Impact of the atmospheric boundary layer profile on the ventilation of a cubic building with two large opposite openings

TL;DR

This study investigates how different atmospheric boundary layer profiles affect airflow and ventilation efficiency in a cubic building with large openings, using CFD simulations to analyze flow patterns and occupant zones.

Contribution

It demonstrates the impact of various boundary layer profiles on indoor airflow distribution and ventilation effectiveness in a simplified building model.

Findings

Logarithmic and power profiles significantly alter indoor airflow patterns.

Effective ventilation zones are influenced by external ground roughness and wind angle.

Non-ventilated areas indicate poor airflow and potential comfort issues.

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to show the influence of the atmospheric boundary layer profile on the distribution of velocity in a building having two large openings. The knowledge of the flow form inside a building is useful to define a thermal environment favourable with thermal comfort and good air quality. In computational fluid dynamics, several profiles of atmospheric boundary layer can be used like logarithmic profiles or power profiles. This paper shows the impact of these profiles on the indoor airflow. Non-ventilated or ventilated parts of room are found. They show respectively ineffective ventilation and effective ventilation. A qualitative and global approach allows to observe the flows in a cubic building and to show the influence of each profile according to the external ground roughness and the incidence angle of the wind. Some zones, where occupants move, are named volumes of life. Ventilation is there observed using traditional tools in order to analyze quantitatively the ventilation of these zones.