Professional Documents
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THERMAL COMFORT:
NATURAL VENTILATION
FUNCTIONS OF VENTILATION
VENTILATION SHAFT
FOR TOILET S &
LIVING ROOM
VENTILATION SHAFT
FOR TOILET S &
LIVING ROOM
VENTILATION SHAFTS
Chimneys / atria with vents at top and bottom
Room organisation stragies that facilitate both Stack & Cross ventilation
WIND CATCHER
WIND CATCHER
WIND CATCHER
MODERN WIND CATCHERS
Provision for ventilation: STACK EFFECT
The motive force is the 'stack pressure' multiplied by the cross-
sectional area (force in Newtons area in m).
The stack pressure can be calculated from the equation:
Provision for ventilation: STACK EFFECT
1. ORIENTATION
2. EXTERNAL FEATURES
3. CROSS-VENTILATION
4. POSITION OF OPENINGS
5. SIZE OF OPENINGS
6. CONTROLS OF OPENINGS
Effect of wind direction and inlet opening size on air velocity distribution
ORIENTATION
Figure a shows the outline of air flow at 90 and Figure b at 45, to a building
square in plan. In the second case a greater velocity is created along the windward
faces, therefore the wind shadow will be much broader, the negative pressure (the
suction effect) will be increased and an increased indoor air flow will result.
While thin and tall buildings can improve the effectiveness of natural ventilation to
cool buildings, they also increase the exposed area for heat transfer through the
building envelope. When planning urban centers, specifically in heating dominated
climates, having the buildings gradually increase in height will minimize high speed
winds at the pedestrian level which can influence thermal comfort. The height
difference between neighboring buildings should not exceed 100%.
EXTERNAL FEATURES
Wind shadows created by obstructions upwind, should be avoided in positioning the
building on the site and in positioning the opening in the building.
The opposite of the above means will produce a reduction of pressures: if a wing
wall or the projecting wing of an L-shaped building is upwind from the oepning
considered, the pressure is reduced or even a negative pressure may be created in
front of the window
Wing Walls
Wing walls project outward next to a window, so that even a slight
breeze against the wall creates a high pressure zone on one side and
low on the other. The pressure differential draws outdoor air in
through one open window and out the adjacent one. Wing walls are
especially effective on sites with low outdoor air velocity and variable
wind directions.
Wing Walls
CROSS VENTILATION
When placing ventilation openings, inlets and outlets are placed to optimize the
path air follows through the building. Windows or vents placed on opposite sides
of the building give natural breezes a pathway through the structure. This is called
cross-ventilation. Cross-ventilation is generally the most effective form of wind
ventilation.
CROSS VENTILATION
It is generally best not to place openings exactly across from each other in a space.
While this does give effective ventilation, it can cause some parts of the room to be
well-cooled and ventilated while other parts are not. Placing openings across from,
but not directly opposite, each other causes the room's air to mix, better distributing
the cooling and fresh air. Also, cross ventilation can be increased by having larger
openings on the leeward faces of the building that the windward faces and placing
inlets at higher pressure zones and outlets at lower pressure zones.
Different amounts of ventilation and air mixing with different windows open
CROSS VENTILATION
Placing inlets low in the room and outlets high in the room can cool spaces more
effectively, because they leverage the natural convection of air. Cooler air sinks lower,
while hot air rises; therefore, locating the opening down low helps push cooler air
through the space, while locating the exhaust up high helps pull warmer air out of the
space. This strategy is covered more on the stack ventilation.
CROSS VENTILATION
The following figure in the absence of an outlet opening or with a
full partition there can be no effective air movement through a
building even in a case of strong winds. With a windward opening
and no outlet, a pressure similar to that in front of the building will
be built up indoors, which can make conditions even worse,
increasing discomfort. In some cases oscillating pressure changes,
known as 'buffeting' can also occur. The latter may also be
produced by an opening on the leeward side only, with no inlet.
Lack of Cross-Ventilation
CROSS VENTILATION
Air flow loses much of its kinetic energy each time it is diverted
around or over an obstacle. Several right-angle bends, such as internal
walls or furniture within a room can effectively stop a low velocity air
flow . Where internal partitions are unavoidable, some air flow can be
ensured if partition screens are used, clear of the floor and the ceiling.
As a result of this, in a
two storey building the
air flow on the ground
floor may be
satisfactory but on the
upper floor it may be
directed against the
ceiling.
One possibilities
remedy is an increased
roof parapet wall.
With a given elevational area a given total wind force (pressure x area) the largest air
velocity will be obtained through a small inlet opening with a large outlet.
This is partly due to the total force acting on a small area, forcing air through the opening
at a high pressure and partly due to the Venturi Effect: in the broadening funnel (the
imaginary funnel connecting the small inlet to the large outlet) the sideways expansion of
the air jet further accelerates the particles. Such an arrangement may be useful if the air
stream is to be directed (as it were focused) at a given part of the room.
SIZE OF OPENINGS
When the inlet opening is large, the air velocity through it will be less, but the total
rate of air flow (volume of air passing in unit time) will be higher. When the wind
direction is not constant, or when air flow through the whole space is required, a
large inlet opening will be preferable.
The best arrangements is full wall openings on both sides, with adjustable sashes or
closing devices which can assist in channeling the air flow in the required direction,
following the change of wind.
Venturi Effect
The Venturi Effect is the
reduction in fluid pressure that
results when a fluid flows
through a constricted section
of pipe. The Venturi effect
is named after Giovanni
The pressure in the first measuring tube (1) is
Battista Venturi (1746 higher than at the second (2), and the fluid speed
1822), an Italian physicist. at "1" is lower than at "2", because the cross-
sectional area at "1" is greater than at "2".
SIZE OF OPENINGS
Venturi Effect
The Venturi Effect is a
phenomenon of the flow of fluids.
Fluids in this case are all gases &
liquids. The experience of this
effect happens in many places in
our world. You may have
experienced this dynamic effect
when trying to open a door on a
windy day that does not want to
open, or when walking through a
windy urban canyon or narrow
passage. The phenomenon of
high wind areas and difficult doors
is created by Venturi effect. The
Venturi Effect is created by a
fluids natural tendency to equalize
pressure across two or more
zones.
Venturi Effect
The Venturi Effect is utilized in
buildings for natural ventilation.
Passive cooling is a method of
cooling a buildings exterior or
interior surfaces. The purposeful
creation of positive and negative air
pressure zones can create an
increased air flow through a
building or across a surface
creating a cooling effect. This
cooling of surfaces helps to reduce
the amount of conductive energy
in a material that can in turn
remove cool air from the interior
of a building. A buildings position
and orientation in relation to
predominate wind direction can
create predictable zones for
positive & negative air pressure.
Venturi Effect
CONTROLS OF OPENINGS
Sashes, canopies, louvres
and other elements
controlling the openings,
also influence the indoor air
flow pattern.
Effects of Sashes
CONTROLS OF OPENINGS
Canopies can eliminate the
effect of pressure build-up
above the window, thus the
pressure below the window will
direct the air flow upwards. A
gap left between the building
face and the canopy would
ensure a downward pressure,
thus a flow directed into the
living zone
Effects of Canopies
CONTROLS OF OPENINGS
Louvres and shading
devices may also present a
problem. The position of
blades in a slightly upward
position would still channel
the flow into the living zone
(up to 20 upwards from the
horizontal) .
Effects of Louvers
CONTROLS OF OPENINGS
Fly screens or mosquito nets are an absolute necessity not only in
malaria infested areas, but also if any kind of lamp is used indoors
at night.
Without it thousands of insects would gather around the lamp.
Such screens and nets can substantially reduce the air flow.
A cotton net can give a reduction of 70% in air velocity.
A smooth nylon net is better, with a reduction factor of only
pproximately 35%.
The reduction is
Greater with higher
wind velocities
and is also increased
with the angle of
Incidence,as shown
by the findings
of Koenigsberger et al.
Air Movement & Rain
Exclusion of rain is not a difficult task and making provision for air
movement does not create any particular difficulties, but the two
together and simultaneously is by no means easy. Opening of
windows during periods of wind-driven rain would admit rain and
spray; while closing the windows would create intolerable conditions
indoors. The conventional tilted louvre blades are unsatisfactory on
two counts:
1 strong wind will drive the rain in, even upwards through
the louvres
2 the air movement will be directed upwards from the
living zone
Verandahs and large roof overhangs are perhaps the best traditional
methods of protection.
Air Movement & Rain
Koenigsberger, Millar and Costopoulos have carried out some experimental work,
testing four types of louvres . Only type 'M' was found to be capable of keeping out
water at wind velocities up to 4 m/s and at the same time ensuring a horizontal air
flow into the building. The air velocity reduction varies between 25 and 50%.
Air Flow Around Buildings
When the architects task is the design of more than one building, a
cluster of buildings or a whole settlement, especially in a warm
climate, in deciding the layout, provision for air movement must be
one of the most important considerations. After a careful analysis of
site climatic conditions a design hypothesis may be produced on the
basis of general information derived from experimental findings,
such as those described below. A positive confirmation (or rejection)
of this hypothesis can only be provided by model studies in a wind
simulator. If the construction of adjustable or variable layout models
is feasible, alternative arrangements can be tested and the optimum
can be selected
WIND SCOOP