Improving the Energy Efficiency of Buildings Based on Fluid Dynamics Models: A Critical Review

Xiaoshu Lü, Tao Lu, Tong Yang, Heidi Salonen, Zhenxue Dai, Peter Droege and Hongbing Chen
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Xiaoshu Lü: College of Construction Engineering, Jilin University, Changchun 130026, China
Tao Lu: Department of Electrical Engineering and Energy Technology, University of Vaasa, 65200 Vaasa, Finland
Tong Yang: Faculty of Science and Technology, Middlesex University, London NW4 4BT, UK
Heidi Salonen: Department of Civil Engineering, Aalto University, 02130 Espoo, Finland
Zhenxue Dai: College of Construction Engineering, Jilin University, Changchun 130026, China
Peter Droege: LISD—Berlin I Liechtenstein Institute for Strategic Development GmbH, 9490 Vaduz, Liechtenstein
Hongbing Chen: School of Environment and Energy Engineering, Beijing University of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Beijing 100044, China

Energies, 2021, vol. 14, issue 17, 1-23

Abstract: The built environment is the global sector with the greatest energy use and greenhouse gas emissions. As a result, building energy savings can make a major contribution to tackling the current energy and climate change crises. Fluid dynamics models have long supported the understanding and optimization of building energy systems and have been responsible for many important technological breakthroughs. As Covid-19 is continuing to spread around the world, fluid dynamics models are proving to be more essential than ever for exploring airborne transmission of the coronavirus indoors in order to develop energy-efficient and healthy ventilation actions against Covid-19 risks. The purpose of this paper is to review the most important and influential fluid dynamics models that have contributed to improving building energy efficiency. A detailed, yet understandable description of each model’s background, physical setup, and equations is provided. The main ingredients, theoretical interpretations, assumptions, application ranges, and robustness of the models are discussed. Models are reviewed with comprehensive, although not exhaustive, publications in the literature. The review concludes by outlining open questions and future perspectives of simulation models in building energy research.

Keywords: fluid dynamics models; energy efficiency; ventilation; indoor environment; buildings; simulation (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
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