CFD Modelling of Naturally Ventilated Double Skin Façades: Comparisons among 2D and 3D Models

Nowadays, Double Skin Façades (DSFs) are popular technologies adopted for both new and existing buildings. Since their introduction, new configurations and materials started to be tested to improve the DSF energy behaviour and function. Such complex technologies, able to improve comfort conditions of occupied spaces and decrease building energy requirement, are strictly related to the design phase that should be carefully evaluated. The correct prediction of air fluxes inside the DSF cavity, in fact, is highly influenced by the adopted analysis hypothesis and settings. Moreover, the absence of multiple experimental campaigns and empirical validations in the sector represents the major concerns for scientists and researchers. Among the possible numerical approaches for studying DSFs, Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) analyses confirm to be the most suitable solution. The CFD modelling activity presented in this paper intends to compare various Double Façade configurations by adopting bi- and three-dimensional domains and different turbulence models. According to the obtained results, 2D simulations can predict airflows inside and around the DSF channel with good approximation and reasonable computational effort. Moreover, the velocity profiles estimated by the turbulence formulations are in good accordance, underling only a few slight variations in proximity to the DSF layers.