Numerical and experimental investigations on a solar chimney integrated in a building facade

In the paper, a numerical and experimental investigations on a prototypal solar chimney system integrated in a south facade of a building is presented. The chimney consists of a converging channel with one vertical wall and one inclined. The numerical analysis is carried out on a three-dimensional model in airflow and the governing equations are given in terms of k-ε turbulence model. The problem is solved by means of the commercial code Ansys-Fluent. The numerical analysis was intended to examine the effect of the solar chimney’s stack height and depth. Results are given in terms of wall temperature distributions, air velocity and temperature fields and transversal profiles for a uniform wall heat flux on the vertical wall. Thermal and fluid dynamics behaviors are evaluated in order to have some indications to improve the energy conversion system. Furthermore first results of an experimental investigation on a chimney system 4.0 m high and 1.5 m wide are given. Air velocity in the channel and surface temperature on the heated wall are presented.