Solar chimney is used to control the temprature of a house. A solar chimney is a passive solar heating and cooling system that regulates temperature, improves ventilation, and increases home fire safety.
Uses environmental factors such as solar radiation, cool evening breezes, and pressure differences to regulate internal temperature. A thermal chimney is a hollow vertical structure that connects the interior and exterior of a building.
As the air in the chimney heats up and becomes less dense, it moves outwards, creating empty space inside. This allows cooler, denser air to flow from the base into the solar stack and eventually out of the building. This provides ventilation and the subsequent cooling process.
The size of the solar chimney is very important. The bigger the size, the better. Ideally, when building a house in the northern hemisphere, the solar chimney should be placed on the south wall.
A solar chimney should be carefully designed and its construction materials should be able to absorb the maximum amount of heat to ensure that the solar chimney works well.
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What are the Materials Used in Solar Chimney?
The materials used to build a solar chimney should be chosen carefully as they affect the effectiveness of the structure. Materials with high heat absorption capacity are desirable for the construction of solar chimneys.
Some examples of materials are:
- tinted glass
- double glazing
- brick
- metal etc.
Working Principal of Solar Chimney
After the air in the thermal chimney is heated by the heat of the sun, it is expelled from the system. This directs cool air from below upwards into the chimney, providing ventilation within the building.
Cold air comes in through windows on the lower floors of the house or through underground plumbing systems. The former is more economical and does not increase overall construction costs.
The effectiveness of the solar chimney depends on its placement within the building structure. It should be placed in a place in the building where sunlight, especially afternoon sun, naturally hits it. This releases maximum heat energy.
In winter, the chimney is closed to warm the air inside the building and keep the indoor temperature comfortable.
Some Key Benefits of Solar Chimney
- 50% reduction in energy costs.
- Extending evacuation time saves lives during building fires.
- Construction of solar chimney is cheap.
- Low maintenance cost.
- Adjustable vents let you control ventilation.