CONICET | Buscador de Institutos y Recursos Humanos

The amount of energy storage strongly depends on the position, material and it thickness. In this paper, the geometric and energetic positioning of thermal mass has been studied in order to determine the most convenient locations. Following this, 14 cases representing different positions of windows within facades facing the Equator are analyzed. These cases are studied with a model that estimates direct solar radiation that crosses through the window and is absorbed in various surfaces within the room. All cases show that 70% to 90% of the direct daily solar radiation that is transmitted by vertical windows impact the floor during the most energetic hours (from 9am to 3pm ? solar time). East or Sest facades receive only 0% to 13% depending on whether the window is near the side East or West of the façade. The southern wall receives up to 10% of daily direct solar radiation depending on the depth of the room and the height of the window. Optimal thicknesses of storage materials are studied through the diurnal heat capacity (dhc), which also depends on the material and solar insolation of the elements. If it is sunny, optimal thickness and dhc are: 0.20 m and 266.1 kJ/m2.°C for granite; 0,20 and 247.3 kJ/m2.°C for concrete; 0,15 m and 224 kJ/m2.°C for paver brick and for hardwood 0,075 m and 49.8 kJ/m2.°C. In remote areas that do not receive direct sunlight, the optimum thickness of walls is reduced to 0,075 m with dhc approximately 30% of the dhc in sunny thermal mass. Therefore, in those spaces with direct gain or greenhouses, a thickness of 0.20 m of granitic or 0.15 m of cement floor and 0,075 m for walls should be used. In remote areas, a thickness of 0,075m for any floor or wall should be used. Wood is not recommended given the low dhc value for the usual thickness used in buildings (only 19,7 kJ/m2.°C for 0,025 m).