Numerical investigation of inlet opening size on wind-driven cross ventilation

Authors

  • L.K. Moey Centre for Modelling and Simulation, Faculty of Engineering, Built Environment & Information Technology, SEGi University, 47810, Selangor, Malaysia. Phone: 03-6145 1777; Fax.: 03-6145 1666
  • Y.H. Sing Faculty of Engineering, Built Environment & Information Technology, SEGi University, 47810, Selangor, Malaysia
  • V.C. Tai Centre for Modelling and Simulation, Faculty of Engineering, Built Environment & Information Technology, SEGi University, 47810, Selangor, Malaysia
  • T.F. Go Centre for Advanced Materials and Intelligent Manufacturing, Faculty of Engineering, Built Environment & Information Technology, SEGi University, 47810, Selangor, Malaysia
  • J.Y. Ng Centre for Modelling and Simulation, Faculty of Engineering, Built Environment & Information Technology, SEGi University, 47810, Selangor, Malaysia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15282/jmes.16.1.2022.02.0685

Keywords:

Indoor Airflow Characteristics, 3D-steady Rans Equation, Opening Ratio, Velocity Vector, Pressure Drop, Ventilation Rate

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of opening size on indoor airflow characteristics of a naturally ventilated building model. The numerical simulation based on 3D-steady RANS equation was performed in this study. A total of five different inlet to outlet opening ratios, namely 1:4, 1:2, 1:1, 2:1 and 9:4 were included in the study and analysed. The results of model validation and grid independence analysis were consistent with the previous study. The simulation results in this study are discussed based on the velocity vector, velocity and pressure, pressure drop and ventilation rate. Through the study, the results have clearly illustrated that the velocity vector, velocity and pressure, pressure drop and ventilation rate are highly dependent on the opening ratio. When air passes through the building model, it forms a recirculation at the top and bottom of the airflow. In addition, the contours of velocity and pressure have indicated that the lower the opening ratio, the higher the velocity and subsequently lower pressure inside the building model. For the pressure drop, the results have shown that the lower the opening ratio, the higher the pressure drop. Beyond that, when the opening ratio is less than 1, the ventilation rate was increased but when the opening ratio greater than 1, the ventilation rate begins to decrease. Therefore, change in the size of inlet opening will greatly affect the performance of ventilation rate.

References

L. K. Moey, N. M. Adam, K. A. Ahmad, and L. C. Abdullah, “Wind tunnel study of different roof geometry configurations for wind induced natural ventilation into stairwell in tropical climate,” Int. J. Eng. Res., vol. 13, no. 5, pp. 2635–2647, 2018.

N. Khan, Y. Su, and S. B. Riffat, “A review on wind driven ventilation techniques,” Energy Build., vol. 40, no. 8, pp. 1586-1604, 2008.

WBCSD, “Energy efficiency in building. Business realities and opportunities, Switzerland, 2008.

L. K. Moey, K. S. Goh, D. L. Tong, P. L. Chong, N. M. Adam, and K. A. Ahmad, “A review on current energy usage and potential of sustainable energy in Southeast Asia Countries,” J. Sustain. Sci. Manag., vol. 15, no. 2, pp. 89–107, 2020.

T. S. Larsen, “Natural ventilation driven by wind and temperature difference,” Department of Civil Engineering, Aalborg University, no. 2, 2006.

I. Abd. Wahab., A. Kadir, and L. K. Ismail, “Opening design and position effect on building natural stack effect and cross ventilation,” Int. J. Eng. Res., vol. 5, no. 1, pp. 13–22, 2016.

M. F. Mohamed, S. King, M. Behnia, and D. Prasad, “A study of single-sided ventilation and provision of balconies in the context of high-rise residential buildings,” World Renewable Energy Congress, Linkoping, Sweden, 1954-1961, 2011.

P. Karava, T. Stathopoulos, and A. K. Athienitis, “Wind-induced natural ventilation analysis,” Sol. Energy, vol. 81, no. 1, pp. 20–30, 2007.

T. Norton, J. Grant, R. Fallon, and D. W. Sun, “Assessing the ventilation effectiveness of naturally ventilated livestock buildings under wind dominated conditions using computational fluid dynamics,” Biosyst. Eng., vol. 103, no. 1, pp. 78–99, 2009.

K. Visagavel and P. S. S. Srinivasan, “Analysis of single side ventilated and cross ventilated rooms by varying the width of the window opening using CFD,” Sol. Energy, vol. 83, no. 1, pp. 2-5, 2008.

L. K. Moey, Y. H. Sing, V. C. Tai, T. F. Go, and Y. Y. Sia, “Effect of opening size on wind-driven cross ventilation,” Int. J. Integr. Eng., vol. 13, no. 6, pp. 99–108, 2021.

R. Ramponi and B. Blocken, “CFD simulation of cross-ventilation for a generic isolated building: Impact of computational parameters,” Build. Environ., vol. 53, pp. 34-48, 2012.

J. Franke, A. Hellsten, H. Schlünzen, and B. Carissimo, “Best practice guideline for the CFD simulation of flows in the urban environment, ” in 11th Conference on Harmonisation within Atmospheric Dispersion Modelling for Regulatory Purposes, 2007.

T. Yoshihide, A. Mochida, R. Yoshie, H. Kataoka, T. Nozu, M. Yoshikawa, and T. Shirasawa, “AIJ guidelines for practical applications of CFD to pedestrian wind environment around buildings,” J. Wind Eng. Ind. Aerodyn., vol. 96, no. 10-11, pp. 1749-1761, 2008.

B. Blocken, T. Stathopoulos, and J. Carmeliet, “CFD simulation of the atmospheric boundary layer: Wall function problems,” Atmos. Environ., vol. 41, no. 2, pp. 38-252, 2007.

B. Blocken, J. Carmeliet, and T. Stathopoulos, “CFD evaluation of wind speed conditions in passages between parallel buildings-effect of wall-function roughness modifications for the atmospheric boundary layer flow,” J. Wind Eng. Ind. Aerodyn., vol. 95, no. 9-11, pp. 941-962, 2007.

P. J. Richards and R. P. Hoxey, “Appropriate boundary conditions for computational wind engineering models using the K-ϵ turbulence model,” J. Wind Eng. Ind. Aerodyn., vol. 46&47, pp. 145-153, 1993.

T. Cebeci and P. Bradshaw, “Momentum transfer in boundary layers.,” New York: Hemisphere Publishing Corporation, 1977.

B. E. Launder and D. B. Spalding, “The numerical computation of turbulent flows,” The Comput. of Turbulent Flows, vol. 3, no. 2, pp. 96-116, 1974.

P. Karava, T. Stathopoulos, and A. K. Athienitis, “Airflow assessment in cross-ventilated buildings with operable façade elements,” Build. Environ., vol. 46, no. 1, pp. 266–279, 2011.

T. Van Hooff, B. Blocken, and Y. Tominaga, “On the accuracy of CFD simulations of cross-ventilation flows for a generic isolated building: Comparison of RANS, LES and experiments,” Build. Environ., vol. 114, pp. 148–165, 2017.

M. Swami and S. Chandra, “Procedures for calculating natural ventilation airflow rates in buildings,” ASHRAE Final Rep. FSEC-CR-163-86, 1987.

A. Tecle, G. T. Bitsuamlak, and T. E. Jiru, “Wind-driven natural ventilation in a low-rise building: A boundary layer wind tunnel study,” Build. Environ., vol. 59, pp. 275–289, 2013.

Downloads

Published

2022-03-23

How to Cite

[1]
L. K. Moey, Y. H. Sing, V. C. Tai, T. F. Go, and J. Y. Ng, “Numerical investigation of inlet opening size on wind-driven cross ventilation”, J. Mech. Eng. Sci., vol. 16, no. 1, pp. 8662–8672, Mar. 2022.