Kaplan- Lesson 4: Comfort, Climate, & Solar Design

Question 1

A _________ chart is a graph that shows the air at different temperatures and different humidities.

Answer 1

Psychrometric

Question 2

The combined storage of sensible heat + latent heat is called what?

Answer 2

Enthalpy

Question 3

Seasons are caused by the changing ____ of the earth with respect to the sun.

Answer 3

Tilt

Question 4

The sun’s position relative to a given site at a given time of day is described by two angles. What are they?

Answer 4

The Altitude Angle (ALT)- height of the sun in the sky

The Azimuth Angle (AZ)- the compass orientation of the sun.

Question 5

What is dew point temperature?

Answer 5

The temperature for a given moisture content.

Question 6

What are the four prototypical climates and which one does majority of the US fall into?

Answer 6

Cold, Temperate, Hot Humid, & Hot Arid

Question 7

_____ Solar Design uses the sun to heat up the building without any moving parts or pumps.

Answer 7

Passive

Question 8

What is a mass wall and what are the two types?

Answer 8

A mass wall is a thickened wall directly in the sun light, often behind a large window or wall of glass.

Trombe Wall and Water Wall

Question 9

How does a Water wall work?

Answer 9

a tank or collection of large vertical tubes filled with water are placed next to the window inside a building allowing the sun to warm the water.

Question 10

What is the difference between direct and indirect gain?

Answer 10

In direct gain, the mass in in the direct path of the sunlight whereas in indirect gain the thermal mass is in the shaded area of a room and heated indirectly.

Question 11

In regards to an active solar system what is a flat plate collector?

Answer 11

a flat surface tilted at approximately the right ALT and AZ angles to receive most of the sun’s rays as directly as possible.

Question 12

In regards to an active solar system what is a focusing collector?

Answer 12

either a parabolic trough, a parabolic dish, or an arrangement of lenses, which focuses incoming light onto a tube or a point.

Question 13

Would a flat plate collector or a focusing collector be a better choice for an active solar system in an overcast area?

Answer 13

Flat Plate Collector

Question 14

The most effective use of active solar systems is to _______.

Answer 14

heat water

Question 15

If the MRT (mean radiant temperature) is low, which way does the comfort zone shift?

I. Toward higher ambient temperatures
II. Toward lower ambient temperatures
III. Toward lower relative humidities

A. I only
B. II only
C. III only
D. II and III

Answer 15

A. I only

Toward higher ambient temperatures

Question 16

What is the definition of relative humidity?

A. The amount of water in the air in lbs. of water per 1000 cu. ft. of air.

B. The amount of water in the air in lbs. of water per pound of air.

C. The amount of water in the air in grains of water per pound of air.

D. The percentage of saturation at the current temperature.

Answer 16

D. The percentage of saturation at the current temperature.

Question 17

What is a sling psychrometer?

A. A chart of the human comfort zone.

B. A chart of air temperatures and humidities.

C. A method of measuring wet bulb temperatures with a manual device.

D. A method of measuring the psychological effects of diurnal temperature variation.

Answer 17

C. A method of measuring wet bulb temperatures with a manual device.

Question 18

What is a trombe wall?

A. An unusually heavy mass wall

B. A mass wall that uses water as the storage element

C. A mass wall that causes a convective loop into the room behind it when it is warmed

D. A mass wall that stores energy using phase change materials

Answer 18

C. A mass wall that causes a convective loop into the room behind it when it is warmed

Question 19

A good design for a hot arid climate uses which of the following. Check all that apply.

A. Large roof overhangs to screen the sun.

B. Thermal mass to damp out temperature swings.

C. Large openings to the outside to improve ventilation.

D. Evaporation to increase humidity.

E. Dark-colored roofs.

F. Lush landscaping to create a cooling effect.

Answer 19

A. Large roof overhangs to screen the sun.

B. Thermal mass to damp out temperature swings.

D. Evaporation to increase humidity.

Question 20

The time of day affects which of the following factors? Check all that apply.

A. The declination angle
B. The altitude angle
C. The azimuth angle
D. The intensity of the sun
E. The speed of transit

Answer 20

B. The altitude angle
C. The azimuth angle
D. The intensity of the sun

Question 21

Which of the following would NOT cause a change in enthalpy?

A. An increase in the velocity of the air movement.

B. A decrease in relative humidity.

C. An increase in the dry bulb temperature.

D. An increase in the absolute moisture content.

Answer 21

A. An increase in the velocity of the air movement.

Question 22

The major benefit to earth sheltered housing is derived from which of the following factors?

A. The thermal storage capacity of the earth.
B. The insulative capacity of the earth.
C. The available moisture in the earth.
D. The weight of the earth.

Answer 22

A. The thermal storage capacity of the earth.

Question 23

Which of the following statements is NOT true?

A. Flat plate collectors will continue to function even when they are not pointed exactly at the sun.

B. Focusing collectors can achieve higher temperatures than flat plate collectors.

C. Flat plate collectors can be used for heating water or air.

D. Focusing collectors are easier to mount than flat plate collectors.

Answer 23

D. Focusing collectors are easier to mount than flat plate collectors.