Natural ventilation in the traditional countryside constructions in valencia. cfd & ppd analysis

Abstract

Local Valencian architecture has evolved over the centuries adapting to the region's climate conditions. Orientation is one of its fundamental aspects to guarantee the perfect amount of sunlight and natural ventilation. Thanks to the proximity to the Mediterranean Sea and the relative position to the Garbi mountain, the stable wind conditions ensure a good ventilation in the countryside, commonly called " Horta". The main objectives of the study are divided into two parts. The first phase is focused on the typological and historical study of the popular buildings on Valencia's "Horta", located at the "L'horta Nord" region. A second part will be focused on virtual CFD models (Computational Fluid Dynamics). Natural ventilation inside the buildings is analysed with different local winds configurations. Also, the benefits of this ventilation are studied with reference to interior comfort, using PPD analysis (Predicted Percentage of Dissatisfied). This study shows how the case study adapts itself to the microclimatic region conditions.