AR6303

CLIMATOLOGY

UNIT – NO: 4

BY

B.HARIHARAN
ASSISTANT PROFESSOR
MEASI ACADEMY OF ARCHITECTURE
AIR MOVEMENT DUE TO NATURAL AND BUILT
FORMS

Unit 4
 wind

• The wind flow pattern for a particular site can be understood in relation to airport
data by simulation. If not feasible, the designer can estimate wind direction and
speed by using three principles that govern air movement and by becoming
familiar with the way wind interacts with natural and built forms.
• 1. Air velocity is slower near the surface of the earth than higher in the
atmosphere.
• 2. The air tends to continue moving the same direction when it meets an
obstruction.
• 3. Air flows from areas of high pressure to areas of low pressure.
• In addition to these air movements principles, there are several microclimatic
phenomena that often occur on building sites.
 THE EFFECTS OF TOPOGRAPHY ON WIND PATTERNS

Influence of topography:

• On a continental scale, wind and weather are the result of an interaction between

broad global flow patterns and regional pressure and temperature patterns are

created by the sun’s differential heating effect on land, forest and water.

• The force, direction and moisture content of air flows are strongly influenced by

topography. Air can be diverted or funnelled by mountain ranges. Air deflected

upwards, as it cools, releases its moisture content. A descending air mass will very

rarely give any precipitation, therefore rainfall characteristics vary sharply between

locations on windward and leeward slopes of mountain ranges.

INFLUENCE OF TERRAIN ON WIND FLOW
 AIR FLOW AROUND THE BUILDINGS:

• When air strikes an obstacle such as a building, this will slow down the air flow but the air
flow will exert a pressure on the obstructing surface. This slowing down process effects a
roughly wedge shaped mass of air on the windward side of the building, which in turn
diverts the rest of the air flow upwards and sideways. A separation layer is formed between
the stagnant air and the building on the one hand and the laminar air flow on the other
hand.

• The laminar air flow itself may be accelerated at the obstacle, as the area available for the
flow is narrowed down by the obstacle. At the separation layer, due to friction, the upper
surface of the stagnant air is moved forward, thus a turbulence or vortex is developed.

• The laminar air flow tends to maintain a straight path after it has been diverted, therefore it
will take some time to return to the ground surface after the obstacle. Thus a stagnant mass
of air is also formed on the leeward side, but this is at the reduced pressure.
• Vortex are formed wherever the laminar flow is separated from the surface of solid bodies.
On the windward side such vortexes are at an increased pressure and on the leeward side at
a reduced pressure. If the building has an opening facing a high pressure zone and another
facing a low pressure zone, air movement will be generated through the building.

Air flow around the buildings

 Air flow through the buildings:

• Air flow pattern can be predicted by wind simulator or wind tunnel. On the basis of such
experimental observations the following factors can be isolated which affect the indoor air
flow:

• A. Orientation

• B. External features

• C. Cross ventilation

• D. Position of openings

• E. size of openings

• F. Control of openings.
A. ORIENTATION:

• The greatest pressure on the windward side of the building is generated when the elevation
is at right angles to the wind direction. Designer must orient his building in such a way that
the largest openings are facing the wind direction. The wind incidence at 45 deg would
increase the average indoor air velocity and would provide a better distribution of indoor air
movement.
• EXTERNAL FEATURES:

• External features of the building itself can strongly influence the pressure build-up. Any
extension of the elevational area facing the wind will increase the pressure build-up. If a gap
between two buildings is closed by a solid wall, a similar effect will be produced. The air velocity
between free- standing trunks of trees with large crowns can be increased quite substantially
due to similar reasons.

• CROSS VENTILATION:

• In the absence of an outlet opening or with a full partition there can be no effective air
movement through a building even in a case of strong winds. Air flow losses much of its kinetic
energy each time it is diverted around or over an obstacle. Several right-angle bends, such as
internal walls or furniture within a room can effectively stop a low velocity air flow. When
internal partitions are unavoidable, some air flow can be ensured if partition screens are used,
clear of the floor and ceiling.
Lack of cross ventilation

Effect of opening positions

• POSITION OF OPENINGS:

• The air movement must be directed at the body surface. If the opening at the inlet side is at a
high level, regardless of the outlet opening position, the air flow will take place near the
ceiling and not in the living zone.

• In a two storey building the air flow on the ground floor may be satisfactory, but on the
upper floor it may be directed against the ceiling.

Two storey building

• SIZE OF OPENING:

• Small inlet and large outlet will have largest air velocity. i.e. forcing air through the opening at a
high pressure.

• When the wind direction is not constant, or when air flow through the whole space is required, a
large inlet opening will be preferable.

• The best arrangements is full wall openings on both sides, with adjustable sashes or closing
devices which can assist in channeling the air flow in the required direction, following the change
of wind.

• CONTROL OF OPENINGS:

• Sashes, canopies, louvres and other elements controlling the openings, also influence the indoor
air flow pattern.

• Sashes can divert the air flow upwards. Only a casement or reversible pivot sash will channel it
downwards into the living zone.
• Canopies can eliminate the effect of pressure build-up above the window, thus the pressure
below the window will direct the air flow upwards. A gap left between the building face and
the canopy would ensure a downward pressure, thus a flow directed in the living zone.

• Louvres and shading devices may also present a problem. The position of blades in a slightly
upward position would still channel the flow in to the living zone.

Effect of sashes
EFFECT OF CANOPIES

EFFECT OF LOUVRES
 AIR FLOW AROUND THE BUILDINGS:

• In deciding a layout for a cluster of buildings, air movement must be one of the most

important considerations.

• If tall block is placed in mixed development, the air stream separates on the face of a tall

block, partly up and partly down. An increased velocity is found at ground level at the sides

of the tall block.

• If a low industrial building is located in the wind shadow of a tall block, the increase in height

of the obstructing block will increase the air flow through the low building in a direction

opposite to that of the wind. The lower wing of a large vortex would pass through the

building.
AIR STREAM SEPARATION AT
THE FACE OF BUILDINGS

REVERSE FLOW BEHIND THE

TALL BLOCK
• If in a rural setting in open country, single storey buildings are placed in rows in a grid-iron
pattern, stagnant air zones leeward from the first row will overlap the second row. A spacing
of six times the building height is necessary to ensure adequate air movement for the second
row.

• In a similar setting, if he buildings are staggered in a checker-board pattern, the flow field is
much more uniform, stagnant air zones are almost eliminated.
 COURTYARD: INTRODUCTION

 The first courtyard houses, according to historical evidence, appeared to have originated in

India probably around 6500-6000 BC. Evidence of the earliest village is from Mehergarh

(6500-6000 BC). The settlement consisted of an irregular scatter of mud brick houses and

the material for house construction.

 The idea of settlement planning was well established at Harappa at a very early phase, Kot

Diji (prior to 2600 BC). The basic overall layout of the settlements is distinguished by the

orientation of the streets to cardinal points.

• Most private houses had rooms arranged around a central courtyard. Doors and windows

opened out into side lanes. Stairs led up to the roof or the second storey. Windows had

shutters and latticework.

• Architecturally a courtyard is better. It draws in cool air, which is useful in the hot and humid
climate. Another necessary factor attributed in the courtyard area in the house plan is to
have a vedika (sacrificial altav). It is a place for sacrificial pooja and family marriage.” The
courtyard is climatically ideal for the tropics as it draws in cool air, which is circulated within
the interior, replacing foul air. In non-tropical countries, the courtyard may have different
utility and type, which could be treated by different size of opening depending upon the
location.
• This form of architecture met with the requirements of the traditional joint family system as
well as the climate. The courtyard functioned as a convective thermostat and gave
protection from extremes of weather. A dust storm could pass overhead with little effects on
the inmates. The courtyard moderated the extreme effects of the hot summers and freezing
winters of the Indian sub continent, and averaged out the large diurnal temperature
differences.
It varied from being a narrow opening to a large peristyle one in the interior zone of the
house, with perhaps another or more near the entrance and the rear section. The total
number of courtyards in one residence could sometimes be five to six. The courtyard
house in India was not based on blind conformity and there was tremendous innovation
over the intervening centuries.

Sri Chakra is the Yantra of the Cosmos. It is believed

that the Angan(courtyard) represents the four
corners of the Universe
 COURTYARDS – SIZE, SHAPE, ORIENTATION

• Inside a courtyard, wind conditions are primarily dependent on the proportion between
building height and courtyard width in section along the wind flow line.

• Wind hitting the windward building of a courtyard separates from the roof and gradually
returns to the ground on the lee ward side of the building.

• Wind speed in the courtyard, therefore generally increases with the along-wind dimensions
of the courtyard and decreases with the height of the windward building.

• In hot climates where ventilation is desired, a courtyard orientation 45 deg from the
prevailing wind maximizes both wind in the courtyard and cross- ventilation in the buildings.

• In cooler climates, small courts will create better wind protection, but they should be wide
enough in the north-south direction to admit winter sun.
 UNDERSTANDING COURTYARD DESIGN: THROUGH HAVELIS OF RAJASTHAN

• The Havelis of Rajasthan used chowks and their elements

as the perfect architectural response to the state’s diverse
culture and climate. A courtyard continues to define the
perfect spatial organisation of those times, being the heart
of the haveli, it also served as a micro-climate modifier.

• The havelis of Rajasthan are excellent examples of regional

character and traditions; a house form that represents the
architectural responses to the diverse culture as well as the
climate; a language of architecture expressed through a
way of living, aesthetics, beautiful facades and rich
variations in the elements. Most fascinating are the
courtyards, which not only define the perfect spatial
organisation of those times, but were also the centres for
rituals, marriages, festivals and social gatherings.
Floor plan and the section of a typical courtyard haveli, Jaisalmer, showing the air flow and
the cooling by convection currents formed. Air movement caused by temperature differences
is utilized in the natural ventilation of building.
 COURTYARDS HAVE, DOWN THE AGES, SERVED MANY PURPOSE:

• SOCIO-CULTURAL ASPECTS: The chowks served as the centre for various ceremonies and

the rituals. The Tulsi plant was placed here and worshipped daily to bring prosperity to the

house.

• SECURITY AND PRIVACY: The chowk, at times, separated areas for men and women and

provided them with privacy.

• CLIMATE: The courtyard served as a micro climate modifier.

• DIFFERENT ACTIVITIES AT DIFFERENT TIMES: The use of the court in the day time, mostly by

women to carry out their work, talk and interact with other women in on of the uses.

• ARTICULATION OF SPACE: In palaces, there is a concept of courtyard as a dancing hall.

 THE ELEMENTS OF COURTYARDS:

THE PLANES:

• The horizontal plane are not just imparts spatial experiences, but also accentuates them by adding
intangible effects to spaces, by virtue of levels, patterns created, materials used, the form, etc.

• The vertical plane encloses the courtyard, and defines its volume. It gives connectivity to areas or
spaces inside and outside the court.

• The elements of façade make the court lively. The openings, balconies and jharkhas opening into the
court also control the climate very efficiently.

• The proportions of these facades elements affect the orientation, flow of space, the quality of light
coming in, the views, the wind circulation, and the shading, which is provided by the projections
opening into the court.

• The sky is the intangible ceiling, spreading out across the entire dimensions of the courtyard. It
completely transforms the space with each passing hour of the day. During the day, when there is
sunlight, the court appears to be large and spacious, when it is night, the same court appears
smaller.
 RESPONSE TO CLIMATE:

• The architectural built form of these havelis has evolved in response to the climate, lifestyle

and availability of material. In hot climates where cooling is a necessity, buildings with internal

courtyards were considered the most appropriate. It acted as a perfect shading technique,

while also allowing light inside. The arcade along the court, or the high wall around it, kept the

interiors cool. Is it not fascinating, that in those times we had an immense knowledge of

passive techniques, and there were no issues related to the energy crisis. In fact, these

courtyard havelis are excellent examples of sustainability in the hot and dry climate.
 COURTYARD AS A BUILDING COMPONENT:
A case of Athangudi Village, India

• The Architecture of the Chettinad region is well known and appreciated for its unique
combination of various styles in the buildings. The house itself is built on the raised level with
6-7 steps leading to the entrance. The resemblance of the house with a temple is observed in
the carving at the main entrance and paneled windows.
• The house faces the main road leading to the nearby town. As we enter the house we have a
façade from where the steps lead to the sitting space. The entry to the private zone of the
house is reached by passing through two main doors which intrinsically designed and a
corridor with elevated floor platforms on either side have pillars placed at regular intervals
to support the roof. The scene of the private zone is observed firstly by elevated floor
platforms and a central courtyard with a level difference. The family members use the
courtyard for collecting rain water for the regular usage. The central courtyard is surrounded
by a corridor which provides access to the rooms and the other part of the house and also
these rooms are used for preserving the valuables and clothes. To reach to the first floor
staircase is provided on either sides of the courtyard. As we move further, a spacious hall is
viewed after which a smaller courtyard for carrying out the household activities is present.
Three small rooms are present on one side of this small courtyard for storage of groceries.
One phase of the courtyard leads to the kitchen
 ORIENTATION OF THE HOUSE:

• The entrance of the house is towards east. The main ventilation by which the light enters the house
is through central courtyard. On the Westside of the house there is a garden which also acts as a
main source of fresh air into the house which promotes warmth in the house, and in the night the
absorbed heat is radiated out through the courtyard.

• The courtyard acts like a thermostat which controls the temperature of the house. Negative
pressure is created in the courtyard as it is surrounded by rooms and less exposed. This low
pressure helps to draw more air towards it.

Courtyard projections:
The courtyard roof is projected 0.26m
into the courtyard such that all the
rainwater accumulates in the courtyard
itself and to provide shade to the
surrounding corridor. By this projection
the roof provides ample shadow to the
corridor as well as the room surrounding
the corridor, in turn reducing the
intensity of heat.
 IMPORTANCE OF COURTYARDS IN IRANIAN ARCHITECTURE

• CENTRAL COURTYARD: Lexical root of word “Courtyard” is Caucasian and word “Curtis” that
has a Caucasian root “Gherdh“ with the meaning of “fencing off”, has come in some medieval
documents. There are some definitions such as “Closed area in the house and elsewhere,
Apron, Apron of Sara, Vast and non-ceiling space that Is surrounded by rooms” and “Open and
non-ceiling space, Open space that is surrounding by construction in some sides” in traditional
architecture glossary of Iran.

• Central courtyard as a pattern in Iranian architecture is the most important space in buildings
with different land uses such as homes, worship places, palaces, schools.. Organizing different
spaces according to the effective factors has been the most important function of courtyard in
buildings design.

• Courtyard, in addition to creating unity between elements, creates kind of conference

relationship between them.
• The central courtyard that its edges is perpendicular to the solar quadruplet directions has
created a regular tetragonal that its upper edge ends with the sky and the water is in its center.
This space that can be symbol of centrality of universe shows time passes On the other hand
central courtyard has some ritual aspects of Iranian culture. Central courtyard is like the views of
Sufism.

• Central courtyard is in the meaning of paradise and with its quadrangle form and center (Pool
and Water) is a symbol of perfection. So the most perfect central courtyard in traditional
architecture of Iran that is a courtyard with four porches is symbol of a non-direction and static
universe. But four porches in four directions are like quadruplet directions that look at this small
universe.
 TRADITIONAL HOUSE TYPES IN KOREA

• Historically, one of the enduring patterns in the Korean house was the courtyard plan. It resulted from
centuries of trial and experimentation and normally consisted of a courtyard or group of courtyards
around which rooms and other spaces were grouped to make the dwelling complex. Such a house
became deeply associated with the Korean way of life.
• Such a courtyard model provided various options for lateral expansion. A simple house was normally an
"open courtyard "dwelling, whereas a nobleman's mansion often consisted of several courtyards whose
functions varied according to their location within the complex.
• Each building around the courtyard traditionally consisted of compartments of rooms that rook their
character from one of two major floor types, ONDOL AND MARU. The ondol floor was finished with
thick yellowish oil paper and was usually found in closed rooms used for sleeping. Ond ol floors were
heated by flues that ran beneath them from a fire hole in the cooking stove to an exterior chimney vent.
The maru floor, on the other hand, was of wood and was normally used in the main hall. One side of the
maru room was usually open to the outside, with no walls between its roof-support pillars.The maru
floor also often extended in front of the ondol Room to form a verandah.
 EXAMPLES OF
LAYOUTS OF
COURTYARDS
AND SURROUNDING
BUILDINGS.

AERIAL VIEW OF
COURTYARD HOUSES
WITH THATCHED
ROOF

SKETCH OF A HUMBLE COTTAGE OF THREE KANS WITH

A WOODEN VERANDAH IN FRONT OF THE ROOMS

VIEW OF AN UPPER-CLASS COURTYARD SEEN

FROM THE MARU WOODEN FLOOR.
 MODERN HOUSES COURTING COURTYARDS

• AHMEDABAD: Architect P H Majmundar's house near Law

Garden remains about three degrees cooler in the middle
of May. He may have an air-conditioner all right, but the
real 'air-conditioner' that has been regulating the heat in
his house since 1995 is the rooftop 'chowk' or courtyard.

• One might call it a revival of the Indus Valley Civilization.

Open-to-the-sky 'chowks' or courtyards in houses were the
'Brahmasthals' during the civilization; the soul of a house.
Primarily used for community-based activity or sacred
rituals, courtyards were instrumental in regulating the
temperature. "Each courtyard had multiple environmental
advantages. They were linked to 'tankas' for harvesting rain
water. Besides, the sunlight illuminated the houses yet did
not heat it up.
 EXAMPLE OF HOUSE IN IRAQ

• The house in iraq is zoned vertically; the use of these layers changes both daily and seasonally. The
court and chimneys, combined with the building’s massive construction, effectively moderate the high
summer temperatures. During the summer day, people live on the first level, which is cooled by
several strategies.

• The incoming breezes are directed into the wind catchers at the top of the chimneys and falls to rooms
or to the basement, where it is further cooled by evaporation before it flows into the court.

• The court, which is tall enough to be partially protected from the sun, is sprinkled daily to cool its air.

• On summer evenings, people sleep on the roof, which is cooled by radiation to the night sky.

• At night, the cool air from the roof falls into the court, flows through the building, cooling the mass
heated during the day, and exits up the warm chimney.

• During the short mild winter, the family lives on the second level, away from the cool court floor. In the
transitional periods of spring and fall when the roof is too cool and the rooms are too warm, the
second level gallery is used for sleeping.
 PUEBLO ACOMA:

• Situated in new mexico.

• Example of two zone residence in which the time of day that each zone is used changes dramatically
from season to season.

• In cool seasons, the outside terraces are used during the day and the interior spaces at night. In the
warm seasons the reverse is true. The outside terraces are used at night and the shaded cool
interiors during the day.

• One zone, the exterior south facing terrace, is wind protected and sunny during the day, an
advantage when the air is cool and a disadvantage when it is warm. It radiates heat to the night sky
at night, an advantage when its warm and a disadvantage when it’s cool.

• The second zone, the interior room, follows the outside climate less closely than the terrace. The
heat storage characteristics of the massive construction cause the interior temperature to lag
several hours behind the exterior temperature. In the cool seasons the mass absorbs the sun’s heat
during the day and releases it to the interior at night. In warm seasons, the mass is cooled at night
by the air and by radiation to the sky, and so remains cool during the day.
 PAREKH HOUSE: Charles Correa

• In ahmedabad, india. The “winter section”, intended for use on winter days and summer evenings,

is located on the eastern elevation where it can be warmed by morning sun. it has roof terraces

under a partial shade pergola.

• The summer section, a retreat for hot summer afternoons, is placed in the centre of the house,

between the winter section and the service core, minimizing exposure to the outside. It’s height is

used to exploit stack ventilation.

• The site for the house has an east-west orientation along its major axis. The plan consists of three

bays so that the summer section is sandwiched between and protected by the winter section on

one side and a service bay on the other. The house is constructed of brick load bearing walls

supporting form finished concrete slabs. The elevations express directly the climatic

considerations of the design.

 STACK EFFECT

• Stack effect is the movement of air into and out of buildings, chimneys, flue gas stacks, or
other containers, resulting from air buoyancy. Buoyancy occurs due to a difference in
indoor-to-outdoor air density resulting from temperature and moisture differences. The
result is either a positive or negative buoyancy force. The greater the thermal difference and
the height of the structure, the greater the buoyancy force, and thus the stack effect. The
stack effect is also referred to as the "chimney effect", and it helps drive natural
ventilation, infiltration, and fires.

• The advantage of stack ventilation is that it does not need wind: it works just as well on still,
breezeless days when it may be most needed.

• The specially-designed wind cowls in the BedZED development use the faster winds above
rooftops for passive ventilation. They have both intake and outlet, so that fast rooftop winds
get scooped into the buildings, and the larger outlets create lower pressures to naturally
suck air out. The stack effect also helps pull air out through the same exhaust vent.
 VENTURI EFFECT

• Venturi effect occurs when two large buildings

placed at an angle to each other create a

funnel with a narrow opening that is no more

than two or three times the building height.

The wind channel through the opening,

creating highly intensified wind speeds. This

effect occurs only when the buildings are at

least five stories high, have a combined length

of 300 feet, and when the areas in front of

and behind the venturi are relatively open.

• The Venturi effect is utilized for natural ventilation and passive cooling. Passive cooling is a
method of cooling a building’s interior or exterior surfaces. The purposeful creation of
positive and negative air pressure zones can create an increased air flow through a building
or across a surface creating a cooling effect.
IMPORTANT CONSIDERATIONS:
• The venturi effect is a tool to aid multiple air circulation strategies/systems.
• Air output areas must be equal to or larger than that of the area of the air intake.
• Air with high velocity has low pressure; air with low velocity has high pressure.
• Hot air rises and should be removed at a higher elevation than cold air input.
• Windward sides of buildings are typically the high pressure zone with leeward being low or
negative pressure
 SOLAR CHIMNEYS

• A solar chimney uses the sun's heat to provide cooling, using the stack effect. Solar heat gain

warms a column of air, which then rises, pulling new outside air through the building. They

are also called thermal chimneys, thermosiphons, or thermosyphons.

• The simplest solar chimney is merely a
chimney painted black. Many
outhouses in parks use such chimneys
to provide passive ventilation. Solar
chimneys need their exhaust higher
than roof level, and need generous sun
exposure. They are generally most
effective for climates with a lot of sun
and little wind; climates with more
wind on hot days can usually get more
ventilation using the wind itself.
 TROMBE WALL

• A Trombe wall is an energy-efficient masonry wall designed to absorb heat from the sun

during the day and radiate it into the interior during the night. The building interior is heated

as the warm air flows indoors by convection. With the assistance of vents, the rising heat

enters the living quarters while the cool indoor air enters the bottom vent to assist in

circulation. Vents may be adjusted to accommodate seasonal heat variation and to prevent

heat loss. Energy efficiency can be improved by closing the bottom vent, which allows air to

escape to the exterior during the evening or winter. In addition, to reduce heat loss, double

glazing windows can be added to the design in order to trap the fleeing geothermal heat in a

layer of inert gas between the two panels.

• During the day the sunlight passes through the glazing (the outer, bi-layer window) and

heats up the dark thermal mass wall (usually concrete), warming the surface by absorption

of solar energy. Then the hot air between the glazing and the thermal mass (via heat

conduction) rises to the top vent, along with the convection-produced heat. As a result, the

heat flows into the building interior and warms the area.

• It is important to construct a hanging awning over the Trombe wall. During the summer, this

will semi-shield the glazing from additional sunrays preventing over-heating of the building

interior. However, the awning will not negatively influence heat gain during winter days since

the sun is lower in the sky, energy-efficiency will remain constant.

Solar chimneys can also be used for heating, much like
a Trombe wall is. If the top exterior vents are closed, the
heated air is not exhausted out the top; at the same time,
if high interior vents are opened to let the heated air into
occupied spaces, it will provide convective air heating.
 HUMIDITY CONTROL

• Dehumidification is only possible by mechanical means, without this, in warm-humid climates, some
relief can be provided by air movement. In hot-dry climates humidification of the air may be necessary,
which can be associated with evaporative cooling. In these climates the building is normally closed to
preserve the cooler air retained within the structure of high thermal capacity, also to exclude sand and
dust carried by winds. However, some form of air supply to the building interior is necessary. All these
functions:

• Controlled air supply

• Filtering out sand and dust

• Evaporative cooling

• Humidification

• The wind scoop.

 WIND SCOOP

The large intake opening captures air movement above

the roofs in densely built up areas. The water seeping

through the porous pottery jars evaporates, some drips

down onto the charcoal placed on a grating, through

which the air is filtered. The cooled air assists the

downward movement a reversed stack effect. This device

is very useful for ventilation (the above four functions),

but it cannot be expected to create an air movement

strong enough for physiological cooling

 WIND CATCHERS

• In low rise high density settlement patterns, it is difficult to get good winds access to each
building because the upward building block breezes from flowing to the leeward buildings. In
such cases, it is possible to capture wind above the buildings, where it is cooler and less
dusty, and direct it down to rooms below.

• Wind catchers can be oriented in any direction to catch the wind, while the primary building
form responds to other forces, such as collecting sun in winter.

• Example : Qatar university, Doha.

• It has octagonal module topped with a rotated square, four-sided wind catcher known as
badgir. With rooms arranged in a compact organization around a series of internal
courtyards, openings from above are the only way to bring in wind for cross ventilation.
Ventilation air can then exit through small adjacent rooms and porches.
 EVAPORATIVE COOLING TOWERS

• In climates where evaporative cooling is effective, downdraft evaporative cooling towers can
be used to supply cool air to rooms, without the use of fans or the need for wind. If
designed with outlets at the top, they can also be used for stack ventilation during periods
when the outside air is below the indoor temperature.

• The cool tower provides cool air by taking in hot, dry outdoor air through high inlets covered
with a wetted evaporative pad. The trickle flow in the pad is fed by a small electric water
pump, which may be photovoltaic powered. As the air passes through the pad, it picks up
the moisture, raising its humidity, while lowering its temperature. The cooler, more dense air
then falls by gravity down the tower shaft, creating a positive pressure that pushes air
through the occupied space and out of operable windows at the room’s perimeter.

• Small building may be served by single tower, but in a larger buildings with multiple towers,
each tower will cool one zone of the building
 USES OF FANS :

Mechanical ventilation
• Compared with natural ventilation, mechanical ventilation using fans is more positive in its
action, less affected by wind, and more easily controlled.
Fans and blowers
• A fan is a mechanical device that uses energy inputs to move air, and can be described as the
‘heart’ of a mechanical ventilation system.
The two general types of fan are AXIAL-FLOW AND CENTRIFUGAL.
• Axial-flow fans are normally divided into propeller and tube-axial types. They move air
parallel to the shaft and are the most widely used types.
• Centrifugal (radial flow) fans (blowers) discharge air at right angles to the shaft and often
operate at substantial pressures.
• Propeller fans are the least expensive and the easiest to install.
• A propeller fan may have two to six (or more) blades. In general, the more blades a fan has,
the greater the pressure the fan will develop.
• The tube-axial fan is a more refined version of the propeller fan . It has aerofoil-shaped fan
blades on an impeller with a large hub, all mounted in a close-fitting tube. Tube-axial fans
are capable of operating against higher static pressures than ordinary propeller fans and are
made for ducted installations with high resistance to airflow. If it is necessary for a tube-axial
fan to operate under very considerable pressure, it may be designed with two impellers in
tandem, described as a multistage model.

• Centrifugal (radial flow) fans are used for ducted installations or where air must be moved
through a product. The blades on the blower may be radial, for example straight from the
shaft, curved forward in the direction of rotation, or curved backward opposite to the
direction of rotation.