Ramos, João António EstevesMartinho, Nuno A. G.Pitarma, Rui A.Carvalho, Maria da Graça2009-08-142009-08-142002-09RAMOS, J. A. E. e outros - Three-dimensional natural convection in rooms connected to the outside through large openings. In: 8th International Conference on Air Distribution in Rooms. Copenhagen: [s.n.], 2002. pp. 609-612-http://hdl.handle.net/10400.8/105The growing interest in the study of natural convection in geometrically complex enclosures with restricted communication has been stimulated by applications involving energy-efficient passive-solar buildings, natural convection cooling of electronic equipment and room heating and ventilation. Airflow through doorways, windows and other large openings are significant ways in which air, pollutants and thermal energy are transferred from one zone of a building to another or to outside. The present paper describes a numerical method for analysing three-dimensional natural convection in rooms connected to the outside through large openings. The calculations made use of a Computational Fluid Dynamics (CDF) procedure taking into account the effects of buoyancy, heat sources, thermal radiation heat transfer and air flow turbulence. The CDF predictions agree with the experimentally observed features of the flow field, including the vertical air temperature stratification, with a reasonable degree of accuracy.engNatural convectionThermal confortVentilationconference object