Cooling potentials of thermal pressure ventilation under thermal stratification based on orthogonal test for large space buildings

In recent years, large public buildings have grown rapidly in China with high heating, ventilation and air conditioning energy consumption. Investigating its thermal stratification and maximising the use of thermal pressure ventilation are of much significance. A multi-zone model is established in EnergyPlus that the air is well-mixed in each zone. Field measurements were carried out on a 16 m high large Lab, and the simulated temperatures are verified by the measured ones. From point view of the acceptable indoor air temperature toc and the required minimum airflow rate mreq,min, an index is provided to assess the cooling potential of thermal pressure ventilation (CPTPV). Furthermore, a five-factor four-level orthogonal test is designed with four outdoor air temperatures, four building heights, four glazed materials, four occupant densities and four upper opening areas. The results show that the CPTPV are obtained under most cases; the combined scores are in range of 0.06 ∼ 0.96 and differ in cases or weight assignments; the primary factor for comprehensive affect toc and m is the outdoor temperature, then the upper opening area, lastly the glazed material. This study provides a comprehensive reference for the CPTPV optimisation in large spaces in consideration of multiple factors.