Conception and verification of flexible space partition heating with solar energy

Under the tremendous pressure of carbon neutrality, solar energy is increasingly being widely used for winter heating. However, the drawbacks of solar energy, such as low intensity and instability, often result in high initial investment, high maintenance costs, and poor indoor thermal comfort, especially in uninsulated buildings. Ensuring indoor thermal comfort under limited solar energy is of significant importance. Therefore, the concept of Flexible Space Partition Heating (FSPH) was first proposed, and numerical simulations and experimental studies were conducted to validate the feasibility of utilizing solar energy in winter through FSPH. We installed a solar vacuum tube collector system in a 10.8 m2 uninsulated structure in cold regions. Initially, we simulated thermal environments for Full Space Heating (FSH) and FSPH schemes, followed by real-world comparisons using solar energy for both. Results showed FSPH, maintaining 16 °C in −8 °C conditions, saves 34.71 % energy over FSH. Main heating space PMV ranged from −0.9 to 0.9, with PPD from 10 % to 30 %. At 1.9 °C outdoor temperature, FSH supplied 27.98 MJ for 12 °C indoors. With a 6.3 °C outdoor drop, FSPH cut supply by 50.3 %, achieving 16 °C and superior comfort. FSPH's conceptualization and validation provide an effective, low-cost solution for indoor thermal comfort using limited solar energy, promising for low-income populations with minimal investment and upkeep expenses.