Natural Ventilation

Natural Ventilation in Sistan Windmill

The study “Effect of resilient architecture in an ancient windmill in the Sistan region on natural ventilation enhancement” (Scientific Reports, 2022) investigates how the design of a historic Iranian windmill optimized indoor air quality through natural ventilation. Using local wind data, field measurements, and Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations, we found that features like strategically placed openings and dual wind deflectors facing prevailing winds created vortices and suction ventilation, significantly increasing air change rates (up to 150% with higher wind speeds and 110% with optimal wind angles). These results show that traditional architecture in Sistan effectively harnessed natural forces for cooling and ventilation, offering valuable insights for modern, energy-efficient building design.