Climatology

L-5

-
Ar. Akshay Gupta
 Bio climatic analysis

Building bioclimatic charts

How wind is generated?

Wind is generated by pressure differences – so an air flow through

the building is the result of a pressure difference between the two
sides
Air – although light – has a mass (around 1.2 kg/m3), Pw = 0-612 × v²
and as it moves, has a momentum, which is
the product of its mass and its velocity (kg m/s).
Where,
When moving air strikes an obstacle such as a Pw = wind pressure in N/m2
building, this will slow down the air flow but the air v = wind velocity in m/s
flow will exert a pressure on the obstructing (the constant is Ns2/m4)
surface. This pressure is proportionate to the air
velocity, as expressed by the equation:
Laminar Air flow
Turbolant Air flow
Understanding wind movement
This slowing down process effects a roughly wedge-shaped
mass of air on the windward side of the building, which in
turn diverts the rest of the air flow upwards and sideways.

A separation layer is formed between the stagnant air and

the building on the one hand and the laminar air flow on
the other hand.

The laminar air flow itself may be accelerated at the

obstacle, as the area
available for the flow is 122 narrowed down by the
obstacle

At the separation layer, due to friction, the upper surface of

the stagnant air is moved forward, thus a turbulence or
vortex is developed.
Understanding wind movement

Due to its momentum, the laminar air flow tends to

maintain a straight path after it has been
diverted, therefore it will take some time to return to
the ground surface after the obstacle, to
occupy all the available 'cross-section'.

Thus a stagnant mass of air is also formed on the

leeward side, but this is at a reduced pressure.

In fact, this is not quite stagnant: a vortex is formed,

the movement is light and variable and it is often
referred to as 'wind shadow'.

On the windward side such vortexes are at an

increased pressure
Leeward side - reduced pressure
Air flow through buildings

A closed wind tunnel

Factors affecting Indoor air flow (both patterns and
velocities)

1. Orientation
2. External features
3. Cross-ventilation
4. Position of openings
5. Size of openings
6. Controls of openings
Orientation

A wind incidence of 45°

would reduce the pressure
by 50%.

However, been found by

Givoni, that a wind incidence
at 45° would increase the
average indoor air velocity
and would provide a better
distribution of indoor air
movement.

Effect of wind direction and inlet opening size on air velocity distribution
Orientation

In the second case a greater

velocity is created along the
windward faces, therefore
the wind shadow will be
much broader, the negative
pressure (the suction effect)
will be increased and an
increased indoor air flow will
result. Effect of direction on the width of wind shadow

Often, optimum solar orientation is not the

same is optimum orientation for wind
External features

Wind speed can be

reduced after a long
horizontal barrier by
50% at a distance of 10
times the height and

by 25% at a distance of
20 times the height.
External features

Section view of wind movement in urban area

Use of shelterbelts for summer wind protection
Passive Ventilation

Single-Sided Ventilation Cross Ventilation

Stack Effect through an Atrium
Cross ventilation

Lack of Cross Ventilation

With a windward opening and no outlet, a pressure similar to that in front of the building will be
built up indoors, which can make conditions even worse, increasing discomfort.

Air flow loses much of its kinetic energy each time it is diverted around or over an obstacle.
Several right-angle bends, such as internal walls or furniture within a room can effectively stop a
low velocity air flow
Position of openings

Pressure built-up at inlet

Air movement must be directed at the body surface.

Pressure build-up governs the direction of the indoor air stream

and this will be independent of the outlet opening position
Effect of opening position
Position of openings
Living Zone

Living Zone

Living Zone

Pressure built-up at inlet

Air movement must be directed at the body surface.

Living Zone
Pressure build-up governs the direction of the indoor air stream
and this will be independent of the outlet opening position
Effect of opening position
Position of openings

Air flow in two storey building

In a two storey building the air flow on the ground floor may be
satisfactory but on the upper floor it may be directed against
the ceiling.

One possible remedy is an increased roof parapet wall Effect of opening position
Size of openings
The largest air velocity will be obtained through a small
inlet opening with a large outlet

total wind force = pressure × area

Such an arrangement may be useful if the air stream is to be directed (as it

were focused) at a given part of the room.

When the inlet opening is large, the air velocity through it will be less, but
the total rate of air flow (volume of air passing in unit time) will be higher.

When the wind direction is not constant, or when air flow through the whole
space is required, a large inlet opening will be preferable.
Venturi Effect
Controls of openings
Sashes, canopies, louvres and other elements influence the indoor air flow pattern

Sashes can divert the air flow upwards. Only a casement or reversible pivot sash will
channel it downwards into the living zone

Canopies can eliminate the effect of pressure build-up above the window, thus the
pressure below the window will direct the air flow upwards. A gap left between the
building face and the canopy would ensure a downward pressure, thus a flow directed
into the living zone
Controls of openings
Sashes, canopies, louvres and other elements influence the indoor air flow pattern

Louvres and shading devices may also present a problem. The position of blades in a
slightly upward position would still channel the flow into the living zone (up to 20°
upwards from the horizontal)
 Plans in which internal wind speed will
be high but in which most of the space
remains unaffected.

Relocating outlets to sidewall

produces better wash of the interior.

Shifting intake window from centre of

facade results in deflection of interior air
current.

Orientation of openings Source: Watson, D. & Labs, K. 1983.

Wing Walls

Wing walls project outward next to a window, so that even a slight breeze
against the wall creates a high pressure zone on one side and low on the
other. The pressure differential draws outdoor air in through one open
window and out the adjacent one. Wing walls are especially effective on sites
with low outdoor air velocity and variable wind directions.
 Best Good Poor Poor
Different wing walls
of better and worse
effectiveness, on
same wall and
adjacent walls.

Image from Sun, Wind, and Light, p. 184 by G.Z. Brown and Mark DeKay
 A canopy over a window directs the
airflow upwards

A gap between it and the wall ensures a

downward flow

This is further improved in the case of a

louvred sunshade

Deflection by projecting slabs Source: Gut, P. & Ackerknecht, D. 1993.

Louvered door
Source: Watson, D. & Labs, K. 1983.
Wind shadows
Single storey buildings are placed in rows
in a grid-iron pattern, stagnant air zones
leeward from the first row will overlap the
second row.
A spacing of six times the building height
is necessary to ensure adequate air
Air flow: grid-iron lay-out
movement for the second row.

If the buildings are staggered in a checker-

board pattern, the flow field is much more
uniform, stagnant air zones are almost
eliminated

Air flow: checkerboard lay-out

Passive Design Stategies

The term “passive” refers to those design techniques which, in order to

enhance thermal comfort, utilize the favourable and minimize the
unfavourable elements of the local climate.

Using passive design building form and thermal performance of building

elements (including architectural, structural and passive mechanical) are
carefully considered and optimized for interaction with the local
microclimate.
Passive Cooling

Elements that contribute to passive cooling

include the following:
• Fixed/operable external shading
• Thermal mass
• Low window to wall area ratio (S/W)
• Passive ventilation
• Nocturnal cooling
• Stacked windows
• Passive evaporative cooling
• Earth-tempering ducts
Stack Effect

When air inside the room is warmer than

the outdoor air, it triggers the stack effect

The pressure inside is lower than it is

outside due to the lower density of
warmer air.
Night purge ventilation

Night-Purge Ventilation (or "night flushing") keeps

windows and other passive ventilation openings closed
during the day, but open at night to flush warm air out
of the building and cool thermal mass for the next day.

Night-purge ventilation is useful when daytime air

temperatures are so high that bringing unconditioned
air into the building would not cool people down, but
where night-time air is cool or cold. This strategy can
provide passive ventilation in weather that might
normally be considered too hot for it.
Successful night-purge ventilation is determined by
how much heat energy is removed from a building by
bringing in night-time air, without using active HVAC
cooling and ventilation.
Night purge ventilation - Limitations

Climatic conditions –
suitable for climates with a relatively large diurnal range

Usability –
opening and closing of all the openings every day can be tiresome

Rain –
coming in at night, damaging property or interior finishes.
can be addressed with overhangs, ventilation louvers with steep angles, and
other structural measures

Security problems
Solar Chimney
A solar chimney uses the sun's heat to provide cooling, using the stack effect. Solar heat gain warms a column
of air, which then rises, pulling new outside air through the building. They are also called thermal chimneys.
Thermal chimneys can also be combined with means of cooling the incoming air, such as evaporative
cooling or geothermal cooling.

Solar chimneys can also be used for heating, much like a Trombe wall is. If the top exterior vents are closed, the
heated air is not exhausted out the top; at the same time, if high interior vents are opened to let the heated air
into occupied spaces, it will provide convective air heating.