Abstract

A collector-storage wall (CSW) is an effective system for solar energy utilization in buildings. The CSW is usually combined with fenestration to form a south-facing façade, which has an important effect on the indoor environment. This thesis presents a numerical model to analyze the thermal performance of the CSWs, and simulations based on this model are carried out for the following cases: a traditional heat storage wall with natural convective flow, integrated photovoltaic (PV) CSWs with forced convective flow, a wall with controlled blinds, and several cases with a phase change material (PCM). For the traditional masonry CSW, simulation results indicate that optimal room temperature occurs when the thickness of the heat storage wall is 0.35{598}0.40m and the width of the air gap in the cavity is 0.20{598}0.25m. The blinds used in CSWs can reduce direct solar gain and enhance room comfort by lowering the temperature swing by up to 2{493}C. Experiments are performed to determine the thermal properties of the PCM gypsum board, to verify the simulation results and to evaluate the energy performance of the CSWs for the different cases.

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