Water bath modelling of transient and time dependent natural ventilation flows

Since electricity was first harnessed, humanity has developed a lifestyle which can not exist without it. Traditionally, electricity has been created by burning fossil fuels which produces waste gases including carbon dioxide. These waste gases have accumulated in our atmosphere and are theorised to have contributed to a warming of the earth, causing a 0.4°C rise in average surface temperature since the 1970’s (DECC 2013). A warming of the earth is thought to lead to increased frequency of catastrophic weather events such as droughts and heat waves, leading to many deaths (Met Office 2015). In recent years, there has been a drive to reduce our dependence on the burning of fossil fuels by making technologies more efficient, developing methods of electricity generation which do not involve the burning of fossil fuels as well as replacing techniques requiring high energy demands with low energy techniques. Natural ventilation is one such low energy technique which can replace more electricity intensive strategies such as mechanical ventilation and air conditioning whilst still ensuring a room which is neither too cold nor too warm and removes pollutants. [...continued]