The solar wall: a suitable passive solar system for Italian climates

The research group of Ancona, has been designing, monitoring and using a solar house with 9 passive solar systems since 1980. That systems were designed to take into account energy saving in wintertime and summer cooling. In the last years we carried out monitoring activities and an in-depth quantitative study (simulations and parametric analysis) of the said solar house. The overall evaluation of the summertime and wintertime operation of the various systems used showed that the Trombe-wall was the most suitable to our climates. The present study focus on the optimization of building techniques and control systems of the Trombe-wall to maximize both performance and comfort and to eliminate the management problems, such as the raising of the dust due to the movement of the air by means of the recirculation vents. The Trombe-wall proved to be suitable to the Italian climates but proper measures about design and management need to be taken.