Optimization of Window Positions for Wind-Driven Natural Ventilation Performance

This paper optimizes opening positions on building facades to maximize the natural ventilation’s potential for ventilation and cooling purposes. The paper demonstrates how to apply computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation results to architectural design processes, and how the CFD-driven decisions impact ventilation and cooling: (1) background: A CFD helps predict the natural ventilation’s potential, the integration of CFD results into design decision-making has not been actively practiced; (2) methods: Pressure data on building facades were obtained from CFD simulations and mapped into the 3D modeling environment, which were then used to identify optimal positions of two openings of a zone. The effect of the selected opening positions was validated with building energy simulations; (3) results: The cross-comparison study of different window positions based on different geographical locations quantified the impact on natural ventilation effectiveness; and (4) conclusions: The optimized window positions were shown to be effective, and some optimal solutions contradicted the typical cross-ventilation strategy

Sensitivity of night cooling performance to room/system design: surrogate models based on CFD

Night cooling, especially in offices, attracts growing interest. Unfortunately, building designers face considerable problems with the case-specific convective heat transfer by night. The BES programs they use actually need extra input, from either costly experiments or CFD simulations. Alternatively, up-front research on how to engineer best a generic night cooled office – as in this work – can thrust the application of night cooling. A fully automated configuration of data sampling, geometry/grid generation, CFD solving and surrogate modelling, generates several surrogate models. These models relate the convective heat flow in a night cooled landscape office to the ventilation concept, mass distribution, geometry and driving force for convective heat transfer. The results indicate that cases with a thermally massive floor have the highest night cooling performance

Screening of energy efficient technologies for industrial buildings' retrofit

This chapter discusses screening of energy efficient technologies for industrial buildings' retrofit

Healthy environments from a broad perspective : an overview of research performed at the unit Building Physics and Systems of Eindhoven University of Technology

The design and realization of a healthy indoor environment is a challenge that is investigated from different perspectives at the unit Building Physics and Systems (BPS; Faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning) of Eindhoven University of Technology. Performance requirements (for instance, with respect to air quality, thermal comfort and lighting) and performance based assessment methods are the point-of-departure, focusing at computational techniques supporting the design process. Different specific application fields such as dwellings, offices, schools, but also, operating theatres, churches, musea and multifunctional stadiums, underline the applied approach that is part of the research within the unit. In the design of healthy environments, the performance based design assessment is crucial in arriving at innovative design solutions and optimized indoor and outdoor environments. In this assessment computational support tools and experimental verification play an important role. However, assessing the right indicators in an objective way, applying the correct tools and correct application of these tools is not yet well established. Alongside, developments are still ongoing. The work performed in the unit by the different researchers relates to the research questions that can be derived from this notice. The paper gives an introduction to the Unit BPS and presents a brief overview of recent and ongoing research. An extensive list of references is provided for further reading and supports the conclusion that healthy environments can and should be addressed from a wide angle

Re-interpretation of an ancient passive cooling strategy: a new system of wooden lattice openings

Abstract Traditional passive cooling strategies are a very important tool in Mediterranean architecture to face climate changes and to limit energy consumption, both in new and ancient buildings, toward sustainability and reduction of fossil fuel consumption. Starting from the traditional architectural culture, the aim of the study is to understand how using and re-interpreting ancient constructive elements that interact with the outdoor environment, in order to assure the indoor thermal-hygrometric comfort. In this regard, the paper proposes the study of a new system of wooden lattice openings to be installed in Mediterranean buildings. It originates from the Islamic architecture and it is used especially to control natural light into the buildings. Actually, it has also the function to regulate the airflow into the indoor environment, mitigating the climate conditions and ensuring the comfort of inhabitants. For this reason, the research proposes the analysis of this system through modern computational tools and demonstrates that it can guarantee better indoor summer conditions, improving wind velocity and air change rate in the room

An overview of microclimate tools for predicting the thermal comfort, meteorological parameters and design strategies in outdoor spaces

Abstract There are several outdoor microclimatic simulation software tools in use. The current research aims to identify some of the most prominent computer-based tools based on their capacity of predicting a significant number of variables and compare them in order to establish their differences. This article provides an overview of the applications of computational fluid dynamics in outdoor performance simulation, focused on three topics: general criteria, specific outputs, strategies, and elements can be investigated by the tool. The results have shown that ENVI-met tool is capable of predicting and simulating the set microclimate variables

Building Information Modeling (BIM) for Indoor Environmental Performance Analysis

The report is a part of a research assignment carried out by students in the 5ETCS course “Project Byggeri – [entitled as: Building Information Modeling (BIM) – Modeling & Analysis]”, during the 3rd semester of master degree in Civil and Architectural Engineering, Department of Engineering, Aarhus University. This includes seven papers describing  BIM for Sustainability, concentrating specifically on individual topics regarding to Indoor Environment Performance Analysis

Energy efficiency and thermal comfort in historic buildings: A review

tThis is the author’s version of a work that was accepted for publication in . Changes resulting from the publishing process, such as peer review, editing, corrections, structural formatting, and other quality control mechanisms may not be reflected in this document. Changes may have been made to this work since it was submitted for publication. A definitive version was subsequently published in Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews Volume 61, August 2016, DOI 10.1016/j.rser.2016.03.018[EN] In recent years, energy efficiency and thermal comfort in historic buildings have become high-interest topics among scholars. Research has demonstrated that retrofitting buildings to current energy efficiency and thermal comfort standards is essential for improving sustainability and energy performance and for maintaining built heritage of historic structures. This study is an extensive overview of the literature surrounding this topic. This paper summarizes the different methods and techniques that have been used around the world to achieve performance refurbishments. Articles are organized based on the different building types used as case studies (residential, religious, academic and palace, museums, libraries and theaters, urban areas, and others). The results reveal that residential, religious and museum building types, especially from the last two centuries, have been most often used as case studies. Moreover, Europe, particularly Italy, is leading the research. The aim of this note is to demonstrate the feasibility of maintaining built heritage values of historic buildings while achieving significant improvements in their energy efficiency and thermal comfort.This paper has been developed as a result of a mobility stay funded by the Erasmus Mundus Programme of the European Commission under the Transatlantic Partnership for Excellence in Engineering - TEE Project.Martínez Molina, A.; Tort Ausina, I.; Cho, S.; Vivancos, J. (2016). Energy efficiency and thermal comfort in historic buildings: A review. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews. 61:70-85. doi:10.1016/j.rser.2016.03.018S70856