ESERCITAZIONE 5_Solar radiation in windows analysis_Lorenzo Pierini, Antonio Scirocchi

PROCESS

Step 1: Start Autodesk Vasari, create a New Project, then, as shown in the first Esercitazione, create the model of your project. I've put details only on one of three building, on the South-West facade, to study the implemention  of balconies and their influence on windows just below them.

Step 2: Now go to Sun Settings to set the Solar Study on Multi-Day and the Presets first on Summer Solar Study. In the end click on Sunrise to sunset box and click ok.

Step 3: To set the analysis we need to go on the Solar Radiation button, select the window surfaces we want to analyze, set the Unit to kWh/m2, and create a new Style by clicking on ... right next to it. In the window Analysis Display Style we create and name a new Style, click on Markers with text, and adjust the various settings in Markers and Text Annotation menu.

Step 4: For the final step you click on Analyze and a series of different coloured dots appear on your windows. If the numbers are too big you can upscale them using the scale control setting in the lower left corner diminuing the scale (in my case I went from 1:200 to 1:30).

RESULTS OF THE ANALYSIS

The first analysis was set during Summer, to see if values over windows would change effectively with the use of balconies. The result are of this kind:

We found peak values (172 kWh/m2) in the center of the upper windows cause they're not shadowed by anything over them while the lower ones have very low values, being correctly shadowed during the hotter period of the season. Windows that are not well covered are reduced in size to reduce the heat gain.

The second analysis was set during Winter:

The peak is now 74.6 kWh/m2 and is reached on the upper windows as well as the previous analysis. It's intereting to see that other windows are aswell at values of 40/50 so every windows receive almost the same amount of heat. Just under the balconies and in corners between windows and balconies we find the lower values, at about 8 kWh/m2.

Just for the summer season is it possible to consider some sort of shadowing device for dwellings at the last floor to cover their windows cause is not possible to create any sort of projection to protect them.