Abstract
The Solar Chimney Coupled with Earth-Air Heat Exchanger ( SCEAHE ) system is a promising low-carbon solution for building climate control, leveraging soil thermal storage and solar-induced thermal pressure. However, its widespread adoption is hindered by limited heating capacity during winter, primarily due to the soil’s constrained heat exchange potential. To address this critical limitation, this study improved the conventional SCEAHE system, wherein solar energy is dual-purposed: not only to drive thermal pressure but also to directly supplement heating. A comprehensive numerical model coupling the enhanced system with a building was developed, and its performance was rigorously evaluated under winter weather conditions of Beijing, China. Through comparative analysis with the conventional system, the results demonstrate that the improved system significantly enhances thermal performance: indoor temperatures increased by 6.3°C (daytime) and 1.6°C (night time) over a typical heating week. These improvements were accompanied by dynamic airflow adjustments, with daytime ventilation rates decreasing by 15.0% (reducing heat loss) and night time rates increasing by 13.8% (enhancing soil heat recovery). Furthermore, when integrated with auxiliary heating, the enhanced system reduced supplemental heating demand by 26.5% while maintaining ventilation efficiency (only 5.0% reduction), underscoring its potential to lower energy consumption.
Abstract by the authors, reproduced under the CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 licence. Original publication via the link below.