Interaction Effect of Room Size and Opening on Trombe Wall Performance in Sichuan–Tibet Alpine Valley Areas

The Trombe wall (T-wall) system is one of the most effective systems for passive solar energy utilization technology, which is of great significance for the alleviation of the energy crisis and the protection of the environment. Taking as an example Tibetan dwellings in the Sichuan–Tibet alpine valley which have installed T-walls for heating, the effects of the length of the room (Factor A), the width of the room (Factor B), the width of the opening on the north wall of the room (Factor C), and the distance from the lower edge of the opening to the floor (Factor D) on the indoor air temperature and room energy consumption are studied by orthogonal experiment and numerical simulation. Results show that the four factors all have a significant effect on the two analysis indicators. The rankings of the factors are consistent for their impact on the two analysis indicators, as, in both cases, Factor A > Factor B > Factor C > Factor D. Therefore, the influence of room configuration cannot be ignored in the optimization of T-wall design. Additionally, the optimal parameter combination for the highest indoor temperature and low energy consumption in winter is also proposed. This research can further improve the study of T-walls, and provide a reference for the thermal environment design of buildings.