Study of the impact of exhaust through the roof of industrial warehouses on thermal comfort using computational fluid dynamics

Abstract

The assessment of thermal environments in workplaces is determined by regulatory standards that stipulate limits for comfort and thermal stress; however, building and construction codes present general requirements such as percentage of opening to ensure adequate ventilation rates. This research proposes the use of wind turbine exhaust fan in a small industrial warehouse using computational fluid dynamics to verify the minimum working conditions for heat exposure. A generic plant was considered with the proposition of scenarios with and without heat sources, and with changes in the geometry of the windows. Results indicated that wind exhaust fans are efficient in removing the thermal load, but are not sufficient to ensure thermal comfort. The study in the design phase and the verification of details by means of CFD simulation are important to prevent future problems of unhealthiness and thermal discomfort in industrial buildings.