An ESRU Consultancy Case Study
The
project
ESRU Consultancy was commissioned by GAIA Ecotecture to undertake a study for the Navan Credit union Building located in Dublin, Ireland. The study evaluated the features incorporated in the design to achieve effective natural ventilation, including a rooftop structure that acts as a venturi device and a solar chimney on the roof. The client required the performance of these devices under different wind direction and speeds.
The approach
In order to predict the ventilation efficiency of the venturi device and the solar chimney, the interior and exterior parts of the building were modellied using CFD. The starting point was to create an AutoCADbased on information supplied by the client. The following figures show this model. A virtual wind tunnel prescribing the specific terrain type and the wind profile was then created to contain the building model. The simulation modelled simultaneously the air flow within and outwith the building so that the CFD boundary conditions were dynamic.
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The results
The
aerodynamic performance of the venturi device and solar chimney was predicted.
It was observed that, for certain wind directions, the venturi performed favourably;
while in other cases the performance was marginal.
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The
following animation shows the air flow inside the building.
