Investigation of thermal comfort in a classroom ventilated with traditional wind tower with computational simulation method: Case of Trabzon

In most structures, the thermal comfort of users is important. This study investigated the thermal quality of a classroom in which ventilation is realized with a windcatcher. The study consists of four parts. In the first part, the purpose of study, scope and research methodology were determined. In addition, an overview on comfort, energy efficiency, passive air conditioning, and computational fluid dynamics was provided. In the second chapter, eleven models were designed and simulated with ANSYS program. In the third chapter, the airflow behaviour was described for each model. The obtained values were evaluated to determine the windcatchers performances and the thermal comfort of sitting users. In the fourth chapter, the effects of different physical properties of the windcatcher on airflow and thermal comfort of the users are concluded. The best result was obtained with a unidirectional windcatcher model (MO0.5) which is 3m high, 1m wide and with a windcatcher entrance of 0.5 m high. According to the results, lowest value of average air velocity occuring at the head and chest level of the seated users of 1.17 m / s was obtained. Also, the model with internal opening at floor level (Configuration 1) provided more comfort with an average air velocity of 1.75 m / s at the head and chest of the seated users. Better thermal comfort conditions have been achieved with the optimized model. It is suggested that the research should be conducted considering the other climatic conditions of other summer months. This technique should be integrated with modern systems and included in the architectural design processes of the buildings in Trabzon.