OR-94-11-1 (RP-756) -- Modeling the Solar Heat Gain Reflected from Neighboring Structures PDF

Describes algorithms based on a ray-tracing program developed to calculate the contribution of reflected solar radiation from neighbouring structures to the solar gain in a building. States the algorithms are optimised for accuracy and computation time, can be linked to building energy simulation programs and run on DOS machines. Reviews the common approaches for calculating the exchange of radiation between surfaces, describes the algorithms and presents results for a small commercial building. Finds that specularly reflecting surfaces can increase solar gain through windows by more than 10 times the amount of that through a window with only the ground reflecting back to it. Compares results from detailed calculations with those optimised for time and accuracy.

KEYWORDS: Solar heat gain, insolation, reflected solar radiation, solar radiation, commercial, buildings, comparing, calculating, algorithms