Study on the improvement of ventilation performance using a wind catcher

Global warming countermeasures are needed worldwide, and Japan has set a goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. In addition to the use of natural energy sources, energy-saving technologies are being considered to achieve this goal. In this study, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis and field measurements were conducted to determine the increase in the ventilation rate using wind catchers (WCs), which can be employed to increase the ventilation rate without CO2 emissions. The study was conducted in a pair of symmetrical dwelling units, one of which had a pair of WCs on the south wall and the other had a double sliding window on the south wall. Field measurements and CFD analyses were performed for four cases determined using a combination of openings in the subject dwelling unit. The cause was confirmed from the analysis results based on the pressure change at the opening and wind flow, and the difference between the dwelling units with and without a WC was analyzed. We found that installing a WC in a single-sided opening improves the ventilation performance. Furthermore, the WC may prevent the original inflow and outflow depending on the wind direction angle.