Impact of inlet and outlet opening height variation on the air quality and ventilation efficiency in the on-top wind catcher buildings: A CFD simulation

Abstract

This paper examines the role of wind-catcher height on the quality of ventilation inside the building. The base sample in this study includes a single-zone isolated building combined into a one-sided wind catcher as an inlet. Difference between inlet and outlet opening height is considered as an independent variable and ventilation quality and efficiency are considered as dependent variables. The results showed that by increasing the height of opening as a wind-catcher in the inlet facade, the airflow rate increases, the velocity decreases and the age of air increases. By increasing the height of the outlet opening, as a window from the floor to the ceiling of the room, there is no noticeable change in mean velocity, mean age of air and airflow rate. However, by transforming the outlet opening form a window to an on-top wind-catcher, the mean velocity and airflow rate decrease and the mean age of air increase. Also, by increasing the height of the wind catcher on the outlet facade, the ventilation efficiency increases too. High-resolution 3D steady RANS CFD simulations of cross ventilation are performed for all case studies.