Heat and mass transfer through large openings by natural convection

Convective heat and mass transfer through large openings play an important role in the thermal behaviour of buildings. These phenomena become even more determinant in the case of naturally ventilated buildings. This paper reviews the models describing the involved phenomena due to gravitational and boundary layer pumping flows proposed up to 1992. A sensitivity analysis is also presented, aimed at a comparison of these models and a determination of the points requiring further research.