the air tends to
be very dry all day long. Most buildings are constructed of very
thick ceramics with extremely high insulation values.
Awning

Roof
Overhangs
Passive Solar Shading
Fixed horizontal shading devices can maximise solar access to north-
facing glass throughout the year, without requiring any user effort. Good
orientation is essential for effective passive shading.
Fixed shading above openings excludes high angle summer sun but
admits lower angle winter sun. Correctly designed eaves are the
simplest and least expensive shading method for northern elevations.
Use adjustable shading to regulate solar access on other elevations. This
is particularly important for variable spring and autumn conditions and
allows more flexible responses to climate change.
The ‘rule of thumb’ for calculating the width of eaves is given below.
This rule applies to all latitudes south of and including 27.5° (in southern
hemisphere say Brisbane, Geraldton). For latitudes further north, the
response varies with climate.
Permanently shaded glass at the top of the window is a significant
source of heat loss with no solar gains to offset it. To avoid this, the
distance between the top of glazing and underside of eaves or other
horizontal projection should be 50% of overhang or 30% of window
height where possible
Incorporating shading concepts into your landscape design can help
reduce the solar heat gain in the summer and reduce cooling costs.
The leaves of deciduous trees or bushes located to the south of the
building can help block out sunshine and unneeded heat in the
summer. These trees lose their leaves in the winter, and allow an
increase in the solar heat gain during the colder days.
The amount of sunlight absorbed by a material (and thus converted to
heat) depends on its color. Light colored surfaces will bounce light
around within the space, distributing it over a greater number of
surfaces. Dark colored materials will absorb most of the incident
energy as soon as it strikes. Both of these can be useful, depending on
the situation.
Roofs often need to avoid direct solar gain in hot climates. "Cool
roofs" use light colors to reflect most of the sun's heat. Cool roof
surfaces are often far more effective than simply adding roof
insulation. For example, the surface of a black roof can easily get 40°C
(75°F) hotter than the surface of a white roof on a sunny day.
Solar Reflectance Index
One common measurement of this is albedo, the ability of the
material to reflect sunlight. Light colored roofs have “high
albedo.” But the measurement most often used for codes and
standards1 is Solar Reflectance Index (SRI), which considers
both reflectance and emissivity.
SRI is a scale where 0 is the least heat-reflective standard
black paint (reflectance 0.05, emittance 0.90), and 100 is the
most heat-reflective standard white paint (reflectance 0.80,
emittance 0.90). This means that it is possible for some
materials to have an SRI slightly below zero or slightly above
100.
To be considered a "cool roof" by common standards requires
an SRI above 78 for flat roofs, and above 29 for steep roofs.
Some typical values are below.
EVAPORATIVE COOLING ?
Evaporative Cooling is the ideal solution for reducing temperatures in
large Indoor Areas. It Provides significant cooling at a fraction of the
price of Traditional air conditioning, typically 70 % less. This
makes cooling large commercial and industrial premises a viable
option.

One or more evaporative coolers are installed either on the ground

directly outside the building, or on the wall or Roof. The Unit cools air
by drawing it in through continually wetted pads. This chilled air is
then pumped into and distributed around a building via ductwork.
Adiabatic cooling with humidification: (Evaporative cooling).
Cooling of air with the help of water available at room temperature
(initially) is accompanied by addition of water vapor in air. When this
water is circulated again and again adiabatically (i.e. without addition of
external heat to water) this process is called Evaporative Cooling.

Air is passed horizontally through a vertically downward water spray of

fresh water coming down from the nozzles of air washers. Water is re-
circulated by pumps which suck water from a drain pit and pump it
through nozzles of air washer bank. Due to continuous circulation of
water air washer will soon attain a temperature equal to wet bulb
temperature of air entering the air washer. Temperature of air washer
will remain now constant till the outside air condition remains constant.