Simulation of Thermal Comfort of a Residential House
In hot and humid climates thermal comfort can become a problem to the occupants of many residential buildings especially when they are not equipped with air-conditioning system. This paper presents outcomes of an ongoing research work to investigate thermal comfort level in a naturally ventilated residential house in Malaysia using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) method. Actual measurements of the temperature distribution, relative humidity and air flow pattern were conducted. CFD simulations on the model of the house allow us to visualize the temperature distribution and air flow pattern and velocity in the house. The thermal comfort in the house was found to be well outside the limits specified by ASHRAE standards. CFD simulation was used to investigate the effects of using a ceiling fan installed in the middle of the hall section and rotating at 150 RPM. It was found that the fan produced swirling flow pattern in the hall section resulting in a more uniform temperature distribution inside the house. However, there is no significant improvement in the thermal comfort level in the house. Results of CFD simulations also show that the use of small extractor fans installed on the front and back walls has no significant effects on the thermal comfort level in the house. Although the mechanical ventilation devices did not help improve the thermal comfort in the house being studied, the CFD simulation results can be used by building designers and engineers to further improved the level of thermal comfort in residential houses in hot and humid climates that are naturally ventilated.
Keywords: Thermal Comfort in a Residential Building, Computational Fluid Dynamics, Naturally Ventilated Residential House.
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ABOUT THE AUTHORS
Masine Md. Tap
Received her Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia in 1986, MPhil in Computer Aided Engineering from Herriot-Watt University, United Kingdom in 1989 and PhD. from Dundee University, United Kingdom in 1999. She is now an associate professor in the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia. Her areas of interest are industrial engineering, work design and operations research. She is a co-inventor for Industrial Building System (IBS) product at national and international level.
Haslinda Mohamed Kamar
Received her Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering from University of Glasgow, Scotland in 1993, Master and PhD. in Mechanical Engineering from University Teknologi Malaysia in 1997 and 2009, respectively. She is now a senior lecturer in the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia. Her areas of interest are automotive air-conditioning system, thermal comfort & energy efficiency in hot climates, and natural ventilation as passive cooling strategy in buildings.
Abdul Kadir Marsono
Received his Bachelor of Engineering (civil) from Universiti Technologi Malaysia in 1985, Master of Philosophy for Heriot University in 1989 in the decipline of structural engineering and PhD in Structural Engineering from Dundee University in the year of 2000. Currently he is an associate professor in structural engineering, taught Information technology and tall building system analysis and design. He carry out research in non-linear analysis of reinforced concrete of tall buildings and industrialized building system (IBS) as well as sustainable product design for civil engineering. He is a principal patent inventor for Industrial Building System (IBS) product at national and international level.
Nazri Kamsah
Received his Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering from University of Sunderland, United Kingdom in 1983, Masters of Engineering from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia in 1988, and PhD in Mechanical Engineering from University of New Hampshire, USA in 2001. He is currently a senior lecturer in the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia. His areas of interest include computational solid mechanics modeling and simulation, thermal management in microelectronics, thermal comfort & energy efficiency in hot climates, natural ventilation as passive cooling strategy in buildings and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modeling and simulation.
Khairul Amry Mohd Salimin
Received his Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia in 2011.
Masine Md. Tap
Received her Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia in 1986, MPhil in Computer Aided Engineering from Herriot-Watt University, United Kingdom in 1989 and PhD. from Dundee University, United Kingdom in 1999. She is now an associate professor in the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia. Her areas of interest are industrial engineering, work design and operations research. She is a co-inventor for Industrial Building System (IBS) product at national and international level.
Haslinda Mohamed Kamar
Received her Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering from University of Glasgow, Scotland in 1993, Master and PhD. in Mechanical Engineering from University Teknologi Malaysia in 1997 and 2009, respectively. She is now a senior lecturer in the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia. Her areas of interest are automotive air-conditioning system, thermal comfort & energy efficiency in hot climates, and natural ventilation as passive cooling strategy in buildings.
Abdul Kadir Marsono
Received his Bachelor of Engineering (civil) from Universiti Technologi Malaysia in 1985, Master of Philosophy for Heriot University in 1989 in the decipline of structural engineering and PhD in Structural Engineering from Dundee University in the year of 2000. Currently he is an associate professor in structural engineering, taught Information technology and tall building system analysis and design. He carry out research in non-linear analysis of reinforced concrete of tall buildings and industrialized building system (IBS) as well as sustainable product design for civil engineering. He is a principal patent inventor for Industrial Building System (IBS) product at national and international level.
Nazri Kamsah
Received his Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering from University of Sunderland, United Kingdom in 1983, Masters of Engineering from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia in 1988, and PhD in Mechanical Engineering from University of New Hampshire, USA in 2001. He is currently a senior lecturer in the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia. His areas of interest include computational solid mechanics modeling and simulation, thermal management in microelectronics, thermal comfort & energy efficiency in hot climates, natural ventilation as passive cooling strategy in buildings and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modeling and simulation.
Khairul Amry Mohd Salimin
Received his Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia in 2011.
