Thermal comfort in Passive Solar Houses in Ladakh - Simulation of HIAL’s PSH

Abstract

With dynamic thermal building simulations, the thermal behavior of HIAL’s PSH prototypes are to be studied in detail. This report introduces the background of the simulation model used by FHNW, i.e. geometry, construction systems, materials and their properties, internal loads, weather data and “usage schedules". A comparison of the four external wall construction systems of the HIAL buildings was done. The different construction systems considered do not lead to very different results in regard to thermal comfort. As is to be expected, the external wall type with the lowest U-value (PreFreb) fares best. Subsequently, results from simulations and measurement are compared. It is found that the simulation model shows good agreement, e.g. for room air temperatures and Trombe Wall surface temperatures with only slight alterations of some base assumptions. Further refinement of the model could lead to even better agreement, however, for the purpose of design improvement this is deemed unnecessary. Moreover, the subtask budget does not allow for further work, here. For further investigations and especially the setting up of simulation models in different tools the model approaches, information and suggestions given in this report in regard to geometry, constructions, schedules and more can be used for brevity. It is paramount, that HIAL builds up own simulation expertise based on the information available.