Optimization of the HVAC systems in the large buildings of the "Città dello Sport" in Rome, using CFD simulation

Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) techniques are more and more widely used in the studies of the natural and forced air driving forces from the human scale to the urban context, in order to simulate and investigate the quality of the environment where people live. Occupancy issues in newly developed sports stadia and leisure complexes are becoming very important, for reasons associated with occupant comfort, health and safety and in terms of capital cost and energy consumption. The use Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) techniques is a cost effective and innovative method to assist in the engineering design process to achieve the desired outcomes. This study investigates numerically the heat and the mass transfer occurring in a public building for large swimming and basket contest designed by Santiago Calatrava for the “Città dello Sport” in Rome. The simulated heat, cooling and ventilation system defines three different climatic zones in order to minimize the energy consumption: the swimming pool zone and the playground where optimal condition for the athletes have to be assumed; the stands where the people watching the event is placed; the huge volume under the roofing where particular climate conditions aren’t required. The simulated system provides a particular ventilation system using a controlled airflow to heat and cool the mass of the stands, which afterwards operates directly in the zone occupied by the spectators. Air velocity, temperature and relative humidity in the indoor space of the building, in condition of maximum external and internal thermal loads are simulated, in order to evaluate suggested value for the designing process of the HVAC system.