High Energy Wind Dissipation Adjacent Buildings

Abstract

An arrangement is provided for dissipating high energy winds along the sides and at the base of skyscrapers. The winds caused by increased dynamic pressure at the top of the building move downwardly along the face of the building and are reversed in direction by an arcuate shaped deflector extending horizontally along the side of the building. The deflector is pivotally attached at the wind receiving edge adjacent the building and the outer or discharge edge may be supported by a shock absorber to accommodate wind gusts. The discharge edge of the curved deflector plate releases the air at substantially 45.degree. and a stilling area of energy dissipation or turbulence is formed in the space outside the perimeter of the building. An elongated, self-sustaining vortex is formed above the deflector; the vortex seeking a path of egress by spiralling action at the ends of the deflector and passing around the sides of the building into stilling areas. Preferably, the deflector is positioned just above ground floor level and the high velocity laminar flow at the outer perimeter of the vortex serves to entrain air along the side of the first story to further produce a favorable area of calm around the building. Pivotal hatch means is provided at selected locations along the deflector plate to provide ventilation on relatively calm days at the ground floor level and extensible deflector-spoiler panel means may be provided at the discharge edge to tighten the vortex, increase turbulence in the outer stilling area and decrease entrainment along the first story face.

Parent Case Text

This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 134,621, filed Apr. 16, 1971, now abandoned.

Description

The present invention relates to buildings and, more particularly, to interception and dissipation of high energy winds along the windward side of multi-story buildings to prevent disrupting winds blowing around the base.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

As the density of occupation of our cities and suburbs increases, and with improved structural methods and systems for building multi-story buildings, taller and wider skyscrapers than ever before are being erected. These larger buildings or skyscrapers have the advantage of providing space for a large number of people, and at the same time, conserving the precious land on which they are built. This allows the buildings to be surrounded by open plazas and much lower structures, thus providing the occupants of the buildings with desirable open space to enjoy the out-of-doors.

However, as these buildings with surrounding open spaces have begun to be erected, it has been found that they all, particularly those situated in windy areas, suffer from a phenomenom, known in the art as the "Monroe effect". The phenomenom occurs because winds blow with greater energy at the elevated height adjacent the top of the building than at the bottom (as every young kite flier knows). The lower energy or velocity level adjacent the ground is, of course, caused by the resistance encountered by the wind and the resultant dissipation of its energy as it is passing around and over objects and the ground itself. The high energy winds thus hit the top of the building and create pressures containing an increased dynamic pressure factor and these pressures then tend to travel down the face of the building in the form of downdrafts seeking the lower pressure level at the base. Hitting the bottom, or the ground, these downdrafts create extremely high velocity winds blowing around and away from the building.

The taller and wider the isolated skyscraper is, the more high energy winds are caught and consequently the stronger the winds become at the bottom of the structure. For example, at the bottom of a fifty story structure, such as the Prudential Center in Boston, Massachusetts, the wind speeds are often twice the normal ground-level winds due to the Monroe effect. The high and often gusting winds makes approaching the buildings at entrance or ground level annoying, if not outright dangerous. Pedestrians are particularly susceptible from such annoying inconveniences as having hats and papers blow away, hairdos mussed, skirts lifted and being generally tossed about on even the calmest of days. But when the prevailing winds are high, bedlam results with people being thrown to the ground or into the path of vehicular traffic resulting in substantial bodily injury in many cases. In addition, business and pleasure around the buildings is generally disrupted by the high energy winds causing excessive blowing of fountains and prohibiting the use of the open air arcades, where people working in the buildings could otherwise shop, relax and enjoy the out-of-doors.

On top of this, when a major storm hits, the effect is disastrous and evacuation of the area is required. The drafts or gales coming off the buildings have been known to knock over trailer trucks, push small automobiles sideways in traffic and literally to tear off the doors of cars or buildings that happen to be opened at the moment a gust arrives.

To date, architects and engineers have not been able to successfully solve the Monroe effect problem. Most efforts have been directed to construction of the buildings with nonrectangular, and thus reduced floor space so as to allow easier flow of the air around the sides of buildings, such as by making the buildings round, or with a narrow, face pointed in the direction of the prevailing winds. Other efforts have been directed to simply arranging surrounding smaller structures, trees and fences so as to dissipate the energy and thus minimize the undesirable wind effects. However, it is clear that these solutions are either severe compromises in the shape of the building or merely stop-gap measures with low efficiency potential. The prior art attempts do not attack head-on the problem of dissipation of the energy and controlled release of the air so as to allow full use of large buildings with surrounding open areas.

Accordingly, it is one object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for overcoming the problem by dissipation and controlled release of the high energy airflow along the face and at the base of a skyscraper structure.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an arrangement for dissipating high energy winds resulting from the Monroe effect in open areas around the base of large multi-story buildings.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for reversing the high energy airflow along the face of the building and directing the same outwardly away from the building for dissipation and providing an area of relative calm at the ground level on even the windest of days.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide wind dissipation for multi-story buildings wherein the high energy downdraft moving along the face of the building is deflected outwardly and upwardly, the energy dissipated by eddy current and vortex effects, and the air released to stilling areas above the entrance level and along the sides to the building.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Briefly, in accordance with the present invention the high energy or high velocity airflow along the face of a building in the downward direction caused by the Monroe effect is intercepted by an elongated wind deflector means extending substantially horizontally along the side of the building and above the ground or entrance level. The deflector at the inner edge merges smoothly with the face of the building and comprises a substantially arcuate plate that causes a smooth reversal of the airflow. The discharge or outer edge of the plate preferably extends upwardly at a 45.degree. angle to direct the high velocity airflow outwardly and upwardly to best clear the entrance level. After leaving the deflector, the airflow intercepts or blocks downcoming winds spaced further out from the building to keep these from reaching the ground level. The airflow also encounters the incoming natural winds at the lower levels. The mixing of these varied and opposed wind forces causes eddy currents which rapidly dissipate the high energy and stills the air along the full windward side(s) of the building.

The energy is also dissipated by the self-sustaining vortex action formed above the deflector. The air in a lowered energy state from the vortex forms spiral escape routes around the sides of the building that form further stilling areas. Because of the large vortex action occurring adjacent the side of the building and in the area above the deflector, the highest velocity wind approaching the building at the very top is forced upwardly and over the top by the increased pressure of the outer vortex area, further adding to the efficiency of the action. Boundary layer air of the laminar flow leaving the outer edge of the deflector causes entrainment of the natural wind along the face of the entrance level or first story and directs it upwardly toward the top of the building. This upflow further induces an area of calm around the building through counteracting the forces of natural winds arriving at the first floor level.

If desired and the additional expense can be justified, deflectors may be placed in accordance with the invention at other levels along the face of the building, and in any selected number. Such multiple deflectors may be dictated by conditions at any particular location, such as limitations as to size of the deflector means, the intensity of the prevailing winds and aesthetic or architectual values.

Preferably, the deflector means is formed of an arcuate plate extending horizontally along the length of the side(s) of the building and sufficiently wide to collect the high energy downdraft layer of air. The size of the deflector or deflectors is proportional to the energy level of the wind and the surface area of the side of the building from which wind is collected. The arcuate plate is mounted on a structural base of cross members which is, in turn, pivotally mounted at the inner or receiving edge of the deflector. At the outer or discharge edge, a shock absorber in the form of a fluid cylinder is utilized for support in order to absorb the energy of wind gusts. The shock absorber may be housed in a vertical supporting column. The deflector means is preferably positioned just above the entrance level around the full periphery, although the deflector may be incorporated at other levels, as mentioned, and only on the prevailing wind side at some locations, if desired.

A pivotal hatch may be provided at selected locations along the deflectors to provide a diversion of a portion of the airflow to ventilate the entrance level, especially on hot sultry days when the wind is at a low energy level. Also, an extensible spoiler plate may be provided at the discharge edge of the deflectors to tighten the vortex and increase the eddy currents or turbulence in the energy dissipation or stilling areas.

The deflectors are preferably built into the roof of the entrance level, which level, of course, may be utilized as ground floor office space or as a commercial shopping area. Alternatively, the deflectors may be free standing and may project over the sidewalk and/or the street.

Still other objects and advantages of the present invention will become readily apparent to those skilled in this art from the following detailed description, wherein I have shown and described only the preferred embodiment of the invention, simply by way of illustration of the best mode contemplated by me of carrying out my invention. As will be realized, the invention is capable of other and different embodiments, and its several details are capable of modification in various obvious respects, all without departing from the invention. Accordingly, the drawings and description are to be regarded as illustrative in nature, and not as restrictive.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a building having a wind deflector means constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional, diagrammatic showing of the airflow pattern along one face of the building and the resulting vortex stilling area above the deflector and the outer eddy current stilling area;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along one side of the building of FIG. 1 showing the preferred embodiment of the deflector with possible attachments; and

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional diagrammatic showing like that of FIG. 2 except with a vertically-spaced, multideflector system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference now to FIG. 1 of the drawing, there is shown a building B typical of the type to which the principles of the apparatus and method of the present invention may be applied. The building B is typically a high-rise, multi-story building or skyscraper, such as Boston's Prudential Center, Chicago's John Hancock Center or San Francisco's Bank of America building. The skyscraper is typically 50 to 100 stories high and covering a normal city block or more at its base with surrounding open space or low structures covering several additional blocks. A building of this size is particularly susceptible to the Monroe effect, since the side faces(s) in the direction of the prevailing winds has sufficient surface area to collect and prevent the air from passing freely around the building and thus causing a downdraft movement of air with high dynamic pressure and velocity moving toward the base of the building. To put it another way, the differential velocity between the winds at the top and at the bottom causes a dynamic pressure differential to exist vertically along planar face F of the building B, and the net result is the high velocity wind coming off the face F at the bottom and blowing outwardly, away and around the building. It should be noted that while the buildings mentioned are typical of those experiencing the problem for which my inventive concept is particularly adapted to alleviate, the only requirement of the building is that it be sufficiently high and sufficiently wide for a given energy level of the natural winds, to create the Monroe effect pressure differential and thus the objectionable high velocity winds at the base.

In accordance with the preferred embodiment of the invention, the building B is provided with a peripheral wind deflector assembly, generally designated by the reference numeral 10 and including a plurality of individual, arcuate shaped deflectors 11, 12, 13, 14 corresponding to the four sides of the building B. Preferably, the number of deflectors 11-14 corresponds to the number of sides to the building B, although it is to be understood that in certain cases where the prevailing winds are regular, for example, only those sides of the building receiving the winds need have a deflector installed. Furthermore, the deflector assembly 10 is horizontal, preferably positioned just above the first story height of the building so that it is effective to receive substantially all of the high velocity downdraft winds. As shown in FIG. 1, the deflectors 11-14 may be positioned on the roof of first story 15, or in the alternative, may extend out over open space, such as over sidewalk 16. Depending upon the width along the length of the deflector needed to properly accommodate the winds of the building, the deflectors 11-14 could, of course, be further extended over the adjacent street or court yard. Generally, the length and width of the elongated deflectors 11-14 are determined in each instance on a custom basis depending upon the size of the building and the energy level of the winds. It is estimated that deflectors should be approximately 10 - 90 feet in width and should extend along the full length of the face F to properly intercept the downdraft.

As shown in FIG. 1, the building B with the deflector assembly 10 of the present invention thus has a first story level that may be utilized as an exposed entrance E to the building. To explain, the horizontally arriving natural winds, designated by the flow arrows a.sub.1, are received by face F of the building and are turned to flow downwardly due to the dynamic pressure differential, as indicated by the turn flow arrows a.sub.2. As the air flows down along the substantially planar face F, the pressure of the layer of air contiguous with the building is further increased by the pushing force of each successive vertical increment of wind so that upon arriving at the bottom the dynamic pressure, and thus the energy and velocity level of the flow is substantial. This high energy airflow is intercepted by the deflector assembly 10 and turned through a substantial reversal of direction, as noted by the flow arrows a.sub.3. The air flow is directed outwardly and upwardly (see flow arrows a.sub.4), and a self-sustaining vortex action is thus generated as the airflow is next turned inwardly (flow arrows a.sub.5) by the lower naturally arriving winds a.sub.1. The higher the prevailing winds a.sub.1 , the tighter the vortex is maintained adjacent the building and above the deflectors. The winds a.sub.1, are thus to a degree self-sustaining of the vortex action although all along the energy of the wind is being dissipated by the vortex action.

The deflectors 11-14 are substantially identical so that only one, deflector 11, needs to be discussed in detail. Thus, the deflector 11 merges gradually with the face F at the receiving edge, designated by the reference numeral 20, and gradually changes the course of direction of the wind until discharge edge 21 is reached. Preferably, angle .theta. at the point of discharge is approximately 45.degree. so that the wind is directed not only outwardly away from the entrance level or first story 15 of the building, but also upwardly away therefrom, to further insure an area of calm around the building. The above action may be viewed in FIG. 2.

The above ground vortex action of the airflow (flow arrows a.sub.2 a.sub.3, a.sub.4, a.sub.5) serves in a very advantageous manner to dissipate the wind energy that would otherwise be released to disrupt the area around the base of the building. Because of the substantial size of the vortex, the energy dissipated is large and due to the fact that it is maintained above the street level (see FIG. 2), an area of calm is experienced around the building at the entrance level, even on the windiest of days. The vortex action splits in the middle of deflector 11 and tends to turn or slip around the corners of the building assisted by winds a.sub.1 arriving at that level. Two stilling areas S.sub.1, S.sub.2 of continuing vortex spirals are thus formed along the sides (FIG. 1) for further energy dissipation. In the embodiment shown, these spirals are maintained above the entrance level by the deflectors 12, 14, respectively, and are constantly bringing the energy level of the airflow down to lower levels. The spiral stilling areas S.sub.1, S.sub.2 over the deflectors 12, 14 are deflected upwardly and away for a final dissipation of the energy spaced from the building perimeter.

It should be noted that the diverging vortex spirals are, in addition to being directed in their travel along the sides of the building by the prevailing winds a.sub.1, split in the first instance by the natural buildup of pressure at the midpoint of the elongated vortex (along the length of the deflector 11) and encouraged to seek these lower pressure areas along the sides. In other words, as the vortex a.sub.2 - a.sub.5 is sustained along the face F of the building, the pressure of the air is greater at the mid-point than along the sides where no blocking of the winds is taking place, so that the vortex naturally splits and moves outwardly in opposite directions and around the corners (note FIG. 1).

The sustained vortex a.sub.2- a.sub.5 also tends to directly counteract the higher dynamic pressures at the top caused by the prevailing winds a.sub.1. This counteraction forces the highest velocity and highest energy winds a.sub. o over the top of the building. In other words, the setting up of the vortex action actually alleviates, to some degree, the pressure differential between the top of the building and the first story or entrance level so that in effect less energy needs to be dissipated than would otherwise be required. Furthermore, downcomer wind spaced further outwardly from the face F and even outwardly from discharge edge of the deflector 11 is intercepted or blocked from reaching the ground level by the upturning airflow a.sub.3, a.sub.4, a.sub.5.

Another and extremely important area of dissipation of energy takes place in still another manner outside the perimeter of the building, and is generally designated in FIG. 2, as a third stilling area S.sub.3 which operates on the principle of eddy current effect. To explain, as the high velocity airflow a.sub.3 is released from the deflector 11 at discharge edge 21, the boundary layer of the airflow is no longer protected and is immediately and rapidly slowed down by the resistance of the adjacent ambient air and the incoming wind a.sub.1. The interaction of the wind forces causes a turbulence or eddy current effect capable of dissipating large amounts of energy. Thus, the lower prevailing winds a.sub.1 arriving at the building not only serve to self-sustain and tighten the vortex a.sub.2 - a.sub.5, but also serve to imping on the outer boundary layer of the flow a.sub.3, a.sub.4 and generate therefrom energy dissipating eddy currents. Of course, as is well known, as the eddy currents and turbulence is formed, the disruption tends to feed on itself so that still further turbulence is caused and additional energy is dissipated.

Before the stilling area S.sub.3 is entered by the laminar airflow a.sub.3 leaving the discharge edge 21, another advantageous phenomenom occurs with the invention. That is, the low pressure air in the boundary layer of the laminar flow a.sub.3 serves to entrain the natural winds a.sub.1 arriving at the entrance level itself and this entrainment thus causes the winds in this region to be turned upwardly in a counteracting effect, as noted by the flow arrows a.sub.1 (FIG. 2). In many cases, the winds at ground level, although they are much less than the winds at higher elevations, can be substantial and this additional effect of entraining the air by the high velocity flow a.sub.3 further insures an area of maximum calm around the building. The building with the present invention can thus be provided with open court yards, sidewalks and streets on all sides that may be enjoyed by the tenants of the building and others without being tossed about by the high winds and gales, previously associated with the Monroe effect.

The preferred embodiment of each of the deflectors 11-14 is formed, as shown in FIG. 3, of an arcuate plate 30 mounted on a framework of transverse support members 31. The ends of the elongated plates 30 are matched at their ends, that is, at the corners of the building B, along a 45.degree. miter, as shown in FIG. 1. It should be understood that the plates 30 can be separate, in which instance there would be a small space at the miter joint, or the plates could be resiliently connected, if desired. It is contemplated that the plate 30, as well as the support members 31, are fabricated of weather-resistant or protected steel to give the requisite strength to the assembly.

In order to absorb the shock of the high velocity winds, and especially to accommodate gusts that create sudden increases in the downward force, the support members 31 are mounted along the receiving edge of the plate 30 by pivot 32 suitably attached to the framework of the building B. As pointed out above, the receiving edge 20 merges smoothy with the face F of the building so as to provide a gradual turning of the airflow.

Each of the transverse support members 31 are supported at their outer edge by a suitable shock absorber, preferably in the form of a fluid cylinder 35 having a piston 36 normally biased in an upward direction by a compression spring 37. The fluid cylinder shock absorber may be made in any well known manner, such as by including a restricted flow orifice in the piston 36. Thus, the downward movement of the deflector 11 and the rebound is restricted to a relatively slow rate. Advantageously, the cylinders 35 are hidden from view in columns 40 that support the overhang 41 that may be employed above the entrance level.

Attachments to the deflectors 11-14 to provide for additional functional operation and additional efficiency, are also shown in FIG. 3. The first attachment comprises a hatch 45 that when opened to the dotted line position scoops the high velocity airflow and directs the same downwardly through the exposed opening in the plate 30, and thence through passageway 46 in the overhang 41. This allows controlled cooling quantities of air to be distributed over the entrance E during the sultry summer days when the wind is at a relatively low level. The breeze caused by the controlled diversion of air through the hatches 45, that may be provided in any selected number and location, greatly adds to the comfort of the pedestrians in the vicinity of the building. As shown, the hatch 45 may be operated in any simple manner, such as by a double acting, fluid cylinder C and operating linkage 47.

The second attachment for the deflector assembly 10 includes elongated vertical panel 50 that is mounted in a substantially vertical position adjacent the discharge edge of the deflector plate 30 and is extensible from a hidden lowered position to an operative raised position (see dotted line outline in FIG. 3). The panel 50 may include a plurality of apertures 51 formed therein to prevent excessive pressure being placed thereon and to induce a plurality of jets of air along the edge thereby generating greater turbulence and eddy current effect in the stilling area S.sub.3 (see FIG. 2). Additionally, the panel 50, that may extend along any desired length of the discharge edge 21, serves to deflect the laminar airflow a.sub.3 so that the downstream airflow a.sub.4 in the vortex is deflected inwardly toward the center, thus tightening the vortex. It is contemplated that the spoilerdeflector panel 50 would be extended to the operative position on days when additional energy dissipation is needed and/or when a tighter vortex is required by the prevailing wind conditions. Furthermore, the panel 50, since it interrupts the laminar flow along the discharge edge 21, reduces the amount of upturn given to the natural winds a.sub.1 arriving at the entrance level so that said panel could be used when a reduction in the turning of this wind is desired.

There are, of course, many modifications of the broad concept or preferred embodiment of the present invention. One such modification that might be found desirable is to utilize a plurality of smaller deflectors 60, 61 spaced vertically along the face f of the building B. These deflectors 60, 61 could be mounted for pivotal retracting movement into recesses in the face f (see dotted line position in FIG. 4) by a suitable actuating cylinder 62, and linkage and pivot member combination 63. Furthermore, the fluid cylinder 62 could be a double-acting pneumatic type, which when in the position to project the deflector 60 into the operative position allows shock absorbing compression above and below the piston to accommodate wind gusts. On any particular day, one or more levels of the deflectors 60 could be extended depending upon the energy level of the prevailing winds a.sub.1 arriving at the face f of the building. The vortex stilling areas S.sub.1, S.sub.2 and the eddy current stilling areas S.sub.3 (see FIG. 4) would occur for each of the individual deflectors and form separate energy dissipation means in this instance.

In view of the foregoing explanation, it is believed that the advantageous results of the present invention will be readily realized. The high pressure, high velocity winds blowing downwardly along the face F of a multi-story building B will be reversed in direction and prevented from reaching ground level. The energy of the winds is dissipated through vortex action, including spiral vortex action, in stilling areas S.sub.1, S.sub.2, as well as by eddy current effect in stilling area S.sub.3. The horizontally disposed deflectors are preferably fabricated of an arcuateshaped steel plate with transverse support members 31 resiliently supported to accommodate wind gusts. Attachments, such as the hatch 45 for deflecting cooling air and deflector-spoiler panel 50 for tightening the vortex and increasing turbulence in the stilling area S.sub.3, further add to the efficiency of the arrangement. Smaller, vertically spaced deflectors 60, 61 may be employed along the face f of the building, if desired.

In this disclosure, there is shown and described only the preferred embodiment of the invention, but as aforementioned, it is to be understood that the invention is capable of use in various other combinations and environment and is capable of changes or modifications within the scope of the inventive concept as expressed herein.

Claims

1. In combination with a multi-story building having an outside entrance level and entrance opening and sufficient height and width above said entrance level to turn horizontally arriving natural winds into high energy downdraft along the face of the building, elongated wind deflector means extending substantially horizontally along at least one side of said building, said deflector means extending outwardly away from said face above said entrance level a distance sufficient to intercept and confine in substantially controlled single path flow the high energy downdraft winds, said deflector means extending at least substantially the full length of the side and extending substantially beyond the entrance opening along the side, said deflector means substantially integrally extending from said building, the downstream and lateral edges being disposed so as to finally direct the controlled flow to a height at least above the deflector means, whereby to deflect said controlled flow away from said entrance level to allow dissipation of said energy by vortex and eddy current effect and release of the air substantially free of said entrance level, said deflector means comprising a means curved so as to be substantially arcuate in cross section to generate vortex flow, the receiving edge of said curved means extending so as to merge smoothy with the face of said building and the downstream edge extending upwardly away from the entrance level at an angle greater than approximately thirty

2. In the combination of claim 1 wherein said distance of extent of said deflector means outwardly from the building is at least greater than

3. In the combination of claim 1 wherein the deflector means includes multiple deflectors to extend substantially around the full perimeter of the building, the lateral edges of the adjacent deflectors along the sides merging together at the corners of the building, whereby controlled flow

4. In the combination of claim 1 wherein the downstream edge of said curved means extends upwardly at a substantially forty-five degree angle to

5. In the combination of claim 1 wherein said curved means comprises a plate and wherein is further provided means for supporting said plate, and shock absorber means interconnected with said support means to absorb

6. In the combination of claim 1 wherein said deflector means comprises a plurality of deflectors vertically spaced along the face of the building

7. In the combination of claim 1 wherein said deflector means is mounted

8. In the combination of claim 5 wherein the inner edge of said support means adjacent said building is pivotally mounted and said shock absorber

9. In the combination of claim 5 wherein said shock absorber means comprises a fluid cylinder mounted in a support column of said building.

10. In the combination of claim 1 wherein is further provided an opening in said deflector means, a hatch for covering said opening, and means for lifting said hatch to cause the airflow to be deflected through the opening and downwardly within the space at the entrance level to provide

11. In the combination of claim 1 wherein is further provided an extensible deflector-spoiler means adjacent the discharge edge of said deflector means to produce a tightened vortex and increased eddy current effect.

12. In the combination of claim 11 wherein said deflector-spoiler means comprises a substantially vertical panel having a plurality of apertures

13. The method of controlling wind at the entrance level of a multi-story building having an outside entrance level and entrance opening and sufficient height and width above said entrance level to turn horizontally arriving natural winds into high energy downdraft along at least one face and of at least one side of the building, the steps of receiving said natural winds along said face and allowing the same to turn and flow downwardly and deflecting said downdraft over a distance outward from the building sufficient to intercept and confine the high energy downdraft in a substantially controlled single path flow, the deflecting step forming said controlled flow occurring along at least substantially the full length of said one side of said building and extending substantially beyond the entrance opening along the side, the deflecting step being substantially complete at the side of the building and at said distance and along the lateral edges so as to finally direct substantially the full controlled flow to a height at least above said entrance level, whereby said controlled flow is directed away from said entrance level to allow dissipation of the energy by vortex and eddy current effect and release of

14. The method of claim 13 wherein is further provided the step of discharging the airflow deflected in an upward direction away from the

15. The method of claim 13 wherein the deflecting step is performed gradually in a substantially arcuate path from the receiving edge along the face of the building to the discharge edge spaced from the building.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein said discharging of the airflow occurs at an angle of greater than approximately thirty degrees with respect to a

17. The method of claim 13 wherein said deflecting and discharging occurs around the full perimeter of said building.