Field-measured Performance of Lightweight Roof Chimney Integrated with DC fans

This paper present the results of an experimental comparative research investigation of the thermal performance and heat gain reduction between two houses built with light roof. The first one is installed with a lightweight roof chimney (LRC) integrated with a DC fan while the one is a house installed with a simple lightweight roof (SLR). The south facing roofs of the two houses were made of clear polycarbonate sheets with the same dimensions. The LRC with DC fan configuration consists of double-layer space with a small air gap and two openings located at the bottom (interior side) and at the top where an exhaust fan is installed (exterior side). This design is aimed to induce natural ventilation and indoor air circulation. The 12V-0.40A DC fans are employed to increase ventilation to remove polluted indoor air to the outside environment. The outer roofs and the inner roofs (ceiling) are made of polycarbonate sheets and gypsum boards respectively. The experiment revealed that indoor air temperature of the house with LRC and DC fans appears to be significantly lower than that of the house with SLR. As a result, this LRC integrated with DC fans can become a tool not only for reducing the attic and indoor temperatures but also inducing natural ventilation, saving energy and promoting solar energy integration in buildings and houses such that protecting the environment. (C) 2017 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.