CFD Modelling of Moisture Content, Air Velocity and Thermal Patterns in the Tombs of Horemeheb in Valley of Kings

Abstract

Airflow characteristics in ventilated and air-conditioned spaces play an important role to attain comfort and hygiene conditions. This paper utilizes a 3D Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) model to assess the airflow and relative humidity characteristics in ventilated and air-conditioned archaeological tomb of Horemheb in the Valley of the Kings in Luxor, Egypt. It is found that the best airside design system can be attained, if the airflow is directed to pass all the enclosure areas before the extraction with careful selection of near wall velocities to avoid any wear or aberration of the tomb-wall paintings. Still all factors and evaluation indices have the shortage to describe the influence of the recirculation zones on the occupancy zone of the visitors and also on the fresh supplied air. The mode of evaluation should assess the airflow characteristics in any tomb passage according to its position in the enclosure and the thermal pattern and air quality.