Optimization of the Direction and Number of Atrium Openings in a Centralized Model for Improving Thermal Comfort in Office Buildings in Hot and Dry Climates (Case Study of Yazd City)
Subject Areas :Parisa Javid 1 , Niloufar Nikghadam 2 * , Alireza karimpour 3 , Jaleh Sabernejad 4
1 - Department of Architecture, S.T.C, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
2 - Department of Architecture, S.T.C, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
3 - Department of Architecture, S.T.C, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
4 - Department of Architecture, S.T.C, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
Keywords: Opening orientation, number of openings, central atrium, thermal comfort, hot and dry climate, Yazd city.,
Abstract :
Passive design strategies such as central atriums have emerged as effective solutions to reduce heat load and improve thermal comfort in hot and dry climates such as Yazd due to increasing concerns about climate change. This study examines the impact of various atrium opening configurations on thermal comfort and energy consumption in Yazd. It aims to determine the optimal combinations of openings to enhance year-round comfort, particularly during the challenging summer months. The study utilizes the PMV (Predicted Mean Vote) and PPD (Predicted Percentage of Dissatisfied) indices to assess climatic performance, which is modeled using the Grasshopper plugin and the Honeybee and Ladybug algorithms. Results indicate that the optimal atrium design involves positioning openings in an eastern orientation, with a PMV of 2.218. This significantly reduces summer heat load and improves comfort during milder seasons. Additionally, combinations of eastern with southern or northern openings were also identified as effective, as they reduced internal heat gain during summer while maintaining comfortable conditions during spring and autumn months. The findings highlight that in summer, the East orientation provides the highest thermal comfort, followed by the East-North-South orientation with a PMV of 2.207. The East-North-West orientation provides satisfactory performance in both spring and summer, but not as effectively as the East-North-South orientation. This research highlights the importance of optimizing atrium opening configurations to reduce reliance on mechanical systems and enhance energy efficiency. This is particularly in climates with extreme summer temperatures, such as Yazd.
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