Passive solar cooling of single-storey buildings by an adsorption chiller system combined with a solar chimney

Abstract This study proposes a new solar system for passive cooling of buildings. The system is composed of a solar driven adsorption chiller, a solar chimney and a cooling channel. The system is simulated theoretically and the room temperature, relative humidity and air change per hour (ACH) are evaluated. In addition, the effects of different parameters including the ambient conditions, cooling demand of the room, dimensions of the solar chimney and the cooling channel on room temperature and ACH are studied. The results show that the system is able to provide the required ACH and keep the indoor temperature within the thermal comfort limits in both arid and humid climates. It is found that ACH remains almost constant during the system's operation time at each cooling demand. It is also indicated that adoption of three cooling plates in the channel provides the lowest room temperature, and use of three plates instead of one reduces room temperature by 26.8%. Moreover, it is found that the proposed system consumes about 37% less electric energy in comparison with a split inverter air conditioner of the same cooling power.