Avaliação da qualidade do ar no interior de habitações de interesse social em Maceió-AL por meio de simulação computacional

Abstract

The presence of microorganisms and polluting gases compromises air quality, causing harm to health. Ensuring air quality in buildings is a priority to preserve the health and comfort of occupants. Natural ventilation helps to remove suspended particles in the air, as well as humidity and heat in the internal environment, also contributing to thermal comfort. This work aims to evaluate air Exchange rates in single-family homes located in Maceió-AL, considering 4 different building orientations, for analysing indoor air quality parameters. The dwelling studied belongs to Residencial Jardim das Orquídeas, located in the Cidade Universitária neighborhood. Air exchange simulations of a computational model of the residence were carried out using the EnergyPlus v program. 9.6 and the Euclid plugin to model the geometry in the SketchUp program, considering the range of 26m³/h to 34m³/h as minimum and recommended parameters for air exchange, respectively, as defined by Mesquita et al. (1977) for low-income apartment rooms. The results indicated the predominance of low air exchange rates throughout the year, varying according to the opening patterns of the windows specified for each environment. The double bedroom (NE and SE oriented house) and the kitchen (SW and NO oriented house) obtained the best results, with renovation rates exceeding 34m³/h in some months of the year. The southeast oriented house was the most favorable, with the four rooms reaching the minimum number of air exchanges. Finally, the importance of air quality in residential environments is highlighted, especially in low income housing, knowing that in the results all simulated units spent at least 80% of the hours of the year with air renewal rates lower than the recommended minimum.