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Experimental and Simulation Research on the Energy-Saving Potential of a Sunspace—Taking an Apartment in Qingdao as an Example

Author

Listed:
  • Qingsong Ma

    (iSMART, Qingdao University of Technology, Qingdao 266033, China
    College of Architecture and Urban Planning, Qingdao University of Technology, Qingdao 266033, China)

  • Cui Xu

    (College of Architecture and Urban Planning, Qingdao University of Technology, Qingdao 266033, China)

  • Xiaofei Chen

    (College of Architecture and Urban Planning, Qingdao University of Technology, Qingdao 266033, China)

  • Weijun Gao

    (iSMART, Qingdao University of Technology, Qingdao 266033, China
    College of Architecture and Urban Planning, Qingdao University of Technology, Qingdao 266033, China
    Department of Architecture, The University of Kitakyushu, Kitakyushu 808-0135, Japan)

  • Xindong Wei

    (School of Environmental and Municipal Engineering, Jilin Jianzhu University, Changchun 130118, China)

Abstract

This paper investigates the thermal performance and energy-saving potential of the sunspace of an old apartment building in Qingdao through experiments and software simulations. This study found that different modes of user behavior can have a substantial impact on the thermal performance of the studied sunspace in winter. The bedroom with a non-ventilated sunspace showed a higher average temperature than the bedroom without the sunspace. However, the bedroom with the sunspace had more heat loss than the bedroom without the sunspace when the sunspace was naturally ventilated, especially at night. In Delta temperature (DT)-controlled ventilation mode, the heating load of a bedroom can be reduced by 2.94 kWh/m 2 compared with the non-ventilated mode. Simply optimizing the roof configuration of the sunspace can significantly improve the heat gain of the non-ventilated sunspace and reduce the energy consumption for heating by 26 kWh/m 2 . Compared with the unoptimized sunspace, the optimized ventilated sunspace can reduce the heating load of the bedroom by 38.82 kWh/m 2 . In addition, the overheating of the room in summer can be solved by opening the exterior windows of the sunspace for ventilation during the day and leaving the door of the sunspace open at night.

Suggested Citation

  • Qingsong Ma & Cui Xu & Xiaofei Chen & Weijun Gao & Xindong Wei, 2022. "Experimental and Simulation Research on the Energy-Saving Potential of a Sunspace—Taking an Apartment in Qingdao as an Example," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(1), pages 1-21, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2022:i:1:p:176-:d:1011675
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Allesina, Giulio & Ferrari, Chiara & Muscio, Alberto & Pedrazzi, Simone, 2019. "Easy to implement ventilated sunspace for energy retrofit of condominium buildings with balconies," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 141(C), pages 541-548.
    2. Wang, Dengjia & Hu, Liang & Du, Hu & Liu, Yanfeng & Huang, Jianxiang & Xu, Yanchao & Liu, Jiaping, 2020. "Classification, experimental assessment, modeling methods and evaluation metrics of Trombe walls," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 124(C).
    3. María José Suárez López & Antonio José Gutiérrez Trashorras & Jorge Luis Parrondo Gayo & Eduardo Blanco Marigorta, 2018. "Analysis of an Attached Sunspace with a Thermal Inertia Floor," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(5), pages 1-14, May.
    4. Yanqiu Cui & Ninghan Sun & Hongbin Cai & Simeng Li, 2020. "Indoor Temperature Improvement and Energy-Saving Renovations in Rural Houses of China’s Cold Region—A Case Study of Shandong Province," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-26, February.
    5. Francesco Asdrubali & Franco Cotana & Antonio Messineo, 2012. "On the Evaluation of Solar Greenhouse Efficiency in Building Simulation during the Heating Period," Energies, MDPI, vol. 5(6), pages 1-17, June.
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