Camel's nose strategy: New innovative architectural application for desert buildings. (December 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Shahda, Merhan M.; Abd Elhafeez, Mostafa M.; El Mokadem, Ashraf A.
• Is Part Of: Solar energy. Volume 176(2018)
• Page Start: 725
• Page End: 741
• Publication Date: 2018-12
• Subjects: Biomimicry -- Architectural application -- Desert buildings -- Camel nose system; Solar energy -- Periodicals; Solar engines -- Periodicals; 621.47
• DOI: 10.1016/j.solener.2018.10.072
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0038-092X

Abstract

Highlights: Camel's Nose Technique was analyzed through physics and engineering sciences. Camel's Nose Strategy has been employed in an architectural application. The model succeeded in reducing the temperature 5 °C and in increasing humidity 20%. Abstract: As desert areas represent the most of the Arab countries lands, hence, these areas suffer from scarcity in the sources of water in addition to high temperatures. Furthermore, these areas encounter an increased demand for non-renewable energy resources, in order to achieve thermal comfort for individuals. Accordingly, this paper focuses on how Biomimicry science could be employed in designing and innovating an architectural product compatible with the desert environment to be a part of the desert ecosystem. Hence, this paper is devoted to explore the camel as the best-adapted animal in the desert environment, through focusing on camel nose technique. Thus, this paper attempts to prove the hypothesis that: Buildings can be designed in compatible with the desert environment, by simulating the adaptation method of the camel nose technique. Moreover, this paper raises some questions and seeks to answer them through a practical model. Is it possible to design a system for buildings to obtain water from the air? Is it possible to design a system for buildings to help in reducing high temperature? How can increasing the exposed surface of the vaporization assists in increasing the rate of cooling? A new architectural application has been suggested in this paper to simulate "Camel Nose System" where scientific experiments have been conducted to test the efficiency of this model, starting with the designing stage, manufacturing and the implementation of the applied model. Consequently, after the stage of analysis and results, the paper has reached through scientific experiment many results including, (1) calcium chloride as a moisture-absorbing material can absorb 1.3 L of water depending on the special conditions in the Egyptian desert atmosphere, (2) the reduction of temperature to 5° and the humidity has increased to 20%. This new architectural application has been utilized to improve desert buildings.