Alternative Designs for Passive Cooling of Homes for Venezuela

Abstract

A two-dimensional model has been applied to predict the indoor temperature fluctuations of a building using a finite difference technique based on the control volume approach and the “SIMPLE” algorithm. The model simulates thermal performance of a rectangular section where inside air motion by free convection and unsteady heat conduction through walls and roof, are allowed. Since it is a two-dimensional model and only the thermal load through external surfaces is considered, numerical results allow one first to study qualitative performance of a rectangular building section and, secondly, to make quantitative comparisons among alternative designs. In order to show the usefulness of the model, eight design cases were simulated under the transient climatic conditions of Maracaibo (latitude = 10° 30′; longitude = 71° 36′), a hot and humid region in Venezuela. Numerical results show how thermal load through external surfaces can be reduced 60 percent and over in relation to the highest thermal load case.