Evaluation of the Effects of Central Atrium Design on Thermal Loads of Office Buildings in Isfahan in order to Derive an Energy Performance Algorithm

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Department of Architecture, Na.C., Islamic Azad University, Najafabad, Iran

2 Architecture Department, Ilam University, Ilam, Iran

3 Department of Architecture, Advancement in Architecture and Urban Planning Research Center, Na.C., Islamic Azad University, Najafabad, Iran

Abstract

The increase in energy consumption in the office buildings in hot and dry climates has doubled the need to pay attention to architectural solutions, especially the design of the central atrium. This study aims to evaluate the effect of atrium design on thermal loads and extract an algorithm for predicting energy performance, examining the Amir Kabir office complex in Isfahan as a case study. The main research question is "which combination of geometric and physical features of the atrium can create the most optimal energy performance in office buildings in hot and dry climates". Design Builder and statistical analysis, using multivariate regression in the SPSS environment, were used as in this paper. The variables studied included the type of plan (open and combined), the ratio of the building and atrium dimensions (R1, R2, R3), the percentage of the atrium area (10%, 20%, 30%), and the type of atrium (without opening, with a skylight opening and with a roof canopy with different angles) simulated in the form of 54 scenarios. The findings showed that a 5-degree roof canopy was the most effective factor in reducing annual cooling load and energy consumption, while atriums without a canopy or opening created the highest thermal load. Also, the combination of R3 volumetric form (length to width ratio 3:2) with an open plan and appropriate canopy design provided optimal thermal performance in some scenarios. Finally, the algorithms obtained from regression analysis allowed for the prediction of annual heating, cooling, and energy consumption loads and could be used as a practical tool for architects’ decision-making in the early stages of designing office buildings in hot and dry climates.

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

[1] Lu, Y., Xiang, Y., Chen, G., Liu, J., Wang, Y., "On-site measurement and zonal simulation on winter indoor environment and air infiltration", Energy and Buildings, Vol. 213, p. 110160, 2020, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2020.110160.
[2] Vujošević, M., Krstić-Furundžić, A., "The influence of atrium on energy performance of hotel building", Energy and Buildings, Vol. 154, pp. 309–321, 2017, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2017.09.068.
[3] Pan, Y., Li, Y., Huang, Z., Wu, G., "Study on simulation methods of atrium building cooling load", Energy and Buildings, Vol. 42, No. 8, pp. 1223–1230, 2010, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2010.04.008.
[4] Horan, J. M., Finn, D. P., "Sensitivity of air change rates in a naturally ventilated atrium space", Energy and Buildings, Vol. 40, No. 2, pp. 157–167, 2008, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2008.02.013.
[5] Wang, F., Pichatwatana, K., Roaf, S., Zhao, L., Zhu, Z., Li, J., "Developing a weather responsive internal shading system for atrium spaces of a commercial building in tropical climates", Building and Environment, Vol. 78, pp. 96–109, 2014, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.buildenv.2013.10.003
[6] Ratajczak, M., Jarzebska, A., Jaskulska, M., Siuta-Olcha, A., "Atrium as a component of HVAC system", Energy and Buildings, Vol. 255, p. 111717, 2022,  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2021.111717.
[7] Shafiei Fini, A., Moosavi, S., "The influence of atrium wall angularity on ventilation", Energy and Buildings, Vol. 92, pp. 139–153, 2016, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2015.01.056.
[8] Ray, S. D., Gong, N.-W., Glicksman, L. R., Paradiso, J. A., "Experimental characterization of full-scale naturally ventilated atrium", Energy and Buildings, Vol. 66, pp. 79–91, 2014, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2013.11.018.
[9] Zhao, Y., Zhao, K., Ge, J., "Predicting the temperature distribution of a non-enclosed atrium and adjacent zones based on the Block model", Building and Environment, Vol. 221, p. 108952, 2022, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.buildenv.2022.108952.
[10] Fan, Z., Yang, Z., Yang, L., "Daylight performance assessment of atrium skylight with integrated semi-transparent photovoltaic for different climate zones in China", Building and Environment, Vol. 180, p. 107299, 2021, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.buildenv.2020.107299.
[11] Dong, L., He, Y., Qi, Q., Wang, W., "Optimization of daylight in atrium in underground commercial spaces: A case study in Chongqing, China", Energy and Buildings, Vol. 253, p. 111739, 2021, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2021.111739.
[12] Qin, R., Yan, D., Zhou, X., Jiang, Y., "Research on a dynamic simulation method of atrium thermal environment based on neural network", Building and Environment, Vol. 46, No. 10, pp. 2027–2036, 2012, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.buildenv.2011.11.001.
[13] Aldawoud, A., "The influence of the atrium geometry on the building energy performance", Energy and Buildings, Vol. 54, pp. 225–230, 2012, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2012.10.038.
[14] Wang, L., Huang, Q., Zhang, Q., Xu, H., Yuen, R. K. K., "Role of atrium geometry in building energy consumption", Energy and Buildings, Vol. 143, pp. 118–130, 2017, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2017.06.064.
[15] Aldawoud, A., & Clark, R., "Comparative analysis of energy performance between courtyard and atrium in buildings", Energy and Buildings, Vol. 39, No. 9, pp. 1043–1050, 2007, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2007.02.017.
[16] Xu, F., Li, C., Tang, H., "Influence analysis of space configuration on cooling load of a large semi-closed atrium in hot and humid region", Building and Environment, Vol. 221, p. 109670, 2022, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.buildenv.2022.109670.
[17] Liu, P.-C., Lin, H.-T., Chou, J.-H., "Evaluation of buoyancy-driven ventilation in atrium buildings using computational fluid dynamics and reduced-scale air model", Building and Environment, Vol. 44, No. 9, pp. 1918–1929, 2009, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.buildenv.2009.01.013.
[18] Hussain, S., Oosthuizen, P. H., "Validation of numerical modeling of conditions in an atrium space with a hybrid ventilation system", Building and Environment, Vol. 46, No. 5, pp. 1102–1115, 2012, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.buildenv.2011.12.016.
[19] Acred, A., Hunt, G. R., "Stack ventilation in multi-storey atrium buildings: A dimensionless design approach", Building and Environment, Vol. 66, pp. 65–76, 2013, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.buildenv.2013.10.007.
[20] Lynch, P. M., Hunt, G. R., "The night purging of a two-storey atrium building", Building and Environment, Vol. 45, No. 6, pp. 1373–1383, 2011, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.buildenv.2010.07.009.
[21] Liu, J., Xu, P., Yu, B., Guo, H., Wang, T., Liu, Y., "Fast 3D temperature prediction of entrance-atrium in commercial complex", Energy and Buildings, Vol. 263, p. 112032, 2022, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2022.112032.
[22] Albuquerque, D. P., Mateus, N., Avantaggiato, M., Carrilho da Graça, G., "Full-scale measurement and validated simulation of cooling load reduction due to nighttime natural ventilation of a large atrium", Energy and Buildings, Vol. 224, p. 110233, 2020, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2020.110233.
[23] Moosavi, L., Mahyuddin, N., Ghafar, N., "Atrium cooling performance in a low energy office building in the tropics, a field study", Building and Environment, Vol. 94, pp. 565–575, 2015, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.buildenv.2015.06.020.
[24] Khalaji Assadi, M., Dalir, F., Hamidi, A. A., "Analytical model of atrium for heating and ventilating an institutional building naturally", Energy and Buildings, Vol. 43, No. 11, pp. 3040–3047, 2011, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2011.05.009.
[25] Berardi, U., Wang, T., "Daylighting in an atrium-type high performance house", Building and Environment, Vol. 75, pp. 33–45, 2014, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.buildenv.2014.02.008
 [26] Ayala, P., Cantizano, A., Gutiérrez-Montes, C., Rein, G., "Influence of atrium roof geometries on the numerical predictions of fire tests under natural ventilation conditions", Energy and Buildings, Vol. 64, pp. 185–196, 2013, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2013.06.010
[27] Danielski, I., Nair, G., Joelsson, A., Fröling, M., "Heated atrium in multi-storey apartment buildings, a design with potential to enhance energy efficiency and to facilitate social interactions", Building and Environment, Vol. 106, pp. 144–155, 2016, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.buildenv.2016.06.038
[28] Wu, X., Oldfield, P., Heath, T., "Spatial openness and student activities in an atrium: A parametric evaluation of a social informal learning environment", Building and Environment, Vol. 183, p. 107141, 2020, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.buildenv.2020.107141
[29] Ministry of Roads and Urban Development, Plan and Budget Organization, and Road, Housing and Urban Development Research Center, "Topic 19: Energy conservation in buildings (3rd ed.)", National Building Regulations Office, 2013.

Files

Share

How to cite

Statistics