Abstract
A significant portion of office buildings rely on mechanical ventilation, leading to substantial energy consumption and CO2 emissions, and this is a barrier to achieving Net Zero in the sector. Natural ventilation offers a more sustainable alternative, but its effectiveness depends on various factors, including the influence of wind- and buoyancy-driven airflow. Buoyancy-driven flow arises from temperature differences between indoor and outdoor environments and is influenced by internal heat sources such as occupants and equipment. This study investigates wind- and buoyancy-driven ventilation rates with tracer gas decay measurements in an atmospheric wind tunnel, using a scale model of an existing office space. Different window configurations and wind directions were tested, with temperature differences simulated by carrier gases of varying densities. Results indicate that for certain wind directions, buoyancy forces dominate the ventilation flow, and even in wind-driven scenarios, buoyant effects can contribute to higher ventilation rates. Considering buoyancy-driven flow could improve the assessment of natural ventilation feasibility, contributing to more sustainable building design and retrofit.
Presenters
Christina HigginsPhD Student, School of Engineering, University of Surrey, Surrey, United Kingdom
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
KEYWORDS
Natural Ventilation; Environmental Science; Buildings; Scale Modelling; Airflow
