MIL-HDBK-1003/19
1.
SCOPE
1.1 Passive solar buildings: A general description. A passive solar
building is one that derives a substantial fraction of its heat from the sun
using only natural processes to provide the necessary energy flows. Thermal
conduction, free convection, and radiation transport therefore replace the
pumps, blowers, and controllers associated with active solar heating
systems. The elements of a passive solar heating system tend to be closely
integrated with the structure for which heat is provided. South facing
windows, for example, may serve as apertures through which solar energy is
admitted to the building, and thermal storage may be provided by inherent
structural mass. Solar radiation absorbed inside the building is converted
to heat, part of which meets the current heat load whereas the remainder is
stored in the structural mass for later use after the sun has set.
Because of the integral nature of passive solar buildings, it is not
possible to design the structure independent of the heating system as is
usually done with active systems. Instead, it is necessary to consider the
solar characteristics of the building from the initial phases of the design
process to completion of the construction documents. A well designed
passive solar building is comfortable, energy efficient, and very reliable
because of its inherent operational simplicity. However, a poor design,
lacking some or all of these desirable characteristics, may be very
difficult to modify after construction is complete and the problems become
manifest. It has therefore been necessary to develop a new approach to
building design that couples solar/thermal considerations with the more
traditional concerns of form and structure.
This document does not address daylighting in a quantitative manner nor
does it deal with passive cooling as a design strategy. However, the extent
to which the summer cooling load may be aggravated by passive heating
systems is quantified and various countermeasures are suggested.
1.2 Purpose of the design procedures. The purpose of these procedures
is to make the results of recent scientific research on passive solar energy
accessible to professionals involved in building design or design
evaluation. By so doing, this new technology can be transferred from the
research laboratory to the drawing board and the construction site. A
successful transfer will undoubtedly improve the energy efficiency of new
buildings as well as many existing buildings that are suitable for retrofit.
This document is addressed principally to prospective Navy contractors
for design and construction of passive solar buildings. However, because
good passive solar designs are of little value if they are rejected in favor
of more conventional but less efficient structures, the design analysis
procedures presented herein are also intended for use by engineers and
architects involved in the evaluation process. The calculations that are
involved are based on the use of simple tables and graphs. An arithmetical
calculator is the only tool required.
1.3 Organization and use of the design procedures. The material in
this handbook is organized such that there is a progression from general
principles at the beginning to more detailed and specific information toward
the
1
Previous Page
