Study of a Ventilated Prototype Structure

Creating a computer model that is able to simulate different ventilation scenarios within a structure is essential for improving the understanding of passive designs that are both sustainable and environmentally acceptable. The purpose of this investigation was to build a prototype model that could be heated from both the outside and inside to duplicate an occupied structure during the morning hours. Two Computational Fluid Dynamic (CFD) models were created for this study to firstly compare and then validate results obtained from experimental data. This computer-based component consisted of approximately 20% of the overall investigation. The modelling program called FLUENT (version 6.0.12) was chosen. The geometry was created using a computer program called GAMBIT (version 2.0.4). The simulated outcome was made possible only after the analysis of experimental results was implemented to establish part of the boundary conditions. The findings enabled a better scientific understanding of how a structures thermal performance can be improved by mechanically forcing air (to simulate outside wind) inside to both lower and create an overall more uniform internal air temperature distribution.