Simulating Natural Ventilation in and Around Buildings by Fast Fluid Dynamics

Natural ventilation is a sustainable technology that can provide a well-built environment and also save energy. The application of natural ventilation to buildings requires a careful approach in the early design phase, and fast, simple design tools are greatly needed. Fast fluid dynamics (FFD) can provide useful airflow information at a speed much faster than CFD so that it is a potential design tool for natural ventilation. This study thus validated FFD with test cases representing different types of natural ventilation. The results showed that FFD was capable of predicting the main air flow feature and ventilation rate with reasonable accuracy for wind-driven or buoyancy-driven natural ventilation. FFD simulation can reflect the influence of wind direction and surrounding buildings on natural ventilation.