A roof solar chimney assisted by cooling cavity for natural ventilation in buildings in hot arid climates: An energy conservation approach in Al-Ain city

The paper presents a parameteric analytical study of roof solar chimney coupled with wind cooled cavity using spread-sheet computer program. Detailed description and sizing of such system are presented. Separation between the external leaf and solar chimney's external glazing is optimized. The proposed roof solar chimney alone is able to create an air flow rate up to 1.6 kg/s at a mean incident solar radiation of 850W/m(2). The maximum air velocity derived in the chimney is about 1.1m/s. At an average incident solar radiation 575W/m(2), and air velocity in the chimney of 0.9m/s, the average mass flow rate is found as 1.3 kg/s. For a wind speed of 4.0 mis the cooled cavity can create a mass flow of 0.35 kg/s. The system may be applied to more than one storey building. It is however, useful to be incorporated with a stand-alone building or with a cluster of buildings. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.