<p>Office spaces are characterized by large glazing areas necessary for visual comfort. However, such envelope increases the heat gain into the space and cause thermal discomfort by radiation asymmetry. In addition, high fresh air flowrates are needed to maintain the required indoor air quality (IAQ) crucial for the occupants’ wellbeing and decision making abilities. For these reasons, office spaces are characterized by large cooling loads especially in hot climates. Conventional vapor compression air conditioning systems are known to be energy intensive systems which rely mainly on electrical energy. Thus, there is a pressing need to decrease the reliance on active cooling systems by the introduction of passive cooling strategies and efficient sustainable buildings.</p><p>This study proposes an effective passive cooling system that integrates a combined solar chimney – windcatcher system along with a fan-assisted cross-flow dew point indirect evaporative cooler (DP-IEC) supplying cool clean air to an office space. The system utilizes room air exhaust driven by the solar chimney to cool a double layer window to reduce both the space load and the radiation asymmetry. Consequently, this reduces the DP-IEC system’s size and its water consumption. Validated mathematical models were used to assess the integrated system’s ability in maintaining acceptable thermal comfort and IAQ levels at minimal energy and water consumption. The simulations were carried out for the peak load month for a case study of an occupied office located in the semi-arid and hot Lebanese inland region.</p>

A Novel Integrated Passive Ventilation and Air Conditioning System for an Office Space in Hot Climate

Paper Proceedings: https://asmedigitalcollection.asme.org/HT/HT2021/volume/84874

ASME 2021 Heat Transfer Summer Conference (SHTC2021)

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