Computational Analysis of Passive Cooling Techniques for Improving Thermal Comfort in Naturally Ventilated Classrooms

Mobasshir Jamal; Piyush Verma

doi:10.69968/ijisem.2026v5i2353-363

Authors

Mobasshir Jamal Research Scholar, Corporate Institute of Science & Technology, Bhopal
Piyush Verma Assistant Professor, Corporate Institute of Science & Technology, Bhopal

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.69968/ijisem.2026v5i2353-363

Keywords:

Windcatcher, Natural Ventilation, Thermal Comfort, Heat Removal Effectiveness (HRE), Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD)

Abstract

By using ambient environmental factors like wind and buoyancy, natural ventilation is a successful and long-term strategy for enhancing indoor thermal comfort. This study investigates the performance of six different classroom ventilation configurations, including a roof-mounted windcatcher, variations in inlet–outlet window positions, and multiple opening arrangements. The objective is to evaluate the influence of these configurations on thermal comfort under natural airflow conditions. A cuboidal classroom model was developed based on environmental conditions representative of Madrid, Spain, and a numerical investigation was conducted using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) in ANSYS fluent. The standard k–ε turbulence model coupled with the species transport model was employed to simulate airflow and pollutant dispersion. The inlet conditions were defined with an airflow velocity of 3.3 m/s and a temperature of 29 °C. Thermal comfort was assessed using average indoor temperature and heat removal effectiveness (HRE). The results indicate that airflow distribution and ventilation efficiency are highly dependent on the placement and geometry of openings. Configurations with well-defined airflow paths exhibited improved mixing and convective heat removal. Among all cases, Configuration 2 demonstrated the best performance, achieving the highest HRE of 1.946 and an average indoor temperature of 29.74 °C, indicating superior thermal comfort conditions.

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