BASIC CALCULATION IN

NATURAL VENTILATION DESIGN

Dr. Cornelia Hildegardis, ST. MT

Session Objectives:

1. To understand the weather information used for

natural ventilation design.
2. To learn about wins speed estimation for
different urban context.
3. To know principles of natural ventilation: wind
driven and stack effect (buoyancy) ventilation
4. To understand some basic calculations for airflow
rate estimation in a simple indoor space.
Weather data are used for:

 Realtime / nowcasting monitoring (very important

data such as visibility thunderstorm, wind speed for
the aviation, marine/shipping etc)
 Weather forecasting (data such as rainfall,
evaporation for agriculture, food processing,
ecological, water management etc)
 Understanding the climate characteristics as useful
information for building design (temperature diurnal,
relative humidity, sun radiation, revailing wind
direction & speed etc)
Basic equipment for the mini weather station

The scope of measurement:

 Rain Precipitation (Rain gauge)
 Relative humidity (hygrometer)
 Wind velocity (anemometer)
 Wind direction (wind vane)
 Sun radiation (solar meter)

Airport, seaport, meteorological stations

Standard height of 10 m above the grassed
ground, unblocked.
Do we use weather forecast in our daily lives?
Weather Data for
Natural Ventilation Design
 Weather station
Wind Data are available yearly, monthly, weekly,
daily, hourly. Average wind speed, their direction
and frequency of occurrence can be presented
using: windrose diagram
Wind rose Diagram shows the wind direction and frequency
of occurrences (%)

Percentage Frequency of Annual Wind Direction

( Paya Lebar meteorological Station)

North
60
50
January
North West 40
North East February

30 March
20 April
10 May
West 0 East June
July
August
September
South West South East October
November
December
South
 Wind rose Diagram shows the wind direction and
average wind velocity / speed

Mean Wind Speed (m/s) and Direction

July - August
(Pay a Lebar Meteorological Station)

North
3 .5
3
North West 2 .5 North East
2
1 .5
1
0 .5
West 0 East

July
August
South West South East

South
[Link]
Wind
Wind speed
speed Estimation:
estimation is based on wind speed data from
the nearest weather station

1. AIVC (Air Infiltration and Ventilation Centre):

Logarithmic law: u  
z 
u  * ln
z k z 
 0
Where :
uz = average wind speed at height of z above the roughness length
of z0
z = height above the surface ground (m)
z0 = roughness length
u* = Drag velocity (m/s)
k = Karman number (approx. 0.4)
Where :
uz = average wind speed at height of z above the roughness length of z 0
z = height above the surface ground (m)
z0 = roughness length
u* = Drag velocity (m/s)
k = Karman number (approx. 0.4)
2. British Standard Institution

Wind speed estimation formula according to BSI

BS-5925 1991:

u / um = Kza
Where,
u = wind speed at height of z (m/s)
z = height (m)
um = wind speed measured at 10 m on open field (weather
station) – (m/s)
K and a = based on the available table.
Table: Type of Land surface [BS5925, 1991]

Type of land surface K a

Open field, short grass 0.68 0.17
Suburb (countryside) with limited 0.52 0.20
vegetation and buildings
Urban area with low and medium 0.35 0.25
height buildings
Densely built up area in the city 0.21 0.33
centre with medium and highrise
buildings
Case study:

 Calculate the wind speed at the open restaurant located at

8th floor (height of 30 meter) in the city centre if the wind
speed at the nearest station was recorded at 4 m/s. (BSI
Formula)
u / um = Kza

 Please discuss and identify some factors which can affect

the accuracy and reliability of wind speed estimation of the
certain location.
Principles of Natural Ventilation:

For air to move into and out of a building, a pressure difference

between the inside and outside of the building is required.
The resistance to flow of air through the building will affect
the actual air flow rate. In general, controlled natural
ventilation and infiltration are driven by pressure difference
across the building envelope.

The pressure difference is caused by:

1. wind driven (or wind effect)
2. difference in air density and pressure due to temperature
difference between indoor and outdoor air (stack or
chimney effect)
3. combination of both wind and stack effects.
 Cross ventilation : air flow through a space due to
ambient wind patterns and resultant pressure
differential.

 Stack ventilation : air flow generally in the vertical

direction caused by temperature and pressure
differences. Also referred to as the chimney effect.
 Wind flow

Air flow enters through

openings in the
windward walls, and
leaves through
openings in the
leeward walls.

The pressure
distribution patterns
due to wind in a
number of cases are
illustrated in the
following Figure.
 Wind pressures are generally high/positive on the windward side of a building
and low/negative on the leeward side. The occurrence and change of wind
pressures on building surfaces depend on:

 wind speed and wind direction relative to the building;

 the location and surrounding environment of the building; and
 shape of the building.
1
Pressure on building surfaces Pw  Po  Cp . ..Vw2

may be expressed as: 2

where  Pw  = mean pressure on the building surface (N/m2 or Pa)
Po  = static pressure in undistributed wind (N/m2 or Pa)
vw  = mean wind velocity (m/s)

ρ = density of air (kg/m3)

Cp  = surface pressure coefficient
Stack Effect

When air movement is due to temperature difference between

the indoor and outdoor, the flow of air is in the vertical
direction and is along the path of least resistance. The
temperature difference causes density differentials, and
therefore pressure differences, that drive the air to move
upward.
During the winter season (Figure left), the following stack effect occurs:
 indoor temperature is higher than outdoor temperature;

 the warmer air in building then rises up;

 the upward air movement produces negative indoor pressure at the bottom;
 positive indoor pressure is created on the top;

 warmer air flows out of the building near the top; and the air is replaces by

colder outside air that enters the building near its base.
During the summer season (Figure Right), the reverse occurs when indoor
temperature is lower than outdoor temperature.
When thermal force is acting alone, a neutral pressure level (NPL) exists,
where the interior and exterior pressures are equal. At all other levels, the
pressure difference between the interior and exterior depends on the
distance from the neutral pressure level and the difference between the
densities of inside and outside air.
Air Change rate per Hour (ACH)

Air changes per hour (ACH) is a measure of air infiltration or air

cleaning. It is a value representing the number of times each
hour that an enclosure’s total volume of air is exchanged with
fresh or filtered air.
It is the total volume of air in a space that is turned over in one
hour.
Q
ACH  x3600
Vol

Vol = Volume of space (m3)

Q = Volumetric air flow rate (m3 / s)  Q = A.V
A = Inlet area (m2)
V = Windspeed (m/s)
Building Ventilation strategies:

1. Single sided ventilation

2. Double sided / Cross ventilation
3. Courtyard / atrium ventilation
Simplified Method for the prediction of the airflow
rates within NV buildings

SINGLE SIDED VENTILATION

1. Ventilation due to wind

A
Q  0.025A.V V

A = Opening Area
V = wind velocity / speed Cross section view
Case study:

Calculate the ventilation rate of a room with the

dimension of 4.0 x 6.0 x 3.0 m (W x L x H) if the
opening area is known to be 0.7 x 2.0 m2 and mean
wind speed on the inlet is 2 m/s.

Answer:Q = 0.025 x 1.4 x 2

Q = 0.07 m3 /s

How much is room’s ACH ?

Answer:ACH = (Q / V) x 3600
ACH = (0.07 / 72) x 3600 = 3.5
 2. Ventilation due to temperature difference with
two openings

  2  TgH  Te
Q  Cd A    1

 1    1   2  2  T  A1
1

H1 T+Te

ε = A1 / A2 , A = A1 + A2
A2
Cd = Coefficient of discharge
A1 = Outlet opening Area
A2 = Inlet opening Area
Cross section view
V = wind velocity / speed
g = Gravity
H1 = Height between two openings
Case study:

Estimate the ventilation rate in a room with the inlet area of 2 m 2 and outlet of 3 m2.
The height difference between two opening is 3 m. Outdoor temp is 32 0 C and
indoor temp is 280 C. Coefficient of discharge is assumed to be 0.6.

Answer:   2  TgH 
Q  Cd A    1

 1    1   2  2  T 
A1 = 3 m2, 1

A2 = 2 m2,
H1 = 3 m
 1 .5 2  4 x10x 3 
Q  0 .6 x 5  0 .5   
Te = 320 C,  1  1.5 1  2.25  30 
Ti = 280 C,
 2.121 
T = 40 C, Q  3 4
Cd = 0.6  4.507 
ε = 1,5 Q  5.65 m 3 / s
A = 5 m2
3. Ventilation due to temperature difference
in a single opening

A ΔTgH2
Q  Cd A
3 T H2

Cd = Coefficient of discharge
A = Opening area
H2 = Opening height
g = gravity (10 m/s2) Cross section view
CROSS VENTILATION
1. Ventilation due to wind only

Q w  Cd A w V ΔCp V A1
A3
1 1 1
 
Aw
2
 A1  A 2   A 3  A 4 
2 2
Cp1 T+Te Cp2

A2 A4

Aw = Effective Opening Area

Cd = Coefficient of discharge
Cp = Coefficient of pressure Cross section view
Case study:

Estimate the ventilation rate in a room with the two inlet area of 2 m2
and two outlet area of 3 m2. The coefficient of pressure on
windward wall is 0.5 and leeward is -0.1. Coefficient of discharge is
assumed to be 0.6.
1 1 1
 
Aw
2
 A1  A2  2  A3  A4  2
Answer:
1 1 1
 
A 1 = A 2 = 2 m 2, Aw
2
(2  2)2 (3  3)2
A 3 = A 4 = 3 m 2, 1 2
2  0.0903 Aw  11 .074 Aw  3.33
Aw

Cd = 0.6 Qw  Cd AwV Cp

Cp1 = 0.5
Qw  0.6 x 3.33x1.2 0.6
Cp2 = -0.1
Qw  1.86 m3 / s
 Cp = 0.6
2. Ventilation due to temperature difference
(buoyancy) only

 2TgH1 
0 .5
A1
Qb  Cd Ab   A3
 T 
1 1 1 H1 Te Ti
2  2 
Ab  A1  A3   A2  A4  2

Te  Ti
T A2 A4
2

Cross section view

 3. Ventilation due to wind and temperature difference
(buoyancy)

V A H V Te
Q  Qb for  0.26 b 1 A1
T Aw Cp A3

V Ab H1
Cp1 Ti Cp2
Q  Qw for  0.26
T Aw Cp
T  Ti  Te A2 A4
Ventilation via Courtyard (Atrium)

Ti = absolut temp indoor ( 0K)

1
To = absolute temp outdoor ( 0K)
 2TgH1  2
uc 1    ∆T = absolute temp difference ( 0K)
  1Ti  I, o = indoor and outdoor air densities
1 (≈1.20 kg/m3 at temp. 2930 K)
 2TgH2  2 uc1,uc2 = air velocities in the constricted areas
uc 2   
  2To 
(m/s)
ψ1 = flow coefficient at inlet opening
ψ2 = flow coefficient at outlet opening
H1 = vertical distance between neutral axis
p1  o TgH1 / Ti and inlet (m)
p2   i TgH2 / To H2 = vertical distance between neutral axis
and outlet (m)
g = gravity acceleration (≈ 9.82 m/s2)
 Case Study: Ventilation via courtyard
Numerical analysis
8.0 m
To= 307° K  Courtyard size 8.0 x 8.0 m
 Floor to floor height 3.60 m
 Temperature difference = 30K
 g = 9.82 m/s2 (gravity)

14.40 m
(3.60 m x 4)

Ti = 304° K
Neutral Plane Height :

H
H1  2
 1  1  1
 Ti   2  Ac1 
1       2  1  2
 To   1  Ac 2 
where 1   2  2.8
14.40
H1  2
 304  3.8  64 
1      1  1  2. 8  3. 8
 307  3.8  64 
14.40  2   1  3. 8
H1   7.25m
1.987 resistance coefficient = “ζ”
H2  H  H1  7.15m The contraction coefficient =
Ψ (where Ψ = 1 + ζ).
 Pressure difference :

p1  o Tg H1 Ti
p2  i Tg H2 To

p1  o Tg H1 p2   i Tg H2

Ti To
p1  1.185x 3 x 9.82x 7.247 p2  1.185x 3 x 9.82x 7.153
304 307
p1  0.8322Pa p2  0.8134Pa
Air velocity :

1 1
 2TgH1  2
 2TgH2  2
v c 1    vc2   
  1Ti    1To 
1 1
 2 x 3 x 9.82x 7.247  2
 2 x 3 x 9.82x 7.153  2
v c1    vc2  
 3.8 x 303   3.8 x 307 
v c 2   0.3613
1
v c 1   0.3708
1
2 2

v c 1  0.609m / s v c 2  0.601m / s
 The above velocities were obtained under ideal condition where the
pressure drop is converted wholly into kinetic energy. In reality, a number
of coefficients are involved that take into account the friction loss
(resistance coefficient – “ζ”) as well as the contraction of the jet
(contraction coefficient – “Cc”).In the calculation, the resistance coefficient
which depends on the sharpness of opening edge have been considered
value of Ψ (where Ψ = 1 + ζ). The contraction coefficient has a value
between 0.5 (so-called “Borda” opening) and 1.0 (for a well-curved
opening). For sharp opening, such as the courtyard opening under
investigation, the value will be about 0.6 [Andersen 1995].

 By taking into consideration this contraction effect, the air velocity in the
constricted inlet and outlet area can be calculated more realistically as
follows:

Vactual-1 = Cc .vc1 Vactual-1 = 0.6 x 0.609 = 0.365 m/s

Vactual-2 = Cc .vc2 Vactual-2 = 0.6 x 0.601 = 0.361 m/s
Assuming the wind speed measured during site measurement is the wind speed due to the combined
effect, wind speed on ground floor (Vcomb-1) and roof (Vcomb-2) to be 1.80 m/s and 2.5 m/s respectively:

V 2
comb 1 V 2
wind 1 V 2
stack 1
Vcomb
2
2
 V 2
wind  2
 V 2
stack  2

Vwind 1  V 2
comb 1
V 2
stack 1
Vwind 2  Vcomb
2
2  V 2
stack  2

Vwind 1  1.82  0.3652 Vwind 2  2.52  0.3612

Vwind 1  1.76m / s Vwind 2  2.47m / s
0.04 0.03
x100%  2.08% x100%  1.05%
1 .8 2 .5
Contribution from stack effect is found to be very small (insignificant):
Talking points:
1. Under certain condition, some spaces in building may not be
able to use NV (such as basement). Is there any ideas that
can enhance the use NV for those underground spaces?
2. Closed Atrium is widely used in shopping mall, discuss some
negative impacts especially on thermal comfort of the
people. What are the solutions ?
Reference:

1. Mat Santamouris (2007). Advances in Passive Cooling. Earthscan Publ.

2. Martin Liddament (2001). A Guide Energy Efficient Ventilation. AIVC.
3. CIBSE AM-10 (2005). Natural Ventilation in Non-Domestic Buildings. CIBSE.