English

Uncertainty from occupant-related matters is typically shrugged off by building designers as beyond their control. However, evidence suggests that careful attention of designers can help prevent occupants from behaving in energy-intensive ways; not by policing their behaviour, but by improving comfort. This paper examines the concept of bi-directional robust design – an attempt to design systems to be as resistant as possible to the noise of inputs – as an objective.

Adaptation to climate change on an urban scale is important, as increases in temperature will be inevitable according to future climate scenarios. In this study, Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations are performed for the Bergpolder Zuid district in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. The simulations take into account wind flow, solar radiation, heat transfer and evaporative cooling. Two validation studies are performed; one for the surface temperatures and one for the evaporative cooling model.

The concept of a supply-air window is to allow air renewal circulating between glasses before entering inwards. Based on this principle, a part of heat transfer through the glasses is recovered by air renewal. Actually, the way to consider it in a building simulation code is not satisfactory. This article proposes a model that can be implemented easily in many building simulation codes. This model is based on the analytical solution of the problem of air circulating between isotherm panes differentially heated. It has been implemented in Buildings library of Modelica.

Recent computational improvements allow for wind and thermal simulations on more complex urban configurations. Their thermo-aeraulic features can now be investigated by more sophisticated CFD models, coupled with energy ones. By assessing more accurately micro-climatic conditions, their suitability for both human comfort and building energy consumption prediction is increased.  Such coupled studies already exist but are still scarce. They highlight the impact of urban morphology and its complexity on induced flow phenomena and radiative exchanges.