Annual characteristics of ventilation and indoor air quality in detached houses using a simulation method with Japanese daily schedule model

Abstract

This paper presents the results of investigations that were made on a simulation program, which calculates the temperature, the heat loads, the ventilation rates and the indoor air quality considering the Japanese daily schedule and the dweller's behaviour toward keeping comfortable indoor climate, in order to explain the effect of ventilation systems. In the investigation, the concentrations of carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide and formaldehyde are regarded as indicators of indoor air quality. Firstly, three types of systems were designed in a house model; that is a basic passive ventilation system, a passive stack ventilation system and a mechanical ventilation system. Next, the simulation was performed using the standard weather data on three cities in Japan; and the simulation made clear the annual characteristics of ventilation and indoor air quality. The results show that in a house with a passive ventilation system, there is much risk of indoor air pollution in spring, autumn and when air conditioned, and that indoor air quality in the rooms on the first floor differs from that on the second floor. Lastly, the performance of the ventilation systems and the solution methods of realizing these ventilation systems were discussed on the basis of the results of the simulation.