Exploration of passive cooling potential to improve indoor environment quality (thermal comfort, relative humidity and air movement) in thermally free-running multi-residential dwellings in Thailand urban areas

Juangjandee, Warangkana 2023. Exploration of passive cooling potential to improve indoor environment quality (thermal comfort, relative humidity and air movement) in thermally free-running multi-residential dwellings in Thailand urban areas. PhD Thesis, Cardiff University. Item availability restricted.

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Abstract

Multi-residential buildings in Thailand's urban areas have significant issues regarding indoor environmental quality (IEQ). These buildings, typically designed with singlesided ventilation, tend to suffer from inadequate ventilation, particularly in thermally free-running buildings. This leads to poor IEQ, especially for low-socioeconomic groups. Natural ventilation, as a passive cooling strategy, offers benefits in enhancing thermal comfort, sustainability, and cost-effectiveness. Three phases of the study were established for investigating the potential of passive design options by focussing on natural ventilation to improve IEQ. Phase 1 involved physical measurements to assess current indoor environmental conditions and occupant perception surveys to characterise typology and typical buildings. These measurements provided base case data for Phase 2, where Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) and building simulation models were developed to explore factors affecting natural ventilation and thermal behaviour, both outdoors and indoors. In Phase 3, potential design options for improving IEQ were evaluated, involving consultations with Thai building professionals. The study revealed that the optimal design scenario could improve thermal comfort by up to 21.9% compared to the original room configuration. This optimal case also maintained healthier relative humidity levels 5% longer. During the rainy season, these benefits were even more obvious, with a 42.3% increase in thermal comfort and a 56% increase in periods of healthy humidity levels. Additionally, the optimal design consistently achieved natural ventilation rates exceeding 0.2 m.s-1, occasionally reaching up to 0.4 m.s-1 at the occupant level, signifying a substantial improvement. The research proposes design options, focusing on passive cooling through natural ventilation for new multiresidential buildings in urban areas.

Item Type:	Thesis (PhD)
Date Type:	Completion
Status:	Unpublished
Schools:	Architecture
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	5 July 2024
Last Modified:	05 Jul 2024 12:00
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/170264

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