Thermal Morphology: A Geometrically Optimized Trombe Wall

Thermal Morphology: A Geometrically Optimized Trombe Wall

Farrugia, Eve (TU Delft Architecture and the Built Environment)

Tenpierik, M.J. (mentor)
Turrin, M. (mentor)

Delft University of Technology

Architecture, Urbanism and Building Sciences | Building Technology | Sustainable Design

2018-07-10

Recently, there has been a growing interest in passive climate design aimed at reducing the large energy demand arising from existing buildings. Sustainable consumption of quantities of energy by buildings has necessitated research into innovative designs for comfortable and energy-efficient buildings. This graduation project branches out from this research field and focuses on experimentation with geometry and its effects on thermal mass in the context of architecture.

It is known that geometry has an impact on thermal performance, however information regarding alternatives for material distribution to improve thermal performance is somewhat limited. The main objective of this research is to identify how geometry could influence and enhance the thermal performance to reduce the overall energy consumption in a specific context. This graduation project focuses on thermal mass in the form of a trombe wall in office building typologies. It also targets the use of translucent Phase Change Materials (PCM) as a thermal energy storage material for lightweight building components in the context of two different climates; a hot and dry climate and a temperate climate.

A combination of simulation and modelling software is used to determine the effect of geometry on the thermal performance of the trombe wall with PCM in two different climates. A stepped methodology is used to morph a flat wall following a series of design strategies and two different geometry scales. By analysing the differences in air and PCM temperatures it is determined whether geometrical morphology is beneficial in terms of a comfortable air temperature in an office.

General trends are identified which highlight the potential of material distribution in thermal performance in the context of PCM and trombe walls. These trends are then transformed into design guidelines and two different designs for a trombe wall with translucent PCM in the two climates.

Morphology
Thermal Performance
PCM
Trombe Wall
Optimization
Energy Efficiency
Thermal comfort
Geometry

http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:0ad5f3cc-a5e9-45c0-a37e-75e139713409

Student theses

master thesis

© 2018 Eve Farrugia