Optimizing energy performance of a ventilated composite Trombe wall in an office building

Abstract This paper investigates the energy performance of an office building with a ventilated composite Trombe wall for winter heating application. The heating potential of composite Trombe wall for an office building was estimated using the dynamic thermal load calculation software, THERB for HAM. We designed a new composite Trombe wall which is oriented on the south side of the office building, and designed pipe with the fan that can control thermo-circulation, located in Kitakyushu, Fukuoka, Japan. The office building satisfies the Japan thermal regulation. The central concrete core of the wall is covered with a layer of dark paint, to improve absorptivity of the wall. In addition, to control air flow from the ventilated air layer to the indoor, the ventilation rates of the fan were controlled at 40 m 3 /h. The effects of those fans that is turned on and off at different time were also investigated. The temperature of the air layer of composite Trombe wall and the room is simulated. The investigation showed that the composite Trombe wall with optimized ventilation can reduce annual energy cost up to 3.7% compared to the composite Trombe wall without air supply.