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. 2018 Jul 18;11(6):1245–1253. doi: 10.1007/s12273-018-0460-x

The influence of envelope features on interunit dispersion around a naturally ventilated multi-story building

Dongjin Cui 1, Zhengtao Ai 2,✉, Cheuk-ming Mak 3, Kenny Kwok 4, Peng Xue 5
PMCID: PMC7090705  PMID: 32218905

Abstract

This study examines the influence of building envelope features on interunit dispersion around multi-story buildings, when the presence of an upstream interfering building is also considered. Validated CFD methods in the steady-state RANS framework are employed. In general, the reentry ratios of pollutant from a source unit to adjacent units are mostly in the order of 0.1%, but there are still many cases being in the order of 1%. The influence of envelope features is dependent strongly on the interaction between local wind direction and envelope feature. In a downward dominated near-facade flow field, the presence of vertical envelope features forms dispersion channels to intensify the unidirectional spread. Horizontal envelope features help induce the dilution of pollutant to the main stream and weakens largely the vertical interunit dispersion. The large influences caused by the presence of envelope features extend the existing understanding of interunit dispersion based on flat-facade buildings.

Keywords: interunit dispersion, natural ventilation, envelope features, airborne transmission, CFD simulation

Acknowledgements

The work described in this paper was supported by a grant from Natural Science Foundation of Guangdong Province, China. Foundation No: 2017A030310357.

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