Solar chimney

[aij441]

Has anyone tried a solar chimney with a hexayurt? Thoughts?

[unjonharley]

Has anyone tried a solar chimney with a hexayurt? Thoughts?

I have rounded up the parts for a solar chimney.. Was planing to use it on the van I camp in..
Some duct work to fit the side window. One length of black stove pipe.. Two embroidery hoops.. Some semi ridged plastic. A dryer vent tube end w/wind flap..
The dryer tube end is for the sneaky playa winds.. Do not want the van full of powdery playa..

[gyre]

What's the goal here?

[unjonharley]

What's the goal here?

A solar powered exhaust chimney.
For Op, to exhaust a hexayurt.. For me , to exhaust top/roof heat from the van..

[aij441]

What's the goal here?

To vent for daytime sleeping. Idea is to augment an evaporative cooler.

[unjonharley]

What's the goal here?

To vent for daytime sleeping. Idea is to augment an evaporative cooler.

It just occurred to me.. The chimney would separate the warmer air on top from the cooler air at the bottom.

[gyre]

Is this with a separate attic?

Stack effect is what powers these.
That means pulling in outside air.
You won't want that in an insulated yurt, aside from any dust issue.

I'm a big advocate of attic venting, which in any effective design is using stack effect.
I'm not sure it is as needed on the playa where wind is more a given.

[unjonharley]

In this case the stove pipe is surrounded by a clear plastic to keep the sun heated air next the pipe.. The heat go's through the pipe. The air in the pipe go's up and is replaced by air from the yurt/van. Simplest thermodynamics/convection..

[aij441]

In this case the stove pipe is surrounded by a clear plastic to keep the sun heated air next the pipe.. The heat go's through the pipe. The air in the pipe go's up and is replaced by air from the yurt/van. Simplest thermodynamics/convection..

So if I were to build a evaporative cooler, with a wicking material and an intake that went through a dust filter, would it draw enough to negate the need of a fan or pump? Therefore, no need for electricity at all?

[unjonharley]

I do not think the convection would move enough air..

This type of chimney move hot air out that is replace from the cooler bottom..
If the incoming air is to cool the convection action stops..

[gyre]

The purpose of a protected structure is to keep the heat out.
If that is effective, then the outside air will be much hotter than the air pulled in.
In the case of a cooler, even if it does work, you will be cooling outside air, also ineffective.

Solar chimneys have been used to generate electricity though.

You want shade separate from the interior to use ventilation between the upper and lower surface.
Failing that possibility, a chimney will ventilate a van, etc when the inside is warmer than the outside air.
Painting it black should be enough, though using a clear tube around it should work.
Bigger is better, taller is better.
It is possible to have too big an intake, due to the venturi effect.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stack_effect
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_chimney
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windcatcher

[unjonharley]

The chimney in my case is designed to move expanded air that has risen to the top inside of a structure. There will be no velocity in this convection. It will leave the less expanded/warmer air in the structure. If by heating the exhaust tube and expanding the air inside the tube the air will rise faster.. Protecting the tube from the wind chill factor will increase it's effect..

In the OP's case it is the same desired effect.. Hoping to augment a swamp cooler.
The only problem I can see with this.. There may be more vapor left behind. I am willing to try the swamp cooler, solar chimney design on the van.. If there is to much vapor I could close the chimney open a widow.. Leave the chimney open when I'm away would have a few degrees of cooling..

During the night the chimney can provide fresh air vent..

As mention early, A dryer vent end w/flap to stop wind gust of dust from entering the tube..