Full scale study of an atrium integrated with a hybrid ventilation system

Hybrid ventilation systems are two mode systems that consist of different features of both passive and mechanical systems at different times of the day or season. Natural/hybrid ventilation systems can reduce the energy consumption for cooling and ventilation and are of interest for sustainable building design purposes. This paper described a monitoring study that focused on an atrium with high solar gains linked to a hybrid ventilation system at Concordia University's engineering building. Coupled thermal and airflow simulation using computational fluid dynamics was developed to analyze the hybrid ventilation system in an effort to design guidelines and control strategies for the openings of the heating, ventilation and air conditioning system. The paper provided a description of the building with reference to dimensions of the atrium and atrium sketch. The paper also described the experimental set-up and measurements, including mounting of thermocouple to measure glass and air temperature; velocity sensor at the corridor grilles; air and surface temperatures using thermocouples mounted on the atrium facade; and room air temperature using thermocouples mounted on the atrium space. It was concluded that there is significant natural ventilation potential in Montreal during the warm months of the year, especially during the months of June, August, and September. 10 refs., 4 tabs., 8 figs.