![Estimated indicators of the months of the heating period [14].](https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Dmytro-Yermolenko/publication/354789340/figure/tbl1/AS:11431281217046508@1704999687341/Estimated-indicators-of-the-months-of-the-heating-period-14_Q320.jpg)
Content uploaded by Dmytro Yermolenko
Author content
All content in this area was uploaded by Dmytro Yermolenko on Jan 11, 2024
Content may be subject to copyright.
Constructive features of the device "Trombe Wall" dur-
ing thermal modernization of the existing building
Dmytro Yermolenko
1[0000-0001-6690-238X]
, Grigoriy Sharyi
1[0000-0001-5098-2661]
,
Oleksandr Lapenko
2[0000-0002-2029-0792]
, Oleksandr Palyvoda
3[0000-0001-9787-9653]
1
National University «Yuri Kondratyuk Poltava Polytechnic», Poltava 37011, Ukraine
2
National Aviation University, Kyiv, 03058, Ukraine
3
Kryvyi Rih National University, Kryvyi Rih, 50027, Ukraine
yeda@ukr.net
Abstract. The article presents a constructive solution for the modernization of
the enclosure structures of the operated building. Measures were taken to re-
duce the annual power delivery for heating. A comprehensive approach has
been implemented by combining measures to increase the heat transfer re-
sistance of enclosure structures and the introduction of solar heating systems. In
particular, it is proposed: replacement of translucent parts with energy efficient
ones; heat insulation of opaque parts of the walls; arrangement of two partitions
of the southern wall in the form of elements of passive solar heating - "Trombe
Wall". The constructive decision of an element of passive heating does not de-
mand installation of the additional equipment and saves the useful area of the
room. To preserve the carrying function of the partition when installing thermal
insulation from another wall array, it is proposed to use the method of perfora-
tion. Experimental design of complex modernization of the shell and heating
system of the existing residential building has been performed. The comparison
of initial and design heat needs confirmed the feasibility of introducing a set of
energy efficient measures, in particular, the integration into the existing heating
system of the house of a passive heating element - "Trombe Walls". The intro-
duction of elements of the passive heating system, which works on the principle
of utilization and use of solar radiation on the scale of a single house has re-
duced the total cost of heat generation during the heating season by 6%.
Keywords: energy efficiency, renewable energy, heat input, carrying capacity.
1 Introduction
Requirements for the technical condition of buildings and structures of different func-
tional purposes are changing over time. The change in the regulatory framework in
construction in recent years is mainly in the direction of improving energy efficiency.
It should be noted that now the economic component includes not only the cost of
design and construction, but also added the cost of ensuring safe operation during the
estimated service life of buildings or structures. As practice shows, the material costs
of maintaining the normal operation of buildings can be many times higher than the
cost of their construction.
2
Among the operational ones, a significant share is occupied by the costs of ensur-
ing the appropriate sanitary and hygienic parameters of the microclimate of the prem-
ises. Among the buildings and structures that have already been put into operation, the
vast majority are facilities that are designed in accordance with outdated regulatory
requirements. The introduction of energy efficiency methods is mandatory, both in
new construction and in the reconstruction of existing buildings and structures. From
the point of view of a design engineer, this is the most difficult to do for the last cate-
gory of objects. It is necessary to take into account the architectural, planning and
design solutions of the existing building and modernize them to new requirements, in
particular, for thermal insulation of buildings. Therefore, the development of rational
design solutions for modernization of enclosing structures of buildings and structures
operated in order to reduce the annual power delivery for heating by combining
measures to increase the heat transfer resistance of enclosing structures and the intro-
duction of solar heating systems is relevant.
2 Analysis of the state of research
Of course, thermal modernization of the building is a valuable measure. However,
these funds have a clear tendency to return in a relatively short time. The process of
thermal modernization of an apartment building is mainly carried out in three direc-
tions: insulation of enclosing building structures [1]; modernization of heating and
ventilation systems [2]; extensive use of renewable energy resources [3]. The greatest
effect is observed in the case of an integrated approach by combining these areas in
one project.
Solar heating systems are used to reduce the consumption of traditional energy re-
sources. Currently, the most developed are power and heat supply systems that use
solar energy. In our case, the advantages of solar energy include [4]: environmental
friendliness — does not create hazardous waste; great energy potential — solar ener-
gy is inexhaustible and constant; accessibility; low operating costs. Significant disad-
vantages are [5]: high initial cost; unstable energy capacity; large land consumption.
But the disposal, accumulation and subsequent use of solar radiation is possible by
other methods. The most interesting are passive systems that do not require expensive
equipment. The most well-known example of a passive system of providing addition-
al heat to buildings and structures is the "Trombe Wall". This is a massive stone struc-
ture, which is installed on the south side of the building behind the facade glass fence
[6,7–10]. The idea was developed by Edward Morse [11] in 1881, and French profes-
sor Felix Tromb revived it in 1960. This wall device allows you to collect and store
solar energy for the whole sunny day, and then give this heat to the room after a cer-
tain time (usually the return time falls at night). Depending on the thickness of the
structure, a longer delay in heat transfer to the room is provided: at a wall thickness of
20 cm — the delay occurs for about 5 hours; — at a wall thickness of 40 cm - the
delay occurs at about 10..12 h [11].
Traditionally, the "Trombe Wall" is a separately erected massive, usually flat struc-
ture [12], located on some distance from the inner surface of the translucent enclosure
3
structure within the heating room. A significant disadvantage of this design solution is
the loss of part of the usable area of the premises and the complexity of the planning
solution of the latter. And in the conditions of reconstruction of the existing building
erection of such design can demand measures for strengthening of bearing designs.
3 The goal of the work
As the practice of designing multilayer enclosing structures has shown, the thickness
of an effective insulation with a finishing layer can reach several tens of centimeters
(Fig. 1a). This means that in the place of installation of the "Trombe Wall" layer of
insulation can be replaced by an air-ventilated layer, and the finishing layer - a trans-
lucent element (Fig. 1b).
Fig. 1. Example of modernization of a fencing structure: a – opaque part of the wall; b –
"Trombe wall".
The paper considers the design features of the "Trombe Wall" in the form of a
load-bearing structural element of the building, which receives the vertical compres-
sive load from the above elements of the building. And also in addition I carry out
function of an element of system of heating. In this case, for the possibility of heat
accumulation, such a structure is located as close as possible to the shell of the build-
ing opposite the translucent element (window).
4 The main material
The efficiency of solar heating systems directly depends on the amount of solar radia-
tion that can be collected by the receiving surface. The amount of solar radiation is
characteristic of the area and is determined by the parameters of the receiving surfac-
es: size and spatial orientation; geographical coordinates of the location; reflection
and absorption of solar energy; heat transfer characteristics. Evaluation of the feasibil-
4
ity of using elements of passive solar heating was carried out for a single-storey resi-
dential building (Fig. 2), which was built in 1960 near Poltava.
The purpose of experimental design is to try to identify the design features of the
technical part of the design in the implementation of measures to attract renewable
energy technologies by partial or complete replacement of traditional means. Among
these, it is proposed to apply a partial replacement of heat supply needs - the ar-
rangement of part of the load-bearing wall in the form of "Trombe Wall".
4.1 Climatic data
The calculated indoor air temperature [13] in the premises is taken tв = 20 °С, the
estimated value of the relative humidity of the premises is 55%. The calculated out-
side air temperature [14] is tз = –23 °С. The average temperature of the coldest month
is –5.6 °C, the relative humidity of the coldest month is 83%.
The duration of the heating period is 179 days [15]. The number of degree-days of
the heating period is 3813 °C-days.
Table 1. Estimated indicators of the months of the heating period [14].
Ind
icator
Oct.
Nov.
Dec.
Jan.
Feb.
Mat
.
Apr.
The average monthly out-
door temperature is
c
,°С 7,7 1,3 -3,4 -5,6 -4,7 0,3 9,0
Duration of the month t,
h
408 720 744 744 672 744 264
Total daily receipts of
solar radiation,
W
/
m
2
3179 2352 2281 2828 3308 3035 1898
The average monthly averages of solar radiation are given for radiation in the ver-
tical plane.
4.2 Description of the existing house
The total area of the house (Fig. 2) is 74.2 m
2
, the height of the room is 2.7 m. The
main facade of the house is oriented to the south with a deviation of 2.5° to the west -
A = 182.5°). Entrance to the building from the west. The yard is located on the north
side of the house.
The external walls are made of double-height silicate brick 380 mm thick. The area
of opaque external fences was 117.3 m
2
. Glazing is made in two rows, in the form of
separate window frames made of wood. Area of translucent structures: north —
5.0 m
2
; east — 1.1 m
2
; south — 3.4 m
2
; west — 5.2 m
2
.
Power delivery for heating an existing building. Heat balance is calculated under
the condition of quasi-stationary physical processes for a period of one month. It con-
sists of: transmission heat losses of heated zones through external enclosing struc-
tures, unheated attic and floor construction on the ground; ventilation heat loss to heat
the air; possible heat input from solar radiation. The monthly calculation is performed
in general for the heating period. The air-conditioned area is A
f
= 74.2 m
2
.
5
Fig. 2. South facade.
Prior to the reconstruction, the structural solution of the building envelope and the
heating system led to high energy consumption for heating. Based on the calculations
of the internal heat capacity of the building and revenues from solar radiation, the
value of specific energy consumption was 193.4 kWh/m
3
. The difference between
specific and limit power delivery was +61%. Which indicates a low efficiency of the
building envelope. And the building as a whole has an energy efficiency class for
specific power delivery — "F" [16].
4.3 Energy efficient measures
Three constructive decisions of modernization of an external cover of the building
are projected: replacement of translucent parts with energy efficient ones; insulation
of opaque parts of the walls; arrangement of two partitions of the southern wall in the
form of elements of passive solar heating — "Trombe Wall".
The implementation of the first measure involves the replacement of obsolete
wooden bindings with energy-efficient double-glazed windows. An effective mineral
wool insulation with a density of 80 kg/m
3
and a thickness of 130 mm was chosen for
wall insulation.
The implementation of the third measure increases the heat flow to the house.
The design of the proposed "Trombe Wall". Elements of the "Trombe Wall" are
designed from two partitions ((Fig. 3a) on the south side of the house (the area along
the facade is 5.4 m
2
). Structurally, it is part of a monolithic wall, which is made in the
form of masonry of solid silicate brick, thickness
сТ
= 380 mm. On the "inside" is
applied a layer of lime finishing plaster of dark gray color, thickness
вш
= 30 mm.
With characteristics [17]: coefficient of absorption of solar radiation —
S,c
= 0,6;
thermal radiation of the outer surface —
= 0,90. The sun-absorbing surface is
formed by a layer of cement plaster of dark green color, thickness
зш
= 30 mm. With
6
characteristics [17]: absorption coefficient of solar radiation —
S,c
= 0,6; thermal
radiation of the outer surface —
= 0,93.
Upon completion of the external insulation, the "Trombe Wall" will be located in
the interior of the heating room. Separated from the translucent part of the shell by a
ventilated air layer 130 mm thick. Thus, part of the outer wall will perform the func-
tions of: heating element; load-bearing structure. For effective performance of the
first function it is necessary to carry out constructive measures which will allow to
reduce losses of thermal energy from other elements of a wall of the building.
The most effective of such measures will be the arrangement of temperature seams
between the wall massif and the sections of the "Trombe Wall". Which are filled with
effective insulation. But such a solution has limited application. A factor that signifi-
cantly affects this is the vertical compressive force on the structure of the "Trombe
Wall" from the higher structural elements. The temperature seams that propagate
along this force will not be affected by the force factor. And horizontal seams - will
be in a state of compression. The magnitude of the components of the stress state
exceeds the compressive resistance of the material of such joints, which will lead to
its destruction. And, as a consequence, the vertical movement (subsidence) of the
"Trombe Wall". This condition is unacceptable.
Fig. 3. The section of the enclosing structure, which has been transformed into the "Trombe
Wall": a - the selected area; b - perforation zones.
To preserve the load-bearing function of the partition when installing thermal insu-
lation from another wall array, it is proposed to use the method of perforation (Fig.
3b). Horizontal perforation zones will perform the function of supply (above the
floor) and outlet (under the ceiling) ventilation of the working surface of the "Trombe
Wall". Vertical perforation zones are arranged in the window sill area.
Vertical perforation does not affect the bearing function of the partition, so the vol-
ume of perforation (weakening of the cross section) of the partition is selected under
conditions of minimizing thermal energy consumption by heat transfer to adjacent
wall arrays. Horizontal sections of the perforation of the sheet are involved in the
7
resistance of the vertical load from the above structural elements of the building.
Therefore, for such areas, the second condition when choosing the volume of perfora-
tion is to ensure the load-bearing capacity of the partition to the action of external
compressive load.
Energy consumption for heating a modernized building. Developed moderniza-
tion measures reduce the cost of heating the house. But it is necessary to check to
which class of energy efficiency the reconstructed building will be carried. And it is
also important to establish how much the result will improve in the rooms, provided
that the additional element of the heating system - the “Trombe wall”.
Table 2. Energy parameters of the heating season}
Total heat transfer by transmission.
Indicator
Oct.
Nov.
Dec.
Jan.
Feb.
Mat
.
Apr.
Total heat transfer by
transmission, kWh
730 1958 2520 2769 2413 2131 645
Q
tr
for the heating sea-
son, kWh
12224
Ventilation heat losses
for air heating
Q
ve
,
kWh
39,6 106,3 137,0 150,5 131,4 115,8 35,1
Q
ve
for the heating sea-
son, kWh
708
Solar thermal overcur-
rents
Q
sol
,
kWh
115,2 51,6 38,1 61,1 111,3 161,0 195,6
Q
sol
for the heating sea-
son, kWh
733
Heat flow from the
"Thrombus Wall", Q
wT
kWh
98,1 109,7 100,8 125,0 120,0 146,3 27,1
Q
wT
for the heating sea-
son, kWh
727
The specific energy consumption for heating during the heating period was
60.1 kWh/m
3
. And the share of heat revenues from the "Trombe Wall" — 5.9%.
The difference of -50% indicates that the building as a whole has an energy effi-
ciency class for specific energy consumption — "A" [16].
Summary
Productivity of internal engineering systems of heat generation of separate build-
ings can be increased by integration into their structure of the devices working on
principles of renewable energy. The analysis of the conducted research indicates that
together with the modernization of the outer shell it allows to improve the energy
efficiency of the building as a whole. The introduction of elements of the passive
heating system, which works on the principle of utilization and use of solar radiation
8
on the scale of the house allowed to reduce the total heat consumption during the
heating season by 5.9%.
References
1. Фаренюк Г., Колесник Є., Фаренюк Є., Ральчук В. Приклади розрахунку к
ДСТУ Б В.2.6-189:2013 «методи вибору теплоізоляційного матеріалу для утеплення
будівель»: посібник для проектування. К.: ДП НДІБК, (2014).
2. Рекомендації по проектуванню систем опалення https://alterair.ua/uk/articles/rekomen-
datsii-po-proektirovaniyu-sistem-otopleniya/, last accessed 2020/12/22.
3. Басок Б.І., Дешко В.І., Гончарук С.М., Білоус І.Ю. Вплив сонячної радіації на
тепловий стан будівлію. http://ittf.kiev.ua/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/s2_9_tezi.pdf,
last accessed 2020/12/27.
4. Сонячна енергетика та міфи про неї. https://setech.in.ua/sonjachna-energetika-ta-mifi-
pro-nei/, last accessed 2020/12/22.
5. Dawn Gifford. 5 ECO friendly home building ideas. – https://www.smallfootprintfamily.
com/eco-friendly-home-building#ixzz6hmetabv8, last accessed 2020/12/22.
6. Конев А. Стена Тромба в доме — как использовать пассивное солнечное тепло?
http://gidproekt.com/stena-tromba-v-dome-kak-ispolzovat-passivnoe-solnechnoe-
teplo.html, last accessed 2020/12/10.
7. Lorenza Bisbano/ Muro di Trombe: origini e applicazioni più innovative –
https://www.architetturaecosostenibile.it/architettura/criteri-progettuali/muro-trombe-
applicazioni-784?utm_content=buffer24abe&utm_medium=social&utm_source=plus.
google.com&utm_campaign=buffer, last accessed 2020/12/21.
8. Alex Wilson. Tromble walls. – https://www.buildinggreen.com/news-article/trombe-
walls/, last accessed 2020/12/21.
9. Jennifer Poindexter. 23 Awesome DIY Rainwater Harvesting Systems You Can Build at
Home. https://morningchores.com/rainwater-harvesting/, last accessed 2020/12/21.
10. Bauer Mosle Shwarz. Сонячна енергія. https://www.firstinarchitecture.co.uk/solar-
energy/, last accessed 2020/12/22.
11. Philip S. Wenz. Old idea, warm wall. https://www.sfgate.com/homeandgarden/article/Old-
idea-warm-wall-3222133.php, last accessed 2020/12/21.
12. Muro parietodinámico, climatización bioclimática. https://rubenllera.wordpress.com/
2014/09/20/muro-parietodinamico/, last accessed 2020/12/22.
13. ДБН В.2.5-67 Опалення, вентиляція та кондиціонування. К.: Державне підприємство
«Укрархбудінформ», (2013).
14. ДСТУ-Н Б В.1.1-27:2010 Будівельна кліматологія. К.: Державне підприємство
«Укрархбудінформ», (2011).
15. ДСТУ-Н Б А.2.2-5:2007 Настанова з розроблення та складання енергетичного
паспорта будинків при новому будівництві та реконструкції. К.: Державне
підприємство «Укрархбудінформ», (2008).
16. ДБН В.2.6-31:2016 Теплова ізоляція будівель. К.: Державне підприємство
«Укрархбудінформ», (2016).
17. ДСТУ Б А.2.2-12:2015 Енергетична ефективність будівель. Метод розрахунку
енергоспоживання при опаленні, охолодженні, вентиляції, освітленні та гарячому
водопостачанні. – К.: Державне підприємство «Укрархбудінформ», (2015).