Optimizing Windcatcher Supply Outlet Placement for Enhanced Performance in Bedroom Rooftop Installations

The optimum placement of a windcatcher supply outlet on the rooftop of a building in relation to the occupant breathing zone in the context of indoor air quality (IAQ) is imperative. This study attempts to determine the optimum location of the windcatcher supply outlet on the rooftop of a bedroom for enhanced IAQ. The building model was created using DesignBuilder software while computational fluid dynamics (CFD) was employed for the parametric simulation using air change effectiveness (ACE) as the optimization objective function. The rooftop was strategically divided into nine parts where the windcatcher were numerically installed. The results show that the windcatcher supply outlet directly above the occupants sleeping region (bed) was the optimum because at that location, the ACE in the occupants breathing zone was 1.08. This information could help engineers to optimally position the windcatcher supply outlet on the rooftop of a bedroom building or any other building with similar attributes.