DEPARTMENT OF ARCHITECTURE AND BUILT ENVIRONMENT

Dissertation: Built Environment (K14DIS UK)

AN INNOVATIVE COOLING ROOF THAT CAN MINIMIZE THE ENERGY

CONSUMPTION IN AN OFFICE BUILDING BY APPLYING PASSIVE AND
COOLING TECHNOLOGY STRATEGIES IN THE TROPICAL CLIMATE.

By:

Mauro Rodolfo Cepeda Ortiz

BSc in Architecture
Email: [email protected]

A dissertation submitted in partial fulfilment of the regulations for the degree of MSc in the
University of Nottingham, 2016

Master in Sustainable Building Technology

Student ID: 425988

September 2016
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 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I would like to acknowledge first of all to God for allowing me to accomplish another
important summit in my life, this process as well could not be completed without the
important and constantly support of my family during this significant year, especially thanks
to my parents. Also, a gratitude to my colleagues that during this year help me to understand
in a better way the technical issues that the master demand. Finally, I would like to express
my gratitude to the staff of The University of Nottingham and to the Secretary of Higher
Education, Science, Technology and Innovation (SENESCYT – acronym in Spanish) of the
Republic of Ecuador for sponsoring my postgraduate studies.

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 ABSTRACT

In the tropical climate due to the conditions that receive a large amount of solar radiation,
with high temperature, high level of relative humidity, the buildings have a highly energy
consumption as a consequence of the climatic conditions and the typical process of design
with materials that are applied in the development of the building. One of the main parts of
the building that receives during the year a high solar radiation is the roof, the roof as
consequence of the amount of heat that receive is overheated, and it is transmitted the heat
to the building, therefore the energy consumption of the building increases, this can be seen
in the increment of the cooling loads required for the roof, by this having a negative
reflection with the environment and the costs.

The passive strategies are fundamental to apply in this location, one of the important passive
strategies that need to have into account is the natural ventilation, the natural ventilation can
help to the building to reduce the cooling loads and also to give better internal conditions, as
well regarding to problem of the roof, the natural ventilation can generate an improvement
in terms of reduction of the temperature in the roof and also in the building, therefore by
using the natural ventilation as a strategy to reduce the temperature it can be seeing a
reduction in the cooling loads required for the roofs and the energy consumption of the
building.

The material configuration for the roof is important in order to understand how the U-value
can mitigate and reduce the heat by using for example reflective materials. It was found
during this evaluation that with the implementation of the combined passive strategies it can
have a proper cooling roof that can provide a reduction of 35.33% for the building of the
total energy consumption in comparison from the initial. As well as the roof it was found
that with an appropriate roof by applying the different combined passive configurations, it
can have a reduction of the cooling loads that required of 78.09% from the initial and typical
roof configuration, regarding to the roof with the appropriate configuration temperature if
was found that at a velocity of 2 m/s and 3 m/s it can be reduced in 6.4 K and 8.8 K
respectively finishing in 306.4 K and 304 K the roof temperature, the velocity and the
configuration of the form of the roof are two main factors important in order to provide a
better wind flow and an internal temperature reduction.

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 TABLE OF CONTENTS

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ............................................................................................... iii

ABSTRACT ........................................................................................................................ iv

LIST OF TABLES .............................................................................................................. vi

LIST OF FIGURES .......................................................................................................... viii

1 CHAPTER 1 - INTRODUCTION ............................................................................. 1

1.1 BACKGROUND. ........................................................................................................... 1

1.2 AIMS AND OBJECTIVES................................................................................................ 3
1.3 RESEARCH JUSTIFICATION. ......................................................................................... 3
1.4 DISSERTATION STRUCTURE......................................................................................... 4

2 CHAPTER 2 - LITERATURE REVIEW ................................................................. 4

2.1 GENERAL. ................................................................................................................... 4

2.2 PASSIVE ROOF COOLING TECHNOLOGY LITERATURE REVIEW . .................................... 6
2.2.1 VENTILATED AND MICRO VENTILATED ROOFS. .......................................................... 8
2.2.2 REFLECTIVE COOL ROOFS. ......................................................................................... 9
2.2.3 GREEN ROOFS. ........................................................................................................... 9
2.2.4 ROOF PONDS. ........................................................................................................... 10
2.2.5 ATTIC VENTILATED ROOFS. ...................................................................................... 10
2.2.6 CONCLUDING REMARKS. .......................................................................................... 12

3 CHAPTER 3 – RESEARCH METHODOLOGY. ................................................. 12

3.1 PROPOSAL OF EVALUATION. ..................................................................................... 12

3.2 EVALUATION METHODOLOGY. .................................................................................. 12

4 CHAPTER 4 – CASE OF STUDY. .......................................................................... 15

4.1 ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN. ........................................................................................ 15

4.1.1 ROOF INITIAL DESIGN............................................................................................... 18
4.1.2 INITIAL BUILDING MATERIALS ................................................................................. 19
4.2 CLIMATE OF THE LOCATION ........................................................................................ 20

5 CHAPTER 5 – SCENARIO 1 ANALYSIS. ............................................................ 24

5.1 ENERGY PERFORMANCE ANALYSIS OF THE INITIAL BUILDING .................................... 24

6 CHAPTER 6 – SCENARIO 2 ANALYSIS. ............................................................ 27

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 6.1 ENERGY PERFORMANCE ANALYSIS OF THE BUILDING CHANGING THE ORIENTATION ... 27
6.2 COMPARISON OF THE ENERGY ANALYSIS BETWEEN THE SCENARIO 1 AND 2 ............... 30
6.3 CONCLUDING REMARKS ............................................................................................. 31

7 CHAPTER 7 – SCENARIO 3 ANALYSIS. ............................................................ 12

7.1 ROOF GEOMETRIES OPTIONS ....................................................................................... 32

7.2 CFD EVALUATION OF ROOF GEOMETRIES FROM NORTH - EAST .................................. 35
7.2.1 ROOF A EVALUATION.............................................................................................. 37
7.2.2 ROOF B EVALUATION .............................................................................................. 41
7.2.3 ROOF C EVALUATION .............................................................................................. 45
7.2.4 ROOF D EVALUATION.............................................................................................. 49
7.2.5 ROOF E EVALUATION .............................................................................................. 53
7.3 COMPARISON OF THE CFD OUTCOMES FROM NORTH – EAST WIND CONDITIONS ....... 57
7.4 CFD EVALUATION OF ROOF GEOMETRIES FROM SOUTH - WEST ................................... 63
7.4.1 ROOF C EVALUATION .............................................................................................. 64
7.4.2 ROOF D EVALUATION.............................................................................................. 68
7.5 COMPARISON OF THE CFD OUTCOMES FROM SOUTH –WEST WIND CONDITIONS ....... 71
7.6 CONCLUDING REMARKS FROM THE CFD ANALYSIS ..................................................... 76
7.7 ENERGY PERFORMANCE ANALYSIS WITH THE UPGRADED ROOF .................................. 76
7.7.1 ROOF CONFIGURATION OPTIONS .............................................................................. 79
7.8 ENERGY ANALYSIS OF THE ROOF MATERIAL CONFIGURATIONS ................................... 80
7.8.1 MATERIAL A ............................................................................................................ 80
7.8.2 MATERIAL B ............................................................................................................ 81
7.8.3 MATERIAL C ............................................................................................................ 83
7.8.4 MATERIAL D ............................................................................................................ 85
7.8.5 COMPARISON OF ENERGY ANALYSIS OF THE MATERIALS ......................................... 87
7.9 CONCLUDING REMARKS FROM THE ENERGY ANALYSIS OF THE MATERIALS ................ 88

8 CHAPTER 8 - COMPARISON AND DISCUSSION ............................................ 88

8.1 COMPARISON OF THE ENERGY PERFORMANCE OF THE SCENARIO 1,2 AND 3. ............. 88

9 CHAPTER 9 – CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION ........................... 90

9.1 CONCLUSION. ........................................................................................................... 90

9.2 RECOMMENDATION .................................................................................................. 91

REFERENCES .................................................................................................................. 91

APPENDICES.................................................................................................................... 94
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 LIST OF TABLES
Table Page

1 Energy saving measures by global regions (Yeang, 2008) .......................................... 5

2 Analytical properties of the initial building (Revit, 2006) ......................................... 19

3 Climate table Puerto Ila – INAMHI (Anuario Meteorologico Nro 52-2012,2015) ... 21

4 Wind frequency table Puerto Ila – INAMHI (Anuario Meteorologico Nro 52-
2012,2015) ........................................................................................................................... 22

5 Monthly average wind speed at 10m above the surface (m/s)

(Eosweb.larc.nasa.gov,2016) ............................................................................................... 23

6 Building summary for the initial model heating and cooling loads (Revit 2016) ...... 24

7 Energy use intensity initial model (Revit 2016) ......................................................... 26

8 Building summary for the 45 degrees model heating and cooling loads (Revit
2016) .................................................................................................................................... 28

9 Energy use intensity (Revit 2016) .............................................................................. 30

10 Constants terrain factors for equation (Gan, 2016) .................................................... 36

11 Variables and conditions for the analysis ................................................................... 36

12 Building summary for the 45 degrees upgraded model heating and cooling loads
(Revit 2016) ......................................................................................................................... 77

13 Energy use intensity (Revit 2016) .............................................................................. 78

14 Material components for the improved roof (Revit 2016) ......................................... 79

15 Material “A”, configuration (Revit 2016) .................................................................. 80

16 Material “B”, configuration (Revit 2016) .................................................................. 82

17 Material “C”, configuration (Revit 2016) .................................................................. 83

18 Material “D”, configuration (Revit 2016) .................................................................. 85

19 Roof configurations cooling loads (Revit 2016) ........................................................ 87

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 LIST OF FIGURES
Figure Page

1 Modes of heat transfer (Asimakopoulos and Santamouris, 2013) .............................. 7

2 Air movement for traditional Malay house (Roslan et al., 2016) ................................. 8

3 Behaviour of incident rays on roof surfaces (Al-Obaidi, Ismail and Abdul Rahman,
2014) ...................................................................................................................................... 9

4 (a) Open roof pond without sprays; (b) open roof pond with sprays. (Sharifi and
Yamagata, 2015).................................................................................................................. 10

5 Comparison of a vented and unvented attic (Al-Obaidi, Ismail and Abdul Rahman,
2014) ................................................................................................................................... 11

6 South 3D model initial building (Revit, 2016) ........................................................... 16

7 West 3D model initial building (Revit, 2016) ............................................................ 16

8 Level 0 floor plan (Revit, 2016) ................................................................................. 16

9 Level 1 floor plan (Revit, 2016) ................................................................................. 17

10 Level 2 floor plan (Revit, 2016) ................................................................................. 17

11 Level 3 floor plan (Revit, 2016) ................................................................................. 17

12 Section B-B’ (Revit, 2016) ......................................................................................... 18

13 Section A-A’ (Revit, 2016) ........................................................................................ 18

14 Roof plan (Revit, 2016) .............................................................................................. 19

15 Ecuador location (Google Earth, 2016) ...................................................................... 20

16 Precipitation distribution 2012 Puerto Ila - INAMHI (Anuario Meteorologico Nro.

52-2012, 2015) .................................................................................................................... 21

17 Temperature distribution 2012 Puerto Ila - INAMHI (Anuario Meteorologico Nro.

52-2012, 2015) .................................................................................................................... 22

18 Annual wind rose (frequency distribution).Energy analysis results Revit 2016 ........ 22

19 Daylight for Santo Domingo de los Tsachilas (Weatherspark.com. 2016) ................ 23

20 Sun path for Santo Domingo de los Tsachilas (Gaisma.com, 2016) ......................... 24

21 Energy analysis, monthly heating load initial model (Revit 2016) ............................ 25

22 Energy analysis, monthly cooling load initial model (Revit 2016) ............................ 25
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23 Energy analysis, monthly roof cooling load initial model (Revit 2016) .................... 26

24 Energy analysis, monthly electricity consumption (Revit 2016) ............................... 26

25 Annual carbon emissions for the initial model (Revit 2016)...................................... 27

26 Annual energy use and cost for the initial model (Revit 2016) .................................. 27

27 Initial building rotated ................................................................................................ 28

28 Energy analysis, monthly cooling 45 degrees model (Revit 2016) ............................ 29

29 Energy analysis, monthly cooling 45 degrees model (Revit 2016) ............................ 29

30 Energy analysis, monthly electricity consumption (Revit 2016) ............................... 30

31 Annual carbon emissions, 45 degrees model (Revit 2016) ........................................ 30

32 Energy analysis, monthly cooling 45 degrees model (Revit 2016) ............................ 30

33 Peak and maximum cooling capacity and load comparison (Excel 2016) ................. 31

34 Annual roof cooling load and building annual electricity use comparison (Excel
2016) .................................................................................................................................... 31

35 Roof type A - Flat roof ............................................................................................... 32

36 Roof type B – Pitched roof ......................................................................................... 33

37 Roof type C – Pitched roof with two South – West outllets ...................................... 33

38 Hybrid roof, concave and convex roof ....................................................................... 34

39 Flat roof, natural ventilated ........................................................................................ 34

40 Roof analysis proposal North - East ........................................................................... 34

41 Roof analysis proposal South - West.......................................................................... 35

42 Computational geometry ............................................................................................ 37

43 Standard k-epsilon 2 (eqn). . (CFD Ansys Fluent, 2016) ........................................... 37

44 Roof A contours of static temperature (K). (CFD Ansys Fluent, 2016) .................... 38

45 Roof A contours of X velocity (m/s) (CFD Ansys Fluent, 2016) .............................. 39

46 Roof A vectors of velocity (m/s) (CFD Ansys Fluent, 2016) .................................... 40

47 Comparison of temperature in the roof “A” surface. (CFD Ansys Fluent, 2016) ...... 41

48 Average temperature comparison of the ceiling of the roof A (CFD Ansys Fluent,
2016) .................................................................................................................................... 41
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49 Roof B contours of static temperature (K). (CFD Ansys Fluent, 2016)..................... 42

50 Roof B contours of X velocity (m/s) (CFD Ansys Fluent, 2016) .............................. 43

51 Roof B vectors of velocity (m/s) (CFD Ansys Fluent, 2016)..................................... 44

52 Comparison of temperature in the roof “B” surface. (CFD Ansys Fluent, 2016) ...... 45

53 Average temperature comparison of the ceiling of the roof B (CFD Ansys Fluent,
2016) .................................................................................................................................... 45

54 Roof C contours of static temperature (K). (CFD Ansys Fluent, 2016)..................... 46

55 Roof C contours of X velocity (m/s) (CFD Ansys Fluent, 2016) .............................. 47

56 Roof C vectors of velocity (m/s) (CFD Ansys Fluent, 2016)..................................... 48

57 Comparison of temperature in the roof “C” surface. (CFD Ansys Fluent, 2016) ...... 49

58 Average temperature comparison of the ceiling of the roof C (CFD Ansys Fluent,
2016) .................................................................................................................................... 49

59 Roof D contours of static temperature (K). (CFD Ansys Fluent, 2016) .................... 50

60 Roof D contours of X velocity (m/s) (CFD Ansys Fluent, 2016) .............................. 51

61 Roof D vectors of velocity (m/s) (CFD Ansys Fluent, 2016) .................................... 52

62 Comparison of temperature in the roof “D” surface. (CFD Ansys Fluent, 2016) ...... 53

63 Average temperature comparison of the ceiling of the roof D (CFD Ansys Fluent,
2016) .................................................................................................................................... 53

64 Roof E contours of static temperature (K). (CFD Ansys Fluent, 2016) ..................... 54

65 Roof E contours of X velocity (m/s) (CFD Ansys Fluent, 2016) ............................... 55

66 Roof E vectors of velocity (m/s) (CFD Ansys Fluent, 2016) ..................................... 56

67 Comparison of temperature in the roof “D” surface. (CFD Ansys Fluent, 2016) ...... 57

68 Average temperature comparison of the ceiling of the roof D (CFD Ansys Fluent,
2016) .................................................................................................................................... 57

69 Comparison of the roof internal surface temperature K at velocity of 1 m/s (CFD

Ansys Fluent, 2016)............................................................................................................. 58

70 Comparison of the roof internal surface temperature K at velocity of 2 m/s (CFD

Ansys Fluent, 2016)............................................................................................................. 59

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71 Comparison of the roof internal surface temperature K at velocity of 3 m/s (CFD
Ansys Fluent, 2016)............................................................................................................. 59

72 Rake representation of the roof B (CFD Ansys Fluent, 2016) ................................... 60

73 Rake representation of the roof C (CFD Ansys Fluent, 2016) ................................... 60

74 Rake representation of the roof D (CFD Ansys Fluent, 2016) ................................... 61

75 Rake representation of the roof E (CFD Ansys Fluent, 2016) ................................... 61

76 Temperature rake 1 comparison of the roofs (CFD Ansys Fluent, 2016) .................. 62

77 Temperature rake 2 comparison of the roofs (CFD Ansys Fluent, 2016) .................. 62

78 Temperature rake 3 comparison of the roofs (CFD Ansys Fluent, 2016) .................. 63

79 Roof C contours of static temperature (K). (CFD Ansys Fluent, 2016)..................... 64

80 Roof C contours of X velocity (m/s). (CFD Ansys Fluent, 2016).............................. 65

81 Roof C vectors of velocity (m/s). (CFD Ansys Fluent, 2016).................................... 66

82 Comparison of temperature in the roof “C” surface. (CFD Ansys Fluent, 2016) ...... 67

83 Average temperature comparison of the ceiling of the roof C (CFD Ansys Fluent,
2016) .................................................................................................................................... 67

84 Roof D contours of static temperature (K). (CFD Ansys Fluent, 2016) .................... 68

85 Roof D contours of X velocity (m/s). (CFD Ansys Fluent, 2016) ............................. 69

86 Roof D vectors of velocity (m/s). (CFD Ansys Fluent, 2016) ................................... 70

87 Comparison of temperature in the roof “D” surface. (CFD Ansys Fluent, 2016) ...... 71

88 Average temperature comparison of the ceiling of the roof D (CFD Ansys Fluent,
2016) .................................................................................................................................... 71

89 Comparison of the roof internal surface temperature K at velocity of 1 m/s (CFD

Ansys Fluent, 2016)............................................................................................................. 72

90 Comparison of the roof internal surface temperature K at velocity of 2 m/s (CFD

Ansys Fluent, 2016)............................................................................................................. 72

91 Comparison of the roof internal surface temperature K at velocity of 3 m/s (CFD

Ansys Fluent, 2016)............................................................................................................. 73

92 Rake representation of the roof C (CFD Ansys Fluent, 2016) ................................... 73

93 Rake representation of the roof D (CFD Ansys Fluent, 2016) ................................... 74

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94 Temperature rake 1 comparison of the roofs (CFD Ansys Fluent, 2016) .................. 74

95 Temperature rake 2 comparison of the roofs (CFD Ansys Fluent, 2016) .................. 75

96 Temperature rake 3 comparison of the roofs (CFD Ansys Fluent, 2016) .................. 75

97 Energy analysis, monthly cooling 45 degrees upgraded model (Revit 2016) ............ 77

98 Energy analysis, roof monthly cooling load 45 degrees upgraded model (Revit
2016) .................................................................................................................................... 78

99 Energy analysis, monthly electricity consumption (Revit 2016) ............................... 78

100 Annual carbon emissions, 45 degrees improved model ............................................. 79

101 Energy analysis, monthly cooling 45 degrees improved model ................................. 79

102 Energy analysis, monthly electricity consumption (Revit 2016) ............................... 80

103 Annual carbon emissions, configuration A (Revit 2016) ........................................... 81

104 Energy analysis, monthly cooling configuration A (Revit 2016)............................... 81

105 Energy analysis, monthly electricity consumption (Revit 2016) ............................... 81

106 Energy analysis, monthly electricity consumption (Revit 2016) ............................... 82

107 Annual carbon emissions, configuration B (Revit 2016) ........................................... 82

108 Energy analysis, monthly cooling configuration B (Revit 2016) ............................... 82

109 Energy analysis, monthly electricity consumption (Revit 2016) ............................... 83

110 Energy analysis, monthly electricity consumption (Revit 2016) ............................... 84

111 Annual carbon emissions, configuration C (Revit 2016) ........................................... 84

112 Energy analysis, monthly cooling configuration C (Revit 2016) ............................... 84

113 Energy analysis, monthly electricity consumption (Revit 2016) ............................... 85

114 Energy analysis, monthly electricity consumption (Revit 2016) ............................... 86

115 Annual carbon emissions, configuration D (Revit 2016) ........................................... 86

116 Energy analysis, monthly cooling configuration D (Revit 2016)............................... 86

117 Energy analysis, monthly electricity consumption (Revit 2016) ............................... 87

118 Cooling load comparison of the configuration materials types. (Revit 2016) ........... 88

119 Comparison of the monthly energy consumption of the scenarios. (Revit 2016) ...... 89

120 Comparison of the monthly energy consumption of the scenarios. (Revit 2016) ...... 89
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CHAPTER 1 – Introduction

1.1 Background

“The tropical zone is an uncomfortable climate zone that receives a large amount of solar
radiation, high temperature, high level of relative humidity, and long periods of sunny days
throughout the year” (Al-Obaidi, Ismail and Abdul Rahman, 2014)

Due to this climatic conditions that this region has, the buildings have a highly energy
consumption and several problems in terms of the materials that are applied in order to
develop those buildings, “this effect is associated with the increase in energy consumption,
specifically the cooling issue, which is the primary in the region” (Al-Obaidi, Ismail and
Abdul Rahman, 2014). As an example of the energy consumption percentage of some
countries that are located in this region, it was found that in Thailand the residential, non-
residential and commercial buildings share approximately “one- fourth of the total electrical
energy consumption” (Rattanongphisat and Rordprapat, 2014). As well in South America,
in Brazil it was found that giving by the BEN 2009 (The Brazilian Energy Balance), “energy
consumption in the residential, commercial and public sectors, where most buildings are
found, represents 9.3% of the final energy consumption in Brazil”.(Carvalho, La Rovere and
Gonçalves, 2010). In Ecuador, it was found that the energy consumption of the residential
area is of 28.78% from the final consumption and the commercial and public services
21.78% (Iea.org, 2016.). In Singapore, a research by the Building and Construction
Authority indicate that the buildings account 57% of the total electrical consumption. (Al-
Obaidi, Ismail and Abdul Rahman, 2014), in Malaysia as well The Energy Commission in
2010 indicate that the residential sector consumes about 20% of the energy and a 23% of
that portion is destined to power the air conditioning and mechanical fans.

The architectural design of the form and its manufacture in terms of materiality and shape
of the building itself, are key to arrive at an appropriate design, in the tropical climate
specifically in the materials of the building it was found in the study of (Al-Obaidi, Ismail
and Abdul Rahman, 2014) that the most common materials and suitably used in that location
are the clay, wood, bamboo and some others local materials, but nowadays those materials
are not considered in the new cities that are being developed in that location, the materials
that are currently being used are the steel, concrete, glass, metals and other different
materials that are more suitable for other location than for the tropical climate. The design
involving the materials carry in some building issues like for example the new houses in
Malaysia suffer for a high level of heat. “Most of the cooling energy demands in the tropics

1
are directly related to building materials, particularly to the roofing area” (Al-Obaidi, Ismail
and Abdul Rahman, 2014).

By developing the architectural design including a correctly passive design for this location,
this can improve the performance of the building and reduce the energy consumption of the
building in order to obtain a low carbon building, talking as passive design there are options
that can be applied and need to be analysed which ones can be used in this location like an
appropriate daylight design, natural ventilation, glazing, the envelope of the building, the
roof materials etc., in order to have a better behaviour of the building and each space in that
location.

It was found in different research’s that with a well performed passive design in a building
it can mitigate and reduce in a considerable percentage the future energy consumption in the
building, it need to have into account that one of the priorities that can be applied in this
location is the passive cooling strategy of the building “The two important elements to be
considered carefully in tropical climate are the cooling technology and the electrical
appliances (including the lighting system)” (Rattanongphisat and Rordprapat, 2014). Is
important to address that with a well done passive design in a building does not eliminate
for example the use of mechanical ventilation, like the fan, but the energy consumption can
be highly reduced. As we know in the life process of a building the largest CO2 and energy
consumption occurs during the process of utilization.

It was found in different research’s that roofs receive during the year highly radiation due to
the location and the climatic conditions. “The heat transmitted through the roof of a building
and the poor passive design of the structure are the main reasons for discomfort of
occupants” (Roslan et al., 2016), “the amount of heat, which is transmitted from the roof
surface, creates a higher temperature in the upper part of the building” (Roslan et al., 2016).
We can say that in all the components of the building, the roof is one of the main issues that
need to be addressed and studied in order to achieve a better energy performance in the
building and an interior thermal control.

With the previous statements and explanation about the issue that happen in the buildings in
the tropical region, the purpose of this research is to show how with a well done passive
technology in a non-residential building, specifically in an office building can be reduced
the energy consumption during the year, in order to prove that is going to be evaluated the
performance of a typical office building in Santo Domingo de los Tsachilas – Ecuador and
2
then evaluate the office building with an upgrade design including a specific passive design
for this location, in order to analyse the influence of how the passive design technology can
reduce the energy consumption.

1.2 Aim and objectives

Due to the issue that were stated during the introduction about the problem in the buildings
in the tropical climate specifically with the cooling loads regarding the final energy
consumption. The aim of this work is to design an innovative cooling roof that can
minimize the energy consumption in the building during the year by applying a
combination of passive cooling technologies with natural ventilation. This would take
place with a case study of an office building in Santo Domingo de los Tsachilas – Ecuador
that has a tropical climate.

Objectives

In order to achieve this aim the objectives that will have are:

1. Review the passive roof cooling technologies that can be applied in this climate.
2. Analyse in its current state the building consumption and efficiency in this climate and
location, and the roof cooling loads required.
3. Apply and reconfigure with the most suitable roof passive strategies for the office
building.
4. Analyse and test the building improved in terms of energy efficiency, and focusing in
the cooling loads of the roof.
5. Comparison of the original building with the improved building, in order to understand
the differences and the achievement in terms of energy consumption.

1.3 Research justification

By looking and understanding to the future urbanistic building development it is clear that
the cities in a tropical climate are going to grow and the issues that the residential and non -
residential in terms of energy performance carry, will grow as well. It was found in a study
of the International energy agency (Iea.org, 2016) that in 2005 in Ecuador the energy
consumption demand of the residential area was of 3701 GWh, in 2010 increased to 5114
GWh and in 2013 to 5880 GWh we can see that this trend is growing with the years. This
demand can be mitigated with a well done passive strategy of the buildings and importantly
in the tropical climate of Ecuador setting which strategies can be better applied to a future

3
design of the buildings in that location and highly important to focus in the main issue of the
buildings that are the roofs.

1.4 Dissertation structure

This section meant to present the organization of the structure that this research has in order
that the reader can understand in a better way the following chapters.

The Chapter 1, will explain the introduction about the topic that is going to be analysed as
well with the background information, setting the aim and the objectives that are going to be
carried out during this research.

The Chapter 2, will explain the literature review of the passive cooling roof strategies that
can be applied in the tropical region, as well as the review of the cases that has been taken
in the research in those regions. Moreover, different findings from these studies are presented
as well as different point of view is have into account.

The Chapter 3 will contain the analysis and the proposal of the research methodology, with
the chapter 4 showing the case of study by following with the evaluation of the scenarios 1,
2 and 3, during the chapter 5, 6 and 7 of the building in order to validate the research
methodology. The Chapter 8 will present the discussion and comparison by general view of
the outcomes from the chapter 5, 6 and 7 .

Finally, the Chapter 9 will summarise the outcomes and the findings from the research and
propose in a way future areas that can have a further research or possible active applications
of the research.

CHAPTER 2 - Literature review.

2.1 General

In the tropical region, as it is known there is one of the largest landmasses in the world, and
urbanistic is rapidly growing and developing, in that way “architecture share common
problems” (Bay and Ong, 2006). The architecture in this context is converged with different
conflicts with the modernization and the local traditions, there are “massive influx of the
rural poor into urban areas, poorly managed urban development” (Bay and Ong, 2006).
Several studies in many cities located in the belt of the tropical climate around the world,
regarding the issues that nowadays the buildings have, agree that a correct passive design
can mitigate the energy consumption that the buildings in this cities have.

4
In that sense as it is established in the book of Ecodesign a manual for ecological design
(Yeang, 2008), there are passive comfort measures that can be applied in the design, we can
see in table 3 that the passive measurements can be the natural ventilation, the night
ventilation, evaporative cooling, heavy construction, lightweight construction, solar heating,
incidental heat, insulation/ permeability, solar control/shading and daylight. The
requirements that are more important in the tropical climatic zone are the natural
ventilation, the lightweight construction, the night ventilation, the solar control -
shading and the daylight.

Table 1. Energy saving measures by global regions (Yeang, 2008)

Table 3 confirm the statement of Rattanongphisat and Rordprapat that “The two important
elements to be considered carefully in a tropical climate are the cooling technology and
the electrical appliances (including the lighting system)” (Rattanongphisat and
Rordprapat, 2014). As an example of this, it was found in a research that the air mechanical
technologies in non-residential buildings in Brazil “are responsible for about 70% share of
their energy consumption”. (Carvalho, La Rovere and Gonçalves, 2010), this makes us
confirm that one of the main issues that may need to be have into account in a tropical climate
are the electrical facts and the cooling technologies cooling technologies. The cooling
passive technology is one of the most important requirements that need to have into account
in the design.
5
As part of this main issue that affects to the building in this climatic conditions, it was found
that the roofs are a critical part of the building envelope, because the roof receives highly
amount of radiation during the year, “roofs are highly susceptible to solar radiation and other
environmental changes” (Sadineni, Madala and Boehm, 2011). An element of the building
that is exposed to solar radiation received, absorb and store heat and then the heat gain is
conducted into the building, in a study about the envelope of the building it was found that
“the heat gains through the opaque envelope surfaces constitute about 30% (including 19%
through walls and 11% through roof) of the total power consumption for air conditioning of
the building”. (Zingre et al., 2015)

2.2 Passive roof cooling technology literature review

The passive cooling of buildings can contribute to the regulation and reduction of the cooling
that needs the buildings, in that way the measures that it needs to have into account are how
to avoid the overheating in the interior and the different strategies to reject the external
environment to the internal heat. (Asimakopoulos and Santamouris, 2013)

In order to create thermal control and avoid overheating in the buildings, there are three main
conditions that in the design should be taken into account:

1) The prevention of heat gains, should have into account and consider the correct
insulation of the envelope, the different shading devices or methods that can be applied
in the façade, the properties of the surface, such as the materials of the external surface.
It needs to have into consideration the external and the internal heat gains.
(Asimakopoulos and Santamouris, 2013)
2) The modulation of this gains can be achieved with the correct use of the materials in
order to create high thermal storage. (Asimakopoulos and Santamouris, 2013)
3) The heat rejection can be applied with four main conditions in order to keep the indoor
temperatures at comfortable levels through the day, these are the cooling with
ventilation, the radiative cooling, the evaporative cooling and the earth cooling.
(Asimakopoulos and Santamouris, 2013)

6
 Figure 1. Modes of heat transfer (Asimakopoulos and Santamouris, 2013)

In that sense it was found that with a well-done design envelope of a building, the different
cooling technologies in a tropical climate are important, as an example of the cooling
technologies one of the main outcomes of the investigation of Rattanongphisat, W., and
Rordprapat, W. (2014), are that the building energy consumption can be reduced by a 28%
“through the use of low thermal conductance material alone for a building wall”
(Rattanongphisat and Rordprapat, 2014).

Within the passive strategies is important to address that the natural ventilation in the
building design plays an important role because this can enhance the thermal comfort. “In a
warm and humid climate, the natural ventilation is important to improve the thermal comfort,
the outcomes shows that the natural ventilation can improve the thermal comfort from 50%
to 36%”. (Rattanongphisat and Rordprapat, 2014). The natural ventilation in a tropical
climate can enhance the thermal comfort of a building, is important that this two main factors
can be considered for the analysis of a building in this climate.

As it have been addressed in Chapter 1 that one of the main issues that were found is the
problems that can generate the roofs in terms of energy consumption and thermal control,
there are several studies carried for roofs in this climate that show that with a well done
passive cooling design can reduce the energy consumption and enhance the thermal control
in the interior of the building. There are different types of roofs that can be applied for a
passive design like the lightweight roofs, masonry roofs, vaulted roofs, ventilated and micro-
ventilated roofs, solar – reflective/ cool roofs, green roofs, attic/ventilated roofs and
photovoltaic roofs. However, not all of them can be applied in a tropical climate, during the
research it was found that the most suitable techniques that can be applied in a tropical
climate are the attic/ventilated roofs, ventilated roofs, micro ventilated roof, the solar –
reflective/cool roofs, green roofs and the photovoltaic roofs.

7
2.2.1 Ventilated and micro ventilated roofs

Figure 2. Air movement for traditional Malay house (Roslan et al., 2016)

The ventilated and micro ventilated roofs, with the natural ventilation the wind flow reduces
the heat transfer between the roof and the interior of the building, it was found in a study
that with a well done ventilated roof it can save 30% of energy (Sadineni, Madala, and
Boehm, 2011). Ventilated roofs can be achieved with stack effect (Sadineni, Madala, and
Boehm, 2011) and as well with the buoyancy effect (Tantasavasdi, Srebric and Chen, 2001).
To archive an appropriate indoor environment, it was found “the ventilation should provide
an indoor air velocity of 0.4 m/s if the aperture of the area were decreased to 25% the indoor
air velocity would be 0.3 m/s.” (Tantasavasdi, Srebric and Chen, 2001). As well it was found
that the ventilated roofs can create an important role by creating different air pressures
between the external and the internal surface of the building (Aflaki et al., 2015).

It was found that the natural ventilation technique is the dominant in the tropical climate, it
is ratified in the conclusion of Aflaki that “the natural ventilation in buildings showed the
stack effect and wind force to be the two main and basic principles to produce air movements
in the building” (Aflaki et al., 2015). However, the efficiency of this technique depends on
in the “vertical distance between inlet and outlet, two important criteria that affect the stack
effect” (Aflaki et al., 2015). As a conclusion for further studies, Aflaki suggests that some
important architectural elements that might produce interesting results are the studies in the
“design of louvered windows or different shapes of louvre to maximize the ventilation,
different shapes and apertures to produce greater air pressure differences” (Aflaki et al.,
2015).

8
2.2.2 Reflective cool roofs

The solar – reflective/cool roofs Figure 3, “highly solar reflectance and high emittance roofs”
(Sadineni, Madala, and Boehm, 2011), this type of roofs maintain the temperature in the
lower part of the roof and obstruct the conduction of the heat gains into the building. In order
to develop this types of roofs it need to have into account the solar reflectance of the roof
surface “reflectivity or albedo value and the infrared emittance or emissivity” (Sadineni,
Madala, and Boehm, 2011), It is mention that the typical SR values of the roofing materials
have a value of 0.05-0.25, it is mention that a good reflective material with a 0.50 SR value
but it was found that a very reflective material such as a metallic coating roof that is very
reflective with an SR value of 0.60 can be super-hot because the material can not emit the
absorbed heat. “The combination of a reflective cooling roof with an optimum roof pitch is
a strategy that aims to reduce the heat transfer” (Roslan et al., 2016). It is mention as well in
the study of Roslan that the colour of the roof surface is one of the important elements that
need to have into account because a dark colour can “absorb more heat than lighter ones”,
the lighter colour can reflect heat on its surface. Roslan showed in the analysis that a flat
roof is not the appropriate in a tropical climate, a 30° roof pitch is recommended for
maintenance a reflection, the studies recommend as well that a lighter colour is highly
recommended, but it needs to have into account that the effectiveness of the performance of
the reflective roof depends on the tilt of the roof. (Sadineni, Madala, and Boehm, 2011)
showed in the analysis that high reflective roofs are economical and can achieve cooling
loads in buildings saving from 5-40%.

Figure 3. Behaviour of incident rays on roof surfaces (Al-Obaidi, Ismail and Abdul Rahman, 2014)

2.2.3 Green roofs

Another important passive design strategy that needs to have into account is the green roof
system. The green roof system as well can have a huge impact in the building energy
reduction in terms of thermal performance, is well known that there are two different types
of green roofs, the extensive and the intensive green roofs, with the extensive green roofs
we can find that in hot months, the buildings that use typical cooling techniques show to
have a higher internal temperature than the building that use this passive cooling technology.
9
In the research of (Darkwa and Kokogiannakis, n.d.) it was found that with an extensive
green roof it can provide a better thermal performance in the building. “With good planting
medium properties for green roofs. The overall thermal performance showed that the green
roof provided an average temperature reduction of 3.3 ºC and 50% heat transfer reduction
during the hottest period of the year” (Darkwa and Kokogiannakis, n.d.). As we can see the
criteria to use this passive strategy as well need to have into account the economical and
building construction, but is important that the reduction during the year can be important
and can minimize the cooling loads during the year, it is important to mention that with a
properly use of the soil in this case of green roofs and types of plants can have a better
reduction around 5 ºC.

2.2.4 Roof ponds

There are other strategies that must be considered in the process of passive design like the
roof ponds, they can act such as a heating and cooling system in the building, under it the
different configuration of this passive strategy, this can have good effectiveness in the
reduction of heating and cooling loads in an edification. The roof ponds act like a direct
radiative cooling passive strategy. “The roof is the building element that absorbs the biggest
part of the solar radiation” (Asimakopoulos and Santamouris, 2013).
In the review of the research of Sharifi and Yamagata, it was found that “roof ponds can
provide year-round thermal comfort while reducing demand for active heating and cooling
systems.” (Sharifi and Yamagata, 2015). As we can see the roof ponds can be a benefit to
reduce the cooling loads in a building.

Figure 4. (a) open roof pond without sprays; (b) open roof pond with sprays. (Sharifi and Yamagata, 2015)

2.2.5 Attic ventilated roofs

In the tropical climates for the buildings another passive strategy is to ventilate the attic, due
to the overheating of the roof, the main problem is when the radiant energy, the heat that
comes directly from the sun and from the sky affects to the surface of the roof, the
temperature of the roof increases and the heat is directly transferred to the attic and therefore
10
for energy consumption of the building (Al-Obaidi, Ismail and Abdul Rahman, 2014). It was
found that a building with no attic ventilation in a typical day, with an outside temperature
of 32 °C, the roof temperature can be of 77 °C with a temperature at the attic floor of 60 °C
see the figure 5, this produces a directly uncomfortable ambient in the rooms under the
ceiling that face directly to the attic (Ibid). This can be mitigated directly with a heavier
insulation of the attic that can absorb all the heat that is transferred from the roof but
consequently the cost of the building rises.

Figure 5. Comparison of a vented and unvented attic (Al-Obaidi, Ismail and Abdul Rahman, 2014)

With a non-attic ventilation the problem is that during the night also all the heat that has been
transferred during the day is stored and the heat constantly is been transferred during the
night to the spaces under the ceiling that face to the attic, therefore the energy consumption
for the cooling loads increases and this is consequently seen in the increment of the bills of
the building.

For this conditions, the natural ventilation is a good alternative to dissipate the heat that is
stored in the roof and hence from the attic and ceiling, but there is a limitation with the
natural ventilation that is not constant and the velocity is always fluctuating, this can be
improved with the use of mechanical ventilation. By applying natural ventilation in the attic,
it can be an ideal technique in order to decrease the ceiling heat that is transmitted from the
roof (Manufactured Housing Research Alliance, 2002). The stack ventilation acts in the attic
as an important mechanism with the differences of pressure, this is caused due to the
difference of the temperature from inside and outside of the building (Khan, Su and Riffat,
2008), “the stack ventilation is dominant during periods of low wind speed” (Ibid.) For the
attic ventilated system it has different ventilation systems that can enhance the ventilation
on it such as the soffit vents, ridge vents, gable vents, gooseneck vents, roof turbines and
attic fans.
11
2.2.6 Concluding remarks

The natural ventilation has some limitations that can be mitigated such as the wind speed
and the direction but is important to highlight that with a minimum ventilation of 2 or 3 m/s
it can work appropriately. This study does not pretend to cover all the passive cooling roof
techniques that can be applied in the tropical climate, but in the literature review it can be
find that the natural ventilation and the reflective technique can be mixed and applied for a
further study in an innovative cooling roof by applying the pertinent techniques such as the
heat dissipation techniques and materials for the roof in order to evaluate the reduction of
energy consumption and the enhance of thermal comfort in the building.

Is important to highlight that the attic ventilated roofs, show a significant decrement in terms
of the roof temperature and the ceiling temperature in comparison of a non-ventilated attic,
if it is appropriated ventilated the attic such as with soffit vents, therefore the energy
consumption of the building due to the reduction of the cooling loads of the roof will have a
lower energy consumption and a better energy performance.

CHAPTER 3 – RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

3.1 Proposal of evaluation

By having into account the different passive cooling strategies of the roof can have, and the
importance of them that is established in the literature review, now we are able to determine
that it is important to propose an innovative cooling roof that can enhance with natural
ventilation the reduction of the annual energy consumption as well as improve the internal
temperature conditions of the building. As it is stated in the different studies of the literature
review we can determine that the best techniques that are going to be incorporated further
for this proposal are the naturally ventilated roof, the reflective roof, and the attic ventilated
roof, also one of the important factors is the modification of the roof shape of the roof that
can enhance a better ventilation. The main strategy is to propose a cooling roof with a
combination of these techniques that can enhance a reduction of the roof cooling loads by
then reducing the total energy consumption of the building, in the chapter 3.2 it will be
explained the evaluation methodology that is going to be conducted for the proposal.

3.2 Evaluation methodology

Before explaining the evaluation methodology, one of the important things that need to be
highlighted are the aim of this work that is to “design an innovative cooling roof that can

12
minimize the energy consumption in the building during the year by applying a combination
of passive cooling technologies strategies with natural ventilation”.

The evaluation methodology that will have to prove and analyse this aim and the proposal
established, first of all, is going to be analysed by creating three important scenarios that can
provide with the outcomes and then it can be able to compare between them. The scenarios
are related to the same building, they can be explained in the following:

 Scenario 1

The building case study will be evaluated in terms of energy consumption and performance
in the specific climate and location with a relevant software’s, such as Revit 2016, the
importance of using this software is that it can be analysed all the functions that it used to
do it with Ecotect analysis, such as the solar analysis, sun and shadow studies, daylight and
lighting, thermal performance, whole building energy analysis, weather data visualization.
(Knowledge.autodesk.com, 2016).

The most important feature for this evaluation is that with the software Revit 2016 it can be
analysed the whole building in terms of energy analysis and by that determine the
consumption that generates the roof, such as the energy consumption of the roof and the
monthly cooling loads that this evaluation is looking for. In the outcomes of the energy
analysis it can be obtained the wind frequency of this location, with this outcome we can
determine the best orientation of the building that can enhance a good natural ventilation.

 Scenario 2

In order to generate an innovative natural ventilated cooling roof for this building in the
tropical climate, it is important that the building is orientated to the side that receives a more
frequency of the wind during the year.

During the scenario 2, the building will be correctly oriented in order to enhance the wind
conditions of the location. The rotated building will be analysed in terms of energy
performance with the software Revit 2016, during the analysis the building will not have any
change in terms of materials and in the shape of the building, the important factor that is
going to be analysed is how the rotation to the most frequently wind conditions in order to
enhance the natural ventilation in the building affects the energy performance of the
building.

13
  Scenario 3

After rotated the building to the most frequent wind conditions of the location, now it can be
tested designed and evaluated the roof proposal that is going to improve the performance of
the building by reducing the energy consumption.

In first instance is going to be designed five proposals by an architectural way by having into
account the form and shape of the roof that it will be needed to be enhanced the wind flow,
as well it need to have into account the different material conditions according to the
reflective materials and importantly of the U value configuration of the roof, all of this
parameters will need to focus on the material conditions that can enhance a reduction of the
energy consumption in the roof.

The five roof geometrical proposals are going to be evaluated in CFD Ansys Fluent in order
to understand the behaviour of the roof shape with the wind conditions of the location, the
conditions that mainly are going to be evaluated in CFD by steady conditions for the roofs
are the wind speed at 1, 2 and 3 m/s from the north – east and from the south - west, in order
to analyse the roof and attic temperature reduction and the inner roof behaviour with the
wind speed. After evaluating all the roofs proposals it can determine which roof provides
with a better wind flow and temperature reduction for a better improvement in the building.

With the appropriate roof that was determined with the parametric analysis in CFD Ansys
Fluent, now with the building of the scenario 2, it will be improved with the appropriate roof
and analysed in Revit 2016 in terms of the energy performance. It is important to mention
that in this evaluation, are going to be analysed four different types of roof materials by
having into account the U- value of the material configuration, in order to understand which
of them provides a better energy performance in the building and mainly the reduction of
the cooling loads required for the roof.

The improved building with the appropriate roof and material will be compared with the
Scenario 1 and 2 in order to see how with the improvement of the roof in the building can
reduce the total energy consumption of the building and enhance a better performance.

To sum up, these are the following steps that the evaluation process will have:

Scenario 1

1. Energy analysis of the initial building case of studies in Revit 2016.

2. Analysis of the cooling loads of the roof.
3. Analysis of the annual electrical consumption of the building.
14
Scenario 2

1. Energy analysis in Revit 2016 of the initial building with the most frequent wind
conditions in the location obtained by Revit 2016.
2. Analysis of the cooling loads of the roof.
3. Analysis of the annual electrical consumption of the building.
4. Comparison and analysis between the two scenarios.

Scenario 3

1. Five geometrical roof design proposals.

2. CFD Ansys fluent evaluation under steady conditions of the parametric evaluation
of the roof proposals.
3. Parameters that are going to be analysed in CFD Ansys fluent: Wind speed at 1, 2 3
m/s coming from the North – East and from the South – West.
4. Comparison of the roof proposals at different parameters in order to determine the
appropriate roof.
5. Energy analysis in Revit 2016 of the building determines in the scenario with the
appropriate roof.
6. Determine the types of roof material configurations that can be suitable for the
location.
7. Energy analysis in Revit 2016 of the improved building with the different roof
material configurations.
8. Comparison of the energy analysis of the building with the changes in the
configuration of the materials.

Comparison between the scenario 1, 2 and 3 in order to analyse the energy consumption of
them, this final comparison is important because it can show if with the improved design of
the roof it can be reduced the energy consumption of the building during the year.

CHAPTER 4 – CASE OF STUDY

4.1 Architectural design

The initial building is an office building that is located in Santo Domingo de los Tsachilas.
The architectural design is important to understand, as it can be seeing in the 3D model of
figure 6 and 7, the building is conformed by four floors, the west façade that is the main
access façade of the building is composed of a glazing wall that enhances and provide with

15
natural light. The roof as it can be seeing is the typical roof that many others building offices
have in that location, further the roof will be explained in detail.

Figure 6. South 3D model initial building (Revit, 2016) Figure 7. West 3D model initial building (Revit, 2016)

As it was explained the building is conformed by four floors and it can be explained in the
following: in figure 8 it can be seeing the level 0 or ground floor that contains: the main
entrance, two offices, two elevators, one main stair with a space of natural ventilation and a
toilet, this rooms follow the considerations of the basic design of the building.

Figure 8. Level 0 floor plan (Revit, 2016)

In figure 9, as it is explained, the floor plan distribution for the level 1 contains a common
area with a public balcony, three offices, a restroom, two elevators and the main stair that
will enhance the natural ventilation. The level 2 distribution as it can be seeing in figure 10,
contains the same rooms but with one more office.
16
 Figure 9. Level 1 floor plan (Revit, 2016) Figure 10. Level 2 floor plan (Revit, 2016)

The level 3 as it can be seeing in figure 11, contains the same spaces as the other levels but
with slight changes: Now it have five offices connected with a corridor with a toilet.

Figure 11. Level 3 floor plan (Revit, 2016)

The sections A-A’ and B-B’ show us the different connections that the floors have between
them it can be seeing as well the internal measures of the levels, the internal measure from
3.00m to 2.74m it varies for the ceiling that has this level.

17
 Figure 12. Section B- B’ (Revit, 2016)

In figure 13, the section A-A’ can show us the importance of the public balcony that is
located in the level 1 of the building, the level number 1 and 2 are important in terms of
climatic conditions, the geometry that these levels have can enhance a better internal
temperature comfort conditions.

Figure 13. Section A-A’ (Revit, 2016)

4.4.1 Roof initial design

The material components of the initial roof are the steel purlins + metal panel + roofing felt,
the total of these materials make a thickens of the roof of 0.26 cm, with a heat transfer
coefficient value (U) of 21.68 W/(m2.k), the thermal resistance (R) is of 0.04 (m2.k)/W and
a thermal mass of 87.60 (kJ/W).

18
The initial roof as it can be seeing in figure 14 is a compressed flat roof without any natural
ventilation and with a high U-value coefficient. The measures of the roof are 12.85 m x
15.43, with an area of 198.27 m2.

Figure 14. Roof plan (Revit, 2016)

4.1.2 Initial building materials

It is important to mention the initial materials of the building, these initial building materials
are the following that are shown in table 2. In this table it can be seeing the analytical
properties of the materials, it is important to see that the material of the roof has a high U-
value of 21.68 W/(m2.k) due to the components that it has.

Table 2. Analytical properties of the initial building (Revit, 2016)

The analytical properties of each material were obtained from the analysis of the building
with the software Revit 2016, the values for the heat transfer coefficient (U), thermal
resistance (R), and the thermal mass. It is important to mention that during the analysis with

19
Revit 2016 is going to be analysed with the values that the software provides, due that the
analysis is focus in the energy performance and consumption of the building.

4.2 Climate of the location

Ecuador has an area of 283,520 km2, including the Galapagos Islands. Ecuador borders in
the east and south with Peru and in the North with Colombia, Ecuador is located in the
between the latitudes 2°N and 5°S. (Wikipedia, 2016) The country of Ecuador in their
biodiversity has four main geographic zones: the coast region, the highlands, the amazon
and the insular zone that contains the Galapagos Islands.

Figure 15. Ecuador location (Google Earth, 2016)

In the geographical regions of Ecuador, there has an incredible climatic biodiversity that is
determined by the altitude of the zones, we can define that in Ecuador there are climates like
the tropical climate, sub-tropical climate warm climate, cold climate, highlands climate and
the coast climate.

In Ecuador Santo Domingo de los Tsachilas is located at the coordinates 00°15’15’’S and
79°10’19’’W, this city is located at an altitude of 625 m above the sea, this city has a tropical
climate that has significant rain falls during the months, the average temperature during the
year is of 24.6°C and it has about 3337.9 mm of precipitation falls per year, the climate data
that is explained is obtained from the meteorological station “Puerto Ila – Inamhi” that is
located at the coordinates 0°28’34’’S and 79°20’20’’W . (Anuario Meteorologico No. 52-
2012, 2015)

In the climate table, 3 of Santo Domingo de los Tsachilas we can find that the driest month
is during the month of September with a precipitation of approximately of 11.7 mm, the
highest precipitation during the year is in the month of February with an approximately
707.3 mm. The maximum temperature was recorded during the month of November with

20
33.6 °C and the minimum during August of 18.9 °C. The annual average relative humidity
is 87%.

Table 3. Climate table Puerto Ila - INAMHI (Anuario Meteorologico Nro. 52-2012, 2015)

Table 3. Climate table Puerto Ila - INAMHI (Anuario Meteorologico Nro. 52-2012, 2015)

It can be confirmed with the figure 16 the distribution of the precipitation during the year
2012 that the month that has more precipitation is February and the lowest is during
September.

Figure 16. Precipitation distribution 2012 Puerto Ila - INAMHI (Anuario Meteorologico Nro. 52-2012, 2015)

21
As a tropical climate is confirmed that during the year the temperature is almost the same
with an approximate variation of 2 °C, it can be seen in figure 17 that the highest temperature
in the monthly average is during the month of April with 25.8 °C and the minimum in
October with 23.8 °C.

Figure 17. Temperature distribution 2012 Puerto Ila - INAMHI (Anuario Meteorologico Nro. 52-2012, 2015)

In table 4, this information can be validated in the appendix 1-A, we can see the annual
average velocity for this location is of 1.0 km/h, the majority wind velocity speed frequency
it was found that comes from the North East with an average velocity of 3 m/s.

Table 4. Wind frequency table Puerto Ila - Inamhi (Anuario Meteorologico Nro. 52-2012, 2015

Figure 18. Annual wind rose (frequency distribution). Energy analysis results Revit 2016.

22
The table 4 information can be confirmed as well by the energy analysis data obtained from
Revit 2016, with the annual wind rose (frequency distribution). Figure 18.

For this analysis it is important to understand properly the conditions of the wind speed in
this location at a considerable altitude regarding to the dimensions of the building, in that
order it was found in the NASA surface meteorology and solar energy tables
(Eosweb.larc.nasa.gov, 2016), that the average speed velocity of the wind at 10 m/s above
the surface is of 2.03 m/s as it can be seeing in Table 5.

Table 5. Monthly average wind speed at 10m above the surface (m/s) (Eosweb.larc.nasa.gov, 2016)

One of the important factors that we need to have into account are the conditions of the sun
that we have at this location. As we can see in figure 19, the daily hours of the daylight and
twilight, the period of the day don’t have an important variation during the year, by having
9 minutes of 12 hours of the day does not vary substantially over course of the year. During
December 21st is the shortest day with an amount of daylight of 12:07 hours, the longest day
on June 20th is the longest day with an amount of daylight of 12:09 hours
(Weatherspark.com, 2016)

As we can see in figure 19 below “The earliest sunrise is at 5:54 am on November 2 and the
latest sunset is at 6:32 pm on February 10. The latest sunrise is at 6:25 am on February
13 and the earliest sunset is at 6:01 pm on November 1.” (Weatherspark.com, 2016)

Figure 19. Daylight for Santo Domingo de los Tsachilas (Weatherspark.com, 2016)

23
 Figure 20. Sun path for Santo Domingo de los Tsachilas (Gaisma.com, 2016)

In figure 20, it can be seeing the sun path for this location, with this sun path it can be
confirmed the information that is given by (Weatherspark.com 2016).

CHAPTER 5 – SCENARIO 1 ANALYSIS

5.1 Energy performance analysis of the initial building.

In this chapter will be analyzed the base building model in terms of energy performance at
the location of Santo Domingo de los Tsachilas in Ecuador.

First of all, in the location of Santo Domingo de los Tsachilas the Building was tested under
the initial building base conditions that were established in chapter 3.2, the loads report for
heating and cooling loads can be seeing in table 6.

Table 6. Building summary for the initial model heating and cooling loads (Revit 2016)

The total peak cooling load of the building is 32.277 W with a maximum cooling capacity
of 32.427 W, for the peak heating load we have that a result of 0 W. It is important to mention

24
that the peak heating load under this climatic conditions may be 0 W because is a tropical
climate.

In that order the outcomes that were given by the energy analysis of Revit 2016 in terms of
the heating loads, cooling loads, and the energy consumption are the following:

Figure 21. Energy analysis, monthly heating load initial model (Revit 2016)

It can be confirmed in figure 21 the value for the monthly heating load for this building is 0
W. In the figure 22 it can be seeing the monthly heating load that is required for the different
components of the building, containing the walls, roofs, internal surroundings, underground
surroundings, infiltration, windows, occupants, light fixtures and misc. equipment.

We can see in figure 22 that especially for the roof of this building it has a consumption of
cooling loads during the year with an average of 9000 MJ per month. The walls as well are
a component that has a high consumption during the year of an average of 7000 MJ per
month, the windows have the main consumption in the building with an average of 40000
MJ per month. It can be determined that the three components are important in terms of
reduction of the energy consumption of the building.

Figure 22.Energy analysis, monthly cooling load initial model (Revit 2016)

25
The figure 23 shows the monthly roof cooling load for the initial building, it is important to
show and mention that during May and October the cooling load increases due to summer,
it can be seeing that the roof demand varies from 6000 MJ during January and increases to
reach a peak of 12000 MJ during July, then decreases to 6000 MJ during December.

M o nt hl y r o o f co o l i ng l o a d i n t i a l bui l di ng
14000

12000

10000

8000
MJ

6000

4000

2000

Figure 23.Energy analysis, monthly roof cooling load initial model (Revit 2016)

In table 7, it can be seeing that the total energy use intensity for this building is 892 MJ/sm/yr,
it can be seeing that the electricity use intensity of 242 Kwh/sm/yr is one of the huge values
that affect to the total.

Table 7. Energy use intensity initial model (Revit 2016)

Figure 24.Energy analysis, monthly electricity consumption (Revit 2016)

Figure 24 shows the monthly electricity consumption of the building during the year, it can
be seeing that variation depends on by different components such as the occupants, windows,

26
the walls, floors and the roof. The total electricity consumption for the initial building is of
141689.67 (kWh). See the information per month in the appendix 1-A

Figure 25. Annual carbon emissions for the initial model (Revit 2016)

The figure 25 can show us the annual carbon emission of the building, the electricity
consumption of 19 (metric tons /yr) is one of the main characteristics that need to be reduced.
By reducing the electricity consumption of the building it can be reduced the Net of CO2 of
12 (metric tons/ yr).

It is important to mention that the annual electricity use for this building is of 141.689 kwh,
it can be seeing in figure 26 that the electricity use of this building is about 98% of the total
use. This graph confirms us the information given in figure 24.

Figure 26. Annual energy use and cost for the initial model (Revit 2016)

CHAPTER 6 – SCENARIO 2 ANALYSIS

6.1 Energy performance analysis of the building changing the orientation.

It is important to understand the wind conditions that this location has, by knowing the
natural wind conditions that this location has it can be improved and enhanced in terms of
natural ventilation of the building and therefore the reduction of the energy consumption of
27
the building. One of the important conditions that the naturally ventilated roof need to have
is that this roof needs to face to the most frequency wind distribution in the location, it can
be seeing in chapter 3.3 that the high wind frequency comes from the NE.

In that order the building was rotated 45 degrees to the Northeast to change the orientation
to enhance the natural wind conditions of the location, the same properties maintained and
only the orientation was changed, as it can be seeing in figure 27.

Figure 27. Initial building rotated.

The rotated building was tested in Revit 2016, in the table 8 it can be seeing that the total
peak cooling load is 31.477 W with a maximum cooling capacity of 31.608 W, for the peak
heating load we have that a result of 0 W. It is important to mention that the peak heating
load under this climatic conditions may be 0 W because is a tropical climate.

Table 8 Building summary for the 45 degrees model heating and cooling loads (Revit 2016)

28
It can be seeing in figure 28, especially in the roof and walls of this building that have a high
consumption of cooling loads, for the roof during the year the consumption have an average
of 7000 MJ per month The walls during the year show that the consumption have an average
of 5500 MJ per month and the windows an average of 20000 MJ per month. It can be
determined that these two main components are important in terms of reduction of the energy
consumption of the building.

Figure 28. Energy analysis, monthly cooling 45 degrees model (Revit 2016)

The figure 29 shows the monthly roof cooling load for the initial building, it can be seeing
that the roof demand varies from 5000 MJ during January and increases to a peak of 10100
MJ during July, then decreases to 5500 MJ during December.

M o nt l hy r o o f co o l i ng l o a d ro t a t e d bui l di ng
12000

10000

8000
MJ

6000

4000

2000

Figure 29. Energy analysis, monthly cooling 45 degrees model (Revit 2016)

In table 9, it can be seeing that the total energy use intensity for this building is 772 MJ/sm/yr,
it can be seeing that the electricity use intensity of 209 Kwh/sm/yr.

29
 Table 9. Energy use intensity (Revit 2016)

Figure 30. Energy analysis, monthly electricity consumption (Revit 2016)

Figure 30 shows the monthly electricity consumption of the building during the year, the
total electricity consumption for the rotated building is of 107230.044 (kWh). See the
information per month in the appendix 1-B.

In figure 31, it is shown the annual carbon emission of the building, the electricity
consumption has 14 (metric tons /yr). The total Net of CO2 is of 8 (metric tons/ yr).

The annual electricity use for this building is of 107.230 kWh, it can be seeing and confirmed
in figure 32 that the electricity use of this building is about 97% of the total use.

Figure 31 Annual carbon emissions, 45 degrees model (Revit 2016) Figure 32. Energy analysis, monthly cooling 45 degrees model (Revit 2016)

6.2 Comparison of the energy analysis between the scenario 1 and 2.

After the first analysis of the building and the basic changing of the orientation of the
building in order to enhance the wind conditions, it can be made and important comparison
regarding to the peak cooling capacity and the maximum cooling load, as we can in figure

30
33 the rotated building provides a reduction of the peak cooling load of 800 W and the
reduction of the maximum cooling capacity of 819 W.

P e ak and ma x i mu m c o o l i n g c a pa c i t y a n d l o a d
c o mp a r i s o n
32600
32400
32200
32000
(W)

31800
31600
31400
31200
31000
Peak cooling load (W) Maximum cooling capacity (W)

Initial Building Rotated Building

Figure 33. Peak and maximum cooling capacity and load comparison (Excel 2016)

The Figure 34 clearly can show us the roof monthly cooling load reduction between the
initial and the rotated building, the reduction is of 15153.76 MJ a 13.84% from the initial
roof cooling load of 109670.19 MJ, and the annual electricity use of the building as well
with a reduction of 124052.4 MJ a 24.32% from the initial building annual electricity use of
510080.4 MJ.

Ro o f a nnua l c oo li ng lo a d a nd bui lding a nnua l

el ectr ici ty use co mpa ri s o n
600000

500000

400000
MJ

300000

200000

100000

0
Annual roof cooling load (MJ) Annual electricity use (MJ)

Initial Building Rotated Building

Figure 34. Annual roof cooling load and building annual electricity use comparison (Excel 2016)

6.3 Concluding remarks.

By only making the appropriate rotation of the building, in order to enhance the natural
conditions of the site, it can be seeing in the analysis that the annual electricity consumption

31
of the building is reduced by 24.32% as well as the roof annual cooling load is reduced to a
13.84%, it is important to mention that by providing the natural conditions of the site to the
building it can have a better performance. Now with the improvements of the roof that are
going to be analysed further during the chapter 3, in terms of proposing an innovative natural
ventilated roof, it is expecting that the reduction of the energy consumption can be important.

CHAPTER 7 – SCENARIO 3 ANALYSIS

7.1 Roof geometries options.

For the scenario 3 is important to mention that for the building it can be analysed different
types of roofs that can enhance the natural wind conditions on it and therefore reduce the
heating of them and the building. For this analysis, it was established to analyse five different
types of roof including the actual roof of the building. The purpose of this analysis is to
determine which of these different roofs figure 16 and 17 can provide a better performance
to the building.

It was determined for the evaluation geometries of roof shapes that are typical for the design
in the region, that are mixed with an attic, as it was mention in the literature review the attic
is highly important in order to enhance a better temperature in this climatic conditions, the
typical roof geometries are symmetrical and in occasions unsymmetrical, in that order it was
defined for the evaluation the following types of roof shapes that for schematic reason the
roof types were named as A, B, C, D and E, it is important to mention that the roofs are
explained in a section of the building geometry:

Roof type A

The roof type A figure 35, a flat roof, the mention roof is the same that is provided in the
design of the initial building model. This roof doesn't have any natural ventilation and is
completely attached to the building.

Figure 35. Roof type A – Flat roof.

32
Roof type B

The roof type B figure 36, is a pitched roof, with a tilt of 15°, that create an attic with
openings in both sides in order to have soffit vents, one that work as an inlet and the other
as an outlet, the measures are of 0.15cm each opening and with an internal maximum space
of 1.94 cm, it is important to mention that the roof it was designed the openings in order to
create with natural ventilation the reduction of the heat of the roof and most important of the
internal space of the building.

Figure 36. Roof type B – Pitched roof.

Roof type C

The roof type C figure 37, has the same features as the roof type B, with one difference that
in one side that is facing to the South – West have opening that act and provide as an outlet,
the measures of the inlet and outlet remains as normal of 0.15cm and the South – West outlet
of 0.47 cm.

This roof has an important characteristic that is designed in order to provide a better natural
flow ventilation in the internal space between the roof and the ceiling of the last floor of the
building.

Figure 37. Roof type C – Pitched roof with two South – West outlets.

33
Roof type D

The roof D, figure 38 is a hybrid roof concave and a convex roof that is designed to enhance
the natural wind flow in the internal space of the roof (attic), this design provides a more
important dynamic movement of the wind in the roof. This roof as well is provided of soffit
vents, the measures for the inlet is 0.48 cm and the outlet of 0.15 cm, the internal maximum
difference is of 1.67 cm.

Figure 38. Hybrid roof, concave and convex roof.

Roof type E

The roof type E, figure 39, is a flat roof natural ventilated with soffit vents, with an inlet and
outlet of measures of 0.15cm each one, is important to highlight that with this modification
of the initial flat roof is going to have an important reduction of the internal temperature.

Figure 39. Flat roof, natural ventilated.

The analysis of the roof geometries proposal will be made in accordance with the orientation
that the roof is located, from North – East figure 40, and from South – West figure 41. From
north – east is important to highlight that is the side for more wind frequency and the south
– west is the possible side that can be natural ventilated.

Figure 40. Roof analysis proposal North - East.

34
 Figure 41. Roof analysis proposal South - West.

7.2 CFD evaluation of roof geometries from north - east

The CFD analysis of the roof geometries is important to be conducted due to the outcomes
that can be achieved for the purpose of this paper. The motive of the analysis to be conducted
in CFD Ansys Fluent is to analyse the effect of the roof shape in order to reduce the
temperature of the internal surface of the roof with natural ventilation, and to investigate the
wind behaviour within the inner space between the roof and the ceiling surface (attic), it
seeks to analyse the variation and reduction of the temperature of the roof and the wind
velocity that can enhance each roof in order to reduce the velocity and the temperature in the
inner space, in order to determine which roof provides a better internal wind flow in order
to ventilate in a properly way the roof and to enhance an appropriate temperature reduction.
The analysis that was conducted for this study is with the parameters of wind-driven natural
ventilation CFD (Gan, 2016) under steady conditions, the conditions for the evaluation are
the following:

Constants for the analysis:

 Outdoor air temperature : 25° C – 298 K

 Building temperature: 30° C – 303.15 K
Air properties:
 Air density at 25° C: 1.1849 (kg/m3)
 Specific heat (Cp) at 25°C : 1006.43 ( J/kg.K)
 Density at 25° C: 1.1845 (kg/m3)
 Thermal conductivity at 25° C: 0.025(W/m.K)
 Viscosity at 25° C: 1.8444 (kg/m.s)
 Heat gain of the roof: 40 W/ m2
 Ceiling of the last floor heat gain: 20 W/m2

Variables and conditions figure 44:

 Velocity: 1m/s, 2 m/s, 3 m/s

 Height conditions of the building with the roof proposal.
35
For the analysis of the wind-driven natural ventilation, it is important to calculate the wind
speed at the height of the building site, in that order, it can be calculated with the following
equation 1.

𝑽𝒓 = 𝑽𝒎 × 𝒌 × 𝒛𝒂 (1)

Where,

Vr is the wind speed at a building site. Vm is the wind speed measured at a weather station.
Z is the height of the building from the ground. k,a – constant terrain factors for the
equation.

Table 10. Constants terrain factors for equation (Gan, 2016)

For the analysis it was established that is going to be calculated with three different wind
velocities at 1 m/s, 2 m/s, 3 m/s, due to the average wind velocity in the location during the
year is of 3 m/s. For the constants of the terrain factors, due that building is located in an
urban area it was defined to use k = 0.68 and a = 0.25.

Therefore as an example of the calculation of Vr for the roof Type A, will be at 1 m/s of:

𝑽𝒓 = 𝟏 × 𝟎. 𝟑𝟓 × 𝟏𝟐. 𝟐𝟔𝟎.𝟐𝟓 ; 𝑽𝒓 = 𝟎. 𝟔𝟓𝟓 (𝒎/𝒔)

V = 1 m/s V = 2 m/s V = 3 m/s

Roof proposals Height ( m) Vr (m/s) Vr (m/s) Vr (m/s)
Type A 12.26 0.655 1.310 1.965
Type B 13.94 0.676 1.353 2.029
Type C 13.94 0.676 1.353 2.029
Type D 13.73 0.674 1.347 2.021
Type E 12.41 0.657 1.314 1.971

Table 11. Variables and conditions for the analysis.

 Computational geometry, domain, and grid

The computational model of the building figure 42, have dimensions that depend specifically
on the height of the building with the roof that is going to be analysed, the recommended
dimension from one side wall to the inlet of the building is of 6 times the height, then the
recommended dimension from the side of building to the outlet is of 10 times the height, and
to the top the recommend distance is 6 times the height of the building. The analysis will be
conducted in 2D with the appropriate sections of the roof, the size of the mesh that is going
to be analysed is of 0.8 m. Then for the analysis of the roof is important to redefine the mesh
in the appropriate locations such as the roof and all the region.
36
 Figure 42. Computational geometry.

 Boundary conditions

In the boundary conditions of the models, it was chosen for this analysis, evaluate the
standard k epsilon 2 (eqn) model, in order to simulate the mean flow characteristic for
turbulent flow conditions.

Figure 43.Standard k-epsilon 2 (eqn). . (CFD Ansys Fluent, 2016)

7.2.1 Roof A evaluation

As it was determined the parameters for the analysis in CFD for the roofs, the Roof A was
evaluated at the velocity of 1, 2, 3 m/s, the outcomes were monitored over 10.000 iterations
each one until it can be obtained reliable stationary values, the graphical outcomes can be
seeing in the appendix 1-C-Roof A outcomes, it can be seeing in figure 44 the contours of
static temperature (K), at the velocity of 1m/s, 2 m/s, 3m/s is important to mention with the
velocity increment the temperature is reduced, but on the right side of the roof the
temperature remains higher.

37
 Figure 44. Roof A contours of static temperature (K). (CFD Ansys Fluent, 2016)

In figure 45 the contours of velocity show the variation of the wind movement with the shape
of the roof, at 1 m/s, 2 m/s and 3 m/s, the wind bumps into the left corner of the roof, thus
causes the wind to move directly to the top producing a low wind movement on the right
side of the roof, therefore a non-properly reduction of the temperature on the right side.

38
 Figure 45. Roof A contours of X velocity (m/s) (CFD Ansys Fluent, 2016)

This can be confirmed as well with the vectors of velocity (m/s) of the roof, figure 46, it can
be seeing that the velocity of the wind at 1m/s, 2 m/s and 3 m/s on the right side is lower
than the initial velocity of the wind, this product of the shape of the roof, as it can be seeing
is appropriate to design good inlets in order to enhance the wind to reduce the temperature
in the roof, with the appropriate inlet and roof the wind can be use in a correct way to mitigate
the heating gain of the roof and of the ceiling of the last floor of the building.

39
 Figure 46. Roof A vectors of velocity (m/s) (CFD Ansys Fluent, 2016)

In figure 47, the comparison of the temperature in the roof “A” at 1, 2 and 3 m/s, the CFD
points are the points of the geometry of the roof in the section, it can be seen that the
temperature has a reduction with the increase in the wind velocity. At 3 m/s the temperature
of the roof surface is more stable with an average of 310 K, but it can be seen that at the
point of 58 to 64 the temperature increases to 312 K.

40
 C omp a r i s o n o f t e mp e r a t u r e i n t h e r o o f " A " a t 1 , 2 a nd 3
m/ s
340.00

TEMPERATURE "K"
330.00
320.00
310.00
300.00
290.00
280.00
1 4 7 10 13 16 19 22 25 28 31 34 37 40 43 46 49 52 55 58 61 64
CFD POINTS

Temperature (K) at velocity of 1 m/s Temperature (K) at velocity of 2 m/s

Temperature (K) at velocity of 3 m/s

Figure 47. Comparison of temperature in the roof “A” surface. (CFD Ansys Fluent, 2016)

The figure 48, show the average temperature comparison of the roof A, this bar chart can
specifically show the reduction of the temperature with the variation of velocity from 1 m/s,
2 m/s and 3 m/s, it can be said that the reduction from 1 m/s to 2 m/s is 13 K and the most
important reduction is from 1 m/s to 3 m/s with a temperature reduction of 18 K.

A ver ag e t e mpe r a t u r e c o mp a r i s o n o f t h e c ei l i n g o f
t he ro o f A
335.00
TEMPERATURE "K"

330.00

325.00

320.00

315.00

310.00

305.00

300.00
Temperature (K) at Temperature (K) at Temperature (K) at
velocity of 1 m/s velocity of 2 m/s velocity of 3 m/s

Figure 48. Average temperature comparison of the ceiling of the roof A (CFD Ansys Fluent, 2016)

7.2.2 Roof B evaluation

The pitched roof B was evaluated at the velocity of 1 m/s, 2 m/s, 3 m/s, the roof has an inlet
and outlet opening size of 0.15 cm, the outcomes were monitored over 12.000 iterations each
one until it can be obtained reliable values, the graphical outcomes can be seen in the
appendix 1-C-Roof B outcomes.

41
In the contours of static temperature (K) figure 49, the wind velocity at 3 m/s enhance a
better temperature reduction in the ceiling of the last floor of the building, and also in the
interior surface of the roof, it can be seen that on the right side of the roof the reduction of
the temperature is not higher as in the left side, but the reduction in the centre of the internal
space between the roof and the ceiling is reduced.

Figure 49. Roof B contours of static temperature (K). (CFD Ansys Fluent, 2016)

The contours of X velocity (m/s) figure 50, can clearly show the wind flow in the internal
space that we can call the attic, the inlet collocated on the left side of the building enhance
in a better way the wind flow and the outlet size as well extract the wind of the internal space.
At 3 m/s the wind flows appropriately from the inlet to the internal surface of the roof.
42
 Figure 50 Roof B contours of X velocity (m/s) (CFD Ansys Fluent, 2016)

The graphics of the vectors of velocity (m/s) figure 51, can confirm the outcomes from the
figure 50, at 1 m/s, 2 m/s and 3 m/s, the wind direction remains appropriate, but at 3 m/s the
wind goes through the internal surface of the roof with a stable wind speed, this is important
because it can enhance the temperature reduction not only in the internal surface of the roof,
also on the external surface of the roof.

43
 Figure 51. Roof B vectors of velocity (m/s) (CFD Ansys Fluent, 2016)

In figure 52, shows the comparison of the temperature in the roof “B” at 1, 2 and 3 m/s, the
CFD points are the points of the geometry of the roof in the section, it can be seeing that the
temperature has a reduction with the increment of wind velocity. At 3 m/s the temperature
of the roof surface is more stable with an average of 306 K, the temperature is clearly reduced
and is important to mention that in the points 61 to 64 the temperature decreases nearly to
temperature of the inlet of 300 K

44
 Co mpa ris o n o f tempera tur e in th e ro o f "B " a t 1 , 2 a nd
3 m/s
340.00

TEMPERATURE "K"
330.00
320.00
310.00
300.00
290.00
280.00
1 4 7 10 13 16 19 22 25 28 31 34 37 40 43 46 49 52 55 58 61 64
CFD POINTS

Temperature (K) at velocity of 1 m/s Temperature (K) at velocity of 2 m/s

Temperature (K) at velocity of 3 m/s

Figure 52. Comparison of temperature in the roof “B” surface. (CFD Ansys Fluent, 2016)

The figure 53, show us the average temperature comparison of the roof B, this bar chart
show the reduction of the temperature with the variation of velocity from 1 m/s, 2 m/s and 3
m/s, it can be said that the reduction from 1 m/s (327 K) to 2 m/s (314 K) is 13 K and the
most important reduction is from 1 m/s (327 K) to 3 m/s (309 K) with a temperature
reduction of 18 K.

Av er a g e tempera t ur e c o mpa r iso n o f t he ro o f B

330.00

325.00
TEMPERATURE "K"

320.00

315.00

310.00

305.00

300.00
Temperature (K) at Temperature (K) at Temperature (K) at
velocity of 1 m/s velocity of 2 m/s velocity of 3 m/s

Figure 53. Average temperature comparison of the ceiling of the roof B (CFD Ansys Fluent, 2016)

7.2.3 Roof C evaluation

The pitched roof C was evaluated at the velocity of 1 m/s, 2 m/s, 3 m/s, the roof has an inlet
opening of 0.15cm size and two outlet opening size of 0.15 cm and 0.47cm, the outcomes
were monitored over 12.000 iterations each one until it can be obtained reliable values, the
45
graphical outcomes can be seeing in the appendix 1-C-Roof C outcomes, the contours of
static temperature (K) figure 54, it is important to mention that the wind velocity at 3 m/s
enhance a better reduction of the temperature in the inner space between the roof and the
ceiling, the heat is dissipated in a partial way, because it can be seen in the middle of the
roof and the right side that the temperature is higher, also the opening outlet near the top of
the roof provide a better ventilation by providing an internal stack effect with the middle
opening in the roof .

Figure 54. Roof C contours of static temperature (K). (CFD Ansys Fluent, 2016)

46
The contours of X velocity (m/s) figure 55, can show the direction of the wind at different
speeds, the direction of the wind in the internal space of the roof at 2 m/s and 3 m/s remains
the same and not change the outlet that is close to top of the roof enhance a better dissipation
from the left side, but the right side of the building remain without the appropriate ventilation
required for a properly temperature reduction. The shape of the roof on the left side causes
a dissipation of the roof to the top and not allow the wind to flow in all the external surface
of the roof.

Figure 55. Roof C contours of X velocity (m/s) (CFD Ansys Fluent, 2016)

47
The vectors of velocity (m/s) figure 56, it can be confirmed in a better way the outcomes of
the wind direction that were found in the contours of X velocity (m/s). At 1m/s, 2 m/s and 3
m/s the wind flows in the internal surface of the roof correctly, the in the outlet the wind is
extracted and the right side of the roof lacks a sufficient wind speed in order to reduce the
internal temperature of the roof.

Figure 56. Roof C vectors of velocity (m/s) (CFD Ansys Fluent, 2016)

In figure 57, shows the comparison of the temperature in the roof “C” at 1, 2 and 3 m/s, the
CFD points are the points of the geometry of the roof in the section, it can be seen that the
temperature at 1m/s, 2 m/s and 3 m/s remains almost the same in the roof with a slight

48
variation of temperature from the left side of the section of the roof starting at 303K then
increasing to 327 K approximately. At 3 m/s the temperature of the roof surface is lower
than at 1 m/s, 2 m/s but still increasing while the wind goes through the inner space.

C omp a r i s o n o f t e mp e r a t u r e i n t h e r o o f " C " a t 1 , 2 a nd 3 m/ s

330.00
325.00
TEMPERATURE "K"

320.00
315.00
310.00
305.00
300.00
295.00
290.00
285.00
1 3 5 7 9 11 13 15 17 19 21 23 25 27 29 31 33 35 37 39 41 43 45 47 49 51 53 55 57 59 61 63 65
CFD POINTS
Temperature (K) at velocity of 1 m/s Temperature (K) at velocity of 2 m/s

Temperature (K) at velocity of 3 m/s

Figure 57. Comparison of temperature in the roof “C” surface. (CFD Ansys Fluent, 2016)

The figure 58, show us the average temperature comparison of the roof C, this bar chart show
the reduction of the temperature with the variation of velocity from 1 m/s, 2 m/s and 3 m/s,
the reduction from 1 m/s (312.5 K) to 2 m/s (312.4 K) is of 0.1 K, that is not an important
reduction with the wind, and the most important reduction is from 1 m/s (312.5 K) to 3 m/s
(308.5 K) with a temperature reduction of 4 K.

A v er ag e t e mpe r a t u r e c o mp a r i s o n o f t h e r o o f C
314.00

313.00
TEMPERATURE "K"

312.00

311.00

310.00

309.00

308.00

307.00

306.00
Temperature (K) at Temperature (K) at Temperature (K) at
velocity of 1 m/s velocity of 2 m/s velocity of 3 m/s

Figure 58. Average temperature comparison of the ceiling of the roof C (CFD Ansys Fluent, 2016)

7.2.4 Roof D evaluation

The roof D a hybrid concave and convex hybrid was evaluated at the velocity of 1 m/s, 2
m/s, 3 m/s, the roof has a horizontal inlet opening of 0.47 cm size and a vertical outlet
49
opening size of 0.15 cm, the outcomes were monitored over 12.000 iterations each one until
it can be obtained reliable values, the graphical outcomes can be seeing in the appendix 1-
C-Roof D outcomes, the summary of the graphical outcomes of the contours of static
temperature (K) figure 59, it is important to mention that in the graphics it can be seeing that
the roof shape of the roof D proposal enhance in a better way the wind flow in the inner
space of the roof. It can be seen in the graphics that at 1m/s, 2 m/s and 3 m/s the temperature
in the external and internal surface of the roof, have and important reduction and stable
temperature, only on the right side of the internal surface of the roof the temperature
increases but still stable.

Figure 59 Roof D contours of static temperature (K). (CFD Ansys Fluent, 2016)

50
In the contours of X velocity (m/s) figure 60, it can show that the shape of the roof work in
a proper dynamic way that enhance a wind flow in the internal and external surface of the
roof, the variation of velocity analysis is important because it shows the importance that
generates the shape of the roof with the wind, at 3 m/s the wind flow is higher and constant
from the inlet to the outlet in the internal surface of the roof, this can confirm the appropriate
reduction of the temperature in the roof.

Figure 60. Roof D contours of X velocity (m/s) (CFD Ansys Fluent, 2016)

The vectors of velocity (m/s) of the roof D figure 61, can confirm the outcomes of the wind
direction that were found in the contours of X velocity (m/s). At 1m/s, 2 m/s and 3 m/s the
shape of the roof generate an important wind flows direction and a more dynamic wind flow
51
in the roof, the concave, and convex roof can allow the wind flow in a better way, it can be
seen that the wind speed in the middle of the roof remains as constant and is important to
see that when the wind is close to the outlet it is higher, and this can reduce in a better way
the temperature.

Figure 61. Roof D vectors of velocity (m/s) (CFD Ansys Fluent, 2016)

In figure 62, shows the comparison of the temperature in the roof “D” at 1, 2 and 3 m/s, the
CFD points are the points of the geometry of the roof in the section, it can be seeing that the
temperature at 1m/s, starts from 313 K following with a stable temperature of 315 K, by then
having a reduction to 305 K. The temperature of the roof at 2 m/s starts from 305 K then it
has a constant temperature of 307 K by then having a reduction to 303 K. At the velocity of

52
3 m/s the temperature is slightly constant with an average of 304 K, it is important to mention
that the roof temperature is stable at the wind velocity of 3 m/s.

C o mp a r i s o n o f t e mp e r a t u r e i n t h e r o o f " D " a t 1 , 2 a nd 3
m/ s
320.00

315.00
TEMPERATURE "K"

310.00

305.00

300.00

295.00

290.00
1 3 5 7 9 11 13 15 17 19 21 23 25 27 29 31 33 35 37 39 41 43 45 47 49 51 53 55 57 59 61 63 65
CFD POINTS

Temperature (K) at velocity of 1 m/s Temperature (K) at velocity of 2 m/s

Temperature (K) at velocity of 3 m/s

Figure 62. Comparison of temperature in the roof “D” surface. (CFD Ansys Fluent, 2016)

The figure 63, show us the average temperature comparison of the roof D, this bar chart
show the reduction of the temperature with the variation of velocity from 1 m/s, 2 m/s and 3
m/s, the reduction from 1 m/s (312.8 K) to 2 m/s (306.4 K) is of 6.4 K, and the most important
reduction is from 1 m/s (312.8 K) to 3 m/s (304 K) with a temperature reduction of 8.8 K.

A ver ag e t e mpe r a t u r e c o mp a r i s o n o f t h e r o o f D
316.00
314.00
TEMPERATURE "K"

312.00
310.00
308.00
306.00
304.00
302.00
300.00
298.00
Temperature (K) at Temperature (K) at Temperature (K) at
velocity of 1 m/s velocity of 2 m/s velocity of 3 m/s

Figure 63. Average temperature comparison of the ceiling of the roof D (CFD Ansys Fluent, 2016)

7.2.5 Roof E evaluation

The roof E, a flat roof with an opening to provide natural ventilation to the roof, was
evaluated at the velocity of 1 m/s, 2 m/s, 3 m/s, the roof has a vertical inlet opening of 0.15
cm size and a vertical outlet opening size of 0.15 cm, the outcomes were monitored over
53
10.000 iterations each one until it can be obtained reliable values, the graphical outcomes
can be seeing in the appendix 1-C-Roof E outcomes, the graphical outcomes of the contours
of static temperature (K) figure 64, it can be seeing that at the velocity of 1 m/s and 2 m/s
the contours of static temperature K the flow of the wind flow is stable until the middle of
the roof and then the wind reduces the speed and the temperature increases, at 3 m/s there is
a slightly reduction of the temperature but the main characteristic is remaining and the
reduction in the right side of the roof cannot be reduced as it is assumed, the distance of the
building of 12.85 cm is an important factor that determines an appropriate wind flow.

Figure 64. Roof E contours of static temperature (K). (CFD Ansys Fluent, 2016)

54
In the contours of X velocity (m/s), it can be seen that the wind have the same problem with
the roof type A, because of the shape of the roof, is important to notice that a flat shape roof
does not enhance a correct wind flow and in the ventilated space between the roof and the
ceiling of the building don’t flow properly the wind, therefore, the speed is not higher.

Figure 65. Roof E contours of X velocity (m/s) (CFD Ansys Fluent, 2016)

This can be confirmed as well with the vectors of velocity (m/s) of the roof E, figure 66, it
can be seen that the direction of the wind and the speed in the ventilated gap is not
appropriate and is lower during the space, the ventilated gap even at 3 m/s have some issues
with the wind speed.

55
 Figure 66. Roof E vectors of velocity (m/s) (CFD Ansys Fluent, 2016)

In figure 67, shows the comparison of the temperature in the roof “E” at 1, 2 and 3 m/s, this
can confirm the outcomes from the figure 65. The CFD points are the points of the geometry
of the roof in the section, it can be seeing that the temperature at 1m/s, starts from 305 K
following with an increasing of temperature to 340K. The temperature of the roof at 2 m/s
starts from 305 K then increasing to 320 K. At the velocity of 3 m/s the temperature starts in
the inlet with a temperature of 300 K and finish in the outlet at 311 K, it is important to
mention that the roof temperature has a better performance with the wind velocity of 3 m/s,
but the final temperature in the outlet still increasing, it can be said that with a higher speed
the reduction at the outlet can be reduced.
56
 Co mpa ris o n o f tempera tur e in th e ro o f "E" a t 1 , 2
a nd 3 m/ s
350.00

TEMPERATURE "K"
340.00
330.00
320.00
310.00
300.00
290.00
280.00
270.00
1 4 7 10 13 16 19 22 25 28 31 34 37 40 43 46 49 52 55 58 61 64
CFD POINTS

Temperature (K) at velocity of 1 m/s Temperature (K) at velocity of 2 m/s

Temperature (K) at velocity of 3 m/s

Figure 67. Comparison of temperature in the roof “D” surface. (CFD Ansys Fluent, 2016)

The figure 68, show the average temperature comparison of the roof D, this bar chart show
the reduction of the temperature with the variation of velocity from 1 m/s, 2 m/s and 3 m/s,
the reduction from 1 m/s (312.8 K) to 2 m/s (306.4 K) is of 6.4 K, and the most important
reduction is from 1 m/s (312.8 K) to 3 m/s (304 K) with a temperature reduction of 8.8 K.

A v er ag e t e mpe r a t u r e c o mp a r i s o n o f t h e r o o f E
330.00

325.00
TEMPERATURE "K"

320.00

315.00

310.00

305.00

300.00

295.00
Temperature (K) at Temperature (K) at Temperature (K) at
velocity of 1 m/s velocity of 2 m/s velocity of 3 m/s

Figure 68. Average temperature comparison of the ceiling of the roof D (CFD Ansys Fluent, 2016)

7.3 Comparison of the outcomes from the North – East wind conditions.

During this chapter is going to be analysed and compared the outcomes from the five types
of roof proposals specifically in the variation of internal roof surface temperature at the
velocity of 1 m/s, 2 m/s and 3 m/s, also is going to be compared the temperature of the Rake
1, 2 and 3 at the velocity of 1 m/s, 2 m/s and 3 m/s.

57
After the simulations made for all the roof proposals, it can be made an appropriate
comparison at different velocities of 1 m/s, 2 m/s and 3 m/s. As it can be seen in figure 69,
the comparison of the temperature (K) of the internal surface of the roofs A, B, C, D and E
at a wind velocity speed of 1 m/s, the roof A has a stable temperature but the temperature at
1 m/s is higher, the average temperature is of 327.11 K. The temperature of the roof B, has
some important variations of temperature, the lower temperature at the inlet is 305 K and
then increases to 337 K at almost the middle of the roof then the temperature decreases to
310 K. The roof C have almost the same increment of temperature as the roof A but with a
final temperature of 345 K. The temperature of the roof D remains stable during almost all
the internal surface of the roof, is important to highlight that the temperature of the roof D
has an average of 313.49 K The temperature of the roof E is not stable, it starts with a reduced
temperature of 305 K and then the temperature increases until it reaches a temperature of
345 K.

C omp a r i s o n o f t he ro o f s t e mp e r a t ur e K a t v e l o ci t y o f 1 m/ s
350.00
345.00
340.00
TEMPERATURE "K"

335.00
330.00
325.00
320.00
315.00
310.00
305.00
300.00
295.00
290.00
285.00
280.00
1 3 5 7 9 11 13 15 17 19 21 23 25 27 29 31 33 35 37 39 41 43 45 47 49 51 53 55 5759 6163 65
CFD POINTS

Roof A Temperature (K) Roof B Temperature (K) Roof C Temperature (K)

Roof D Temperature (K) Roof E Temperature (K)

Figure 69. Comparison of the roof internal surface temperature K at velocity of 1 m/s (CFD Ansys Fluent, 2016)

In the figure 70, the comparison of the roof internal surface temperature K at a velocity of 2
m/s, it can show that the roof D has a reduction of the temperature in all the surface and
maintain a stable temperature on the surface of the roof, starting from the point 1 at 305 K,
then the temperature remains with almost the same temperature value of 307 K as an average
until the point 63 to 65 that the temperature decreases to 304 K. The roof A, B, C, and E,
show an important variation in the temperature that increases partially.

58
 C omp a r i s o n o f t he ro o f s t e mp e r a t ur e K a t v e l o ci t y o f 2 m/ s
330.00
325.00

TEMPERATURE "K"
320.00
315.00
310.00
305.00
300.00
295.00
290.00
285.00
1 3 5 7 9 11 13 15 17 19 21 23 25 27 29 31 33 35 37 39 41 43 45 47 49 51 53 55 57 59 61 63 65
CFD POINTS

Roof A Temperature (K) Roof B Temperature (K) Roof C Temperature (K)

Roof D Temperature (K) Roof E Temperature (K)

Figure 70. Comparison of the roof internal surface temperature K at velocity of 2 m/s (CFD Ansys Fluent, 2016)

The figure 71, the comparison of the roof internal surface temperature K at velocity of 3 m/s,
it can be determine clearly that the roof D at the wind velocity of 3 m/s maintains an adequate
and stable temperature of an average of 303.80 K, while the Roof A, B, C, E still having
variations of the temperature, is important to mention that the temperature in the point 1 of
the roof D starts at 305.59 K then from the point 3 until the point 51 the average temperature
of 303.80 K, from the point 51 to 65 the temperature reduces to 301.78 K.

C omp a r i s o n of t he ro o f s t e mp e r a t ur e K a t v e l o ci t y o f 3 m/ s
320.00
317.50
315.00
TEMPERATURE "K"

312.50
310.00
307.50
305.00
302.50
300.00
297.50
295.00
292.50
290.00
1 3 5 7 9 11 13 15 17 19 21 23 25 27 29 31 33 35 37 39 41 43 45 47 49 51 53 55 57 59 61 63 65
CFD POINTS

Roof A Temperature (K) Roof B Temperature (K) Roof C Temperature (K)

Roof D Temperature (K) Roof E Temperature (K)

Figure 71. Comparison of the roof internal surface temperature K at velocity of 3 m/s (CFD Ansys Fluent, 2016)

59
Temperature comparison of the rakes at 1 m/s, 2 m/s and 3 m/s

Is important to mention that during the analysis it was set 3 rakes in the internal space
between the roof and the ceiling in order to evaluate the behaviour of the temperature in each
one, the rakes were collocated in the inlet (rake 1), in the middle space (rake 2) and in the
outlet (rake 3) that was designed, in the following figures (72, 73, 74, 75) it can be seeing a
representation as an example of where them are collocated.

For the roof A, is not necessary to collocate rakes as it is a flat roof, so the temperature of
the roof will remain as constant with a variation depending on the wind velocity.

Figure 72. Rake representation of the roof B (CFD Ansys Fluent, 2016)

Figure 73. Rake representation of the roof C (CFD Ansys Fluent, 2016)

60
 Figure 74. Rake representation of the roof D (CFD Ansys Fluent, 2016)

Figure 75. Rake representation of the roof E (CFD Ansys Fluent, 2016)

Rake 1 (inlet) temperature comparison.

The temperature comparison of the rake 1 figure 76, at the velocity of 1, 2 and 3 m/s of the
five roofs, show that the roof B, C and D have an stable temperature the speeds previously
mention before, the average temperature of the inlet 1 of the roof B at 1, 2 and 3 m/s is of
298.5 K, of the roof C 298.6 K , the roof D 298.4 K, it can be said that the temperature of
the inlet between this roofs don’t have a huge difference, is important to highlight that the
difference is minimum while the inlet of the roof A has an average of 303 K and the
temperature average of the inlet is at 299.23 K.

61
 Tempera t ur e co mpa riso n o f r a ke 1 (inl et)
304.00
303.15 303.15 303.15
303.00
TEMPERATURE "K"
302.00

301.00
299.99
300.00
299.07
298.72 298.85
299.00 298.59 298.46 298.44
298.62 298.61 298.65 298.48 298.42

298.00

297.00

296.00
Rake 1 Rake 1 Rake 1 Rake 1 Rake 1 Rake 1 Rake 1 Rake 1 Rake 1 Rake 1 Rake 1 Rake 1 Rake 1 Rake 1 Rake 1
Temp. Temp. Temp. Temp. Temp. Temp. Temp. Temp. Temp. Temp. Temp. Temp. Temp. Temp. Temp.
(K) at 1 (K) at 2 (K) at 3 (K) at 1 (K) at 2 (K) at 3 (K) at 1 (K) at 2 (K) at 3 (K) at 1 (K) at 2 (K) at 3 (K) at 1 (K) at 2 (K) at 3
m/s, m/s, m/s, m/s, m/s, m/s, m/s, m/s, m/s, m/s, m/s, m/s, m/s, m/s, m/s,
roof A roof A roof A roof B roof B roof B roof C roof C roof C roof D roof D roof D roof E roof E roof E

Figure 76. Temperature rake 1 comparison of the roofs (CFD Ansys Fluent, 2016)

Rake 2 (central body) temperature comparison.

In figure 77 of the temperature comparison of the rake 2 of the central body is important to
highlight the variation as a result of the shape of the roof, it can be seen in the figure that the
roof C and D can enhance an appropriate reduction of the temperature in the inner space of
the central body of the roof and the ceiling, there is a slightly difference between the average
temperature of the roof C 279.43K and the roof D 278.46K, of 0.97 K, it can be determined
that the roof D enable a better internal temperature.

Tempera t ur e c o mpa riso n o f r a ke 2 (cent ra l bo dy )

310.00
303.15 303.15 303.15 303.93
305.00 301.24 300.33
300.00 296.78
TEMPERATURE "K"

295.00
290.00
285.77
285.00 282.75
280.46
279.32 278.53 279.38
280.00 278.21 277.80

275.00
270.00
265.00
260.00
Rake 2 Rake 2 Rake 2 Rake 2 Rake 2 Rake 2 Rake 2 Rake 2 Rake 2 Rake 2 Rake 2 Rake 2 Rake 2 Rake 2 Rake 2
Temp. Temp. Temp. Temp. Temp. Temp. Temp. Temp. Temp. Temp. Temp. Temp. Temp. Temp. Temp.
(K) at 1 (K) at 2 (K) at 3 (K) at 1 (K) at 2 (K) at 3 (K) at 1 (K) at 2 (K) at 3 (K) at 1 (K) at 2 (K) at 3 (K) at 1 (K) at 2 (K) at 3
m/s, m/s, m/s, m/s, m/s, m/s, m/s, m/s, m/s, m/s, m/s, m/s, m/s, m/s, m/s,
roof A roof A roof A roof B roof B roof B roof C roof C roof C roof D roof D roof D roof E roof E roof E

Figure 77. Temperature rake 2 comparison of the roofs (CFD Ansys Fluent, 2016)

62
Rake 3 (Outlet) temperature comparison.

The temperature comparison of the rake 3 in figure 78, that is located at the outlet of the
roofs, it can be seen in the figure that the lower average temperature between 1 m/s, 2 m/s
and 3 m/s is from the roof D, of 301.91 K, the temperature reduction is important in
comparison to the other outlets of the roofs, this reduction in the temperature is important
due to the size shape of the outlet and the size of the outlet that can enhance a better wind
flow.

Tempera t ur e c o mpa riso n o f r a ke 3 (o ut let )

360.00
347.56
350.00

340.00
TEMPERATURE "K"

330.00
319.11
320.00
312.29
307.02 308.13
310.00 305.53 304.33
303.15 303.15 303.15 302.74 303.46
301.34 301.21 300.18
300.00

290.00

280.00

270.00
Rake 3 Rake 3 Rake 3 Rake 3 Rake 3 Rake 3 Rake 3 Rake 3 Rake 3 Rake 3 Rake 3 Rake 3 Rake 3 Rake 3 Rake 3
Temp. Temp. Temp. Temp. Temp. Temp. Temp. Temp. Temp. Temp. Temp. Temp. Temp. Temp. Temp.
(K) at 1 (K) at 2 (K) at 3 (K) at 1 (K) at 2 (K) at 3 (K) at 1 (K) at 2 (K) at 3 (K) at 1 (K) at 2 (K) at 3 (K) at 1 (K) at 2 (K) at 3
m/s, m/s, m/s, m/s, m/s, m/s, m/s, m/s, m/s, m/s, m/s, m/s, m/s, m/s, m/s,
roof A roof A roof A roof B roof B roof B roof C roof C roof C roof D roof D roof D roof E roof E roof E

Figure 78. Temperature rake 3 comparison of the roofs (CFD Ansys Fluent, 2016)

7.4 CFD evaluation of roof geometries from south - west.

Due to the location of the building, the roof also has the possibility to receive the wind from
various direction but as the roof proposal have outlet openings that face to the south – west,
now the outlet change to be an inlet. The wind in this analysis will have a direction from the
south – west, the parameters that are going to be used for this evaluation will be the same as
the north – east CFD evaluation of chapter 7.2, in that order due to the geometry of the roof
A, roof B, and the roof E the outcomes will be the same as the wind coming from the north
– east, while the roof C and the roof D the shape of the roof will provide another behaviour.
In that way, the parameters will be analysed for these roofs in order to validate them.

63
7.4.1 Roof C evaluation

The figure 79, shows the roof C contours comparison of static temperature K graphic, it can
be seen that the variation of the temperature remains almost the same on the left side of the
roof, the second inlet that is on the middle side of the roof it is supposed to enhance a better
reduction of the temperature on the left side of the roof, as it can be seen in the figure the
right side of the roof is now correctly ventilated and maintain a proper temperature even if
it’s at 1 m/s, 2 m/s and 3m/s.

Figure 79. Roof C contours of static temperature (K). (CFD Ansys Fluent, 2016)

64
The figure 80 of the contours of X velocity (m/s) show the direction of the wind at the speed
of 1 m/s, 2 m/s and 3 m/s. It can be seen in the figure, that the geometry of the roof affects
the direction of the wind, in that order that is why the second inlet that is located in the
middle of the right side of the roof is not working properly, talking about the temperature
the main problem is because there is not the sufficient wind velocity to reduce the
temperature of the internal roof surface on the left side, due to the change of the wind
direction caused by the geometry of the roof.

Figure 80. Roof C contours of X velocity (m/s). (CFD Ansys Fluent, 2016)

65
The figure 81 of vectors velocity (m/s), clearly can show the direction of the highest wind
speed, that can allow having a proper reduction of the temperature on the other side of the
roof, the most higher speed of wind is only working to reduce the temperature of the right
side of the roof, the second inlet is working as an outlet and not as an inlet, in that order the
stack effect is produced at that point, it can be said that the second inlet should not be located
in that part of the roof because is not working properly.

Figure 81. Roof C vectors of velocity (m/s). (CFD Ansys Fluent, 2016)

In the figure 82, the chart of the comparison of the temperature in the roof C at 1, 2 and 3
m/s is important to describe that from the point 1the inlet to the point 36, the temperature
increases from 300 K to 310 K at the velocity of 3 m/s that is the appropriate velocity to
66
reduce the temperature of the roof. At 1 m/s the temperature is not appropriate dissipated
due to the shape of the roof and mainly for the position of the second inlet.

Co mpa ris o n o f tempera tur e in th e ro o f "C" a t 1 , 2 a nd 3

m/ s
350.00
TEMPERATURE "K"

340.00
330.00
320.00
310.00
300.00
290.00
280.00
11
16
21
26
31
36
41
46
51
56
61
66
71
76
81
86
91
96
1
6

101
106
111
116
121
126
CFD POINTS

Temperature (K) at velocity of 1 m/s Temperature (K) at velocity of 2 m/s

Temperature (K) at velocity of 3 m/s

Figure 82. Comparison of temperature in the roof “C” surface. (CFD Ansys Fluent, 2016)

The figure 83 clearly can show the variation of the average temperature that the roof has at
the speed of 1, 2 and 3 m/s, at 1 m/s the temperature in the roof is not reduced properly, but
at 3 m/s the temperature K of the roof surface is reduced to an average of 309.32, it has been
reduced in a 5.33% of a value of 17.41 K, as it was mentioned the figure 82 show that at the
velocity of 3 m/s the temperature is more stable on the internal surface of the roof.

Av er a g e tempera t ur e c o mpa r iso n o f t he ce ili ng o f t he

ro o f C
330.00

325.00
TEMPERATURE "K"

320.00

315.00

310.00

305.00

300.00
Temperature (K) at Temperature (K) at Temperature (K) at
velocity of 1 m/s velocity of 2 m/s velocity of 3 m/s

Figure 83. Average temperature comparison of the ceiling of the roof C (CFD Ansys Fluent, 2016)

67
7.4.2 Roof D evaluation

Is important to highlight that the shape of the roof D, enhance a better dynamic wind flow
in the inner space between the ceiling and the roof, this dynamic shape as we can see in
figure 84 of the contours of static temperature K, the inner temperature at the velocity of
1m/s, 2 m/s and 3 m/s are properly maintained a temperature approximate of 299 K, in the
internal surface of the roof on the left side the temperature is slightly higher due to the
distance from the inlet, by changing the size of the inlet the wind on the left side of the roof
could be higher and the temperature in that zone will be reduced.

Figure 84. Roof D contours of static temperature (K). (CFD Ansys Fluent, 2016)

68
The contours of X velocity (m/s) in figure 85, show clearly the wind flow in the inner space
of the roof and the ceiling, as it can be seen the higher velocity can be found in the lower
part of the roof. One of the important outcomes that it can get from this figure, is that the
wind suffers a break on the right side of the roof, due to the geometry of the roof. The length
of the roof on the right side should be reduced in order to not cause a wind break and to
enhance a correct wind flow.

Figure 85. Roof D contours of X velocity (m/s). (CFD Ansys Fluent, 2016)

In the vectors of velocity (m/s) figure 86 it can be seen, the wind flow in the inner space of
the roof, the wind direction that was found in the graph of contours of velocity as the break

69
that is product of the roof is confirmed, the velocity is higher during the inlet until the middle
point approximate of the roof then the velocity is reduced until in the outlet due to the size
and the pressure the velocity increases.

Figure 86. Roof D vectors of velocity (m/s). (CFD Ansys Fluent, 2016)

As it is shown in figure 87 in the comparison of the temperature at the velocity of 1, 2 and 3

m/s from the point 1 to the point 36 at the velocity of 3 m/s is stable a constant of 300 K,
then due to the shape and the distance of the roof the velocity decreases and the temperature
increases until a peak of 309 K, then due to the internal pressure the velocity increases and
the temperature are reduced again to a temperature of 299 K. At the velocity of 1 m/s, the
temperature is not stable due to a lower velocity.
70
 Co mpa ris o n o f tempera tur e in th e ro o f "D" a t 1 , 2 a nd 3
m/ s
340.00

TEMPERATURE "K"
330.00
320.00
310.00
300.00
290.00
280.00
11
16
21
26
31
36
41
46
51
56
61
66
71
76
81
86
91
96
1
6

101
106
111
116
121
126
CFD POINTS

Temperature (K) at velocity of 1 m/s Temperature (K) at velocity of 2 m/s

Temperature (K) at velocity of 3 m/s

Figure 87. Comparison of temperature in the roof “D” surface. (CFD Ansys Fluent, 2016)

The average temperature comparison of the ceiling of the roof in figure 88, can clearly show
that the temperature at 1 m/s is higher due to the lower velocity , but then at a properly
velocity of 2 and 3 m/s the temperature is reduced in 9.7 K and 13.13 K respectively.

Av er a g e temperat ur e c o mpa r iso n o f t he ro o f D

320.00
318.00
316.00
314.00
TEMPERATURE "K"

312.00
310.00
308.00
306.00
304.00
302.00
300.00
298.00
296.00
Temperature (K) at velocity Temperature (K) at velocity Temperature (K) at velocity
of 1 m/s of 2 m/s of 3 m/s

Figure 88. Average temperature comparison of the ceiling of the roof D (CFD Ansys Fluent, 2016)

7.5 Comparison of the outcomes from the South – West wind conditions.

The figure 89 can clearly show the difference at the velocity of 1 m/s between the two roofs,
as we can see the variation between the roof depends on specifically on the shape of the
roofs, and it can be seen that the speed of the wind is lower and cannot enhance a reduction
of the temperature in the roofs, it is important to mention that with that velocity the

71
temperature in the roof D decreases in the middle of the roof, the internal pressure enhances
for a reduction on the left side of the roof, the reduction is important from the point 71 to the
point 126, ending in a temperature of 300 K.

Co mpa ris o n o f the ro o f surfa ce tempera t u re K a t

v el o ci ty o f 1 m/s
350.00
TEMPERATURE "K"

340.00
330.00
320.00
310.00
300.00
290.00
280.00
11
16
21
26
31
36
41
46
51
56
61
66
71
76
81
86
91
96
1
6

101
106
111
116
121
126
CFD POINTS

Roof C Temperature (K) Roof D Temperature (K)

Figure 89. Comparison of the roof internal surface temperature K at velocity of 1 m/s (CFD Ansys Fluent, 2016)

At the velocity of 2 m/s in the figure 90, the temperature in both roofs decreases and enhance
a better internal surface temperature reduction, the roof D can show that the temperature
reduction is higher at the speed mention and the variation is reduced by an average of 307.6K
the higher internal temperature of the surface at 2 m/s is of 313.12 K . The temperature at
the outlet is lower than the Roof C, it can be seen at the point 126 that the temperature is at
298.80 K.

Co mpa ris o n o f the ro o f surfa ce tempera t u re K a t

v el o ci ty o f 2 m/s
325.00
320.00
TEMPERATURE "K"

315.00
310.00
305.00
300.00
295.00
290.00
285.00
11
16
21
26
31
36
41
46
51
56
61
66
71
76
81
86
91
96
1
6

101
106
111
116
121
126

CFD POINTS

Roof C Temperature (K) Roof D Temperature (K)

Figure 90. Comparison of the roof internal surface temperature K at velocity of 2 m/s (CFD Ansys Fluent, 2016)

72
 The behaviour of the temperature in the roof D at 3 m/s is important and enhance a reduction
in the internal roof surface, with a temperature peak of 307.70 K and ending with a
temperature of 298.48 K in the outlet in the in the point 126, similar to the velocity of 2 m/s
but a slightly reduction. While the roof C as well shows an important reduction but due to
the shape and the outlet that have close to the middle of the roof, the variation of the
temperature is higher.

Co mpa ris o n o f the ro o f surfa ce tempera t u re K a t

v el o ci ty o f 3 m/s
320.00
315.00
TEMPERATURE "K"

310.00
305.00
300.00
295.00
290.00
11
16
21
26
31
36
41
46
51
56
61
66
71
76
81
86
91
96
1
6

101
106
111
116
121
126
CFD POINTS

Roof C Temperature (K) Roof D Temperature (K)

Figure 91. Comparison of the roof internal surface temperature K at velocity of 3 m/s (CFD Ansys Fluent, 2016)

Temperature comparison of the rakes at 1 m/s, 2 m/s and 3 m/s

As it was analysed the temperature from the north – west on rake 1, 2 and 3, the same process
was developed for the roof C and D, the rake position in the internal space was located as it
is shown in the following figures 92 and 93.

Figure 92. Rake representation of the roof C (CFD Ansys Fluent, 2016)

73
 Figure 93. Rake representation of the roof D (CFD Ansys Fluent, 2016)

Rake 1 (inlet) temperature comparison.

The temperature comparison of the rake 1 figure 94, at the velocity of 1, 2 and 3 m/s of the
roofs C and D, show that the average temperature in the inlet at 1 m/s for the roof D is higher
due to the geometry in comparison with the temperature of the roof C, at 2 m/s the
temperature in both roof inlets have a slight variation of 0.02 K, then the inlet temperature
for the roof D at 3 m/s is lower with 0.07 K. The roof D enhances a better temperature in
the inlet at the temperature of 2, 3 m/s, but the roof C has a more stable temperature at the
three velocities.

Tem p er atu r e c o mp ar iso n o f rak e 1 (in le t)

298.80 298.77

298.70
298.60
298.60
TEMPERATURE K

298.48 298.46
298.50 298.44
298.40 298.37

298.30

298.20

298.10
Rake 1 Rake 1 Rake 1 Rake 1 Rake 1 Rake 1
Temp. (K) at Temp. (K) at Temp. (K) at Temp. (K) at Temp. (K) at Temp. (K) at
1 m/s, roof C 2 m/s, roof C 3 m/s, roof C 1 m/s, roof D2 m/s, roof D3 m/s, roof D

Figure 94. Temperature rake 1 comparison of the roofs (CFD Ansys Fluent, 2016)

Rake 2 (central body) temperature comparison.

In figure 95 of the temperature comparison of the rake 2 of the central body is important to
highlight that the internal temperature of the roof D in the middle of the inner space at 1, 2

74
and 3 m/s is lower with an average temperature of 300.68 K, it can be determined that the
temperature for the roof D maintains a more stable internal temperature than the roof C at
different wind velocities.

Tem p er atu r e c o mp ar iso n o f rak e 2 (c en t ral b o d y)

305.00 304.28
304.00
303.00 302.46
TEMPERATURE K

302.00 301.27
301.00 300.32 300.18
300.00 299.42
299.00
298.00
297.00
296.00
Rake 2 Rake 2 Rake 2 Rake 2 Rake 2 Rake 2
Temp. (K) at Temp. (K) at Temp. (K) at Temp. (K) at Temp. (K) at Temp. (K) at
1 m/s, roof C 2 m/s, roof C 3 m/s, roof C 1 m/s, roof D2 m/s, roof D3 m/s, roof D

Figure 95. Temperature rake 2 comparison of the roofs (CFD Ansys Fluent, 2016)

Rake 3 (Outlet) temperature comparison.

The temperature comparison of the rake 3 in figure 96, is important due to a consequence of
the wind velocity, the outlet temperature for the roof D is reduced at the velocities of 1, 2
and 3 m/s, at 3 m/s is clearly found that the reduction comparison between the roof C and D
is of 3.3 K, the shape of the roof D enhance to have a better pressure in that order the
temperature in the outlet can be reduced.

Tem p er atu r e c o mp ar iso n o f rak e 3 (o u t let )

315.00 312.90

310.00
TEMPERATURE K

305.22
304.14
305.00 303.12
300.85
299.82
300.00

295.00

290.00
Rake 3 Rake 3 Rake 3 Rake 3 Rake 3 Rake 3
Temp. (K) at Temp. (K) at Temp. (K) at Temp. (K) at Temp. (K) at Temp. (K) at
1 m/s, roof C 2 m/s, roof C 3 m/s, roof C 1 m/s, roof D2 m/s, roof D3 m/s, roof D

Figure 96. Temperature rake 3 comparison of the roofs (CFD Ansys Fluent, 2016)

75
7.6 Concluding remarks from the CFD analysis

The roofs proposals were analysed in Ansys Fluent in two specific cases, the wind coming
from the north – east and from the south-west at the velocity of 1, 2 and 3 m/s, in order to
predict the wind driven ventilation in the internal space between the roof and ceiling of the
building, named the space as attic. The aim of the analysis was to determine which roof
enhance a better performance in terms of reduction, of the temperature of the roof surface
under specific and constant conditions. It was found during the analysis that the roof type D
a hybrid roof with a convex and concave geometry, allows the wind to have a more internal
dynamic flow and a more stable temperature at the velocity of 2 and 3 m/s.

It was found that at the velocity of 1 m/s, in all the roofs the temperature increases due to the
velocity of the wind, this velocity can enhance to have more humidity in the space and to
increase the internal heat gain, this can validate the finding of the attic in the literature
review.

It can be concluded and determined that the roof D is the most suitable roof geometry and
can enhance a better performance of the building in terms of reduction of energy
consumption, now the roof D can be simulated with the building in Revit 2016 in terms of
energy performance to evaluate and determine the amount of reduction that the building can
have from the initial case.

7.7 Energy performance analysis with the upgraded roof.

As it was determined in section 6.3 the rotated building shows a better energy performance
and a reduction of energy consumption, the rotated building was upgraded with the
appropriate roof that was determined in chapter 7.6, the building was tested in Revit 2016,
with the same conditions as the rotated building by only changing the roof, as it can be seen
in table 12 the total peak cooling load is of 26.670 W with a maximum cooling capacity of
28.359 W, for the total peak heating load the outcome shows that the value is 0 W, this result
is due to the climatic location of a tropical climate, this climate does not require heating
loads.

76
 Table 12. Building summary for the 45 degrees upgraded model heating and cooling loads (Revit 2016)

It can be seeing in figure 97, especially in the roof for this building that has been reduced
the consumption of cooling loads, with an average of 3000 MJ per month, it is important that
the hybrid roof designed as a convex and concave has contributed to reducing the
consumption it can be seen that the value of the walls remains as the analysis of the rotated
building in the scenario 2 and the value of the windows as well.

Figure 97. Energy analysis, monthly cooling 45 degrees upgraded model (Revit 2016)

The figure 98 shows the monthly roof cooling load for the initial building, it can be seeing
that the roof demand varies from 1962.83 MJ during January and increases to 3459.38 MJ
during July, then decreases to 2042.29 MJ during December.

The variation of cooling load depends on the radiation that receives during the year
depending on the seasons, during summer the demand from January to the peak in July
increases in 1496.55 MJ.

77
 Improved building roof cooling load
4000
3459.385
3342.198
3500 3288.125
3079.801 3056.235
2923.847
2824.453
3000 2671.612

2313.118
2500 2171.537
1962.833 2042.292

MJ 2000
1500
1000
500
0

MONTHS

Figure 98. Energy analysis, roof monthly cooling load 45 degrees upgraded model (Revit 2016)

In table 13, it can be seeing that the total energy use intensity for the upgraded building is
782 MJ/sm/yr, and that the electricity use intensity of 214 kWh/sm/yr.

Table 13. Energy use intensity (Revit 2016)

Figure 99. Energy analysis, monthly electricity consumption (Revit 2016)

Figure 99 shows the monthly electricity consumption of the building during the year, the
total electricity consumption for the improved building is of 97853 (kWh). See the
information in the appendix 1-D

In figure 100, it is shown the annual carbon emission of the building, the electricity
consumption has 13 (metric tons /yr). The total Net of CO2 is of 9 (metric tons/ yr).

78
The annual electricity use for this building is of 97.853 kWh, it can be seeing and confirmed
in figure 101 that the electricity use of this building is about 97% of the total use.

Figure 100 Annual carbon emissions, 45 degrees improved model Figure 101. Energy analysis, monthly cooling 45 degrees improved model

7.7.1 Roof configuration options

As it was determined in the evaluation methodology, is important to evaluate in order to

have a proper roof that can enhance the reduction of the cooling loads of the building for the
location, with the suitable configuration material for the roof that needs to have in the tropical
climate. In that order it was determined four types of configuration materials that can be
suitable for the location, as it can be seen in table 13, the materials configuration are the
following: configuration A is compound of a steel purlins as the main structure + Metal
panel with an exterior finish of a roofing felt, configuration B is plaster as the interior finish
+ concrete cast in situ as the main structure, with an exterior finish of roofing felt,
configuration C is compound of steel purlins as the main structure + rigid insulation +metal
panel and an exterior finish of a roofing felt, configuration D is compound of as the main
structure timber truss joist / rafter + rigid insulation + metal panel with an exterior finish of
a roofing felt.

It was chosen these roof material configurations due to the thickness and the U value that
they have as it can be seen in table 14, configuration A is the one that is used typically in
the location, this material was analysed for the scenario 1, 2 and for the scenario 3 in the
initial analysis.

Table 14. Material components for the improved roof (Revit 2016)

79
7.8. Energy analysis of the roof material configurations

7.8.1 Material configuration A

The analytical properties of the material configuration type “A”, can be seen in the following
table 15, is important to highlight that with the material configuration it was obtained a U –
value of 21.68 W/(m2.K), this configuration has as well a thermal resistance R of 0.05
(m2.K)/W, with a thickness of 0.26 cm.

Table 15. Material “A”, configuration (Revit 2016)

In the analysis of the cooling load (MJ) for the roof configuration A, it can be seen in figure
102, during winter the cooling load required for January is of 1714.40 MJ and during summer
with a peak during July of 3267.04 MJ.

Ro o f a na l y si s w ith c o nfi gura t io n t y pe "A" co o l ing

lo a d (M J )
3500 3118.622
3267.036
3139.004
2831.923 2760.127
3000 2662.583
2767.41
2439.713
2500
2051.265
1930.063
2000 1714.398 1785.008
MJ

1500
1000
500
0

MONTHS

Figure 102. Energy analysis, monthly electricity consumption (Revit 2016)

As it was found in the initial analysis of the improved building with the new shape roof in
section 7.7 In figure 103, it is shown the annual carbon emission of the building, the
electricity consumption has 13 (metric tons /yr). The total Net of CO2 is of 9 (metric tons/
yr).

80
The annual electricity use for this building is of 97853 kWh, it can be seeing and confirmed
in figure 104 that the electricity use of this building is about 97% of the total use.

Figure 103 Annual carbon emissions, configuration A (Revit 2016) Figure 104. Energy analysis, monthly cooling configuration A (Revit 2016)

Is important to mention the total annual electricity consumption with the roof configuration
A is of 97853 (kWh) it can see in figure 105 that shows the monthly electricity consumption
of the building during the year. For the monthly values, it can review in the appendix 1-D.

Figure 105. Energy analysis, monthly electricity consumption (Revit 2016)

7.8.2 Material configuration B

For the material configuration type “B” the analytical properties, can be seen in the following
table 16, is important to mention that with the material configuration, it was obtained a U –
value of 3.68 W/(m2.K), this configuration has as well a thermal resistance R of 0.27
(m2.K)/W, with a thickness of 0.26 cm.

81
 Table 16. Material “B”, configuration (Revit 2016)

In the analysis of the cooling load (MJ) for the roof configuration B, it can be seen in figure
106, during winter the cooling load required for January is of 1017.65 MJ and during summer
with a peak during July of 1991.33 MJ

Roof material B cooling load (MJ)

2500
1991.331
1900.048 1907.41
2000
1704.51 1652.734
1611.503 1666.278
1454.143
1500
1157.714 1207.263
MJ

1017.652 1059.334
1000

500

MONTHS

Figure 106. Energy analysis, monthly electricity consumption (Revit 2016)

Figure 107 Annual carbon emissions, configuration B (Revit 2016) Figure 108. Energy analysis, monthly cooling configuration B (Revit 2016)

In figure 107, it is shown the annual carbon emission of the building, the electricity
consumption has 13 (metric tons /yr). The total Net of CO2 is of 9 (metric tons/ yr).
82
The annual electricity use for this building is of 97389 kWh, it can be seeing and confirmed
in figure 108 that the electricity use of this building is about 97% of the total use.

The total annual electricity consumption with the roof configuration B is of 97389.73 (kWh)
it can see in figure 109 that shows the monthly electricity consumption of the building during
the year. For the monthly values, it can review in the appendix 1-D

Figure 109. Energy analysis, monthly electricity consumption (Revit 2016)

7.8.3 Material configuration C

The material configuration type “C” have the analytical properties that can be seen in the
following table 17, is important to mention that with the material configuration, it was
obtained a U – value of 0.68 W/(m2.K), this configuration has as well a thermal resistance
R of 1.47 (m2.K)/W, with a thickness of 0.31 cm.

Table 17. Material “C”, configuration (Revit 2016)

In the analysis of the cooling load (MJ) for the roof configuration C, it can be seen in figure
110, during winter the cooling load required for January is of 510.88 MJ and during summer
with a peak during July of 1048.04 MJ

83
 Roof material C cooling load (MJ)
1200
1048.038
1002.856 996.168
1000 888.6116
870.3735 853.7918
841.1261

800 747.2758

591.2378 612.4237
600
MJ
510.8829 537.4828

400

200

Figure 110. Energy analysis, monthly electricity consumption (Revit 2016)

In figure 111, it is shown the annual carbon emission of the building, the electricity
consumption has 13 (metric tons /yr). The total Net of CO2 is of 9 (metric tons/ yr).

The annual electricity use for this building is of 96927 kWh, it can be seeing and confirmed
in figure 112 that the electricity use of this building is about 97% of the total use.

Figure 111 Annual carbon emissions, configuration C (Revit 2016) Figure 112. Energy analysis, monthly cooling configuration C (Revit 2016)

The total annual electricity consumption with the roof configuration C is of 96927.033
(kWh) it can see in figure 113 that shows the monthly electricity consumption of the building
during the year. For the monthly values, it can review in the appendix 1-D

84
 Figure 113. Energy analysis, monthly electricity consumption (Revit 2016)

7.8.4 Material configuration D

The material configuration type “D” have the analytical properties that can be seen in the
following table 18, is important to mention that with the material configuration, it was
obtained a U – value of 0.13 W/(m2.K), this configuration has as well a thermal resistance
R of 7.47 (m2.K)/W, with a thickness of 0.24 cm.

Table 18. Material “D”, configuration (Revit 2016)

In the analysis of the cooling load (MJ) for the roof configuration D, it can be seen in figure
114, during winter the cooling load required for January is of 351.14 MJ and during summer
with a peak during July of 744.32 MJ

85
 Roof material D cooling load (MJ)
800 712.4117
744.3245
705.8889
700 617.888 623.9627
593.4031 595.8663
600 524.7053
500 424.9155
408.9932
369.0056
MJ 400 351.1356

300
200
100
0

MONTH

Figure 114. Energy analysis, monthly electricity consumption (Revit 2016)

In figure 115, it is shown the annual carbon emission of the building, the electricity
consumption has 12 (metric tons /yr). The total Net of CO2 is of 8 (metric tons/ yr).

The annual electricity use for this building is of 91631 kWh, it can be seeing and confirmed
in figure 116 that the electricity use of this building is about 97% of the total use.

Figure 115 Annual carbon emissions, configuration D (Revit 2016) Figure 116. Energy analysis, monthly cooling configuration D (Revit 2016)

The total annual electricity consumption with the roof configuration D is of 91631.035
(kWh) it can see in figure 117 that shows the monthly electricity consumption of the building
during the year. For the monthly values, it can review in the appendix 1-D

86
 Figure 117. Energy analysis, monthly electricity consumption (Revit 2016)

7.8.5 Comparison of energy analysis of the material configurations

After evaluating in Revit 2016 in terms of energy performance the configurations types of
the materials for the roof, it can be compared the annual cooling load values of them, as it
can be seen the annual cooling load for the type A is of 30467.15 MJ, for the configuration
B is of 18329.92 MJ, for the configuration C is 9500.268 MJ and for the configuration D is
6672.50 MJ, these outcomes can be seen in the following table 19.

Table 19. Roof configurations cooling loads (Revit 2016)

As it can be seen in figure 118, it can be confirmed the variation of the cooling load demand
for each configuration, is important to see that the behaviour of the configuration B with the
configuration A, it has a reduction of 39.83%, the configuration C has reduction of 68.81%
and configuration D show a more important reduction of the cooling loads from the initial
configuration A of 78.09%, the percentage of reduction is important and enhance to have a
reduction as well in the building energy consumption as it can be seen with the configuration
D, the final total electricity consumption of the building is of 91631.035 (kWh).

87
 Co o l ing lo a d co mpa ri so n o f the co nf ig ura tio n
ma teri a ls ty pes .
3500

COOLING LOAD "MJ"

3000
2500
2000
1500
1000
500
0

Roof material A cooling load (MJ) Roof material B cooling load (MJ)
Roof material C cooling load (MJ) Roof material D cooling load (MJ)

Figure 118. Cooling load comparison of the configuration materials types. (Revit 2016)

7.9 Concluding remarks from the energy analysis of the materials

It can be determine that the roof material configuration D is the most adequate for the
location and the roof shape, due to the properties of the configuration that it has, with a U –
value of 0.13 W/(m2.K), this configuration has as well a thermal resistance R of 7.47
(m2.K)/W, with a thickness of 0.24 cm. The reduction in the cooling loads demand of
78.09% is substantial. The thickness is important as well for the reduction in structure
materials for the roof and the building itself. The U-value of the configuration is really
important to notice because with this lower value the rate of heat transfer in the roof
decreases in that way plus the shape of the roof the reduction is considerable.

CHAPTER 8 – COMPARISON AND DISCUSSION

8.1 Comparison of the energy performance of the scenario 1, 2 and 3

After evaluating the scenario 1, 2 and 3 it has been determining the total energy consumption
of the scenarios during the months and the total consumption during the year, for the monthly
and total values it can be seen in the appendix 1-B, in the figure 119 and 120 it can be seen
that for the scenario 1 the total consumption is of 141689.67 (kWh), the scenario 2 with the
rotation that has been applied in order to enhance the wind conditions and the natural
conditions of location for reducing the energy consumption, it has total annual consumption
of 107230.044 (kWh) showing a reduction of 24.32 % from the initial building (scenario 1),
the scenario 3 of the improved building that it was upgraded with the proper roof shape for
the building and the appropriate roof material configuration in order to reduce the total
energy consumption it shows that the total annual consumption is of 91631.035 (kWh),
demonstrating that with the improvement of the appropriate roof in order to decrease the

88
overheating of the building and reduce the energy consumption of the building, it was
reduced to 35.33 % the consumption from the initial scenario.

In figure 120, as well it can be seen the variation reduction of the monthly electricity
consumption between the three scenarios.

M o nt hly elec tric ity c o nsump ti o n (kWh)

14000
12000
10000
8000
KWH

6000
4000
2000
0

Initial building (kWh) Rotated building (kWh) Improved building (kWh)

Figure 119. Comparison of the monthly energy consumption of the scenarios. (Revit 2016)

Annual electricity consumption (kWh)

160000 141689.67
140000
120000 107230.044
100000 91631.035
KWH

80000
60000
40000
20000
0
Initial building (kWh) Rotated building (kWh) Improved building
(kWh)
MONTH

Figure 120. Comparison of the monthly energy consumption of the scenarios. (Revit 2016)

89
CHAPTER 9 – CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION

9.1 Conclusion

The current study in the first instance has reviewed previous research on how the natural
ventilation can have an important benefit in the performance of roof temperature, as it was
found, the natural ventilation in the tropical climates have an important role, as it is the main
passive strategy that can be applied in the tropical climates. As it is known the roof of the
buildings during the year receive highly amount of radiation, therefore the roof is overheated
and has higher temperatures in the upper part of the building, becoming this problem one of
the main issues of the building regarding in terms of energy consumption, this important
issue can be mitigated with a well passive natural ventilated strategy.

The aim of this study is to design an innovative cooling roof that can minimize the energy
consumption in the building during the year by applying a combination of passive cooling
technologies with natural ventilation. One of the important facts that it was applied in this
study is the combination of 3 important strategies regarding for a cooling technique, the first
strategy is changing the form and shape of the roof in order to enhance a better wind flow to
reduce the temperature, the other important strategy is that the shape of the roof was mixed
by incorporating an attic that can be useful for two important reasons, the first one is to
reduce the internal temperature of the roofs, and also the temperature of the roof, the third
strategy is changing the configuration of the roof material in order to reduce the heat gain
and reduce directly the cooling loads that required the roofs.

During the evaluation of the strategy by changing the shape of the roof and at the same time
incorporating the attic, it was found that by designing a dynamic roof shape concave and
convex, this can enhance an important temperature reduction in the roof, the attic, and the
ceiling surface, at the speed of 1 m/s it was found that there were not any important
temperature reduction, but at 2 and 3 m/s it was found that the temperature reduction is
important, this study can validate that with a minimum of 2 m/s it can work for reducing the
temperature of the roof, it was found that at a velocity of 2 m/s and 3 m/s it can be reduced
in 6.4 K and 8.8 K, finishing in 306.4 K and 304 K respectively the roof temperature.
However as the wind speed is not constant, for the passive cooling roof could be a problem,
in that order to supply with an optimum temperature at the moment that there is not the
sufficient wind speed, the possibility of using an active cooling strategy could be important,
that is one of the main limitations of the natural ventilation, that depends on certain factors
in order to see the proper efficiency.

90
With a lower U-Value of the material configuration, it can be reduced to a 78.09 % the
cooling loads required for the roof, this is important to highlight that the combination of the
concave and convex roof plus the roof material configuration it can be reduced the energy
consumption of the building in 35.33 % from the initial building, the use of a corrugated
metal panel and the insulation as one of the main components of the roof were important for
the reduction of the roof cooling loads.

Finally, it can be said that by changing the roof of the building with the innovative cooling
roof proposal it can be reduced and achieve a lower energy consumption of the building, this
reduction will be reflected directly in the bills of the building and by having a better
performance in the building.

9.2 Recommendation

For further studies, the analysis in CFD Ansys fluent could be made under no steady
conditions, by changing one of the main parameters in order to work with the material values
of the configurations, as well one important parameter that can be changed is the parameter
of the size of the inlet and outlet, and the importance to incorporate an outlet in the top of
the roof in order to enhance a better change pressure for the stack effect.

The natural ventilation, this passive strategy has one important limitation that need to have
into account that is that the wind speed is not constant, due that this limitation can be
compensated by using an active strategy to cool the roof while there is no an important wind
speed in the location, in that order in the software of CFD the active strategy can be
incorporated and evaluate to see the behaviour of the roof proposals.

Different shapes and forms of the roof can be tested, but is important to have into account
the principles of the natural ventilation that the Malayan house can provide for the design
provide.

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APPENDICES

 1-A Wind frequency table Puerto Ila-Inamhi (Anuario Meteorologico Nro. 52-2012, 2015)

 1-B Monthly electricity consumption.

94
  1-C CFD outcomes.

Roof A outcomes

 1 m/s

Contours of static temperature (K)

Contours of X velocity (m/s)

Vectors of velocity (m/s)

95
  2 m/s

Contours of static temperature (K)

Contours of X velocity (m/s)

Vectors of velocity (m/s)

96
  3 m/s

Contours of static temperature (K)

Contours of X velocity (m/s)

Vectors of velocity (m/s)

97
Roof B outcomes

 1 m/s

Contours of static temperature (K)

Contours of X velocity (m/s)

Vectors of velocity (m/s)

98
  2 m/s

Contours of static temperature (K)

Contours of X velocity (m/s)

Vectors of velocity (m/s)

99
  3 m/s

Contours of static temperature (K)

Contours of X velocity (m/s)

Vectors of velocity (m/s)

100
Roof C outcomes

 1 m/s

Contours of static temperature (K)

Contours of X velocity (m/s)

Vectors of velocity (m/s)

101
  2 m/s

Contours of static temperature (K)

Contours of X velocity (m/s)

Vectors of velocity (m/s)

102
  3 m/s

Contours of static temperature (K)

Contours of X velocity (m/s)

Vectors of velocity (m/s)

103
Roof D outcomes

 1 m/s

Contours of static temperature (K)

Contours of X velocity (m/s)

Vectors of velocity (m/s)

104
Roof C outcomes

 1 m/s

Contours of static temperature (K)

Contours of X velocity (m/s)

Vectors of velocity (m/s)

105
  2 m/s

Contours of static temperature (K)

Contours of X velocity (m/s)

Vectors of velocity (m/s)

106
  3 m/s

Contours of static temperature (K)

Contours of X velocity (m/s)

Vectors of velocity (m/s)

107
Roof D outcomes

 1 m/s

Contours of static temperature (K)

Contours of X velocity (m/s)

Vectors of velocity (m/s)

108
  2 m/s

Contours of static temperature (K)

Contours of X velocity (m/s)

Vectors of velocity (m/s)

109
  3 m/s

Contours of static temperature (K)

Contours of X velocity (m/s)

Vectors of velocity (m/s)

110
Roof E outcomes

 1 m/s

Contours of static temperature (K)

Contours of X velocity (m/s)

Vectors of velocity (m/s)

111
  2 m/s

Contours of static temperature (K)

Contours of X velocity (m/s)

Vectors of velocity (m/s)

112
  3 m/s

Contours of static temperature (K)

Contours of X velocity (m/s)

Vectors of velocity (m/s)

113
 Roof surface temperature at velocity of 1m/s Outcome from the North-East
from CFD analysis.

114
 Roof surface temperature at velocity of 2m/s Outcome from the North-East
from CFD analysis.

115
 Roof surface temperature at velocity of 3 m/s Outcome from the North-East
from CFD analysis.

116
  1-D Building monthly electricity consumption with the roof configurations.

Co mpa ris o n o f the elec tri city c o nsu mpt i o n w i th t he ma teri a l

co nf ig u ra ti o ns
10000

9000

8000

7000

6000
KWH

5000

4000

3000

2000

1000

MONTHS

Building electricity consumption (kWh) with the config. A Building electricity consumption (kWh) with the config. B
Building electricity consumption (kWh) with the config. C Building electricity consumption (kWh) with the config. D

117
118