Experimental and numerical analysis of heat transfer and airflow on an interactive building facade

Roberto Fuliotto, Francesco Cambuli, Natalino Mandas, Nicoletta Bacchin, Giampiero Manara, Qingyan Chen

Research output: Journal article publicationJournal articleAcademic researchpeer-review

34 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The envelope of a building is mainly responsible for its energy demand. Different kinds of double skin facades (DSFs) are nowadays used as a building envelope to reduce the energy demand and improve aesthetical view of buildings. Although DSF are already extensively used, their thermal performance is not well understood. This study presents a decoupling method capable to evaluate thermal performances and analyze fluid phenomena in a DSF. The solar radiation effects were evaluated with an analytical model and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations were used to evaluate complex flow and thermal effect on a commercial DSF. With the decoupling approach to account for the effects of solar radiation and flow, the numerical results obtained by the CFD approach agree well with the experimental data collected on a full scale test room with a ventilated DSF. The method can be used to establish a database to develop a tool for DSF design.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)23-28
Number of pages6
JournalEnergy and Buildings
Volume42
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jan 2010

Keywords

  • Computational fluid dynamics
  • Decoupling method
  • Ventilated double skin facade

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Civil and Structural Engineering
  • Building and Construction
  • Mechanical Engineering
  • Electrical and Electronic Engineering

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