Experimental analysis of natural ventilation of an office building in Mexico city

Abstract

An experiment is described to evaluate natural ventilation in a ten-story office building in Mexico City. The airflow results from the flotation of the internal hot air when the outside environment is colder. The objective of this work is to establish basic design considerations for effective ventilation of similar buildings. The experience is based on temperature measurements. These were taken at different levels in the building during several years and appear to be mutually consistent. A simple lumped-parameter mathematical model, which simulates the variation of temperature over time, fits well with the observed data. Some selected samples illustrate specific characteristics of the ventilation phenomenon. Thus, natural ventilation in other buildings can be designed to promote ventilation and improve comfort if there are some temperature measurements available for the calibration of the proposed model. The study validates the use of natural ventilation to provide passive thermal comfort throughout the year in Mexico City, although on some days slightly uncomfortable temperatures occur.