Performance of the Wind Catcher in Hot Dry Regions, Khartoum - Sudan

Abstract

The People of Sudan are faced with a growing problem with indoor climate conditions because of high outdoor temperature in a dry season that lasts for more than 7 months. The day temperature can reach up to 47 degrees in the dry season of summer. The Wind catchers are ventilation techniques for natural cooling. Wind catchers were been used for years by using the renewable energy of wind in several countries of hot-dry climates in the Middle East. Even so, it is never been used in Sudan. This paper aimed to examine the effect of the different criteria that effecting on the designs of the wind catchers and determines how they affect on the internal air temperature in Khartoum. The adding of water spray increases the relative humidity and decreases the air temperature inside the wind catcher. This old traditional technique could be merging with new building designs in Khartoum-Sudan to raise the green concept in the buildings that locate in the hot dry areas.