This paper reports the development of a longitudinal hybrid windcatcher
(LHWC) to provide thermal comfort and healthy ventilation for basement
in warm humid climate. Two full-scaled computer models and a one-tenth
physical model were constructed. The computer simulation found that
outdoor wind speed of 1–5 m/s generated air velocities of 0.19–1.01 m/s
at the occupants’ zone when the inlet’s height was 1 m above the
surrounding roofs. Raising the inlet 3 m higher did not produce significant
difference air velocity at the occupants’ zone. The physical model
experiment outdoor found that 3 m/s wind induced 0.3 m/s air velocity
inside it. Meanwhile, with the absence of outdoor wind, the four small
exhaust fans could induce 0.05 m/s air velocity inside it. From the
computer simulation and physical model, it can be concluded that
outdoor wind air could induce physiological cooling and ventilation at the
basement. The array of exhaust fans could only induce very low air
velocity but it was considered able to ventilate the used air for the
basement.