A platform for research: civil engineering, architecture and urbanism
A platform for research: civil engineering, architecture and urbanism
Providing Thermal Comfort for Buildings’ Inhabitants Through Natural Cooling and Ventilation Systems: Wind Towers
Providing a thermally comfortable environment within buildings is a matter of considerable importance today, since many individuals spend the majority of their time indoors and thermal comfort directly influences their productivity, health, well-being, and happiness. Currently, large numbers of conventional heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems, of different types, sizes, and capacities, operate worldwide to fulfil the thermal demands of buildings and create good indoor environmental quality (IEQ) for occupants. These systems use massive amounts of electrical energy globally, mostly supplied from fossil-fuel power plants, and consequently contribute markedly to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and air pollution. In contrast, natural cooling and ventilation systems such as wind towers or wind-catchers can aid not only in creating the conditions of indoor thermal comfort but also in lessening local, regional, and global environmental challenges (e.g., global warming and climate change) via reduced energy use in the building sector, especially during hours of peak demand. Wind towers can naturally ventilate and passively cool different types of buildings in both hot/warm, dry and hot/warm, and humid climates and also effectively decrease potential pathogen transmission (e.g., COVID-19) by providing fresh air and increasing the rate of inner air exchange. They also can help achieve sustainable habitats and well-being, particularly for economically disadvantaged communities that suffer from energy poverty. This chapter comprehensively examines various aspects of both traditional/conventional and modern wind towers, including their history, typologies, and components; their ventilation and thermal performance; their role in enhancing energy efficiency, and their ability to diminish energy costs in buildings. Also explored are possible combinations with other technologies such as renewable energy and energy storage systems to improve their performance. Innovative wind tower designs, either as stand-alone or hybrid air-conditioning (AC) systems, can be employed as a green and sustainable architectural element in new, modern dwellings.
Providing Thermal Comfort for Buildings’ Inhabitants Through Natural Cooling and Ventilation Systems: Wind Towers
Providing a thermally comfortable environment within buildings is a matter of considerable importance today, since many individuals spend the majority of their time indoors and thermal comfort directly influences their productivity, health, well-being, and happiness. Currently, large numbers of conventional heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems, of different types, sizes, and capacities, operate worldwide to fulfil the thermal demands of buildings and create good indoor environmental quality (IEQ) for occupants. These systems use massive amounts of electrical energy globally, mostly supplied from fossil-fuel power plants, and consequently contribute markedly to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and air pollution. In contrast, natural cooling and ventilation systems such as wind towers or wind-catchers can aid not only in creating the conditions of indoor thermal comfort but also in lessening local, regional, and global environmental challenges (e.g., global warming and climate change) via reduced energy use in the building sector, especially during hours of peak demand. Wind towers can naturally ventilate and passively cool different types of buildings in both hot/warm, dry and hot/warm, and humid climates and also effectively decrease potential pathogen transmission (e.g., COVID-19) by providing fresh air and increasing the rate of inner air exchange. They also can help achieve sustainable habitats and well-being, particularly for economically disadvantaged communities that suffer from energy poverty. This chapter comprehensively examines various aspects of both traditional/conventional and modern wind towers, including their history, typologies, and components; their ventilation and thermal performance; their role in enhancing energy efficiency, and their ability to diminish energy costs in buildings. Also explored are possible combinations with other technologies such as renewable energy and energy storage systems to improve their performance. Innovative wind tower designs, either as stand-alone or hybrid air-conditioning (AC) systems, can be employed as a green and sustainable architectural element in new, modern dwellings.
Providing Thermal Comfort for Buildings’ Inhabitants Through Natural Cooling and Ventilation Systems: Wind Towers
Innovative Renewable Energy
Sayigh, Ali (editor) / Dehghani-Sanij, Alireza (author)
2022-10-30
32 pages
Article/Chapter (Book)
Electronic Resource
English
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