ASSESSMENT OF SOLAR RADIATION
AND ORIENTATION EFFECTS ON MULTIDWELLING UNITS IN URBAN TROPICAL
CLIMATE
Name: Siti Norazimah binti Bachok (MD133003-1st
Semester of MPhil)
Supervisor: Dr. Samira Albati Kamaruddin
Contents
•
Assessment of Solar Radiation and
Orientation Effects on Multi-Dwelling
Units in Urban Tropical Climate
Introduction – Problem statement, objectives, scope, and
significance of study
•
Literature Review - solar radiation in tropical climate of
Malaysia, estimation of local solar radiation, measurement of solar
radiation, residential building in Malaysia and its orientation,
improper building orientation in urban area, and designing for
building orientation
•
Methodology – Investigate received total solar radiation using
ASHRAE clear sky model , measurement of indoor environment by
Hygrothermometer , simulation of solar radiation using ECOTECT
software
•
Expected Findings and Research Planning
Introduction
• Building orientation is an important design
consideration with regards to solar radiation and
wind.
• Among the parameters that intervene in the passive
solar radiation of buildings, orientation is the most
important and the one that has been most
frequently studied.
• The intensity of solar radiation depends on its angle
of incidence - larger angle provide more radiation,
correct angle of the rays that enter the building can
effectively control heat
Problem Statement
• The annual average daily solar irradiations for
Malaysia is 4.21-5.56 kWh/m2, and the sunshine
duration is more than 2,200 hours per year.
• Since Malaysia located at 3.1°N and 101.7°E in the
tropical region, it is undeniable that the people are
facing a lot of problems in terms of sun and wind
(Muzathik et al., 2010).
• Climatic factors have contributed solar radiation and
its heating effects on walls and rooms facing
different directions, and ventilation effects from the
direction of prevailing winds and orientation of the
building (Chan, 2009).
Problem Statement
• On average, a green building that considered
building orientation would cost 5% higher than the
standard building. However, this traditional
expenditure will results a 50% saving in energy cost
(Reimann, 2013)
• Recommendation on investigation of solar radiation
effects on multi-dwelling unit (MDU) (Hiroshi et al.,
2006)
Objectives of the Study
• The aim of this study was to investigate the solar
radiation effects on MDUs with regard of its building
orientation
• Objective of this study
1. To determine the intensity of solar radiation received by
selected MDU in Klang Valley.
2. To investigate indoor environment of the MDU
particularly on temperature and relative humidity
variables.
3. To assess the solar radiation effects on MDU related to its
building orientation in urban tropical climate.
Scope of the Study
• Focused on the residential buildings in Klang Valley
which fit the MDU’s characteristics and at least,
three types of MDU (i.e., condominium, apartment
and flat) will be chosen
• Investigates on the total of solar radiation received
by the MDU that may have improper building
orientation
• Focus on buildings that have more than five-storey,
which are classified as a high-rise building.
Multi-Dwelling Unit (MDU)
MDU is a classification of housing for multi-family
residential that has multiple separate housing units for
residential inhabitants which are contained within one
building or several buildings within one complex.
Condominiums
Apartments
Flats
Scope of the Study
• ASHRAE clear sky model will be used to simulate and
investigate the total of solar radiation received
• Measurement of indoor environment such as
temperature and relative humidity by
hygrothermometer or thermal sensor
• Ecotect which is an Autodesk analysis software is
capable in analyzing and designing a comprehensive
concept-to-detail sustainable existing buildings and
new building
Significance of the Study
1. Emphasize the cause and effects from solar radiation
and building orientation.
2. Propose the ideal/optimum building orientation that
minimize solar heat gain in urban area such as Klang
Valley.
3. Contribute to a healthy and sustainable environment
(e.g., realizing the importance of the green technology
concept in our daily life and helping buyers to reduce
their cost of electricity consumption with green
technology advances).
4. Provide guideline for the developers in designing and
constructing their MDU.
Literature Review: Solar Radiation and
Building Orientation in Tropical Climate
• In determining building’s thermal efficiency, building’s
orientation plays a major role (Belgaid, 2011).
• Effects of orientation - for example building on a south
facing slope will receive more radiation compared to
other orientations.
• The best orientation is 0°North and the worst orientation
is 240°South West (Syed Fadzil & Sia Sheau, 2004).
• Climate condition have been the limiting factors in the
utilization of open space in Malaysia. The hot and humid
tropical weather does not encourage the utilization of
the outdoor environment (Taib et al., 2010).
Literature Review: MDUs in Tropical
Climate
• In tropical climate regions, to achieve thermal comfort in
high-rise buildings (MDU) is more challenging compared to
low-rise buildings (terrace house), (Taib et al., 2010).
• High-rise buildings are more exposed to climatic elements
such as the wind, sun and rain compared to low-rise buildings
(Ahmad, Dilshan and Chia, 2007).
• For the MDU buildings, building envelope is more exposed to
the full impact of the outdoor temperature and global solar
radiation compared to terrace house buildings (Taib et al.,
2010).
Existing Study of Solar Radiation
Calculation
Author
Type of study
Application
Bastien
and
Athienitis
(2010)
Analysis of the Transient
solar radiation thermal
response of a
solarium/
greenhouse
Jakhrani
et al.
(2013)
Incident solar
radiation on
tilted surfaces
Muzathik
et al.
(2010)
Hourly global Solar energy
solar radiation design
estimates on a
horizontal
plane
Renewable
energy
resources
Model
Type of
Model
Country
Hottel clear sky model
(1976)
Empirical
model
Montrea,
Canada
Empirical
Liu and Jordan (1963)
model
Klucher (1979)
Reindl et al., (1990a and
1990b)
HDKR Model (2006)
Kuching,
Sarawak,
Malaysia
Jain (1984,1988) model, Empirical
Baig et al. (1991) model, model
a new approach to the
Jain and Baig models,
Kaplanis (2006) model,
and Collares-Pereira
and Rabl (1979) model
Terengganu,
Malaysia
Previous Measurement of Indoor
Environment
Purpose of study
Measured data
Type of building
Reference
To investigate the actual conditions
of the residential indoor thermal
environment in urban areas
Temperature and
humidity
Residential
building (single –
dwelling house)
Hiroshi et al.,
2006
To understand indoor environment
in three types of alaysian
residential building
Temperature and
humidity
Residential
building
(traditional, town
house and terrace
house)
Hafizal,
Hiroshi, &
Goto, 2012
To reduce energy consumption due
to escalating enviromental
problems
Air temperature, wind High-rise office
velocity, humidity, and building
solar radiation
Taib et al.,
2010
To investigate the indoor thermal
environment and energy analysis in
large space building
Outdoor environment, Stadium
indoor air
temperature and the
heat balance of airconditioning system
Huang et al.,
2006
Research Methodology
• This study investigates on solar radiation and orientation
effects on multi-dwelling units in urban tropical climate.
• In the initial stage, ASHRAE clear sky model will be used
to investigate the total of solar radiation received by
selected settings of the MDU.
• Then, some measurement of indoor environment such as
temperature and relative humidity by hygrothermometer
will be taken from selected unit of the MDU.
• Result of solar radiation measurement can be applied
into building orientation analysis towards green
technology advances using the Ecotect 2011 software.
Flow Chart of Research Methodology
Solar radiation and orientation effects on MDU in urban tropical climate
Literature review (journals, reports, books)
Data collections
To determine the
intensity of solar
radiation received by
selected MDU in Klang
Valley
Investigate total solar
radiation received using
ASHRAE clear sky model
To investigate indoor
environment of the MDU
particularly on temperature
and relative humidity
variables
Measure indoor
environment by hygrothermometer
To assess the solar radiation
effects on MDU with
building orientation in urban
tropical climate
Simulate local solar
radiation using ECOTECT
software
Data analysis, validation of results and discussion, assessment of the effect
Conclusion and recommendations
ASHRAE Clear Sky Model
• Commonly used as a basic tool for solar heat load
calculation of building designs among the architect
and designer (Amarananwatana and Sorapipatana,
2007).
• Bakirci (2009) used the ASHRAE clear-sky model to
estimate the monthly average hourly global solar
radiation on horizontal surfaces in Erzurum, Turkey.
Physical Instrument
• Very useful in determining
the ambient air condition in
any room.
• Have large LCD readout which
makes reading both
temperature and relative
humidity values easy.
Hygro-Thermometer
Energy Simulation Program
• Ecotect software is a concept-to-detail sustainable design
solution for architect and designer to measure the
impact of environmental factors on a building’s
performance (Ecotect, 2011).
• ECOTECT is used to simulate data for cumulative incident
solar radiation on vertical surfaces on a daily and
monthly basis.
• The simulation can display the graphical distribution
patterns and availability of solar insolation over the
surfaces of an entire building.
Simulation and Validation
Collect the solar radiation data for Klang Valley, installation of software
(Revit & Ecotect 2011), preparation of site measurement (select MDU)
at Klang Valley, and physical instrument setup
Simulation (Ecotect 2011)
Site measurement (Hygro-Thermometer)
Draw the 3D building in Revit then
import the building into Ecotect
Set up the instrument for collect the air
temperature and humidity data
Data analysis of thermal load calculation
Data analysis of thermal load calculation
•
Comparison of simulation data and site measurement data acceptable percentage difference between simulation result and
site measurement is maximum 15% using the equation :
PD=((EM-FM)/FM)/100 (Vangimalla et al., 2011)
Methodology for multiphase flow experiment using simulation
20
Example of Simulation Results
% of solar
heat gain
Expected Findings
• Building orientation of selected MDU
• MDU that has improper building orientation received
high solar heat gain particularly in urban areas of
Malaysia
• Collected indoor environment data would validate
the simulation of received solar radiation by Ecotect
software
• The percentage difference between simulation and
site measurement data is less than 15%
Research Planning
Future Directions
• Trial simulation – to familiar with Ecotect software
• Data collection – Ecotect and site measurements of
thermal loads
• Data Analysis – Thermal load calculations
• Validation - Comparison of simulation data and site
measurement data
• Evaluation of result
• Discussion
References
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Al-Tamimi, N. A., & Fadzil, S. F. S. (2011). The Potential of Shading Devices for Temperature Reduction in High-Rise
Residential Buildings in the Tropics. Procedia Engineering, 21(0), 273-282. doi:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.proeng.2011.11.2015
Almorox, J., Bocco, M., & Willington, E. (2013). Estimation of daily global solar radiation from measured temperatures
at Cañada de Luque, Córdoba, Argentina. Renewable Energy, 60, 382-387. doi: 10.1016/j.renene.2013.05.033
Athienitis, D. B. A. K. (2010). Analysis of the Solar Radiation Distribution and Passive Thermal Response of an Attached
Solarium/Greenhouse. [International High Performance Buildings Conference].
BELGAID, B. (2011). Building thermal performance in Saharan climate. 2(2), 261-266.
Iqbal, M. (1983). Chapter 12 - SOLAR RADIATION MEASURING INSTRUMENTS An Introduction to Solar Radiation (pp.
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Kamaruzzaman, S. N., Egbu, C. O., Zawawi, E. M. A., Ali, A. S., & Che-Ani, A. I. (2011). The effect of indoor environmental
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M Hamdan Ahmad, Dilshan R. Ossen, & Ling, C. S. (2007). <impact of solar radiation on high-rise built form in tropical
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Pansak Amarananwatana*, C. S. (2007). <An Assessment of the ASHRAE Clear Sky Model for Irradiance prediction in
Thailand Nuntiya.pdf>.
Paulescu, M., Paulescu, E., Gravila, P., & Badescu, V. (2013) Chapter 2: Solar Radiation Measurements. Vol. 103 (pp. 1742).
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Thank You …