| |
 |
UNIVERSITY OF BUCHAREST
FACULTY OF PHYSICS Guest
2026-06-11 23:58 |
 |
|
|
|
Conference: Bucharest University Faculty of Physics 2026 Meeting
Section: Physics and Technology of Renewable and Alternative Energy Sources
Title:
Passive Airflow Sustainable Envelope – A Study on Energy Savings for Cooling and Heating of Temperate Geographical Areas Low-Rise Buildings Using Passive Airflow and an Inner Wheat Straw Curtain
Authors:
Mircea ȘEICARU, Adriana-Elena BĂLAN
Affiliation:
University of Bucharest, Faculty of Physics, 405 Atomiștilor str., PO Box MG-38, Bucharest-Măgurele, Romania
E-mail
mircea.seicaru@s.unibuc.ro
Keywords:
sustainable materials, energy efficiency, thermal transfer
Abstract:
In the context of the current Energy Transition and considering that, for low-rise buildings, temperature control is the main consumer of energy and with the largest carbon footprint, there rises a need for alternate, non-high-tech methods of controlling the temperature levels in personal homes and other similarly sized buildings from Temperate geographical regions with less access to automation and disposable income [1-3]. This study proposes heat transfer control by the use of a supplemental air gap with inner curtain on the Southern wall. Though the proposed system can be adapted to more thermally efficient materials, this study proposes the option with the lowest carbon footprint and technological know-how, based on locally sourced materials from agricultural areas by use of a wooden outer shell on the South wall, a vertically wheat straw curtain, heat-absorbing material on the roof and a 1.5 m deep buried air duct, with the option to close the existing air gap. The purpose is to create a fast-rising curtain of air between the wall and outer shell by maximizing the temperature difference between the bottom and the top during hot days and to to close the air gap during winter. The non-airtight wheat straw curtain is meant to diminish out-in radiation thermal transfer during hot days and convection thermal transfer during cold ones. Theoretical calculations are verified using a purpose-built DIY testing apparatus, by measuring the ΔT changes in passive airflow and closed configurations, with and without the wheat curtain.
References:
[1] Abbas M. Hassana, Hyowon Leeb, Segyu Ohb, Challenges of passive cooling techniques in buildings: A critical review for identifying the resilient technique, Jurnal Teknologi, 78:6 (2016) 149–162.
[2] Dániel Csanády, Olivér Fenyvesi and Balázs Nagy, Heat Transfer in Straw-Based Thermal Insulating Materials, Materials, (2021) 14(16):4408.
[3] Mohammad Rahiminejad, Alexandre Louis Marie Pâris, Hua Ge, Dolaana Khovalyg, Performance of lightweight and heavyweight building walls with naturally ventilated passive and active facades, Energy and Buildings, 256 (2022) 111751.
|
|
|
|