Air changes for healthy indoor ambiences under pandemic conditions and its energetic implications: A galician case study

Abstract

The present paper aims to show a mathematical understanding of the effect of ventilation rate over building energy consumption. Moreover, as a case study to show this methodology, a proposal was analyzed of modifying the teaching period to reach a maximum increase of air changes in school buildings, to allow adherence to the COVID-19 pandemic requirements in the Galicia region, with lower energy consumption. In this sense, to analyze the energetic implication of this proposal, the building construction was defined, modeled in accordance with the ISO Standard 13790 and implemented in accordance with the Monte Carlo method. Results showed the probability of energy consumption as a Weibull model. Furthermore, a map of different Weibull models in accordance with different ventilation rates was developed. The constants of the Weibull models allow to identify normal distributions of the probability density functions of energy consumption, especially the ones with lower energy consumption. As a consequence, these constants are a better parameter to identify the optimal ventilation rate for each season in search of a healthy indoor ambience, which is of interest for a future design guide. Finally, the main results showed a reduction of energy consumption at a higher ventilation rate in the summer season. As a consequence, the necessity of modifying teachings periods, as an adequate procedure to prevent more COVID infections, is concluded.