The development of hybrid longitudinal windcatcher for basement ventilation in warm humid climate

ABSTRACT This paper reports the development of a longitudinal hybrid windcatcher (LHWC) to provide thermal comfort and healthy ventilation for basement in warm humid climate. Two full-scaled computer models and a one-tenth physical model were constructed. The computer simulation found that outdoor wind speed of 1–5 m/s generated air velocities of 0.19–1.01 m/s at the occupants’ zone when the inlet's height was 1 m above the surrounding roofs. Raising the inlet 3 m higher did not produce significant difference air velocity at the occupants’ zone. The physical model experiment outdoor found that 3 m/s wind induced 0.3 m/s air velocity inside it. Meanwhile, with the absence of outdoor wind, the four small exhaust fans could induce 0.05 m/s air velocity inside it. From the computer simulation and physical model, it can be concluded that outdoor wind air could induce physiological cooling and ventilation at the basement. The array of exhaust fans could only induce very low air velocity but it was considered able to ventilate the used air for the basement.