A Passive Solar Heating System for the Perimeter Zone of Office Buildings

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Abstract
The objective of this passive solar system is to heat the perimeter zone of an office building during the less occupied hours (6 P.M.-12 P.M. ) in order to cut down on the use of perimeter heaters. The system integrates daylighting and phase change materials for heat storage. Phase change panels are embedded in the ceiling of an office space. The top of the light shelf is coated with a specularly reflective film such that 90% of the direct solar radiation incident upon it will be reflected toward the phase change panel. The light shelf is designed to rotate about its centroidai axis parallel to the window. The theoretically determined solar areas on the phase change panel coupled with solar radiation data for the city of Montreal, Quebec, were used to determine the amount of solar energy available for passive storage for each daylight hour of a typical day of each winter month (Oct.-Mar.). Simulation included balancing solar and internal gains against losses and estimating life cycle cost benefits. The three configurations modeled showed a recovery of 17%, 28%, and 36%, respectively.

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