Natural Ventilation in Schools: Window Design and Performance
Charalampos Angelopoulos, Loughborough
Natural ventilation is considered a sustainable solution to maintain healthy and thermally comfortable internal environments. Previous studies have shown that a natural ventilation system can provide adequate outside air and maintain thermally comfortable internal environments under specific external conditions. However, information on the performance and control of natural ventilation during the heating season is limited. The current study examined different window configurations under a wide range of external temperatures and wind speeds using a CFD simulation tool. The results revealed thermally comfortable indoor conditions in a UK classroom when external temperatures are greater than 8oC with the high-level windows open. At lower external temperatures occupants are predicted to be thermally dissatisfied due to localised discomfort draughts. The results from the CFD model also suggest that acceptable internal thermal conditions can be maintained with wind speeds up to 10m/s, for an external temperature of 10C. Overall, findings showed that the majority of the occupants will be thermally satisfied with an exception for those sitting close to the windows.
Project Team
Student(s)
Charalampos Angelopoulos
Supervisor(s)
Professor Malcolm Cook, Dr Christopher Iddon & Dr Stephen Porritt