Comparison of Airflow in Type 36 Low-Income Housing Unit Using CFD Simulation

Abstract

Type 36 houses are built for people who have low income. Because of this, the buildings’ ventilation relies on natural airflow. One of the variables that affects natural ventilation is airflow. Airflow can affect the quality of indoor air, influencing the comfort and health of those within. This study aims to evaluate the designs of type 36 buildings from the perspective of the airflow through the unit. It uses computational fluid dynamics simulations to compare the pattern and velocity of airflow in each building design. There are six designs of type 36 house that have different layouts and placements of air vents. The results of the simulation and analysis show that rooms arranged in a way that allows for the placement of vents that were facing each other, even if they were in different rooms, generated continuous airflow without experiencing turbulence.

Study Recommendations to Achieve Thermal Comfort in an Educational Building

“…However, natural ventilation performance in these classrooms works effectively only if both windows and doors on the opposite side are open and produce cross-ventilation. This assertion is consistent with the result of a study conducted by Lestari and Muazir (2021), who discovered that placing ventilation facing each other, even if they are in different rooms, will produce continuous airflow without turbulence. From all the findings, the building's natural ventilation operates effectively regardless of how big or small the classroom is, but natural ventilation in the classrooms is ineffective due to a lack of opening areas and the factors of natural ventilation that correspond to the research's critical parameters above.…”

“…The findings revealed that when the proposed night ventilation scenario maintains air temperatures and relative humidity levels within an ideal range for occupant comfort and building and artwork preservation, mechanical system operation can be reduced, especially during springtime (Bay et al, 2022). Using CFD simulations, Lestari & Muazir (2021) assessed the type 36 building designs from the viewpoint of the airflow through the unit. The findings demonstrated that rooms with the placement of vents facing each other, even if they were in different rooms, produced continuous airflow without encountering turbulence.…”