2021-2024

The research focused on the integration of mechanical ventilation systems with heat recovery in classrooms within the Italian school building stock. Experimental monitoring of naturally ventilated classrooms was carried out to analyse the relationships between window opening, air change rates, and the resulting indoor environmental conditions.

A review of recurring mechanical ventilation distribution layouts was conducted to identify system solutions compatible with the different geometric characteristics of classrooms. Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations were used to compare different air supply and extract configurations and identify the most effective solutions for air renewal while minimising stagnant zones.

A set of dynamic energy simulations was also performed to estimate the potential energy benefits at the national scale, taking into account different climatic conditions and the variety of building construction types.