53. Skylight Optimization Design Based on the Interior Ventilation in the Office Building in Cold Region

The severe climate in cold regions imposes strict requirements with respect to building energy savings and challenges indoor environmental comfort levels. The atrium has an important influence on indoor ventilation performance, which is a function of both wind pressure action and thermal pressure action. Specifically, skylights are a significant element for atrium ventilation and their ability to affect atrium ventilation performance and their optimization design strategies need to be studied. This chapter uses Ansys-Airpak ventilation simulation software to explore the skylight’s influence on natural ventilation with its three variables: plane position, distribution pattern, and skylight height. Through the simulation, the research leads to three conclusions: (1) skylight outlets should be set on the side behind the wind direction, which is useful for air flow because of the wind pressure; (2) outlets should be set around the skylight uniformly to accelerate the air exchange rate; and (3) the skylight height design should be combined with atrium size and outlet location. Overall, skylights have a significant influence on atrium ventilation performance and should be designed carefully to reduce energy consumption and increase the indoor environmental comfort level.