A Case Study of Air Infiltration for Highly Airtight Buildings under the Typical Meteorological Conditions of China

Abstract

Passive house standard buildings (PHSBs), characterized by exceptional airtightness, present a promising technology for attaining carbon neutrality by 2060. The level of building airtightness is closely associated with air infiltration, which significantly impacts building energy consumption. However, there has been insufficient analysis of air infiltration in highly airtight buildings across diverse climatic regions. The present study involves the numerical simulation of the air infiltration rate (AIR) in an airtight building under varying design conditions during winter and summer, followed by a comprehensive analysis of the corresponding energy demand associated with air infiltration. The simulation results indicate that the building’s AIR ranges from 125 to 423 m3/h, with an average of 189 m3/h under summer design conditions, and from 40 to 344 m3/h, with an average of 198 m3/h under winter design conditions. The statistical findings demonstrate distinct distribution patterns for AIR and energy demand across various climatic regions, exhibiting significant variations in values. The discussion emphasizes the substantial heating load associated with air infiltration, even at a building airtightness level of 0.5 h−1, highlighting the necessity of considering its impact in the design of highly airtight buildings. Furthermore, it is recommended to establish specific airtightness limits for buildings in different climatic regions of China. This study offers theoretical guidance for the airtightness design of highly airtight buildings.