Sultan Qaboos University

College of Engineering

Renewable and Sustainable Energy research group (RASERG)

The Sultan Qaboos University Eco House

Development and VisionsProf Awni K. Shaaban

5-10-2010

• Project Coordinator : Prof. Adel Gastli

• Group-1 Coordinator: Prof. Awni Shaaban

• Group-2 Coordinator: Dr. Mahmoud Tahat

• Group-3 Coordinator: Dr. Mahad Baawain

• Group-4 Coordinator: Dr. Abdullah Al-Badi

• Group-5 Coordinator: Prof. Sabah Al-Suleiman

OBJECTIVES OF THE PROJECT

• To develop an innovative residential house that is functionally

working, technically feasible, energy efficient, climatically

appropriate, and socio- culturally acceptable.

• The use appropriate materials which can be produce locally and

perhaps to some extent by the users themselves, which meet

climatic, technical and aesthetics needs.

• To be less dependant on energy-intensive systems for cooling. It is

to incorporate the use of renewable energy sources for air-

conditioning in addition to small-scale power generation capability

via solar photovoltaic.

• Involves the use of water efficient sanitary appliances and will

incorporate grey water treatment unit and solid waste management

system

GROUP-1: PASSIVE ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN

� Prof. Awni Shaaban (Coordinator), Environmental design

� Dr. Ali Al-Harthy, Structures and materials

� Dr. Mahmoud Tahat, Thermal performance

� Dr. Yousif Zuraigat

� Dr. Maatouk Khaukhi, Natural ventilatuion

� Dr. Hisham Eissa, natural and artificial lighting

� Dr. Salim Ferwati, construction and materials

APPLIED RESEARCH PARAMETERS

• - Impact of climate on site and building

• - Landscaping impact on site microclimate

• - Optimization of Building Form

• - Optimum window and shading devices configurations

• - Total shading System

• - The Building Envelop

• - Double Shell Roof System

• - Double Shell Wall System

• - Local wind patterns and natural ventilation

• - Wind Towers

• - Passive cooling systems

• - Optimization of daylight

• - Building materials and construction systems

January 14, 2010 SQU Eco-House

Workshop

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SITE SELECTION

Criteria for site selection

1-Protective surrounding settlement • Avoiding exposure to environmental extremes

• Part of dense urban setting

• Mutual shading of neighborhood

• Availability of grass and trees and minimum hard surfaces

2-Accessibility• Vehicular accessibility

• Pedestrian accessibility

3- Shading by trees and neighboring buildings

4-Advertising location• Proximity to university core

• Proximity to main streets

• Approach and visual lines

• Circulation lines

5-Topographic features

6-Noise and Pollution

January 14, 2010 SQU Eco-House

Workshop

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LANDSCAPING

• Tree types and locations

• Cylindrical type next to E, W walls.

• Spherical types next to SE, SW walls.

• Umbrella type trees on South orientation, and

courtyards.

• No trees for North orientation.

• Climbers plants for main roof ,garage roof ,and East

/West walls.

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January 14, 2010 SQU Eco-House

Workshop

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Ground Cover and Vegetation

• During the day the highest temperatures are found just above the ground.

• At night the temperature is lower closer to the ground.

• So the closer to the ground, the more extreme the conditions.

• Plant and grass cover decrease temperatures, but pavements and asphalt increase surface temperatures

• Vegetation will influence solar radiation gains, humidity levels, wind speeds and directions.

COOLING AND SHADING BY TREES

• Grouping an positioning of trees have direct effect on

controlling wind movement and direction.

Trees

Trees can be used to filter

the air from dust and cool

and humidify the air

before it reaches the building.

HOUSE DESIGN CONSTRAINTS

The designs incorporated the following features:

• A double roof with a slope of the solar collectors 23.5 deg (Muscat

altitude) to be used for photovoltaic, hot water solar collectors, and

double roof shading.

• Store for hot- water storage.

• Store for electricity storage batteries.

• Room for instruments, recorders and computers for monitoring and

demonstrations to visitors.

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January 14, 2010 SQU Eco-House

Workshop

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Sustainable occupancy patterns

1-Type and qualifications

• Typical small size family.

• Live a typical daily family routine of 24 hrs and

continuous occupancy throught the year.

• Technical experience (technician or demonstrator).

2-Duties and performance

• Adopt the prescribed sustainable living standards.

• Interact and manipulate climatic restraints and

opportunities.

• Run and follow up the monitoring instruments.

• Follow up the performance of the passive building design

features.

DOUBLE SHELL ROOF SYSTEM

Performances and economy of double shell roof system can be assessed as

follows:

• Properties of the outer secondary roof being of light weight material, with

high

• reflectivity and emissivity on the external face, and low emissivity on the

inner face.

• Properties of the inner main roof being of heavy mass and well insulated at

the lower face (ceiling).

• Installment o of solar collectors and photovoltaic cells on the secondary

roof.

• The use of climber plants on suspension cables as secondary roof.

• Maximization of ventilation in the roof cavity.

OPTIMUM WINDOW AND SHADING DEVICES

CNFIGURATIONS

• Absolute minimum vertical windows with vertical shading devices on E, W

,SW, walls.

• Minimum vertical windows with combined shading devices on SE, NE, NW

walls.

• Medium horizontal windows with horizontal shading devices on S walls

• Maximum vertical windows with vertical shading devices on N wall.

• Shading device should be light weight material and well separated from

building mass in order not to store heat inside it and trap hot air in the space

around it.

• Shading device should be light weight and of selective reflectivity on various

faces.

• The use shading devices as natural light reflectors to the ceiling.

• Minimum obstruction to natural ventilation by shading devices.

Shadow geometry

• Parallelograms (kdlj) and

(bcdke) are the shadows of

shading devices wireframes

• (di//jk) and (dc//ab

• Shadow patterns can be found

if only the shadow (d) of the tip

(a) of the edge (ak) is located.

• This edge (ak) may be assumed

to be a gnomon of wall sundial

Plotting shadow tracking charts

Coordinates of the shadow of the tip of a 25 mm gnomon were calculated and plotted as shadow

tracking charts.

For S,SE,E,NE,N orientations . Graphs for SW, W, and NW are mirror images by Modify command

of AutoCAD.

Soft copies of the Shadow Tracking Graphs can be supplied by the author to researchers on request.

ARTIFICIAL SKY MODEL TESTING

• Models of 25 mm wall gnomon and shading devices for S,SE,E,NE,N walls

were constructed and tested in the artificial sky. They correlated very well

with the tracking charts.

Daylight considerations

Dr. Hesham Eissa

Calculating Internal Illuminance disribution

• Illuminance contours and

gradients to be plotted after

having full information about

internal reflected component

Considering light shelves usage

• Light shelves and surfaces finishing to be considered to

admit daylight to deeper areas and avoiding glare in the

same time

Considering light shelves usage

• Many types to be studied to consider the most proper

design

Considering light shelves usage

• Many types to be studied to consider the most proper

design

NNATURAL VENTILATION

Dr. Mataouk khaukhi

Initial design Improved design

Natural Ventilation

Result:

Inlet opening

Outlet opening

Air Change Rate = 4.0 /h

Air change rate expressed in SI-units:

n = 3600 q / V (1)

Natural Ventilation

�Dining &Living

3cm

2.5m

6cm

3cm 2.5m

1.4m

Living inlet openingLiving inlet opening

Dining inlet openingDining inlet opening

Living outlet openingLiving outlet opening

For the bed rooms:

Height =2cm inlet

Height=4 cm outlet

For the kitchen:

inlet area=.o25 m2

inlet Height= 2cm

Group 2:Tahat, M. (coordinator)

� Al-Azri, N.

� Al-Rawahi, N.

� Al-Shabibi, A.

� Zurigat, Y.

1- Roof section from inside to outside: R-values U-Values

· 1.5 cm plaster 0.035 0.348

· 15 cm R.C. slab 0.146

· 5cm screed 0.069

· 2 cm water proofing ( asphalt + felt) 0.869

· 5 cm thermal insulation ( polystyrene) 1.445

· 5cm gravel stone cover 0.308

2- Wall section from inside to outside:R-Values U-Values

· 1.5 cm plaster 0.035 0.527

· 10 concrete blocks 0.227

· 5 cm thermal insulation ( polystyrene) 1.445

· 20 concrete blocks 0.155

· 2 cm cement rendering 0.035

• Group 4

Dr. Abdullah Al-Badi (Group Coordinator)

Dr. Adel Gastli

Dr. Amer Al-Hinai

Dr. Hadj Bourdoucen

Dr. Mounir Bouzguenda

Dr. Yassine Charabi

Mr. Sultan Al-Yahyai

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TYPICAL HOME SOLAR SYSTEM

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RENEWABLE ENERGY RESOURCE ASSESSMENT AT SQU

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•Designing and sizing of any RE system requires first

an accurate assessment of the RE resources

available in the specific place of application.

•Area Geographical Characteristics

•Area Climatic and Meteorological Characteristics

•Solar Database

•Wind Database

ECO-HOUSE ENERGY CONSUMPTION

ESTIMATIONElectrical Loads

Qty Volts AC=1DC=0

Priority=1Not=0

RunWatts

Hours/Day

Days/Wk

Phantom-LoadWatts

SurgeWatts

Ave. WH/Day

Percentof Total

Fluorescent Lights 6 240 1 1 15 5.00 7 0 15 750.0 2.5%Refrigerator 1 240 1 1 50 8.00 7 0 1,300 384.0 1.3%Blender 1 240 1 0 350 0.10 2 0 1,050 10.0 0.0%Microwave Oven 1 240 1 0 900 0.25 7 0 1,200 225.0 0.7%Food Processor 1 240 1 0 400 0.10 5 0 1,200 28.6 0.1%Espresso Maker 1 240 1 0 1350 0.10 7 0 1,350 135.0 0.4%Coffee Grinder 1 240 1 0 150 0.05 7 0 200 7.5 0.0%Television 1 240 1 1 125 5.00 7 0 570 625.0 2.1%Satellite TV System 1 240 1 1 60 5.00 7 0 1,600 300.0 1.0%Computer 1 240 1 1 45 6.00 3 0 135 115.7 0.4%Computer Printer 1 240 1 0 120 0.25 3 0 360 12.9 0.0%Water Pumps 2 240 1 1 600 0.50 3 0 1,000 600.0 2.0%Radio Telephone (receive)

1 240 1 0 6 24.00 7 0 0 144.0 0.5%

Radio Telephone (transmit)

1 240 1 0 20 1.00 7 0 0 20.0 0.8%

Phone Answering Machine

1 240 1 1 6 24.00 7 0 0 144.0 0.5%

Washing Machine 1 240 1 0 800 0.50 4 0 100 228.6 0.8%Monitoring Equipment

1 240 1 1 100 0.00 7 0 200 2400.0 7.9%

Vacuum Cleaner 1 240 1 0 650 0.50 4 0 1,950 185.7 0.6%Ni-Cd Battery Charger

1 240 1 1 4 15.00 2 0 25 17.1 0.1%

Air-Conditioning 3 240 1 1 800 10.00 7 0 1,500 24,000 79.1%Total Daily Average Watt-hrs 30,333.1

Largest AC Appliance Wattage 1,350Inverter Priority Wattage 1,818

Largest AC Appliance Surge Wattage 1,950

Energy StorageI. Batteries

Renewable energy systems use a lead-acid deep cycle battery. This

type of battery is different from a conventional car battery, as it is

designed to be more tolerant of the kind of ongoing charging and

discharging.

II. Fuel CellsA fuel cell is an electrochemical energy converter. It will produce energy

in the form of electricity and heat as long as fuel is supplied.

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CONCUSIONS

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•PV will be used mainly to produce the required energy for the SQU

Eco-house. Moreover, 1 kW wind turbine will be used for demonstration

purposes and will be able to generate some electricity only during few

windy hours and days

• Battery and Fuel cell will be used as energy storage devices.

•The electrical load of the house is almost determined. Furthermore, all

appliances will be energy saving.

•To reduce the energy consumption in the house solar lighting and

energy monitoring systems will be used.

THANK YOU