Optimal Hybrid Ventilation Strategy to Assure Adequate Indoor Thermal Comfort and Air Quality in Educational Spaces under a Tropical Climate

Abstract

Air quality, specifically in indoor environments, has become a growing concern. In general, people tend to spend most of their lives indoors due to the growing urbanization. Indoor air quality is associated with ventilation rates, academic performance, and occupant's health due to the presence of indoor pollutants. Exposure to these contaminants is a risk factor for people to develop the sick building syndrome. The objective of this study was to determine an optimal hybrid ventilation strategy in a tropical climate, favoring natural ventilation with different proposed strategies, varying the opening of doors and windows, the opening time, and the occupancy, among other aspects and strategies using dynamic simulation. The results were compared with in-situ measurements and surveys conducted on students in the case study. Of the proposed strategies, it was decided as optimal hybrid strategy to increase the fresh air intake from 5 L/s∗person to 10 L/s∗person with the use of mechanical ventilation and reduction of occupancy, this way, in addition to improving indoor air quality, the thermal comfort of the students was ensured.