Improvement of the Chimney Effect in Stack Ventilation

The article is focused on the airflow in a ventilation system in a building. The work examines the methods which enhance the chimney effect. In this paper, three cases with different chimneys were analyzed for the full-scale experiment. These cases were characterized by different geometrical and material parameters, leading to differences in the intensity of the ventilation airflow. The common denominator of the cases was the room with the air inlet and outlet to the ventilation system. The differences between the experimental cases concerned the chimney canal itself, and more precisely its part protruding above the roof slope. The first experimental case concerned a ventilation canal made in a traditional way, from solid ceramic brick. The second experimental case concerned the part that led out above the roof slope with a transparent barrier, called a solar chimney. In the third experimental case, a rotary type of chimney cap was installed on the chimney to improve the efficiency of stack ventilation. All these cases were used to determine the performance of natural ventilation—Air Change per Hour (CH). Additionally, the paper presents a technical and economic comparison of the solutions used.