The term "Trombe wall" refers to a passive solar heating technique that involves incorporating a wall made of heat-absorbing materials into a building design. In terms of spelling, "Trombe" is pronounced as "trɒmb" with a British accent or "troʊmb" with an American accent, and the "e" is silent. The word "wall" is pronounced as "wɔːl" with a British accent or "wɔl" with an American accent. Therefore, "Trombe wall" is spelled as "trɒmb wɔːl" or "troʊmb wɔl" depending on the pronunciation.
A Trombe wall refers to a passive solar heating technique that involves the construction of a thick, high-density wall typically made of concrete, stone, or brick. This wall is built on the south side of a building to harness solar energy for heating purposes. The Trombe wall acts as a thermal mass, absorbing and storing solar heat during the daytime and gradually releasing it into the interior of the building during colder periods, such as evenings or cloudy days.
The wall consists of several layers, including an outer layer that is often transparent or translucent to allow sunlight to pass through and enter the mass. This outer layer can be made of glass or plastic, forming a kind of greenhouse effect behind it. The air in this space between the glass and the wall absorbs the sun's energy and transfers it to the thermal mass, which slowly radiates the heat into the building.
Trombe walls are effective in reducing energy consumption by using the sun's heat as a supplementary source, thus decreasing the reliance on mechanical heating systems. They are typically used in regions with adequate solar radiation and can be incorporated into both new construction projects and retrofitting existing buildings. Additionally, the thickness and materials used for the wall can be adjusted based on the specific climate conditions and heating requirements of the building. Overall, a Trombe wall is a sustainable and economically viable solution for passive solar heating, contributing to the overall energy efficiency of a structure.
The term "Trombe wall" derives from the French architect and engineer Félix Trombe (1906-1985), who popularized the concept in the mid-20th century. A Trombe wall is a passive solar heating technique that utilizes a thick, dark-colored wall or masonry surface on the sunny side of a building to absorb and store solar heat during the day, releasing it slowly into the building during colder periods.
The technique was first developed by Edward Morse and Harold Hay in the 1880s, but it was Félix Trombe who brought it to wider attention. The name "Trombe wall" has since been widely used to refer to this architectural feature, honoring the contributions and research conducted by Félix Trombe.