Sensation of draft at uncovered ankles for women exposed to displacement ventilation and underfloor air distribution systems

Air distribution systems inside a bus compartment are important for providing healthy and comfortable environment for passengers. Lack of ventilation inside the bus passenger compartment causes an increase level of air contaminants concentration. Particulate matters and carbon monoxide are indoor air contaminants which can affect the passenger’s health such as respiratory problem and lung cancer. This article reports the results of a CFD simulation on transport of carbon monoxide and particulate matter 1 inside a passenger compartment of a university’s shuttle bus. Fluent CFD software was used to develop a simplified three-dimensional model of the bus passenger compartment. Flow analysis was carried out using RNG k-e turbulent model for air flow, discrete phase and species transport for the air contaminants. Four variations of ventilation system namely two mixing ventilation types, combined mixing with displacement ventilation and combined mixing ventilation with underfloor air distribution was examined. The CFD simulation results show that the use of the combined mixing and displacement ventilation and also the combined mixing and underfloor ventilation types are capable of reducing the concentration of carbon monoxide and particulate matter 1 inside the bus passenger compartment by 81% and 54%, respectively.

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Energy Use Comparison of Air Distribution Systems Serving a Section of a School Building

Volume 7: Fluids and Heat Transfer, Parts A, B, C, and D ◽

10.1115/imece2012-88718 ◽

2012 ◽

Author(s):

Stillman Jordan ◽

Randall D. Manteufel

Keyword(s):

Total Energy ◽

Distribution System ◽

Energy Recovery ◽

Distribution Systems ◽

Energy Savings ◽

Ventilation System ◽

Space Distribution ◽

Air Distribution ◽

Displacement Ventilation ◽

Humid Climate

An optimal air distribution design accomplishes both comfort and ventilation requirements while consuming as little energy as possible. This paper analyzes four different air distribution systems and technologies including single duct variable air volume air handlers, chilled beam cooling systems, total energy recovery wheels, displacement ventilation, and dedicated outside air systems; in an effort to determine the best air distribution system for a representative section of a school in hot and humid climate. The effectiveness of the air distribution systems is evaluated by analyzing how the different technologies take advantage of the natural convective properties of air to create a comfortable environment for the occupied region of the space. Distribution effectiveness and energy consumption must be weighed against considerations such as system complexity and ease of operation. This paper compares several alternative air distribution systems to a baseline single inlet VAV system that is commonly used in new schools designed today. Calculations show that the total energy recovery wheels result in a 16% energy savings over the baseline air distribution system because of the large amount of outside air required in school buildings. Chilled beams are not well suited for schools because of the large amount of outside air required by the space and the sophisticated design and operation needed to prevent condensation from occurring at the chilled beam. The results show that the air distribution system that consumes the least amount of energy is a displacement ventilation system. The system also inherently promotes better indoor air quality as it allows air to naturally rise out and return out of the space with minimal mixing of contaminates that may be recirculated within the room for others to breath. The displacement ventilation system’s overall energy savings of 20% over the baseline is mainly attributed to its total energy recovery wheel and the system’s ability to drastically reduce the cooling load seen by the air cooled chiller by effectively ventilating spaces using less outside air.

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