A ventilation model was developed for predicting the air change per hour(ACH) in buildings and the airflow rates between
zones of a multi-room building. In this model, the important parameters used in the calculation of airflow are wind velocity,
wind direction, terrain effect, shielding effect by surrounding buildings, the effect of the window type and insect screening,
etc. Also, the resulting set of mass balance equations required for the process of calculation of airflow rates are solved using a
Conte-De Boor method.
When this model was applied to the building which had been tested by Chandra et al.(1983), the comparison of predicted results by this study with measured results by Chandra et al. indicated that their variations were within -10%~+12%. Also, this model was applied to a building with five zones. As a result, when the wind velocity and direction did not change, terrain characteristics influenced the largest and window types influenced the least on building ventilation among terrain characteristics, local shieldings, and window types. Except for easterly and westerly winds, the ACH increased depending on wind velocity. The wind direction had influence on the airflow rates and directions through openings in building.
Thus, this model can be available for predicting the airflow rates within buildings, and the results of this study can be useful for the quantification of airflow that is essential to the research of indoor air quality(temperature, humidity, or contaminant concentration) as well as to the design of building with high energy efficiency.