Abstract
To provide a clean and cheap source of natural ventilation in windy and arid zones, a windcatcher facility is the best option. This paper aims to study the effect of the inlet opening angle of a new windcatcher model with different values ranging from 60° to 90° for three different feeding orientations at leading-down, central-up, and trailing-down locations. The ventilation performance of the new one-sided windcatcher is numerically examined using CFD simulations, where the 3D RANS and k-epsilon equations are applied at different wind speeds. The flow features of the new models are analyzed and compared with a basic traditional model based on the induced air distribution, aerodynamic losses, and ventilation rates. Results revealed that the sharp edge of the inlet opening leads to an increase in the flow separation and recirculation zone, especially when the opening angle is increased. The highest pressure coefficient is achieved by the trailing-down model compared with the other windcatcher models at an opening angle of 90°. The total pressure drop and ventilation rates increase in all the new windcatcher models due to the increase in the opening angle from 60° to 90°. At identical conditions, with an opening angle of 90° and wind speed of 5 m/s, the trailing-down model achieved a higher pressure coefficient than the leading-down and central-up models by 20.55% and 37.37%, respectively. Furthermore, the trailing-down model could provide higher ventilation rates than the central-up and leading-down models by 31% and 42%, respectively. Finally, the trailing-down windcatcher model can be recommended as the best choice to provide natural ventilation at Taif City in Saudi Arabia.
Highlights
In the past two decades, the continuous energy demand for achieving human comfort, especially in summer, has become a main issue of interest due to the energy crisis in developing countries [1]
The results showed that the produced ventilation rates decreased with the increase in the number of openings, from a one-sided to twelve-sided windcatcher
The flow characteristics were described for the new windcatcher models at different opening angles from 60◦ to 90◦ for three different feeding orientations
Summary
In the past two decades, the continuous energy demand for achieving human comfort, especially in summer, has become a main issue of interest due to the energy crisis in developing countries [1]. There are various methods to achieve human comfort inside their buildings using either expensive machines (HVAC systems) or cheap natural ventilation by wind energy. Wind energy is a double-edged weapon, as it can be used for natural ventilation for a building or may destroy this building if there is a sandy storm [2]. Zafra et al [3] studied the effect of wind speed in a thermal performance assessment of a given space to achieve thermal comfort. To achieve a healthy environment within indoor places, natural ventilation can be applied using several passive systems such as windcatchers, in order to reduce the negative effect of buildings on nature. A windcatcher can be defined as a wind-driven structure that can obtain wind from a high level and direct it down inside
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