Performance analysis of a planted roof as a passive cooling technique in hot-humid tropics

Samah Hodo-Abalo, Magolmèèna Banna and Belkacem Zeghmati

Renewable Energy, 2012, vol. 39, issue 1, 140-148

Abstract: Planted roofs are passive cooling techniques that reduce the thermal load of buildings. In this paper, the authors have developed a model for evaluating the cooling potential of green roofs. Transfer equations are solved using a finite difference scheme and Thomas algorithm. The study was conducted taking into account the Togolese climate conditions. The effect of Leaf Area Index (LAI) and Biot (Bi) number on diurnal variation of the Solar Heat gain Factor (SHF) is presented and analysed. A correlation for the estimation of the Solar Heat gain Factor as a function of LAI and Bi has been established. The results presented in terms of evapotranspiration (ET) and Solar Heat gains Factor (SHF) show notably that the foliage density and hence the vegetable canopy type selection influence the thermal efficiency of the bioclimatic insulation screen greatly. It was found that a larger LAI reduces the solar flux penetration, stabilizes the fluctuating values, and reduces the indoor air temperature.

Keywords: Thermal comfort; Heat transfer; Planted roof; Solar heat factor; Modelling; Simulation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2012
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (5)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:renene:v:39:y:2012:i:1:p:140-148

DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2011.07.029

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