Windcatcher: A Sustainable Alternative for Improving Indoor Air Quality and Thermal Comfort in Educational Spaces in Germany

In the pursuit of sustainable and energy-efficient buildings, there is a growing interest in natural ventilation solutions. In this regard, windcatchers have surfaced as viable devices for achieving passive cooling, enhancing indoor air quality, and reducing reliance on mechanical ventilation systems in modern architecture. While windcatchers have undergone evaluation in various climates and regions, there is a notable absence of studies considering their application in the German climate. Thus, this study aims to evaluate the windcatcher’s performance in a generic educational space in Germany. To achieve this aim, a two-sided windcatcher was simulated in the CFD environment to assess indoor air quality and thermal comfort under varying wind speed conditions. At the first step of the research methodology, the CFD model was validated by comparing numerical results with previously published experimental data. The findings showed good agreement between both methods. In the next step, the windcatcher under different speeds from 1 m/s to 4.1 m/s was subjected to rigorous evaluation. The results revealed that the supplied airflow rate varied from 300 l/s to 890 l/s, which meets the standard requirement. In addition, the concentration of CO2 was below the maximum threshold suggested by the standard for the educational spaces. Finally, according to the adaptive model, the windcatcher can provide thermal comfort if the outdoor wind speed is above 2 m/s.