Investigation of the Effect of Walkway Orientation on Natural Ventilation

Proper orientation of walkways based on regional winds and local shades provides a good control over walkways ventilation. Architectures of the old town of Sirjan had experimentally orientated the city’s walkways in a manner that shadows in walkways produced the maximum possible natural ventilation in this hot and dry town. This study has focused on this optimum design of Sirjan city considering natural ventilation mechanism. At first, a typical walkway with certain geometric parameters is considered. Then, considering the symmetry of the shadows cast in walkways, the natural ventilation rate is investigated at 7 different angles with 15° intervals. The problem is modeled using finite volume method numerically with Sirjan climate conditions. Results show that the present orientation of walkways in this city creates the maximum possible rate of natural ventilation and thermal comfort in a walkway.