CFD and site analysis for optimizing indoor air quality in sustainable social housing via windcatcher integration

Abstract This study investigated the potential of integrating windcatchers into Egyptian social housing buildings to enhance natural ventilation and improve indoor thermal comfort, thereby reducing energy consumption used to enhance airflow inside residential spaces of residential communities, which is considered an important aspect of sustainable urban development that aims to counteract climate change. Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations validated by site measurements were conducted on two distinctly oriented apartment models. The northwest-oriented apartment demonstrated a 7% improvement in natural ventilation rate with a single strategically placed windcatcher in the bedroom. The southwest-oriented apartment showed a remarkable 45.7% improvement when equipped with three windcatchers distributed across the living room and bedroom spaces. The results revealed that strategic windcatcher placement was more critical than quantity, with a dual-windcatcher configuration in the southwest-oriented apartment achieving a performance nearly comparable to that of a triple-windcatcher arrangement. Effectiveness relies on establishing appropriate pressure gradients through careful positioning to facilitate consistent airflow circulation. Configurations that enhance living room ventilation, the primary family gathering space, demonstrated the greatest potential for improving overall thermal comfort. Practical recommendations include orientation-specific design strategies, early integration of windcatchers into the architectural design process, and standardization of building codes for social housing projects. The implementation of passive cooling strategies offers multiple benefits, including reduced reliance on mechanical cooling, improved indoor air quality, connection to architectural heritage, and significant cumulative energy savings at scale. Future research directions encompass seasonal performance studies, combinations with other cooling strategies, and detailed analyses of windcatcher geometry.