Numerical Study on the Suitability of Passive Solar Heating Technology Based on Differentiated Thermal Comfort Demand

Indoor thermal comfort and passive solar heating technologies have been extensively studied. However, few studies have explored the suitability of passive solar heating technologies based on differentiated thermal comfort demands. This work took the rural dwellings in Northwest China as the research object. First, the current indoor and outdoor thermal environment in winter and the mechanism of residents' differentiated demand for indoor thermal comfort were obtained through tests, questionnaires, and statistical analysis. Second, a comprehensive passive optimized design of existing buildings was conducted, and the validity of the optimized combination scheme was explored using DesignBuilder software. Finally, the suitability of passive solar heating technology for each region in Northwest China was analyzed based on residents' differentiated demand for indoor thermal comfort. The regions were then classified according to the suitability of the technology for these. The results showed that the indoor heating energy consumption was high and the indoor thermal environment was not ideal, yet the solar energy resources were abundant. Indoor comfort temperature indexes that match the functional rooms and usage periods were proposed. For the buildings with the optimized combination scheme, the average indoor temperature was increased significantly and the temperature fluctuation was decreased dramatically. Most regions in Northwest China were suitable for the development of passive solar heating technology. Based on the obtained suitability of the technology for the regions of Northwest China, these were classified into most suitable, more suitable, less suitable, and unsuitable regions.