Numerical analysis of local thermal comfort in a plan office under natural ventilation

2019 ◽  
Vol 29 (7) ◽  
pp. 972-986 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiang Deng ◽  
Zijing Tan
Keyword(s):  
Thermal Comfort ◽  
Natural Ventilation ◽  
Meteorological Data ◽  
Ventilation System ◽  
Comfort Level ◽  
Open Plan ◽  
Computational Fluid Dynamics Cfd ◽  
Internal Volume ◽  
Local Thermal Comfort ◽  
Primary Focus

The utilisation of automatic controlled natural wind in office buildings to maintain indoor thermal comfort has gained wide attention in recent years. Generally, it is not necessary to ensure that the whole internal volume of a building with large open spaces meets thermal comfort requirements. Primary focus should be on occupied areas. Accordingly, the local thermal comfort in an open-plan office with automatic controlled natural ventilation system was investigated numerically and experimentally. A computational fluid dynamics (CFD)-based method was presented for indoor environment and thermal comfort prediction. Long-term in situ measurement was conducted during summer and transition seasons. The meteorological data were collected by a mini weather station located on the roof of the target building. Meanwhile, indoor air velocity, temperature, turbulence intensity and wall temperatures were recorded locally. Three thermal comfort indices, i.e. thermal stratification represented by percentage dissatisfied (PD), the extended predicted mean vote (PMVe) and draught rate were employed to evaluate the thermal comfort level of the interested areas during natural ventilation period. The numerical results revealed a risk of local thermal dissatisfaction under low outdoor temperature and strong windy conditions.

IMPROVEMENT OF THERMAL COMFORT INSIDE A MOSQUE BUILDING

2016 ◽  
Vol 78 (8-4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Fawaz Ghaleb Noman ◽  
Nazri Kamsah ◽  
Haslinda Mohamed Kamar
Keyword(s):  
Thermal Comfort ◽  
Natural Ventilation ◽  
Ventilation System ◽  
Side Wall ◽  
The West ◽  
Cfd Simulations ◽  
Interior Space ◽  
Flow Simulations ◽  
Computational Fluid Dynamics Cfd ◽  
Cfd Method

A combined natural ventilation and mechanical fans are commonly used to cool the interior space inside the mosques in Malaysia. This article presents a study on thermal comfort in the Al-Jawahir Mosque, located in Johor Bahru, Malaysia. The objective is to assess the thermal comfort inside the mosque under the present ventilation system by determining the Predicted Mean Vote (PMV) and the Predicted Percentage of Dissatisfied (PPD). These values were then compared to the limits stated in the ASHRAE Standard-55. It was found that the PMV varies from 1.68 to 2.26 while the PPD varies from 61% to 87%. These show that the condition inside the mosque is quite warm. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) method was used to carry out flow simulations, to identify a suitable strategy to improve the thermal comfort inside the mosque. Results of CFD simulations show that installing four exhaust fans above the windows on the west-side wall of the mosque is the most effective strategy to improve the thermal comfort inside the mosque. Both the PMV and PPD values can potentially be reduced by more than 60%.

scholarly journals Evaluation of Thermal Comfort in the Traditional Bourgeoisie Houses in Beirut

2020 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. p1
Author(s):  
Jad Hammoud ◽  
Elise Abi Rached
Keyword(s):  
Thermal Comfort ◽  
Natural Ventilation ◽  
Heat Waves ◽  
Thermal Environment ◽  
Thermal Sensation ◽  
Residential Buildings ◽  
Ventilation System ◽  
Electricity Consumption ◽  
Comfort Level ◽  
Climate Zones

The increasing of energy demands has considerably increased the requirements for new and traditional buildings in different climate zones. Unprecedented heat waves have increased climate temperature, in particular, in moderate climate zones such as Lebanon. In Beirut, only the residential sector consumes 50% of total electricity consumption. HVAC (Heating, Ventilation and Air conditioning) systems are used to reach acceptable thermal comfort levels in the new residential buildings. In case of the traditional bourgeoisie houses in Beirut, there are no discussions about the use of HVAC systems to achieve the required thermal comfort level. Thus, to reach an acceptable thermal comfort level, these houses which already contain natural ventilation system shall adapt the modern thermal comfort requirements and thermal comfort strategies and technologies where their architectural features and existing materials condition the available solutions. In order to identify the best options within the possible intervention lines (envelopes, passive strategies, equipment, renewable energy systems), it is necessary to perceive the real performance of this type of houses. In this context, the article presents the results of the study of thermal performance and comfort in a three case studies located in Beirut. Detailed field data records collected are analyzed, with a view to identify the indoor thermal environment with respect to outdoor thermal environment in different seasons. Monitoring also included measurement of hygrothermal parameters and surveys of occupant thermal sensation.

The Application of Computer Simulations on one Commercial Building to Improve Energy Performance

2010 ◽  
Vol 171-172 ◽  
pp. 364-367
Author(s):  
Jia Fang Song
Keyword(s):  
Thermal Comfort ◽  
Energy Demand ◽  
Natural Ventilation ◽  
Ventilation System ◽  
Energy Performance ◽  
Comfort Level ◽  
Commercial Building ◽  
Simulation Tools ◽  
Output Performance ◽  
Support Software

This paper introduces the application of the TAS simulation support software to determine the energy performance in between a full mechanical ventilated building than that of a hybrid ventilated-- combined mechanical and naturally ventilated (atrium area to be naturally ventilated) building. A modeled three-storey commercial office building will be used as the main subject of this analysis. To determine the thermal comfort level of the central atrium, Parameters will be set in such a way that the full height windows will be 100% open. Results will be then tabularized to determine and analysis the output of the simulation. Recommendations will be then given based on the output performance of the building. In Tropics, it’s very difficult to achieve better thermal comfort in a naturally ventilated building. With the help of these simulation tools we can find whether natural ventilation is possible in this tropical climate in terms of thermal comfort, ventilation system and energy demand.

The Potential of Natural Ventilation in Single-Sided Ventilated Apartment to Improve Indoor Thermal Comfort and Air Quality

2011 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. F. Mohamed ◽  
M. Behnia ◽  
S. King ◽  
D. Prasad
Keyword(s):  
Air Quality ◽  
Thermal Comfort ◽  
Indoor Air Quality ◽  
Indoor Air ◽  
Natural Ventilation ◽  
Architectural Element ◽  
Flat Design ◽  
Effective Ventilation ◽  
Computational Fluid Dynamics Cfd ◽  
Ventilation Performance

Cross ventilation is a more effective ventilation strategy in comparison to single-sided ventilation. In the NSW Residential Flat Design Code1 (RFDC) the majority of apartments are required to adopt cross ventilation. However, in the case of studio and one-bedroom apartments, it is acknowledged that single-sided ventilation may prevail. Deep plan studio and one-bedroom apartments may achieve lower amenity of summer thermal comfort and indoor air quality where mechanical ventilation is not provided by air conditioning. Since compliance with the code may allow up to 40% of apartments in a development in Sydney to be single sided, it is important to understand the natural ventilation performance of such apartments. The objective of this paper is to investigate the natural ventilation potential in single-sided ventilated apartments to improve indoor air quality and thermal comfort. This investigation includes simulating various facade treatments involving multiple opening and balcony configurations. Balcony configurations are included in this study because, in Sydney, a balcony is a compulsory architectural element in any apartment building. The study uses computational fluid dynamics (CFD) software to simulate and predict the ventilation performance of each apartment configuration. This study suggests that properly configured balconies and openings can significantly improve indoor ventilation performance for enhanced indoor air quality and thermal comfort, by optimizing the available prevailing wind. However, it is important to note that inappropriately designed fac¸ade treatments also could diminish natural ventilation performance.

scholarly journals Living quarters. A natural balanced ventilation system. Simulations part 1

2018 ◽  
Vol 49 ◽  
pp. 00025 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tomasz Gaczoł
Keyword(s):  
Natural Ventilation ◽  
Residential Buildings ◽  
Ventilation System ◽  
Comfort Level ◽  
Test Results ◽  
Pressure System ◽  
Ansys Fluent ◽  
Short Supply ◽  
Air Exchange Rate ◽  
Exhaust Duct

In the following article the author proposes the solution for a properly functioning natural ventilation system based on the use of supply and exhaust ducts, i.e. by designing a natural balanced ventilation system. The paper is devoted to test results of air flow through natural ventilation supply-exhaust ducts in the rooms located on the lower floor of the building. The simulations conducted in ANSYS Fluent software relate to such issues as: pressure system inside the room and in the exhaust duct, distribution of air temperatures in the room, vector direction of airflow through supplyexhaust ducts and in the analysed room. Three types of solutions were selected for the tests: air inflow into the room through the air intake located at the basement level, air inflow through the window ventilator (although no longer used, this solution can be found in many existing residential buildings) and the natural ventilation system supported with the so-called “solar chimney”. All simulations were conducted with an outdoor temperature of +3 degrees C. The indoor temperature is + 20 degrees C, considered to be the minimum thermal comfort level. In the era of common building sealing, the presented ventilation system may be a good solution that guarantees proper functioning of natural ventilation. In all cases presented, it meets the normative regulations and requirements for the ventilation air stream and the air exchange rate in the room. The paper (first part) describes test results concerning the room located on the lower floor of the building, i.e. with a short supply duct and a 12-meter long exhaust duct.

scholarly journals The Comfort Map—A Possible Tool for Increasing Personal Comfort in Office Workplaces

Buildings ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 233
Author(s):  
Ágnes Borsos ◽  
Erzsébet Szeréna Zoltán ◽  
Éva Pozsgai ◽  
Balázs Cakó ◽  
Gabriella Medvegy ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Thermal Comfort ◽  
Environmental Quality ◽  
Considerable Effect ◽  
Comfort Level ◽  
Office Building ◽  
Indoor Environmental Quality ◽  
Visual Comfort ◽  
Acoustic Comfort ◽  
Open Plan ◽  
Office Employees

Previous studies have shown that indoor environmental quality (IEQ) parameters may have a considerable effect on office employees’ comfort, health and performance. Therefore, we initiated a research program to help occupants identify IEQ parameters they perceive as risk factors for their health in an office and enhance their comfort levels in an office environment. Since we assumed that office employees might have different indoor environmental quality expectations related to their work area and that these differences could be measured, our objective was to develop an office ‘comfort map’ based on occupants’ individual IEQ preferences. Thus, the goal of the comfort map would be to help tailor office spaces to their occupants’ health and comfort expectations. The comfort survey was developed to assess the comfort-related opinions of the occupants, based on IEQ parameters (visual comfort, acoustic comfort, air quality and thermal comfort) of a chosen open-plan office building. The survey also assessed the degree to which the given IEQ parameter was considered a health risk factor by occupants or caused a negative comfort sensation for them. The survey was filled in by 216 occupants. The answers were then analyzed with the help of a frequency table depicting relative frequency. The measurements of IEQ parameters took place in an open-plan office in the chosen office building (a Hungarian subsidiary’s office building belonging to an international company in Budapest). The occupants had different opinions regarding the perceived effects of the IEQ parameters on their health and comfort. Almost two-thirds of the respondents (64.8%) were dissatisfied with the adjustability of the noises and sounds IEQ parameter at their workstation. Furthermore, half of the respondents (50.1%) were dissatisfied with the adjustability of ventilation. Most of the occupants (45.8%) considered noises and sounds as the IEQ parameter that had a negative effect on their health. There were also IEQ differences between different areas of the office space. Based on these results, a comfort map was developed for the office. The comfort map contains information about the IEQ characteristics of each workstation by depicting the thermal comfort, carbon dioxide, visual comfort and acoustic comfort characteristics of a given workstation on a relative scale. Based on the thermal, air, acoustic, and lighting differences between the workstations, occupants can select their preferred workstations when a desk-sharing system works. Although still in its pilot phase, the comfort map could increase the chances for office employees to find the workstation best suited to their IEQ expectations. This could improve occupants’ overall comfort level, which could in turn enhance occupants’ productivity and mental as well as physical health.

scholarly journals Assessment of indoor thermal environment of Aceh house based on WBGT index

2021 ◽  
Vol 881 (1) ◽  
pp. 012023
Author(s):  
Muslimsyah ◽  
A Munir ◽  
Y Away ◽  
Abdullah ◽  
K Huda ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Thermal Comfort ◽  
Natural Ventilation ◽  
Thermal Environment ◽  
Ventilation System ◽  
Vernacular Architecture ◽  
Maximum Temperature ◽  
Cooling Process ◽  
Temperature Index ◽  
Indoor Thermal Environment ◽  
Temperature Ranges

Abstract Thermal comfort is one of the standard assessments of building thermal environment. Air movement is an important parameter for in a naturally ventilated to achieve thermal comfort by accelerating the evaporative cooling process on the human body. Aceh House has a standard of thermal comfort with a vernacular architecture with a natural ventilation system. This vernacular architectural building has a fairly high harmonization of the environment because it has undergone a process of adaptation. In this study, observations were made at the Original House (OH), the Adaptive Reuse House (ARH), and the Aceh Modified House (AMH). By using the method of assessing changes in environmental comfort, using Wet Bulb Temperature Index (WBGT) method, the minimum and maximum temperature ranges are 25°C and 30°C. In the WBGT thermal rating, AMH has the higher thermal and is followed by ARH and OH respectively. Thus, OH has lower thermal compared to other Aceh houses.

scholarly journals The Determination of Indoor Air Quality and Thermal Comfort with Different Space and Ventilation in the Teracce and Bungalow Houses

2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
pp. 774-793
Author(s):  
Nur Baitul Izati Rasli ◽  
Nor Azam Ramli ◽  
Mohd Rodzi Ismail
Keyword(s):  
Air Quality ◽  
Thermal Comfort ◽  
Indoor Air Quality ◽  
Indoor Air ◽  
Natural Ventilation ◽  
Ventilation System ◽  
Physical Parameters ◽  
Air Contaminants ◽  
Code Of Practice ◽  
Air Movement

This study observed the influence of different ventilation, indoor and outdoor activities (i.e., cooking, praying, sweeping, gathering, and exhaust from motorcycle) between a bungalow house (i.e., stack and cross ventilation applications) and a terrace house (i.e., one-sided ventilation application). We appraised the indoor air quality (IAQ) and thermal comfort. We monitored the indoor air contaminants (i.e., TVOC, CO, CH2O, PM10, O3, and CO2) and specific physical parameters (i.e., T, RH, and AS) for four days in the morning (i.e., 6.00 a.m. – 9.00 a.m.), morning-evening (i.e., 11.00 a.m. – 2.00 p.m.), and evening-night (i.e., 5.00 p.m. – 8.00 p.m.) sessions. The results found that cooking activities are the major activities that contributed to the increase of the TVOC, CO, PM10, O3, and CO2 concentrations in the bungalow and terrace houses. However, IAQ exceeded the Industry Code of Practice on IAQ (ICOP) limit in the terrace house. The bungalow house applies stack and cross ventilation, double area, and a long pathway of indoor air contaminants movements. Besides that, the results indicated that cooking activities worsen the ventilation system because CO2 exceeded the ICOP limit on Day 2 at 74.1 % (evening-night session) and Day 3 at 13.2 % (morning session), 11% (morning-evening session), and 50.1 % (evening-night session). Moreover, the combination of mechanical (i.e., opened all fans) and natural ventilation (i.e., opened all doors, windows, and fans) is the best application in the house without a cooking ventilator with lower indoor air movement. Furthermore, the temperatures exceeding the ICOP limit of 23-26 °C for both bungalow and terrace houses could be lower indoor air movement, which is less than the ICOP limit of 0.15-0.5 m/s and high outdoor air temperature. Therefore, it is prudent to have an efficient ventilation system for acceptable indoor air quality and thermal comfort in the family house.

Effective Mixed-Mode Ventilation System With Intermittent Personalized Ventilation for Improving Thermal Comfort in an Office Space

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elvire Katramiz ◽  
Nesreen Ghaddar ◽  
Kamel Ghali
Keyword(s):  
Thermal Comfort ◽  
Control Strategy ◽  
Mixed Mode ◽  
Natural Ventilation ◽  
Energy Savings ◽  
Ventilation System ◽  
Energy Performance ◽  
Building Performance Simulation ◽  
Office Space ◽  
Personalized Ventilation

Abstract The mixed-mode ventilation (MMV) system is an energy-friendly ventilation technique that combines natural ventilation (NV) with mechanical air conditioning (AC). It draws in fresh air when the outdoor conditions are favorable or activates otherwise the AC system during occupancy hours. To improve performance of the MMV system, it is proposed to integrate it with an intermittent personalized ventilation (IPV) system. IPV delivers cool clean air intermittently to the occupant and enhances occupant thermal comfort. With the proper ventilation control strategy, IPV can aid MMV by increasing NV mode operational hours, and improve the energy performance of the AC system by relaxing the required macroclimate set point temperature. The aim of this work is to study the IPV+MMV system performance for an office space application in terms of thermal comfort and energy savings through the implementation of an appropriate control strategy. A validated computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model of an office space equipped with IPV is used to assess the thermal fields in the vicinity of an occupant. It is then coupled with a transient bio-heat and comfort models to find the overall thermal comfort levels. Subsequently, a building-performance simulation study is performed using Integrated Environmental Solutions-Virtual Environment (IES-VE) for an office in Beirut, Lebanon for the typical summer month of July. An energy analysis is conducted to predict the savings of the suggested design in comparison to the conventional AC system. Results showed that the use of IPV units and MMV significantly reduced the number of AC operation hours while providing thermal comfort.

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