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U.S. Department of Energy
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Roof pond cooling experiments using the passive test facility for warm, humid climates

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:5353514
The warm humid climate Passive Test Facility at Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas has been used to investigate uncertainties in the heat transfer in passively cooled buildings. The two buildings were configured as modified roof pond systems, one with a wet surface and one with a dry surface. The major uncertainties addressed were the heat loss rates from wet and dry roof ponds and the heat transfer from a cooled ceiling with either natural convection or forced convection (ceiling fans). Experiments were also conducted to determine the temperature stratification in roof ponds and the ability of roof ponds to transfer heat laterally from localized sources of heat in the building. A description of the sensors and their installation is presented together with the configuration employed for each experiment. Results are presented in the form of graphs of selected data which are applicable to each of the major uncertainties. A preliminary analysis of the data has been performed and the results are presented. Convective heat transfer coefficients for the ceiling have been determined for different air speeds. A rule of thumb for the cooling performance of dry roof ponds has been produced and used to develop a feasibility criterion for such systems.
Research Organization:
Trinity Univ., San Antonio, TX (USA)
DOE Contract Number:
AC03-79CS30201
OSTI ID:
5353514
Report Number(s):
DOE/CS/30201-T7; ON: DE82008268
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English