Introducing A Novel Wind-Driven Passive Cooling Strategy for Polar Shelters: Backed By Flow Dynamics and İrreversibility Mapping with Exergy Analysis

Abstract

This study presents a novel wind-driven passive cooling strategy tailored for off-grid polar shelters, incorporating an inline-through-flow Phase Change Material (PCM) chamber within the ventilation pathway. Unlike conventional buoyancy-driven or sealed systems, the proposed configuration actively harnesses wind-induced pressure differentials to sustain cross-ventilation, while simultaneously enabling latent thermal buffering. A comprehensive CFD-based thermofluid and exergy analysis was conducted to evaluate temperature distribution, flow field dynamics, entropy generation, and exergy destruction rates across multiple PCM duct configurations and shelter layouts. Simulation results demonstrated that the proposed system achieved a peak indoor temperature reduction of up to 3.5 °C during high solar gain periods and maintained operative temperatures within the ASHRAE comfort band for 2190 additional hours per year (60 % longer) compared with conventional designs. Seasonal simulations covering Polar Summer, Autumn Transition, Polar Winter, and Late Polar Winter revealed that even under extreme low-temperature conditions without active heating, occupant-level temperatures of ≥ 19.5 °C were maintained through latent heat release, aerodynamic ventilation throttling, and buoyancy-assisted thermal stratification. A detailed performance comparison with recent studies for PCM-based passive or hybrid cooling strategies, showed that the proposed system uniquely integrates passive ventilation control with inline PCM-based thermal regulation, delivering year-round adaptability and wind resilience. An economic feasibility assessment demonstrated an internal rate of return of 44.3 % and a 3.6-year payback period, with significant cost-effectiveness in remote polar regions due to high latent heat capacity, passive PCM regeneration, and modular, low-maintenance design. Moreover, the inline PCM configuration enabled full melting within the first 100 h of operation, with latent heat absorption stabilizing indoor thermal conditions across seasonal cycles. Moreover, exergy destruction rate was minimized to ∼ 92 W, and entropy generation hotspots were significantly mitigated through optimized vortex structures. The design also ensured a ventilation rate exceeding 2.0 ACH at wind speeds as low as 1.5 m/s, without requiring mechanical components. The findings confirm the effectiveness of the proposed configuration in delivering zero-energy, high-performance thermal comfort under extreme conditions. This work provides a scalable and maintenance-free solution for climate-resilient shelter design in polar and other off-grid environments.