LAUSR

Abstract The vertical airflow is generated in high-rise buildings due to the stack effect caused by temperature differences between the inside and the outside of the building. The stack effect causes various problems such as strong airflow from doors, unpleasant noises through gaps, problems opening and closing elevator doors and hall doors, and difficulty in controlling the indoor temperature and ventilation systems. It also causes differences in infiltration and the associated heating load and/or energy consumptions by floor in high-rise residential buildings. In this study, the differences caused by the stack effect was investigated by field measurements and airflow and energy simulations. To obtain reliable airflow and energy results, the coupled airflow and energy simulation method was also proposed along with a two-step method of calibrating leakage data. The simulated results show the three kinds of heating load elements from airflow interactions with the stack-driven vertical airflow: (1) Outdoor air infiltration load, (2) interzone air infiltration load, and (3) increased heat transfer across the walls between corridors and households on lower floors. Based on their different characteristics by floor, the difference ratios between the minimum and maximum heating loads on floors were 291% and 1197%, respectively in the upper and lower sides from the neutral level. The three infiltration loads are responsible for 10.27% of total heating load over winter. This study implies that it is important to consider the stack-induced vertical airflow with the proposed simulation method in calculating the heating energy in high-rise residential buildings, particularly in cold regions.