Prediction of performance of a wind-driven ventilation device

The paper presents the aerodynamic design of a ventilation device suitable for remote open areas, such as desert terrains. The device is attached to the top of an enclosure roof and employs wind energy to create a partial vacuum in a specially designed duct to draw out the stale air from within the enclosure. The design is developed with the aid of fluid flow simulation software that is employed to predict the flow details corresponding to different geometric shapes so that an efficient shape may be found. The software is also employed to predict the performance of the adopted shape for different operating conditions and the results are presented in the form of characteristics curves and a correlation equation. Reliability of predictions is backed by results of experimental validation presented elsewhere, and by performing a detailed grid-dependence study, as well as a domain extent sensitivity analysis.