Natural and mixed ventilation design via CFD and architectural modeling

Numerical simulations and computational fluid dynamics can be usefully integrated with architectural modeling, providing designers with a powerful single CFD based architectural modeling and design framework. This framework can be interfaced with the building thermal performance modeling, integrating further fully thermal and flow domains within the architectural modeling. CFD analysis is generally restricted to the buildings environment flows or indoor single rooms and spaces flows study, and the designer must supply boundary conditions in the form of external and internal buildings envelope/ wall surface conditions. In the case of natural and mixed ventilation, this presents a fundamental problem as the outdoor and indoor boundary conditions are dynamic, inter-related and interactive via buildings architecture and in addition are dependent on external weather conditions and indoor environment control/related heat gains. Therefore, in this study both sides boundary conditions are dynamically described, and integrated CFD, BPS and architectural modeling, as a unique framework new design method, are developed, leading to natural and mixed ventilation energy efficiency optimization. In addition to the presented method, paper gives results of its implementation in designing the building complex in Belgrade. Finally, needs for further research and engineering development are outlined.