IMPROVING NATURAL VENTILATION USING PASSIVE DESIGN STRATEGIES IN THE DESIGN OF A PALM OIL PROCESSING FACTORY IN ABIA STATE

Abstract Natural ventilation is a passive design strategy that can be used to improve the thermal comfort and indoor air quality of buildings in tropical climates. This paper investigates the potential for improving natural ventilation in palm oil production factories in Abia State, Nigeria. A case study of a typical palm oil production factory in Abia State was conducted. The factory was found to have poor natural ventilation, with high indoor temperatures and humidity levels. This was due to a number of factors, including the lack of windows and vents, the use of solid walls, and the presence of heatgenerating machinery. A number of passive design strategies were identified that could be used to improve natural ventilation in the factory. These included: • Increasing the window-to-wall ratio • Orienting the windows to catch the prevailing winds • Using high-level vents to allow hot air to escape • Using thermal mass to store heat and release it slowly at night • Creating cross-ventilation to encourage airflow through the building The potential impact of these strategies on the indoor thermal comfort and indoor air quality of the factory was evaluated using a computer simulation. The results showed that the strategies could lead to a significant reduction in indoor temperature and humidity levels, and an improvement in indoor air quality. The paper concludes that passive design strategies can be used to improve natural ventilation in palm oil production factories in Abia State, Nigeria. This can lead to a number of benefits, including improved thermal comfort, indoor air quality, and energy savings. Keywords: natural ventilation, passive design, palm oil production factory, Abia State, Nigeria