Simulations of Airflow in the Roof Space of a Gothic Sanctuary Using CFD Models

Radoslav Ponechal, Peter Krušinský, Peter Kysela and Peter Pisca
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Radoslav Ponechal: Department of Building Engineering and Urban Planning, Faculty of Civil Engineering, University of Zilina, 010 26 Zilina, Slovakia
Peter Krušinský: Department of Building Engineering and Urban Planning, Faculty of Civil Engineering, University of Zilina, 010 26 Zilina, Slovakia
Peter Kysela: Department of Building Engineering and Urban Planning, Faculty of Civil Engineering, University of Zilina, 010 26 Zilina, Slovakia
Peter Pisca: Department of Building Engineering and Urban Planning, Faculty of Civil Engineering, University of Zilina, 010 26 Zilina, Slovakia

Energies, 2021, vol. 14, issue 12, 1-20

Abstract: For a deep understanding of the airflow in an environment of historic wooden trusses, it is necessary to analyze the object using simulation methods. To calculate the amount of air passing through the structural openings (components) using dynamic simulation, multi-zone network models based on the simplicity of modeling the individual zones are suitable. For a more detailed analysis of airflow and temperature distribution within one space, a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation model was performed. The air volume through openings and surface temperatures was adopted from the multi-zone airflow network model. By using this simulation technique during a sunny summer day four characteristic states of air movement were simulated in the attic: more intense flow at noon and at midnight caused by a large temperature difference between air and surrounding surfaces and, subsequently, less intense flow when the air was mixed up effectively. The temperature distribution in the cross-sections did not only indicate an increase in temperature with increasing height (up to 50 °C at noon) but also a temperature increase near the southern roof. The surface temperature of the masonry walls was stable (19–33 °C), while the air temperature fluctuated. The image of the flow was completed by ventilation through the tower, which acted as a solar chimney. The airflow through the door to the tower was almost 0.5 m 3 s −1 at summer midnight.

Keywords: thermodynamics; airflow network; CFD simulation; cultural heritage; wooden truss (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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