Optimizing Windcatcher Designs for Effective Passive Cooling Strategies in Vienna’s Urban Environment
Urban overheating, intensified by climate change, poses a critical challenge in Central European cities, witnessing a rise in tropical days. Conventional mechanical cooling systems in buildings significantly contribute to carbon dioxide emissions, exacerbating global warming. In response, windcatche...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2024-03-01
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| Series: | Buildings |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-5309/14/3/765 |
| _version_ | 1797241726452105216 |
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| author | Aida Shayegani Viera Joklova Juraj Illes |
| author_facet | Aida Shayegani Viera Joklova Juraj Illes |
| author_sort | Aida Shayegani |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Urban overheating, intensified by climate change, poses a critical challenge in Central European cities, witnessing a rise in tropical days. Conventional mechanical cooling systems in buildings significantly contribute to carbon dioxide emissions, exacerbating global warming. In response, windcatchers—traditional Iranian natural cooling systems—emerge as a promising sustainable solution for contemporary architecture, even in non-arid climates. This research aims to evaluate windcatchers’ efficacy in improving building thermal comfort in Central European climates, focusing on Vienna’s urban environment. This study identifies optimal windcatcher designs by analyzing key variables: height variation, inlet dimensions, urban exposure, Building Management System (BMS) temperature thresholds, and integration with an earth tube system using Design Builder simulation software version 6. The findings reveal that a windcatcher standing at 2.5 m tall, with inlet dimensions of 0.9 m by 1.4 m, in an open, less densely populated urban setting, and with open valves when indoor temperatures surpass 22 °C, demonstrates the most effective reduction in cooling load. Moreover, both one-sided and two-sided windcatchers outperform conventional ventilation through openings. Additionally, combining a one-sided windcatcher with an earth tube system ensures efficient cooling even when exterior temperatures exceed 25 degrees Celsius. When augmented by a heat pump, this integrated system can provide heated ventilation. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-24T18:27:54Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-6500af6ce70c4d58b73cb999cbc29c5d |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2075-5309 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T18:27:54Z |
| publishDate | 2024-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Buildings |
| spelling | doaj.art-6500af6ce70c4d58b73cb999cbc29c5d2024-03-27T13:29:28ZengMDPI AGBuildings2075-53092024-03-0114376510.3390/buildings14030765Optimizing Windcatcher Designs for Effective Passive Cooling Strategies in Vienna’s Urban EnvironmentAida Shayegani0Viera Joklova1Juraj Illes2Faculty of Architecture and Design, Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava, Námestie Slobody 19, 81245 Bratislava, SlovakiaFaculty of Architecture and Design, Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava, Námestie Slobody 19, 81245 Bratislava, SlovakiaFaculty of Architecture and Design, Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava, Námestie Slobody 19, 81245 Bratislava, SlovakiaUrban overheating, intensified by climate change, poses a critical challenge in Central European cities, witnessing a rise in tropical days. Conventional mechanical cooling systems in buildings significantly contribute to carbon dioxide emissions, exacerbating global warming. In response, windcatchers—traditional Iranian natural cooling systems—emerge as a promising sustainable solution for contemporary architecture, even in non-arid climates. This research aims to evaluate windcatchers’ efficacy in improving building thermal comfort in Central European climates, focusing on Vienna’s urban environment. This study identifies optimal windcatcher designs by analyzing key variables: height variation, inlet dimensions, urban exposure, Building Management System (BMS) temperature thresholds, and integration with an earth tube system using Design Builder simulation software version 6. The findings reveal that a windcatcher standing at 2.5 m tall, with inlet dimensions of 0.9 m by 1.4 m, in an open, less densely populated urban setting, and with open valves when indoor temperatures surpass 22 °C, demonstrates the most effective reduction in cooling load. Moreover, both one-sided and two-sided windcatchers outperform conventional ventilation through openings. Additionally, combining a one-sided windcatcher with an earth tube system ensures efficient cooling even when exterior temperatures exceed 25 degrees Celsius. When augmented by a heat pump, this integrated system can provide heated ventilation.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-5309/14/3/765natural ventilationwindcatcherspassive coolingDesign BuilderCentral European climate |
| spellingShingle | Aida Shayegani Viera Joklova Juraj Illes Optimizing Windcatcher Designs for Effective Passive Cooling Strategies in Vienna’s Urban Environment Buildings natural ventilation windcatchers passive cooling Design Builder Central European climate |
| title | Optimizing Windcatcher Designs for Effective Passive Cooling Strategies in Vienna’s Urban Environment |
| title_full | Optimizing Windcatcher Designs for Effective Passive Cooling Strategies in Vienna’s Urban Environment |
| title_fullStr | Optimizing Windcatcher Designs for Effective Passive Cooling Strategies in Vienna’s Urban Environment |
| title_full_unstemmed | Optimizing Windcatcher Designs for Effective Passive Cooling Strategies in Vienna’s Urban Environment |
| title_short | Optimizing Windcatcher Designs for Effective Passive Cooling Strategies in Vienna’s Urban Environment |
| title_sort | optimizing windcatcher designs for effective passive cooling strategies in vienna s urban environment |
| topic | natural ventilation windcatchers passive cooling Design Builder Central European climate |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-5309/14/3/765 |
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