Optimizing Single-Sided Natural Ventilation Using Architectural Window Panels
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.58425/ijea.v3i1.471Keywords:
Architectural window panels, natural ventilation, wind-tunnel testsAbstract
Aim: Natural ventilation in buildings can enhance indoor health and well-being while also reducing the energy consumption required for mechanical cooling and heating. However, due to the complexity of many building floor plans, achieving effective natural ventilation can be difficult. To investigate how natural ventilation in buildings can be improved, a study was conducted to identify a prototype window design feature that can generate differential air pressure levels sufficient to create improved natural air flow for indoor spaces having one exterior exposure only. The purpose was to identify basic aerodynamic principles that can be applied to more complex architectural environments later.
Methods: A wind-tunnel experiment using a scale building model compared airflow performance across cross-ventilation, corner-ventilation, and single-sided configurations, including a prototype window-panel design. Air velocities were recorded at multiple orientations and wind speeds, and airflow patterns were visualized using smoke tracers.
Results: Maximum indoor air velocities for the cross-ventilation and corner-ventilation configurations were observed at orientation angles between 600 and 900. However, maximum air velocities for a standard single-sided window configuration were observed at 500. Adding external architectural panels to the prototype design, the maximum airflow rate occurred at an orientation angle of 00. Increasing the wind-tunnel air velocity incrementally from 20 m/min to 80 m/min resulted in linear changes, indicating the absence of confounding turbulence factors influencing the measurement protocol.
Conclusion: The prototype window-panel system substantially improved airflow under single-sided ventilation conditions and, in some orientations, approached cross-ventilation performance. These findings suggest potential applications for improving ventilation in buildings with limited exterior exposure, though validation in full-scale environments is needed.
Recommendation: The design shows promise for retrofit and new-built applications in single-exposure rooms. Further research should evaluate full-scale performance, thermal comfort outcomes, and long-term energy effects.
References
Allocca, C., Chen, Q., & Glicksman, L. R. (2003). Design analysis of single-sided natural ventilation. Energy and Buildings, 35(8), 785–795. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0378-7788(02)00240-6
Aynsley, R. (1993, September 27–30). Estimation of airflow inside buildings. Proceedings of the Tropical Architecture Workshop. Australian Institute of Tropical Architecture, James Cook University, Townsville, Australia.
Bachand, N., Salehipour, H., & Gorle, C. (2025). Simulating the urban canopy's impact on wind-driven natural ventilation and cooling. arXiv preprint arXiv:2508.04091v1 [physics.flu-dyn]. https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2508.04091
Cheng, X., Zhao, L., Ge, Y. J., Dong, J., & Peng, Y. (2024). Full-scale/model test comparisons to validate the traditional atmospheric boundary layer-wind tunnel tests: Literature review and personal perspectives. Applied Sciences, 14(2), 782. https://doi.org/10.3390/app14020782
Chu, C. R., Chiu, Y. H., Tsai, Y. T., & Wu, S. L. (2015). Wind-driven natural ventilation for buildings with two openings on the same external wall. Energy and Buildings, 108, 365–372. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2015.09.033
Eftekhari, M. M., Marjanovic, L., & Pinnock, D. J. (2003). Air flow distribution in and around a single-sided naturally ventilated room. Building and Environment, 38(4), 389–397. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0360-1323(02)00104-3
Givoni, B. (1981). Man, climate and architecture (2nd ed.). Van Nostrand Reinhold.
Haase, M., & Amato, A. (2009). An investigation of the potential for natural ventilation and building orientation to achieve thermal comfort in warm and humid climates. Solar Energy, 83(3), 389–399. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solener.2008.08.015
Karava, P., Stathopoulos, T., & Athienitis, A. (2006). Impact of internal pressure coefficients on wind-driven ventilation analysis. International Journal of Ventilation, 5(1), 53–66. https://doi.org/10.1080/14733315.2006.11683834
Pan, W., Liu, S. X., Li, C., Zhang, Z., Long, T., & Zhang, Q. (2019). A model for calculating single-sided natural ventilation rate in an urban residential apartment. Building and Environment, 147, 372–381. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.buildenv.2018.10.018
Pan, Y., Shong, W., Zheng, X., Xu, H., & Zhang, T. (2024). Natural ventilation in vernacular architecture: A systematic review of bioclimatic ventilation design and its performance evaluation. Building and Environment, 253, 112421. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.buildenv.2024.112421
Perez-Lombard, L., Ortiz, J., & Pout, C. (2008). A review on buildings energy consumption information. Energy and Buildings, 40(3), 394–398. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2007.03.007
Reischl, U., Haggerty, L., & Salinas, O. (2019). Architectural design solution for reducing smoke build-up inside rural kitchens in Kenya, Africa. Journal of Engineering and Architecture, 7(1), 1–7. https://doi.org/10.15640/jea.v7n1a1
Seifert, J., Li, Y., Axley, J., & Rösler, M. (2006). Calculation of wind-driven cross ventilation in buildings with large openings. Journal of Wind Engineering and Industrial Aerodynamics, 94(12), 925–947. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jweia.2006.04.002
Visagavel, K., & Srinivasan, S. S. (2009). Analysis of single side ventilated and cross ventilated rooms by varying the width of the window opening using CFD. Solar Energy, 83(1), 2–5. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solener.2008.06.008
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Uwe Reischl, Ravindra S. Goonetilleke
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
The authors retain the copyright and grant this journal right of first publication. This license allows other people to freely share and adapt the work but must give appropriate credit, provide a link to the license, and indicate if changes were made. They may do so in any reasonable manner, but not in any way that suggests the licensor endorses them or their use.
