New design for solar chimney with integrated windcatcher for space cooling and ventilation

Abstract

This research highlights the thermal and ventilation performance of a newly designed solar chimney in conjunction with a windcatcher and water spray system for a two-story office building in a warm and arid climate. The north façade of the building is a windcatcher, which, coupled with a solar chimney on the roof provide ventilation for both floors via a floor void with the smallest footprint. An experimental study comprising a reduced scale model and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis were carried out to evaluate the cooling and ventilation potential of a solar chimney with and without the windcatcher functioning. The results show that, even on a hot and sunny day, the solar chimney coupled with a windcatcher and water spray system can provide reasonable thermal and airflow conditions for both floors without the need of wind force. The arrangement is able to reduce an average temperature of 5.2 °C and generate about 9 ACH in the peak hours of a day for the occupied space, as well as save 75% of the total cooling and 90% of the energy required for ventilation during the working time in peak summer.