Trombe walls with porous medium insertion and their influence on thermal comfort in flats in Cusco, Peru

A modified Trombe wall with porous medium insertion significantly improves thermal comfort in flats in Cusco, Peru, reaching an average Predicted Mean Vote (PMV) of +0.10 and an indoor temperature of 21.90°C during the coldest months. This innovation outperforms traditional Trombe walls and non-Trombe scenarios, offering an efficient, eco-sustainable heating solution for high Andean regions prone to frosts. The study used computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations to analyze three flat prototypes (55 m², 75 m², and 95 m²) over six months, demonstrating the potential of this passive heating system to mitigate cold-related discomfort in residential buildings.

Facelli Sanchez, P., & Mercado Hancco, L. (2024). Trombe walls with porous medium insertion and their influence on thermal comfort in flats in Cusco, Peru. Energy and Built Environment, 5(2), 194–210. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbenv.2022.09.003