BIOMIMETIC COOLING SYSTEM PROJECT

Biomimetic Cooling System

This project presents a biomimetic passive cooling system inspired by termite mound architecture, developed at Shaggar Institute of Technology for Advanced Physics 101. Using the three mechanisms of heat transfer; radiation, conduction, and convection; the team designed and simulated a building cooling system that requires no mechanical air conditioning.

The simulation was built using Python along with physics and fluid dynamics libraries, enabling computation of stack-effect airflow velocities, natural convection rates, air density changes, and thermal gradients across the building model. Matplotlib was used to generate visual outputs of the simulation, including temperature distribution maps, airflow velocity profiles, and efficiency metrics across varying environmental conditions.

The team also developed an interactive simulation interface that models how changes in wall thickness, vent opening size, stack height, and outside temperature affect internal building climate in real time. Key design strategies included white reflective exterior coating to minimize radiation absorption, black interior wall surfaces to maximize infrared absorption from internal heat sources, minimized roof surface area modeled after the termite mound's tapered profile, and forced convection via power fans at the building base.

Results demonstrated that heat entry rates could be reduced from over 50% to under 10% through these combined strategies, with the natural stack effect enabling hot air evacuation through roof vents and cool air intake at the base. The project connects traditional Ethiopian architectural wisdom;  particularly termite mound-style dwellings used by the Dorze and Konso peoples of Southern Ethiopia ; with modern engineering simulation and sustainable building design.