Computational study of natural ventilation

The object of the present work is to use computational fluid dynamics (CFD) to study the ventilation properties for a room with different opening configurations. The finite volume method is used to solve the basic equations of mass and momentum conservation in the primitive form together with the two-equation turbulence model. The model is verified by comparing the results for steady two-dimensional flow around a long square cylinder immersed in the atmospheric boundary layer with experimental values. Internal flows are then simulated in a single-room building with different opening configurations. Six examples are considered for internal flows. The results include mean velocity vectors, stream lines, and pressure distribution around the building as well as the mean velocity vectors, streamlines and turbulent eddy viscosity inside the room are considered. The placement of openings in relation to one another may enhance or reduce mean velocity at certain locations inside the room. The model can help in assigning comfortable locations for humans inside the room. For a given upstream wind speed the in-room mean velocity vectors are found to be sensitive to upstream wind direction while the effect of upstream turbulence level on in-room wind speed is shown to be negligible. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.