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Performance of Windcatchers in Improving Indoor Air Quality, Thermal Comfort, and Energy Efficiency: A Review

Author

Listed:
  • Qingsong Ma

    (College of Architecture and Urban Planning, Qingdao University of Technology, Qingdao 266033, China)

  • Guangwei Qian

    (College of Architecture and Urban Planning, Qingdao University of Technology, Qingdao 266033, China)

  • Menghui Yu

    (College of Architecture and Urban Planning, Qingdao University of Technology, Qingdao 266033, China)

  • Lingrui Li

    (College of Architecture and Urban Planning, Qingdao University of Technology, Qingdao 266033, China)

  • Xindong Wei

    (School of Environmental and Municipal Engineering, Jilin Jianzhu University, Changchun 130118, China)

Abstract

The growing concerns over climate change and energy scarcity have highlighted the need for building energy conservation. Windcatchers, renowned for their effective ventilation capabilities, have emerged as a pivotal solution for saving energy and improving indoor thermal comfort. Serving as rooftop installations, windcatchers harness high-altitude airflow to provide fresh indoor air while expelling stale air. This comprehensive review encompasses over 96 studies published between 2000 and 2024, examining the performance of various types of windcatchers. The review reviews previous articles and concludes that using different types of wind catchers in hot and arid areas can increase indoor air velocity by about 10–50%, reduce building energy consumption by about 20–50%, and increase thermal comfort duration by about 25–50%. The article combines the perspectives of multiple disciplines such as architecture, environmental engineering, and sustainable design, providing a new perspective for the study of windcatchers. The article not only summarizes the design and performance of existing wind catchers, but also provides 13 suggestions for the design of wind capture towers, while also identifying areas for future research, such as combining wind capture machines with other passive cooling technologies and evaluating their performance under different climate and urban conditions.

Suggested Citation

  • Qingsong Ma & Guangwei Qian & Menghui Yu & Lingrui Li & Xindong Wei, 2024. "Performance of Windcatchers in Improving Indoor Air Quality, Thermal Comfort, and Energy Efficiency: A Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(20), pages 1-26, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:16:y:2024:i:20:p:9039-:d:1501910
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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    Cited by:

    1. Hanna Koshlak, 2025. "A Review of Earth-Air Heat Exchangers: From Fundamental Principles to Hybrid Systems with Renewable Energy Integration," Energies, MDPI, vol. 18(5), pages 1-35, February.

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