Computational simulations for predicting vertical daylight levels in atrium buildings

This paper investigates the impact of well geometry and surface reflectance on vertical daylight levels in atria with square forms under a CIE standard overcast sky. By reviewing some previous investigations and comparing with scale model measurements the vertical daylight factor calculated using Radiance are validated. More simulated vertical daylight factors for a very wide range of atrium geometries and reflectances are given. From the results the attenuation and distribution of the vertical daylight levels on the wall of a square atrium with different reflectances are displayed.

Dynamic simulation of atrium thermal environment aiding building design

Atrium is becoming a popular common space in commercial buildings nowadays. In planning the thermal environment and air-conditioning system for an atrium, it is necessary to calculate a cooling load for the occupied zone and to predict the vertical temperature distribution. Besides, the thermal environment varies with time, so dynamic thermal environment analysis, including prediction of vertical temperature, is required. The building design process of the atrium consists of several different stages.

Multiple Flow Regimes in Stack Ventilation of Multi-Storey Atrium Buildings

Passive stack ventilation is a key feature of sustainable building design and has particular potential for use in tall, multi-storey buildings. However, natural ventilation flows through multiply connected spaces may not behave as expected. Recirculation of air through occupied parts of the building and bidirectional exchange flows at ventilation outlets may compromise the intended ventilation scheme resulting in an uncomfortable indoor environment.

Simulation of Atrium Smoke Filling by Computational Fluid Dynamics

Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) is evidently relevant to the study of fires, yet the intermediate chemistry has yet to be factored successfully into combustion models. Consequently, predicted airflow patterns, together with pressure and temperature contours, are mostly used in evaluating the performance of smoke control systems. But even using these assumptions, very few studies exist comparing predicted results from CFD with experimental findings. This leaves research with a paucity of data on how smoke is likely to spread, fill and be controlled in large halls.

FIELD MEASUREMENT AND ANALYSIS OF INDOOR THERMAL ENVIRONMENT OF A COMPLEX BUILDING WITH AIR-CONDITIONING

Study on existing indoor thermal environment is becoming more and more important for design of theindoor thermal environment and the application of energy-saving technology. In this work the fieldmeasurement of thermal environment in a complex atrium building was conducted and different effectson the indoor thermal environment were analyzed. The atrium is 14m in height. The first floor is forexhibition, and the cooling air can be supplied by air jets located on the upper position of the sidewall.The corridors on the second and third floors are not air conditioned.

Full-scale burning tests of mechanical smoke exhaust in large atrium

Removing smoke at the early stage of a building fire would assist in evacuation. Mechanical smoke extraction systems are commonly installed in larger buildings. In designing such a system, makeup air must be provided to displace the hot smoke.However, air supplied would also provide additional oxygen for combustion. Therefore, it is important to study how air should be supplied. In this paper, the efficiency of mechanical exhaust in anatrium with different arrangements for air supply will be discussed.

Wind effects on performance of static smoke exhaust systems : horizontal ceiling vents

For static smoke exhaust systems, such as horizontal ceiling vents, buoyancy of the smoke layer is the driving force for smoke removal. However, wind effect should also be considered, as the smoke layer interface height can be raised up or pulled down, depending on the conditions. Key equations on calculating the smoke exhaust rates and the required vent area will be reviewed first in this paper. Modifications of those equations with wind effects are discussed. An atrium is taken as an

Prediction of indoor sol-air temperature in an atrium space with a vertical distribution

This study suggests a computer model capable of predicting thermal environment of an atriumand calculating indoor sol-air temperature, which can evaluate the influence of heat loads thatthe atrium space puts on the adjoining rooms. The computer model is based on zonal modelcombined with the solar radiation model using the Monte Carlo method and ray-tracingtechnique. The accuracy of computer model was validated through scale model test and fieldmeasurement. The average relative error of solar radiation model for predicting solar radiationintensity in atrium space was 11.8%.

Fundamental atrium design for natural ventilation

This paper focuses on the degree of flow enhancement achieved by an atrium which is itself ventilated directly by a low-level connection to the exterior.A theoretical model is designed to predict the steady stack-driven displacement flow along with the thermal stratification in the building due to heat gains in the storey and solar gains in the atrium. Comparison is then made with the results of laboratory experiments

Considerations in the design of smoke management systems for atriums

This document describes the designing process of a smoke management system for an atrium, using tools going from empirical equations to complex models, in order to have a safe evacuation of occupants in case of fire.

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