CFD modelling of double-skin façades with venetian blinds

This paper describes CFD modelling of Double Skin Façades (DSF) with venetian blinds inside the façade cavity. The 2-D modelling work investigates the coupled convective, conductive and radiative heat transfer through the DSF system. The angles of the venetian blind can be adjusted and a series of angles (0, 30, 45, 60 and 80 degrees) has been modelled. The modelling results are compared with the measurements from a section of façade tested within a solar simulator and with predictions from a component based nodal model. Agreement between the three methods is generally good. Discrepancies in  the results are generally caused by the simplification of the CFD model resulting less turbulence mixing within the façade cavity. The CFD simulation output suggests that the presence of the venetian blinds has led up to 35 percent enhancement in natural ventilation flow for the façade cavity and 75 percent reduction in heat loads for the internal environment. It was also found that little changes of the convective heat transfer coefficients on the glazing surfaces have been caused by the venetian blinds with different angles.