Performance evaluation of a passively heated and cooled house
The objectives of this project are to build and evaluate the performance of SKYTHERM solar heated and cooled passive house located on the campus of New Mexico State University in Las Cruces, New Mexico. Of primary impportance to the study is the evaluaton of capabilities of the system in a severe cooling climate such as encountered in Las Cruces. Since the SKYTHERM house is built adjacent to the Collins Casa del Sol, an active, solar heated and cooled residence, the side-by-side comparison of these two systems is an additional possibility. In a SKYTHERM house a large mass of water contained in clear plastic bags is located on the roof beneath movable insulating panels. During the winter heating mode of operation, the panels are removed during the day, permitting the sun's energy to heat the water, and replaced to insulate the water pond at night. Day and night the warm water on the roof heats the house by heat transfer through the ceiling. When the system is in the summer cooling mode of operation, the cycle is reversed with the insulating panels in place over the water bags during the day and removed at night. In this manner the heat absorbed from the house during the daylight hours is rejected to the clear night sky by radiation and convection heat transfer. The construction of the house and the solar system are described. Some of the data which have been collected in both the heating and cooling modes of operation are presented.
- Research Organization:
- New Mexico State Univ., Las Cruces (USA)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AS03-78CS31606
- OSTI ID:
- 5984998
- Report Number(s):
- DOE/CS/31606-T3; ON: DE82000984
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
HOUSES
ROOF PONDS
CONSTRUCTION
PERFORMANCE
NEW MEXICO
THERMAL INSULATION
BUILDINGS
ENERGY SYSTEMS
EQUIPMENT
HEATING SYSTEMS
NORTH AMERICA
PASSIVE SOLAR COOLING SYSTEMS
PASSIVE SOLAR HEATING SYSTEMS
PONDS
RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS
SOLAR COLLECTORS
SOLAR COOLING SYSTEMS
SOLAR EQUIPMENT
SOLAR HEATING SYSTEMS
SOLAR PONDS
SOUTHWEST REGION
SURFACE WATERS
USA
140901* - Solar Thermal Utilization- Space Heating & Cooling