Abstract
This work presents an overview of (passive) solar chimney research, from the natural convection fundamentals to the recent progress for achieving thermohydraulic best-performance. Solar chimneys are attractive because they contribute to increasing the efficiency in air conditioning processes for dwellings and buildings, and therefore also aid to reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. A wide number of works dealing with solar chimneys (and Trombe walls or similar) shape designs, as well as with the inclusion of obstacles for disturbing the airflow, is commented in detail. Several numerical simulation procedures used in the literature are specially discussed, and different recommendations are pointed out to be considered for the appropriate numerical simulation of the operating modes of a solar chimney. Investigations aiming for the best performance conditions (for both thermal, and dynamic or ventilation modes) deserve special attention.