The use of passive solar gains for the pre-heating of ventilation air in housing.

Studies the direct coupling of ventilation heat and solar gains to increase the performance of passive solar systems. Examples of particularly suitable buildings are described. The thermal model FRED, based on a thermal resistance network representing a three-zone building, is modified to include a simple airflow model driven by wind speed and temperature difference. The simulated building is ascribed symmetric permeabilities, then asymmetric permeabilities. Results indicate that ventilation preheating can be enhanced by the control of permeability distribution and can be attained with stack ventilation alone.