Numerical simulation of a brick wall containing solar heated water channels in cold regions

Abstract

Maintenance of indoor comfort temperatures in cold regions especially during winters requires huge energy requirements. However, solar energy can be utilized to reduce this power requirement. The present paper deals with an explicit transient numerical solution of a north facing brick wall in an extremely cold region of Leh (India) containing rectangular sectioned PVC channels along the length of wall filled with water raised to 20 ºC with solar water heater for a typical day in the month of December and another day in the month of May on 24 hours based variable ambient conditions. As compared to a similar brick wall without water channels, average rate of heat transfer from within the simulated indoor environment to the inside surface of wall was calculated to be reduced by 44.6% in December and 29.6% in May so as to maintain a uniform and steady comfort indoor temperature of 26 ºC.