Towards finding the optimal location of a ventilation inlet in a roof monitor skylight,using visual and thermal performance criteria,for dwellings in a Mediterranean climate

The main aim of this work is to study the influence of a roof monitor skylight on comfort criteria. The roof monitor skylight simultaneously provides lighting and outdoor ventilation air for a living room or a master bedroom in a house with an underfloor heating/cooling system. The air is introduced into the room through an air inlet in the carpentry of the opening in the roof monitor skylight and located – for the purposes of this study – in different positions in the carpentry. To evaluate the comfort variations caused by this change of position, a series of lighting and thermal numerical indicators are applied to a set of simulation models, generating a complete analysis to determine optimal positions for the air inlet. These models are designed for the context of a Mediterranean climate, with extreme calculation conditions (overcast sky in winter and clear sky in summer). The simulation tools Daylight Visualizer 2.5 and Design Builder 2.42 have been selected to generate the models. This work concludes that the optimal position for the air inlet is in the side of the carpentry of the roof monitor skylight opening, ensuring the maximization of both lighting and thermal comfort conditions.     

夏热冬暖地区中庭的天窗型式与耗能

通过建立中庭天窗模型,分析、探讨了不同型式、不同倾角、不同朝向的天窗与耗能的关系。     

Generative design tools for novice designers: Issues for selection

Computer-based generative design tools are often restricted in their scope due to implementation issues. These simple applications can serve as teaching aids for novice designers. Characterizations of generative tools and methods are described as a means of determining appropriate pedagogical tools.     

寒冷地区游泳馆暖通设计

分析了寒冷地区冬季游泳馆由于室内外温差过大造成的空气处理难和易结露等问题,提出了相应的设计方案地防腐和节能等问题提出了相应的技术对策。     

Usability tests of ideation flexibility tools with engineering design practitioners

Abstract

In an engineering context, ideation flexibility is defined as an engineer’s ability to move between his or her preferred and non-preferred ways of generating ideas as required by the current task. In this study, the usability of three specific tools for enhancing the ideation flexibility of engineers—the Problem Framing Guide, Design Heuristics and Cognitive Style-Based Teaming—was investigated with design practitioners in a real-world setting. The performance and perceptions of 16 professionals were analysed as they explored design problems and solutions using these tools in a 3-h workshop. Study outcomes show that all three tools have value in design ideation, with room for improvement in terms of structured instructions for their use. Additionally, results suggest that cognitive style does not influence an individual’s performance with or perceptions of these tools, which supports their value and validity for a general practitioner audience.     

Improving thermal comfort in mosques of hot-humid climates through passive and low-energy design strategies

Mosques have intermittent operational schedules with short-term occupancy during the five daily prayers. The occupancy level of the daily prayers is a fraction compared to the mandatory Friday prayers with full occupancy. Usually, the same thermal control mechanism is operated within the same large prayer hall to maintain the thermal comfort of the occupants. Yet, the comfort requirements are often not met due to the short span of operation during prayer times. Nevertheless, mosques have a very high energy usage as the same energy-intensive system is operated even during minimal occupancy profiles. The current research aims at using a passive approach towards design to achieve the comfort conditions during the low occupancy daily prayer times without employing mechanical intervention. Numerical simulations are carried out on a validated model of the case study building to investigate the impact of the west-facing Qiblah wall as the congregation stands in proximity to this wall. The design alternatives are tested in conjunction with ventilation strategies to holistically assess the thermal comfort of the occupants. Results show that as much as 4–6°C reduction in indoor wall surface temperature can be achieved with a suitable Qiblah wall design, which reduces the mean radiant temperature of the occupants by 2–4°C. Combined with ventilation strategies, thermal comfort can be significantly improved by at least 40% for the prayers during the hottest times of the day, and as much as 80% for night-time prayers. Results suggest that suitable comfort conditions can be achieved without the need for air-conditioning for at least two or three of the five daily prayers.     

寒冷地区室内游泳馆采暖通风节能设计探讨

通过对寒冷地区室内游泳馆的室内环境因素、通风量的确定及运行和检测等方面的分析,提出了采暖通风节能技术措施。     

LNG气化站冷能利用的冷库系统设计

以福建省LNG项目的发展背景,确定LNG气化站冷能在冷库的利用实现模式和系统设计工艺设计,提出冷库冷能系统和低温集中空调系统综合应用设计方案的可行性。     

Envelope thermal design for energy savings in mosques in hot-humid climate

Mosques, places of worship for Muslims, are used for five intermittent prayer periods a day with a duration of between 45 and 60 min each. Their unique function and pattern of operation result in unique energy consumption and demand. Although mosques can be characterized as high-occupancy buildings, the thermal design of the exterior envelope can play a major role in their thermal and energy performance particularly in hot-humid climates. The objective of this study is to investigate energy performance and potential energy savings associated with influencing envelope design parameters under hot-humid climatic conditions. The results revealed that envelope parameters such as wall and roof thermal resistance, and air leakage rate are major determinants of mosque energy performance and subsequently, considerable savings can be achieved when properly considered. Recommendations for envelope thermal design are presented to provide architects, engineers, planners, community developers and mosque operators with necessary guidelines for improving mosque energy performance.     

Organisational design for improved performance of urban water utilities in developing countries

Unclear roles and responsibilities and other factors related to organisational design, have been found to be some of the common barriers to providing good urban water services in developing countries. A comparative study commissioned by the World Bank in 2013 assessed how five well-performing water utilities located in different parts of the world aligned their organisational structures and management systems with their strategies and the operating environment. Lessons therefrom can be adapted for organisational (re)design of water utilities, for their improved performance, subject to enabling factors in the individual organisation's operating environment.     

Towards participatory design in craft and design education

The purpose of the present study was to analyze the differences and effects of user participation in university level students' collaborative design processes. The study focused on how intended users (i.e., frequent conference-goers) participated in a product design process (designing conference bags) and how much influence these conference-goers had on students' design solutions. The data were derived from a collaborative learning environment (Future Learning Environment, FLE2), which provided a distributed database for students' and users' dialogue. The study employed qualitative content analysis of users' written messages posted on the database. The analysis indicated users' contributions to the functional, expressive and aesthetic design solutions. From the students' standpoint, it was challenging to treat contradictory information produced by users and to find optimal design solutions.     

Comparative analysis of energy performance between courtyard and atrium in buildings

In this paper, the energy performance of a central atrium is investigated and compared with the energy performance of a courtyard with the same geometric proportions. The atrium and the courtyard design used for the analysis are square in plan and surrounded by the building on all four sides. The glazing type and percentage for the courtyard walls and atrium skylight are varied in the analysis. Weather data from four cities representative of climatic conditions of cold, temperate, hot-humid and hot-dry were used. The results show that, in general, the open courtyard building exhibits a better energy performance for the shorter buildings. As the building height increases, however, at some point the enclosed atrium exhibits a better energy performance. This “break even” point for the number of stories depends on different factors like glazing and climate parameters discussed above.     

Laboratory and field performance of polymer-modified cement-based repair mortars in cold climates

The results of an ongoing test program to evaluate the performance of polymer-modified cement-based mortars for repairing surfaces of concrete structures up to a depth of 75 mm (3 inches) damaged due to exposure to cold climates are presented. Twenty-five selected commercially available polymer-modified products, seven containing styrene butadiene rubber (SBR) and 18 containing acrylics were evaluated. They were compared with those of a pure cement-based mortar containing 8% silica fume by weight of the cement, with a water/cementitious materials (cement+silica fume) ratio (W/CM) of 0.31. All of the mortars were subjected to thermal compatibility with base concrete, drying shrinkage, permeability, abrasion-erosion resistance, bond strength, compressive strength and freezing and thawing cycling tests. The thermal compatibility with the base concrete at temperatures from −50 to +50 °C was used as a pre-selection test. This paper also presents the satisfactory performance of the three best selected polymer-modified cement-based mortars (included in the 25 mortars), after 6 years in service on two operating spillways of a dam in a severe cold climate.     

Representation stigma: Perceptions of tools and processes for design graphics

Practicing designers and design students across multiple fields were surveyed to measure preference and perception of traditional hand and digital tools to determine if common biases for an individual toolset are realized in practice. Significant results were found, primarily with age being a determinant in preference of graphic tools and processes; this finding demonstrates a hard line between generations of designers. Results show that while there are strong opinions in tools and processes, the realities of modern business practice and production gravitate towards digital methods despite a traditional tool preference in more experienced designers. While negative stigmas regarding computers remain, younger generations are more accepting of digital tools and images, which should eventually lead to a paradigm shift in design professions.     

A new methodology for the design of low energy buildings

The Kyoto protocol binded the developed countries to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions at least by 5% by 2008-2012 in order to tackle global warming and climate change. Some of the measures of the governments to achieve this goal are to promote new buildings construction and to retrofit existing buildings while satisfying low energy criteria. This means improving energy efficiency of buildings and energy systems, developing sustainable building concepts and promoting renewable energy sources.The design of a low energy building requires parametric studies via simulation tools in order to optimize the design of the building envelope and HVAC systems. These studies are often complex and time consuming due to a large number of parameters to consider. Hence, this paper aims to set up a methodology that simplifies parametrical studies during the design process of a low energy building. The methodology is based on the Design of Experiments (DOE) method which is a statistical method widely used in industry to perform parametric studies that reduces the required number of experiments.     

中庭烟气分层及其与排烟设计相关性问题探讨

追溯了烟气分层的定义及相关问题的由来,讨论了建筑中庭发生烟气分层的条件和表现形式及其预估方式,分析了分层对排烟系统设计的影响.认为GB 51251-2017《建筑防烟排烟系统技术标准》中有关中庭烟气分层的条文及其说明有不恰当之处.     

寒地住区高层建筑设计的节能思考

从寒地住区建筑主体的节能布局、建筑体型选择、围护结构的设计、新技术的运用等方面入手,深入研究了寒地住区建筑节能问题的有效解决方法,并指出了寒地住区建筑未来的发展方向。     

严寒和寒冷地区住宅建筑节能设计

本文以寒冷地区住宅建筑节能设计为例,针对寒冷地区住宅建筑施工的特点,对严寒和寒冷地区住宅建筑节能设计进行了介绍,通过实际工程的节能计算得知,该工程完全符合国家规范对住宅节能的要求,也满足寒冷地区的正常使用要求。可为本地区住宅节能工程的应用提供参考依据。     

节能型混凝土多孔砖孔型设计与热工分析

根据夏热冬冷地区对外围护结构热工性能的要求,对节能型混凝土多孔砖的孔型进行分析、设计,并通过热工计算验证,提出有效的设计方案.     

A suite of prototype CAD tools to support early phases of architectural design

A suite of prototype CAD (computer-aided design) tools has been developed as part of an educational experiment in which an architectural design studio course was combined with a computer science graduate course on architectural CAD to study the collaboration between architects and their clients in a computer-based environment. The suite of tools is based on formalized abstractions inspired by lessons learned in the VLSI (very large-scale integrated circuit) CAD revolution of the 1980s. It encourages a step-by-step transformation of a building program, first into symbolic representations that can be checked and evaluated with automated programs, and eventually into simple but consistent 3-D (three-dimensional) geometry that can be inspected with an interactive walk-through visualization program.