Solar Energy Cooling in Buildings

Abstract

Most, if not all, developing countries lie in the hotter climatic zones of the world, and without cooling facilities both productivity and comfort of the populations are hindered. Paradoxically the factor which is the cause of the heat of the region could also be the factor which could largely contribute to its allieviation, i.e. solar radiation. Thus solar air conditioning is the most fitting application of solar energy since it matches the amount of solar radiation in a given location. Where there is intensive solar radiation, the demand for solar air conditioning is greater. A human body is best able to maintain a body surface temperature of 33°C when functioning within an environmental temperature range of 18°C — 27°C and a relative humidity range of 25% to 60%. These parameters are commonly known as the comfort zone. It is the objective of all builders to provide structures for living and working where this level is effectively maintained. At present this is largely achieved by using vast quantities of electricity often for periods of up to nine months per year. This is both wasteful and costly - for example the installed generating capacity during the year 1984 by 6 of the Gulf States was 22569 Mega Watts, 50% of which was used for cooling during the summer months.