Numerical simulation of airflow in naturally ventilated attics for different attic geometries

Abstract

AbstractAttic geometry and ventilation in a different attic geometry play a very important role in residential building energy performance. To evaluate the effect of ventilation ratio and vent balance on attic performance, a two‐dimensional finite volume model is employed to simulate the buoyancy‐driven turbulent ventilation and heat transfer in an attic space of different geometries like gable, gambrel, and saltbox roofs of residential buildings under winter conditions. The impact of ventilation ratio on ventilating airflow rate, heating load rate, and rate of heat gained is investigated for all three types of roof geometries. The model under consideration consists of a passive ventilation system with a ridge and soffit vent. Meshing is done by using ANSYS Workbench and numerical simulations are carried out by using ANSYS FLUENT 19 analysis software. The effect of passive ventilation on ridge‐vent attic performance is evaluated in this study. Ventilation ratios for soffit vents ranging from 1/400 to 1/25 are investigated. Convection boundary conditions are used for the attic walls to account for thermal resistances of ceilings and roofs. In addition, the performance of these vented attics is compared to the heat transfer in a sealed attic. The results show that the symmetrical airflow pattern exists in a vented attic, in contrast to the asymmetrical airflow patterns found in a sealed attic. From the study, it is evident that an increase in ventilation ratio reduces attic heating load irrespective of the increase in ventilation airflow rate. The rate of airflow increases with an increase in ventilation ratio in all three types of roof geometries that is gable, gambrel, and saltbox roofs. In the case of gable roof configuration, increasing the ventilation ratio from 1/200 to 1/100 results in an increase in ventilating mass flow of 75%, while an increase of ventilation ratio from 1/50 to 1/25 only increases the ventilating mass flow by 40%. In the case of gable roofs increasing ventilation ratio from 1/200 to 1/100 results in a 20% decrease in attic heating, whereas an increase in ventilation ratio from 1/50 to 1/25 results in a 10% decrease in attic heating.