Passive solar space heating in housing with particular reference to the Scottish climate.

Porteous, Colin D.A.

Abstract

The objective of this work was to examine the technical and economic scope for partial passive solar space heating of housing in Scotland. Initially an appraisal of current need and policy within an historical framework, established that trends towards low-rise, medium density housing with reduced maintenance costs and condensation risk, provide a favourable scenario for passive solar collection. Climatic analysis has verified quantities of solar irradiation, particularly on vertical surfaces, over a range of Scottish locations. For example, readings for key orientations/slope, taken during 1983 at the Scott Sutherland School of Architecture, indicated close correlation to predicted values using simple sunshine data-based calculation procedures. Solar irradiation values have been cross-related to other relevant climatic features, and a representative hourly Scottish climate year had been compiled for use with a dynamic thermal simulation programme. It was also established that within the U.K. context, Scottish sites are generally in a favourable position for solar utilisation, since heat demand increases with latitude faster than the solar supply decreases. Known passive solar techniques were thereafter reviewed with the emphasis on establishing thermal design constraints, where the spring to autumn solar heating contribution is seasonally out of phase with an intermittently operated traditional winter heating system. This led to the design of four representative housing models incorporating direct, indirect and isolated passive solar gain features. Included was a local authority project for 22 single person flats, currently under construction in Stornoway, 58° 15'N. Comparative energy simulation analysis has given encouraging results. For example a typical solar flat is predicted to use 36% less electricity for heating than the equivalent non-solar flat. The conclusion of this work is that passive solar gains and insulative savings are economically compatible thermal strategies for Scottish housing; fuel reductions and/or increased comfort being realised with simultaneous qualitative enhancement of natural sunlight.

Citation

PORTEOUS, C.D.A. 1983. Passive solar space heating in housing with particular reference to the Scottish climate. Robert Gordon's Institute of Technology, MPhil thesis. Hosted on OpenAIR [online]. Available from: https://doi.org/10.48526/rgu-wt-1993210

• Thesis Type: Thesis
• Deposit Date: Oct 1, 2024
• Publicly Available Date: Oct 2, 2024
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.48526/rgu-wt-1993210
• Public URL: https://rgu-repository.worktribe.com/output/1993210
• Award Date: Oct 31, 1983