Publication: Computational fluid dynamics analysis of indoor airflow in modular homes
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Date
2024-07-05
Authors
Muhammad Aiman bin Azahari
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Abstract
Building construction significantly impacts the environment through energy consumption, greenhouse gas emissions, and waste. To address these issues, many countries have adopted modular housing as a cost-effective solution. However, natural cross-ventilation in modular homes often fails to provide adequate comfort due to its heavy reliance on inconsistent outdoor air supply, resulting in poor indoor airflow. Therefore, a thorough analysis of indoor airflow is essential to ensure occupant’s comfort. Research suggests that permanent ventilation openings improve air movement, especially when windows and doors are in closed configuration. This project aims to explore this scenario by varying the number of ventilation openings in different configurations of windows and doors, by using a three-dimensional Computer-Aided Design (CAD) model in SolidWorks 2023, and conducting airflow analysis with ANSYS Fluent Workbench R1 2023. Although the study only approximates climate parameters and does not include experimental validation due to location constraints, it appropriately considers Malaysia’s hot and humid climate based on literature. According to Malaysian Standard MS1525:2007, thermal comfort is achieved with indoor temperatures between 25-28 °C and air velocity between 0.15-1.5 m/s. This study found that the modular home with closed windows and doors failed to meet these standards, with temperatures exceeding 28 °C and air velocity as low as 0.007 m/s. In contrast, when the windows and doors were open, air circulation significantly improved, achieving thermal comfort at several points: Point 1 for all ventilation openings, and Point 5 for 6, 8, and 10 ventilation openings, although still borderline. This highlights the importance of proper ventilation design in modular homes to promote better air circulation through additional windows and doors on opposite and adjacent walls.