Energy Equipment and Systems

Energy Equipment and Systems

Impact of combining windcatchers with an atrium on energy consumption in the hot-dry climate

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors
1 Department of Architecture, Kish International Campus, University of Tehran, Iran.
2 Department of Architecture and Urbanism, Shahrood University of Technology, Shahrood, Iran
3 Department of Architecture, Faculty of Architecture and Urbanism, University of Art, Tehran, Iran
4 Department of Architecture, Ferdows Institute of Higher Education, Mashhad, Iran
Abstract
Using passive systems as a non-mechanical method is an effective way to address energy waste in the environment. Therefore, efforts should be made to reduce these impacts by using sustainable technologies. Atrium as a passive heating system provides heating and natural light, while windcatcher as a passive cooling system offers natural ventilation and cooling in buildings. Passive systems, despite their advantages, also have disadvantages that ignoring them will result in inefficiency. In this study, for the first time, both atrium and windcatcher systems are used simultaneously to combine them to eliminate each other's disadvantages and reduce building energy consumption. The case study example in two scenarios, with and without a windcatcher, was designed and simulated using EnergyPlus software. The simulation results showed that adding a windcatcher to the atrium reduced cooling consumption by 67%. Implementing water spray at the windcatcher's entrance further improved its efficiency, increasing humidity and lowering cooling consumption by 7-17% compared to a windcatcher without water spray. These strategies resulted in significant energy savings for the building.
Keywords

Subjects


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