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Abstract
Air pollution has become a serious problem for people living in crowded cities. Increasing percentage of CO2
results in lessening of air quality and environmental comfort. Strong photosynthetic CO2 -absorption and O2-
releasing capacity of Azolla and other positive aspects of this algae has made it a strong candidate for
developing the idea of incorporating plants in building facade systems, to purify the air.
In this research a facade system has been developed using Azolla as a natural air filter to absorb exhaust air
gases and also provide fresh air for indoor spaces.
Analysis is done on the system in two phases: First to determine the CO2 reduction capacity of indoor air
and its subsequent effect on the mechanical ventilation, and second a CFD analysis to demonstrate and
evaluate the air flow and its circulation within the system. Results show that using 10 ݉ଶ of azolla in façade
cavity will decrease 25% of total ventilation requirement for an office area with two occupants. . In addition to
lower energy consumption, this facade contributes the aesthetic aspects of architectural design and leads
architecture to make a synthesis of urbanism and nature.
Keywords: sustainability, natural ventilation, Indoor air quality, air purification, green façade, indoor plants
1. Introduction
1.1 Indoor air quality
Citizens spend most of their time inside buildings, hence indoors pollution continuously constitutes an
additional risk factor in the development of several pathologies (Cecchi, 2014). The predominant indoor
gaseous contaminant is carbon dioxide, which is emitted every time we exhale. Background atmospheric
CO2 levels are currently about 400 ppm, while exhaled air is roughly 100 times higher (i.e., 40 000 ppm)
(Dixon, 2011). It is not hard to see why CO2 levels can quickly rise in tightly sealed, high-occupancy
environments. Since elevated CO2 concentrations have been linked with drowsiness and reduced
productivity (Seppänen, 2006), most government regulations stipulate maximum allowable
CO2 concentrations of less than 1000 ppm higher than background levels (62, 1999)
Studies have shown that CO2 concentration of indoor air, indicates an index which can be used to estimate
expected levels of occupant comfort in terms of human body odour, studying occupancy patterns,
investigating the levels of contaminants that are related to occupant activity, and screening for the sufficiency
of ventilation rates relative to occupancy (D6245, 2007).
1
As a studying case, A very high number (119) of school airborne VOCs and, for the very first time, SVOCs
have been screened, speciated and identified. These pollutants may have both an indoor and an outdoor
origin. Many of them have indoor sources (human activities, personal care products, cleaning products, inks,
adhesives, school objects, furniture architectural finishes and others), and the most effective way to reduce
exposure is to eliminate their origins. Ventilation can prevent excess indoor exposure to pollutants only if the
outdoor pollutant levels are low (Cecchi, 2014), however world's air pollutant substances like CO2 are
1
Volatile organic compound, a common term in modern scientific literature, which includes the wide range of gaseous compounds that
can emanate from paints, building materials, electronic components, and human activities and potentially accumulate in indoor spaces
as contaminants. (Dixon, 2011)
2
A. filiculoides, A. Mexicana and A. pinnata. are most known azolla's which organizations have worked with (Bujak, 2017)
3
These are concluded after ̽KRXUJURZWK
3.2.2 Air exchanger between zones
This is the part which is installed bellow and up the interior side of the system to bring indoor air in to the
cavity and also insufflate the fresh air into the zone. Renson4 has invented a technology named
«Decentralised ventilation unit with heat recovery» which is equipped with fans contributing in air circulation
between zones (Figure 3). Although this unit is designed to bring outdoor air into indoor zones, but it is
appropriated to be installed in interior side of the double skin façade to bring the air into the cavity and
exhaust the fresh air to the zones (RENSON, 2016).
Figure 3 Decentralised ventilation unit with Figure 2 over frame flap ventilators (RENSON,
heat recovery (Renson, 2017) 2016)
4
An organization which works on <making healthy spaces> with branches all around the world
Equation 1
ܩ
ܳை ൌ ͳͲ ൈ
ܥாǤǤ െ ܥை௨௧
Where:
x This research is focused on office buildings which is generally occupied by citizens along the day, so
analysis is based on data given for office buildings. CO2 generation rate corresponding to an
average-sized adult (AD = 1.8 m2) engaged in office work (1.2 met) is about 0.0052 L/s (D6245,
2007) (D6245, 2007).
x Experimental studies have been conducted in chambers and in occupied buildings in which people
evaluated the acceptability of the air in terms of body odour. These studies concluded that about 7.5
L/s of outdoor air ventilation per person will control human body odour such that roughly 80 % of
unadapted persons (visitors) will find the odour at an acceptable level (D6245, 2007).
x These studies also showed that the same level of body odour acceptability was found to occur at a
CO2 concentration that is about 650 ppm (v) above the outdoor concentration (D6245, 2007).
4.1.1 An Average-sized adult is working on an office work building. If the only source of CO2 absorption is
azolla, how much azolla (݉ଶ ) do we need to absorb all of his exhale CO2 production?
Azolla CO2 absorption (2.4) = 2.03 (1) 2.03g ?
మ Ǥ
Azolla CO2 absorption = 0/046
మ Ǥ
5
Molecular weight of CO2 = 44 (2) 44g 1mol
Which means, 1 meter square of azolla can absorb 0/046 mol of CO2 in one hour.
T= 298.15 K, and P= 1 atm (under experimental conditions), RCO2 = 0/0821 (Partnership, 2017)
5
(Partnership, 2017)
Which means 16/64 ݉ଶ of azolla is needed to make an equilibrium between one person's CO2 generation
and azolla CO2 absorption.
4.1.2 If an existing facade cavity occupies 10݉ଶ of azolla, how much does it decrease outdoor air flow rate
as natural ventilation for two people?
Result (2) 1݉ଶ of azolla 0/0003125 L/s
10 ݉ଶ of azolla ? = 0/003125L/s
ீ ሺଶൈȀହଶሻିȀଷଵଶହ
Equation 1 ܳை ൌ ͳͲ ൈ ܳை ൌ ͳͲ ൈ = 11/19 L/s
ಶǤǤ ିೀೠ ହ
As mentioned in 4.1, 7/5 L/s of outdoor air flow rate for one person will result in 80% of visitor's satisfaction
and this is going to be 15 L/s for two people working in an office work building.
ଷȀ଼ଵൈଵ
15 L/s – 11/19 L/s = 3/81 ՜ = 25/4%
ଵହ
This is meant that using 10 meter square of azolla will reduce 25/4% of total need for ventilation of two
people working in an office work building
70
MECHANICAL VENTILATION REDUCTION
60
50
PERCENTAGE
40
30
20
10
0
21 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
EFFECTIVE AZOLLA AREA
Chart 1 the relation between increasing volume of Azolla and decreasing level of mechanical ventilation
demand.
4.1.3 For a façade containing 10 meter square of azolla in an office environment with 2 people, specify the
fans type and their power to become able for system to be run ( room volume = 48 ݉ଷ )
ଵଵȀଵଽൈൈ ସȀଶ଼ ଵ
ܳை = 11/19 L/s = = 40/28 ݉ଷ /h = 0/83 (3)
ଵ ସ଼
6
As mentioned in 4.1, 650ppm concentration above outdoor air will result in 80% of visitor's satisfaction.
Result (3) means that 0/83 of total indoor air will be changed in one hour.
(D6245, 2007) Represents a plot of the calculated CO2 build-up of indoor CO2 concentration for several
different air changes, assuming an outdoor concentration of 350 ppm and an occupant density typical of
office space. This plot shows that for an air exchange rate of 0/83ͳȀ݄ , the CO2 concentration after being in
7
equilibrium condition will be 800 ppm .
CO2 absorption by 10݉ଶ azolla = 0/003125 L/s = 11/25 L/h
Which means that 11/25L of CO2 has to be absorbed by plants in one hour.
ǤோǤ் ൈȀ଼ଶଵൈଶଽ଼Ȁଵହ
V= ՜ 11/25 = ՜ n = 0/4595 molCO2 ՜ 44gCO2
ଵ
1mol
? = 20/22g 0/4595 mol
Which means 20/22 g of CO2 has to be absorbed in one hour.
800 ppm CO2 is existed in indoor air = 800 mg CO2/ 1 L of indoor air
՜
1 Litre of indoor air 800 mgCO2
? = 22/46L 20220 mgCO2
ଶ
For 10݉ of azolla contained in a façade system of an office workplace with two staffs, we need 22/46 L of air
to be entered in double skin façade's cavity in one hour to reduce 25/4% of total ventilation. Renson's
Endura Twist 2ൈ3 (Decentralised ventilation units) may be an appropriate choice for this façade.
Figure 7 air distribution in the cavity Figure 8 3D contours of air velocity into the panel
7
In real situation, CO2 concentration should be measured consecutively to reach an exact degree of fan's power.
6. Acknowledgement
Special thank goes to eng.Seyed Gholamhossein Afsharzadeh, head of Parhoon Tarh architecture studio, for
introducing azolla as a high O2-realsing plant and encouraging me to follow this subject.
7. References
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