Estimating Natural-Ventilation Potential Considering Thermal Mass

The concept of potential for natural ventilation (NVP) is defined as the possibility, or probability, to ensure both indoor air quality and thermal comfort by natural ventilation. NVP value can provide the designers significant information to properly design and arrange natural ventilation strategy at the preliminary or conceptual stage of ventilation and building design. In 2005, Lina Yang presented a model by calculating the pressure difference Pascal hours (PDPH) for natural ventilation considering indoor air temperature staying at a constant value. In 2007, Zhiwen Luo revised the model in two predominant aspects: (1) indoor air temperature varies synchronously with the outdoor air temperature, (2) thermal comfort evaluation index is integrated into the model. All of them consume there is no thermal mass in the buildings. In the paper, a new model considering thermal mass and thermal comfort was presented. There the indoor air temperature of building was calculated by applying harmonic response method and the thermal comfort index is different each other for cities. The model is more realistic than earlier and can be applied easily in estimating nature-ventilation potential for different buildings and different cities in engineering.