Wind-Based Energy-Plus Aerodynamic Building Design for the City of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
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Date
2023-05-01
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Alternative energy is becoming increasingly important in today's society since it is less detrimental and damaging to the environment than fossil fuels. Wind energy, a viable renewable energy source in Ethiopia, has great potential, but its utilization in Addis Ababa's buildings is restricted, and the present in frastructure is failing to satisfy rising electrical demand owing to frequent outages and significant power distribution losses. This paper presents a study on the design of energy-plus aerodynamic buildings in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The objectives of the study were to: (1) identify potential sites for wind-based energy-plus buildings; (2) carve out the form of buildings responding to wind energy harvesting; and (3) design aerodynamic buildings. The study utilized primary and
secondary data from various sources, including NASA, Map Server Ethiopia, EnergyPlus, the USGS Satellite Map, and the Global Wind Atlas. The GIS-based MCDM method is used to locate wind energy sites, while software-based CFD simulation optimizes the aerodynamic form of buildings for wind-based wind energy harvesting. Addis Ababa city has 80% potential for wind energy harvesting, with high wind speed areas, including the project site located in the main city center, suitable for wind-based energy-plus buildings. In this study, the wind-based energy-plus aerodynamic was designed to minimize drag and maximize lift, resulting in a significant reduction in energy consumption and maximization of wind energy harvesting. Finally, the optimized aerodynamic building form reduces wind force by 27.64% and can generate 2,776.65 MW per year by integrating small-scale wind turbines, demonstrating its potential for wind energy integration. This study contributes to showcase Addis Ababa's transition towards renewable energy by identifying potential energy sources in built environments and designing high-rise buildings with wind-based power generation concepts.
Keywords: Form Optimization, Aerodynamics, Wind Energy, Multi-Criteria Decision
Making