Roof-Level Solar Chimneys as a Passive Design Measure in Tropical Climates
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Date Uploaded:
26 November 2022
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Solar chimneys have been the source of many studies and research but have not yet been fully implemented as a
passive design measure in tropical climates. Solar chimney provides a way to bring natural ventilation in a room by forced
convection leading to cross ventilation. A solar chimney can be the solution to replace air conditioning systems in buildings
and hence lead to significant energy savings. Tropical climates are especially high consumers of air-conditioning as
year-round cooling load requirements crop up in certain regions. In this paper, the advantages and disadvantages of solar
chimneys are presented and the practicability to use a solar chimney in a tropical climate is assessed using Mauritius as a case
study. The design parameters of the solar chimney to achieve adequate air movement will be presented such as the height,
length and other building parameters. In addition to providing cooling in the warmer coastal areas, the flexibility to use solar
chimneys to provide heating for the cooler central region of the island will also be discussed.
