Optimization process in the design of passive solar heating system

Abstract

The present investigation will determine the optimal design solution of a passive solar collection system that adheres to existing constructions, in order to improve the conditions of indoor hygrothermal comfort, through a parametric work methodology, with case studies in the climate of the Cundiboyacense highlands in Bogota Colombia.

To find the optimal solution for the study area, dynamic thermal simulations using EnergyPlus were integrated with an automated black-box optimization analysis process using the RBFOpt algorithm, which uses advanced machine learning techniques to find optimal solutions with a small number of function evaluations.

The first conclusions of the investigation show the most important variables for the optimal design of the solar collection systems are mainly the width and height of the solar collection system, but not so much its depth, for which the Trombe wall is ideal for the case study climate. In addition, it is possible to improve the conditions of comfort inside the spaces for night use regardless of their orientation, a favorable factor for the purposes of the investigation, which consider homes and constructions in the work area that have all kinds of orientations.