CLIMATE AND BUILT ENVIRONMENT

BY MADHUMATHI
HINDUSTAN UNIVERSITY

Wind rose
Wind shadows
Air movement around and through buildings
Stack effect
Thermally induced Air currents

1/24/2015

UNIT 4 Air movement

Air Movement and

Natural Ventilation
Factors influencing

Ventilation
VENTILATION is the process by which fresh air is introduced
and used air is removed from an occupied space. It also
provides cooling by air movement.
An indoor air speed of 1.5 2.0 m/s can cause comfort in
warm and humid regions where the outdoor maximum air
temperature does not exceed 28 32 C.
The primary aim of ventilation is to preserve the qualities of
air.
Sometimes, ventilation may also be used to lower the
temperature inside an occupied area.

Types of ventilation
Natural ventilation
Mechanical ventilation

Natural ventilation
Natural ventilation is the process of supplying and removing
air by means of purpose-provided aperture (such as openable
windows, ventilators and shafts) and the natural forces of
wind and temperature-difference pressures.

Types of natural ventilation

Natural ventilation may be divided into two categories
Controlled natural ventilation
is intentional displacement of air through specified
openings such as windows, doors, and ventilations by
using natural forces (usually by pressures from wind
and/or indoor-outdoor temperature differences). It is
usually controlled to some extent by the occupant.

Types of natural ventilation

Infiltration
is the uncontrolled random flow of air through
unintentional openings driven by wind, temperaturedifference pressures and/or appliance-induced pressures
across the building envelope.
In contrast to controlled natural ventilation, infiltration
cannot be so controlled and is less desirable than other
ventilation strategies, but it is a main source of
ventilation in envelope-dominated buildings.

Mechanical ventilation
Mechanical or forced ventilation is the process of supplying
and removing air by means of mechanical devices, such as
fans. It may be arranged to provide either supply, extract or
balanced ventilation for an occupied space.

Purposes of ventilation
Provide sufficient supply of air/oxygen for the physiological needs of human
beings (a minimum of 0.2 l/s/person is required for breathing purpose) and/or
livestock;
Remove the products of respiration and bodily odour (including those from
smoking) of human and/or animal occupants;
Remove contaminants or harmful chemicals generated by processes or from
building materials;
Remove heat generated by people, lighting and equipment inside the occupied
space;
Create some degree of air movement which is essential for feelings of freshness
and comfort (usually a velocity of 0.1 to 0.3 m/s is required).
Convective cooling - The exchange of indoor air with fresh out-door air can provide
cooling, if the latter is at a lower temperature than the indoor air. The moving air
acts as a heat carrying medium.
Physiological cooling - Cooling the environment of living

Principles of Natural
Ventilation
For air to move into and out of a building, a pressure
difference between the inside and outside of the
building is required.
The pressure difference is caused by:
Wind (or wind effect);
Difference in air density due to temperature difference
between indoor and outdoor air (stack or chimney
effect); or
Combination of both wind and stack effects.

Wind shadow
When moving air strikes an obstacle such as a building, this will slow down the air
flow but the air flow will exert a pressure on the obstructing surface.
This slowing down process effects a roughly wedge-shaped mass of air on the
windward side of the building, which in turn diverts the rest of the air flow
upwards and sideways.
A separation layer is formed
between the stagnant air and
the building on the one hand
and the laminar air flow on
the other hand.
The laminar air flow tends to
maintain a straight path after
it has been diverted,
A stagnant mass of air is
formed on the leeward side,
but this is at a reduced
pressure. The movement is
light and variable and is often
referred to as wind shadow.

Air movement
around buildings

Wind effect

When air flow is due to wind, air enters through openings in the
windward walls, and leaves through openings in the leeward walls

Wind flow
Wind pressures are generally high/positive on the
windward side of a building and low/negative on the
leeward side.
The occurrence and change of wind pressures on building
surfaces depend on:
1. wind speed and wind direction relative to the building;
2. the location and surrounding environment of the
building; and
3. shape of the building.

Wind induced pressure differences

Positive pressure is created on the
building sides that face the wind
(windward sides) whereas suction
regions are formed on the
opposite sides (leeward sides) and
on the side walls.
This results in negative pressure
inside the building, which is
sufficient to introduce large flows
through the building openings.
In a general case, n airflow of air is
induced on the windward side and
an outflow on the leeward side.
Airflow through an external
opening is mainly attributed to a
wind induced pressure difference
across it.

 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,provision for air
movement must be one of the most important considerations
If there are tall blocks in mixed developments air stream separates on the face of
a tall block
- part of it moving up and over the roof
- part of it down, to form a large vortex leading to a very high pressure build-up.
An increased velocity is found at ground level at the sides of the tall block. This
could serve a useful purpose in hot climates, although if the tall block is not fully
closed but is permeable to wind, these effects may be reduced.

Air stream separation at the face of buildings

 If a low building is located in the wind shadow of a tall block, the increase in
height of the obstructing block will increase the air flow through the low
building in a direction opposite of that wind.
The lower (return-) wing of a large vortex would pass through the building.

Reverse flow behind a tall block

 If in a rural setting in open country, single storey buildings are placed in rows in
a grid-iron pattern, stagnant air zones leeward from the first row will overlap
the second row.
A spacing of six times the building height is necessary to ensure adequate air
movement for the second row.
Thus five times height rule for spacing is not quite satisfactory

Air flow grid-iron layout

 In a similar setting, if the buildings are staggered in a checker-board pattern,

the flow field is much more uniform, stagnant air zones are almost
eliminated.

Air flow checker-board layout

Landscape and wind flow

AIR MOVEMENT
Through the buildings

Factors influencing air movement

through buildings

ORIENTAION
CROSS VENTIALTION
SIZE OF OPENINGS
POSITION OF OPENINGS
CONTROL OF OPENINGS

O
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 The designer must ascertain the prevailing wind direction from wind
frequency charts of wind rose and must orient his building in such a way that
the largest openings are facing the wind direction.
It has, however, been found that a wind incidence at 45 would increase the
average indoor air velocity and would provide a better distribution of indoor
air movement. See fig below

 It often happens that the optimum solar orientation and the optimum
orientation for wind do not coincide.
In equatorial regions a north-south orientation would be preferable for sun
exclusion but most often the wind is predominantly easterly.
The usefulness of the above findings is obvious for such a situation it may
resolve the contradictory requirements.

Effect of direction on width of wind shadow

Cross ventilation
Cross-ventilation utilises
differential wind pressure.
When the air outside is cooler,
windows on opposite sides of
the home can be opened.
Cool air enters on the
windward side and passes out
on the other side, replacing
warm inside air with cool
outside air.

Causes worse condition

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 condition even worse,
increasing discomfort.
In some cases oscillating pressure changes, known as buffeting can also
occur which may also be produced by an opening on the leeward side only,
with no inlet.

Size of openings
Inlet & Outlet Areas
In both cross and stack ventilation,
the amount of heat removed from
a building is directly proportional
to the inlet and outlet areas.
The larger the inlet and outlet
areas, the more air can travel
through the building and the more
heat can be removed.

Increasing the inlet and

outlet area increases
ventilation.

Position of openings

To be effective, the air movement must be directed at the body surface.

In building terms this means that air movement must be ensured through
the space mostly used by the occupants: through the living zone ( up to 2m
high).

Position of openings

Larger solid surface creates a larger pressure build-up and this pushes the air
stream in an opposite direction, both in plan and in section.

Position of openings
In a two storey building (fig below) the air flow on the ground floor may be
satisfactory but on the upper floor it may be directed against the ceiling.
One possible remedy is an increased roof parapet wall.

Control of openings

Control of openings

Control of openings
Sashes can divert the air flow upwards. Only a casement or eversible pivot sash
will channel it downwards into the living zone .ref fig

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

Control 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)

Mosquito 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 approximately
35%.
The reduction is greater with higher wind velocities and is also increased
when the angle of incidence.

Air movement and rain:

Opening of windows during periods of wind-driven rain would admit rain and
spray; while closing the windows would create intolerable conditions indoors.
Verandahs and large roof overhangs are perhaps the best tradition methods of
protection.
Only type M was found to be capable of keeping out water at wind velocities up
to 4m/s and the same time ensuring a horizontal air flow into the building.

Air movement through

buildings

Effect of window width on wind speed

Inner obstructions

Internal obstructions
Air must be free to move
from inlet to outlet. The
two are not very useful if
there is a wall between
them. In addition, the
cross sectional area of the
paths from inlet to outlet
should be at least the area
of the smaller of the inlet
and outlet.

A clear path between

inlet and outlet must be
maintained.

STACK EFFECT

Stack effect
When air movement is due to
temperature difference
between the indoor and
outdoor, the flow of air is in the
vertical direction and is along
the path of least resistance.
The temperature difference
causes density differentials,
and therefore pressure
differences, that drive the air to
move.

How stack effect occurs

The stack effects relies on thermal forces,
setup by density difference (caused by
temperature differences) between the
indoor and out-door air.
The principle is the same as in wind
generation.
The indoor temperature is higher than
outdoor temperature;
The warmer air in building then rises up;
The upward air movement produces
negative indoor pressure at the bottom;
Positive indoor pressure is created on the
top;
Warmer air flows out of the building near
the top; and
The air is replaced by colder outside air that
enters the building near its base.

 Special provision can be made for it in the form of ventilating shafts.

The higher the shaft, the larger the cross-sectional area and the greater the
temperature difference.
Therefore, the more air will be moved.

Design strategies for air movement

The following guidelines are important for planning and
designing natural ventilation systems in buildings:
A natural ventilation system should be effective
regardless of wind direction and there must be adequate
ventilation even when the wind does not blow from the
prevailing direction;
Inlet and outlet openings should not be obstructed by
nearby objects;
Windows should be located in opposing pressure zones
since this usually will increase ventilation rate;
A certain vertical distance should be kept between
openings for temperature to produce stack effect;
Openings at the same level and near the ceiling should
be avoided since much of the air flow may bypass the
occupied zone;

 Architectural elements like wing walls, parapets and overhangs

may be used to promote air flow into the building;
Topography, landscaping, and surrounding buildings should be
used to redirect airflow and give maximum exposure to breezes;
In hot, humid climates, air velocities should be maximised in the
occupied zones for bodily cooling;
To admit wind air flow, the long faade of the building and the
door and window openings should be oriented with respect to
the prevailing wind direction;
If possible, window openings should be accessible to and
operable by occupants;
Vertical shafts and open staircases may be used to increase and
generate stack effect;
Openings in the vicinity of the neutral pressure level may be
reduced since they are less effective for thermally induced
ventilation;
If inlet and outlet openings are of nearly equal areas, a
balanced and greater ventilation can be obtained.

HUMIDITY CONTROL
Dehumidification is only possible by mechanical means; without
this, in warm-humid climates, some relief can be provided by air
movement.
In hot-dry climates humidification of the air may be necessary,
which can be associated with evaporative cooling.
In these climates the building is normally closed to preserve the
cooler air retained within the structure of high thermal capacity, also
to exclude sand and dust carried by winds.
However, some form of air supply to the building interior is
necessary.
All these functions:
1. Controlled air supply
2. Filtering out sand and dust
3. Evaporative cooling
4. Humidification
are served by a device used in some parts of Egypt the wind scoop.

WIND SCOOP
The large intake opening
captures air movement above
the roofs in densely built up
areas.
The water seeping through the
porous pottery jars evaporates,
some drips down onto the
charcoal placed on a grating,
through which air is filtered.
The cooled air assists the
downward movement a
reversed stack effect.
This device is very useful for
ventilation , but It cannot be
expected to create an air
movement strong enough for
physiological cooling.