Buoyancy-driven natural ventilation of a room with large openings

The buoyancy-driven natural ventilation of a room with large lower and higher level openings is investigated by both theoretical analysis and CFD simulation. Pressure-based formulae are developed for the prediction of the height of neutral plane and airflow rate, and three different flow modes are identified according to the position of the neutral level: (I) when the neutral height is at intermediate level of the lower opening; (II) when the neutral height has no intersection with openings; (III) when the neutral height is at the intermediate level of the higher opening.