Analysis on the Airflow Patterns during the Summer in a Traditional Korean House in order to Apply to Passive Cooling Design

This study is a preliminary research to develop design principles/factors for environmentally friendly housing. The purposes of study are to analyze the indoor airflow patterns in a Korean traditional house during the summer, and to propose some applicable factors that need to take into consideration in the designing of houses for effective passive cooling. The analysis was focused on the bedroom called `An bang` and the family area called `Dae Chung` in the inner building called `An Chae` of a Korean traditional house located in Seoul. Field measurements of air temperature and air velocity were carried out at 30 different measuring points with 8 different window-opening conditions. The measurements were taken on the hottest summer days in August 2000, during 12 P.M. ~ 2 P.M. when the outdoor temperature was at its peak.<BR> It appears that the average air velocity of the traditional Korean house during summer midday can cause residents to feel comfortable breezes. It was found that in the Dae Chung, air velocities were higher near the An Bang than near the Gunner Bang; suggesting that the L shaped building played a role by reinforcing air movement. It was also shown that the most efficient window-opening condition in the An Bang was the opening of one eastward window located at the north-end and one southward window, thus allowing north-south cross-ventilation to take place. This can be explained by the fact that the northward windows remained in the shade by the eaves of the building. The resulting temperature difference was sufficient enough to create air movement passing through the house.