Abstract
Mechanical Heating Ventilation and Air-Conditioning (HVAC) systems account for 60% of the total energy consumption of buildings. As a sector, buildings contributes about 40% of the total global energy demand. By using passive technology coupled with natural ventilation from wind towers, significant amounts of energy can be saved, reducing the emissions of greenhouse gases. In this study, the development of Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) analysis in aiding the development of wind towers was explored. Initial concepts of simple wind tower mechanics to detailed design of wind towers which integrate modifications specifically to improve the efficiency of wind towers were detailed. From this, using CFD analysis, heat transfer devices were integrated into a wind tower to provide cooling for incoming air, thus negating the reliance on mechanical HVAC systems. A commercial CFD code Fluent was used in this study to simulate the airflow inside the wind tower model with the heat transfer devices. Scaled wind tunnel testing was used to validate the computational model. The airflow supply velocity was measured and compared with the numerical results and good correlation was observed. Additionally, the spacing between the heat transfer devices was varied to optimise the performance. The technology presented here is subject to a patent application (PCT/GB2014/052263).
Highlights
Commercial wind towers are passive ventilation systems adapted from vernacular architecture of Middle Eastern cultures that date back hundreds of years [1]
An uneven airflow distribution was observed below the supply channel
The integration of natural ventilation wind towers as a low energy alternative to Heating Ventilation and Air-Conditioning (HVAC) systems has the potential to improve the thermal comfort of occupants, the indoor air quality and reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions
Summary
Commercial wind towers are passive ventilation systems adapted from vernacular architecture of Middle Eastern cultures that date back hundreds of years [1]. By using new technology coupled with passive ventilation from wind towers, significant amounts of energy can be saved, reducing the emissions of greenhouse gases. The development of commercial wind towers can be seen to run parallel to the development of Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD). As improvements in the commercial codes capable of being processed and advancements in mesh detail have pushed CFD analysis forward, the computing power capable in CFD analysis had resulted in the design of commercial wind towers in more efficient and compacts approaches capable of meeting recommended guideline levels of ventilation without causing significant architectural provocations. Analysis of natural ventilation did not espouse the use of CFD, instead relying on numerical methods to provide guidance for design [4]
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