Design & Performance of the Solar Energy Research & Test Center

태양에너지 연구 시험센타 설계 및 효율에 관한 연구

The Solar Energy R&D Department of KIER under the auspice of the Korean government is pushing hard on the development of the passive solar technology with high priority for the expeditious widespread use of solar energy in Korea, since the past few years of experiences told us that the active solar technology is not yet ready for massive commercialization in Korea. KIER has completed the construction of the Solar Energy Research & Test Center in Seoul, which houses the major facilities for its all solar test programs. The Center was designed as a passive solar building with great emphasis on the energy conserving ideas. The Center is not only the largest passive building in Korea, but also the exhibit center for the effective demonstration of the passive heating and cooling technology to the Korean public. The Center was designed to satisfy the requirements based on the technical and economical criteria set by the KIER. Careful considerations, therefore, were given in depth in the following areas to meet the requirements. 1) Passive Heating Concepts The Center employed the combination of direct and indirect gain system. The shape of the Center is Balcomb House style, and it included a large built-in sunspace in front. A partition, consists of transparent and translucent glazings, separates the sunspace and the living space. Since most activities in the Center occur during the day time, direct utilization of the solar energy by the living spaces was emphasized with the limited energy storage capacity. 2) Passive Cooling Concepts(for Summer) Natural ventilation concept was utilized throughout the building. In the direct gain portion of the system, the front glazing can be openable during the cooling season. Natural convection scheme was also applied to the front sunspace for the Summer cooling. Reflective surfaces and curtains were utilized wherever needed. 3) Auxiliary Heat ing and Cooling System As an auxiliary cooling system, mechanical means(forced convection system) were adopted. Therefore forced air heating system was also used to match the duct work requirements of the auxiliary cool ing system. 4) Effect ive Insulation & Others These included the double glazed windows, the double entry doors, the night glazing insulation, the front glazing-frame insulation as well as the building skin insulation. All locally available construction materials were used, and natural lightings were provided as much as possible. The expected annual energy savings (compared to the non-insulated conventional building)of the Center was estimated to be about 80%, which accounts for both the energy conservation and the solar energy source. The Center is being instumented for the actual performance tests. The experimental results of the simplified tests are discussed in this paper.