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Title: Plants for passive cooling. A preliminary investigation of the use of plants for passive cooling in temperate humid climates

Abstract

The potential of vegetation for cooling small, detached residential and commercial structures in temperate, humid climates is discussed. The results of the research are documented, a critical review of the literature is given, and a brief review of energy transfer processes is presented. A checklist of design objectives for passive cooling, a demonstration of design applications, and a palette of selected plant species suitable for passive cooling are included.

Authors:
; ; ; ;
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (USA); Harvard Univ., Cambridge, MA (USA). Dept. of Landscape Architecture
OSTI Identifier:
5450077
Report Number(s):
ORNL/Sub-81/7872/1
ON: DE82014098
DOE Contract Number:
W-7405-ENG-26
Resource Type:
Technical Report
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
14 SOLAR ENERGY; 60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES; 32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION; COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS; LANDSCAPING; PASSIVE SOLAR COOLING SYSTEMS; SHADING; RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS; CLIMATES; HUMIDITY; PLANTS; TEMPERATE ZONES; BUILDINGS; EQUIPMENT; SOLAR COOLING SYSTEMS; SOLAR EQUIPMENT; 140901* - Solar Thermal Utilization- Space Heating & Cooling; 553000 - Agriculture & Food Technology; 320100 - Energy Conservation, Consumption, & Utilization- Buildings

Citation Formats

Spirn, A W, Santos, A N, Johnson, D A, Harder, L B, and Rios, M W. Plants for passive cooling. A preliminary investigation of the use of plants for passive cooling in temperate humid climates. United States: N. p., 1981. Web. doi:10.2172/5450077.
Spirn, A W, Santos, A N, Johnson, D A, Harder, L B, & Rios, M W. Plants for passive cooling. A preliminary investigation of the use of plants for passive cooling in temperate humid climates. United States. doi:10.2172/5450077.
Spirn, A W, Santos, A N, Johnson, D A, Harder, L B, and Rios, M W. Wed . "Plants for passive cooling. A preliminary investigation of the use of plants for passive cooling in temperate humid climates". United States. doi:10.2172/5450077. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/5450077.
@article{osti_5450077,
title = {Plants for passive cooling. A preliminary investigation of the use of plants for passive cooling in temperate humid climates},
author = {Spirn, A W and Santos, A N and Johnson, D A and Harder, L B and Rios, M W},
abstractNote = {The potential of vegetation for cooling small, detached residential and commercial structures in temperate, humid climates is discussed. The results of the research are documented, a critical review of the literature is given, and a brief review of energy transfer processes is presented. A checklist of design objectives for passive cooling, a demonstration of design applications, and a palette of selected plant species suitable for passive cooling are included.},
doi = {10.2172/5450077},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Wed Apr 01 00:00:00 EST 1981},
month = {Wed Apr 01 00:00:00 EST 1981}
}

Technical Report:

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  • Each feasible passive cooling technique and its application and limitation when applied to hot-humid climates are described. The experimental and theoretical progress toward developing the Detached Earth Tempering concept as a viable passive cooling technique is detailed. The computer simulation, the experimental fields, and many refinements of the basic concept are discussed. (MHR)
  • Work on getting the Brookhaven National Laboratories computer program for modeling ground coil performance operational is described. Arrangements made to sink two 40 ft vertical wells for soil temperature measurements are described. Methods for evaluating the effect of pipe diameter, length, spacing, and material were investigated. Calculation results are shown. (MHR)
  • 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 Skytherm systems, one with a wet (open) surface and one with a dry (sealed) 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 pondsmore » 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.« less
  • Thermal performance uncertainties related to passive cooling and heating indicate the need for full-scale experiments to assist commercialization. Uncertainties in both specific heat transfer processes and overall system performance characteristics generate functional requirements for the test facility which lead to specific design and construction requirements. A brief overview of the experimental as well as long-range functional requirements is presented, which leads into a discussion of the planning, design and construction process. The conventional residential features, and the special thermal systems are covered. Costs of system components and materials are provided. Commentary is offered to reflect experience gained up through themore » beginning of the first thermal experiments.« less
  • Cooling experiments performed with test modules at the Passive Test Facility at Trinity University during 1981 are described. Two modules were used: a four foot square roof pond module, which was operated in parallel with a full size test building, and a four foot by eight foot trickle roof module. Four experiments were performed on the pond module. Dry bag experiments were carried out from July 14 to October 16 in order to compare the heat loss rate of the module to that of the full scale houses. Flooded bag experiments were conducted on October 26 and October 30 throughmore » November 6. The bag was flooded wth approximately 1 in. of water. Open pond experiments were performed from November 6 through November 9 in order to determine evaporative loss. Parapet experiments were conducted on July 28 to July 30 in order to determine the effect of air speed over the bags. The trickle roof module was used to investigate the heat loss rate from water flowing down a tilted surface. Tilts of 10/sup 0/, 25/sup 0/ and 42/sup 0/ were used, and the flow rate varied from 0.5 gpm to 1.5 gpm. The dependence of heat loss rate on inlet temperature was also tested by heating the inlet water.« less