Auroville Language Laboratory: CFD Analysis to Evaluate a Passive Ventilation System for a Building in Hot and Humid Climate

Abstract
This paper explains the process of using a steady state CFD analysis in OpenFOAM to simulate pressure coefficient (Cp) data for evaluating a passive ventilation system in an existing building in Auroville, India. Three external points on the building are analyzed in this study: The inlet tower, the exhaust shaft, and a room window. The major finding of the study is that the proximity of dense vegetation close to the building has a dominating influence on the pattern of the wind flow around the building. In addition, the position of the evaluation points in relation to the wind direction i.e. windward or leeward, plays an important role in affecting the Cp values. Four wind directions are simulated based on the weather data. In all the cases, a pressure drop between the inlet tower and the exhaust shaft is observed. These results serve to indicate that there is a potential for air flow in the ventilation system in the desired direction. It is also found that the impact of the exact geometry & location of the inlet in the inlet tower is negligible compared to the impact of the turbulence caused by the surrounding vegetation. These findings help to identify and understand the primary factors that affect the Cp values in the building. These data are further used as input in a separate network flow simulation software (TRNFLOW) to further evaluate the dynamic annual performance of the passive ventilation system, which is discussed in another paper.

Mentors: Mohammad Hamza, Michelle Hur

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Santi Qirko – Albania

Santi Qirko – Albania

Santi is architect and finished his studies at the Polytechnic University of Tirana, Faculty of Architecture and Urban Planning, in 2015 with a Master's Degree. He gained working experience in the past years in all design phases working on residential projects and social building but also by implementing BIM in the design process.