Assessing the Effectiveness of Solar Chimneys in Providing Ventilation and Thermal Comfort for Residential Buildings in Qazvin City

A solar chimney is considered one of the sustainable systems for natural ventilation in buildings. It utilizes solar energy to generate natural airflow and can play an effective role in reducing energy consumption and improving indoor air quality. In this study, the independent variables include the design of the solar chimney system, its height and inclination angle, as well as the use of optimized materials and technologies. The aim is to investigate the effects of these factors on the performance of the ventilation system and energy consumption reduction. The intervening variable in this research is the semi-arid climatic condition of Qazvin, which can affect the performance and efficiency of the solar chimney system and directly influence the results of the assessment. This variable includes temperature, humidity, and daily and seasonal variations in climatic conditions. The necessity of this research arises from the increasing need to utilize renewable energy sources and reduce energy consumption in buildings, particularly in regions with semi-arid climates such as Qazvin. Given climate change, environmental challenges, and rising energy costs, the use of sustainable ventilation systems, including solar chimneys, has become an important approach in the design and optimization of modern buildings. The research methodology is based on two-dimensional simulations, together with geometric formulations, to evaluate the feasibility and performance of the proposed concept based on observations of selected case studies. In this study, the effectiveness of the solar chimney system in improving natural ventilation and reducing energy consumption under the semi-arid climatic conditions of Qazvin is investigated. The results indicate that a solar chimney, as a sustainable and economical technology, has the potential to improve thermal comfort and enhance building ventilation in hot and dry climates. Moreover, optimized design and appropriate material selection are among the key factors that can enhance the efficiency of the system and make it an effective solution for optimizing building energy consumption.