Corridor overheating mitigation is a real-life concern as it affects occupant satisfaction and the thermal performance of adjacent homes. Measures to future-proof designs in this respect are becoming even more relevant. Vasiliki discusses her entry below and her presentation can be viewed here.
This entry was based on a communal corridor overheating assessment at the Kidbrooke Village Phase 3 development by Berkeley Homes (East Thames) Ltd. The 20-year regeneration scheme consists of various phases connected with a state-of-the art communal heating network. Corridor overheating mitigation was a significant design consideration.
A passive evaporative cooling system was proposed to mitigate the heat gains within the corridors that is energy efficient and environmentally friendly, avoiding active cooling by reducing summer temperatures by circa 5°C at peak external temperatures.
Dynamic Thermal Modelling was required to verify the effectiveness of the passive evaporative cooling system. Instead of using refrigerants and energy intensive cooling systems, evaporative systems can maintain indoor thermal comfort, cooling the air through a water wetted pad and passive adiabatic cooling. The modelling was undertaken using Detailed HVAC simulation and a script (EMS module) adapting the simulation to modulate airflows and make the fan operation energy efficient.
The simulation outcomes were also compared against real-life environmental monitoring that were undertaken in one of the communal areas of Kidbrooke’s previous phases. Both assessment methods concluded that comfortable temperatures are achieved, and the evaporative cooling system is capable of mitigating the heat gains incurred within the corridors from the communal heating network.
Written by Vasiliki Kourgiozou - Posted by Darren Coppins - CIBSE Building Simulation Group Vice Chair.
Are the scripts for Natural ventilation and Evaporative cooling for Design builder are readily available. If not can you guide us on creating custom script.
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