scholarly journals Numerical Study on Effects of Air Return Height on Performance of an Underfloor Air Distribution System for Heating and Cooling

Energies ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (5) ◽  
pp. 1070
Author(s):  
Yaming Fan ◽  
Xiangdong Li ◽  
Minfeng Zheng ◽  
Rengui Weng ◽  
Jiyuan Tu
Keyword(s):  
Energy Consumption ◽  
Air Quality ◽  
Thermal Comfort ◽  
Distribution System ◽  
Numerical Study ◽  
Air Distribution ◽  
Cooling Mode ◽  
Design And Optimization ◽  
Heating And Cooling ◽  
Heating Mode

The exhaust/return-split configuration is regarded as an important upgrade of traditional under-floor-air-distribution (UFAD) systems due to its higher energy efficiency. Moreover, existing studies are mostly focused on the effect of the return vent height on the performance of an UFAD system under cooling conditions. Knowledge of the performance under heating conditions is sorely lacking. This paper presents a numerical evaluation of the performance characteristics of an UFAD system with six different heights of the return vents in heating operation by comprehensively considering thermal comfort, air quality, and energy consumption. The results show that, in the heating mode, the general thermal comfort (predicted mean vote-predicted percentage dissatisfied (PMV-PPD) values) and indoor air quality indices (mean age of air and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) concentration) were greatly improved and energy consumption was slightly reduced with a lower return vent height. Although these were opposite to the findings of our previous study regarding the performance in cooling mode, an optimal return vent height in terms of the comprehensive all-year performance can be recommended. This method provides insight into the design and optimization of the return vent height of UFAD for space heating and cooling.

scholarly journals Numerical Study on Coupled Operation of Stratified Air Distribution System and Natural Ventilation under Multi-Variable Factors in Large Space Buildings

Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (23) ◽  
pp. 8130
Author(s):  
Ziwen Dong ◽  
Liting Zhang ◽  
Yongwen Yang ◽  
Qifen Li ◽  
Hao Huang
Keyword(s):  
Thermal Comfort ◽  
Working Conditions ◽  
Distribution System ◽  
Distribution Systems ◽  
Natural Ventilation ◽  
Numerical Study ◽  
Air Distribution ◽  
Large Space ◽  
Air Conditioners ◽  
Air Supply

Stratified air distribution systems are commonly used in large space buildings. The research on the airflow organization of stratified air conditioners is deficient in terms of the analysis of multivariable factors. Moreover, studies on the coupled operation of stratified air conditioners and natural ventilation are few. In this paper, taking a Shanghai Airport Terminal departure hall for the study, air distribution and thermal comfort of the cross-section at a height of 1.6 m are simulated and compared under different working conditions, and the effect of natural ventilation coupling operation is studied. The results show that the air distribution is the most uniform and the thermal comfort is the best (predicted mean vote is 0.428, predicted percentage of dissatisfaction is 15.2%) when the working conditions are 5.9% air supply speed, 11 °C cooling temperature difference and 0° air supply angle. With the coupled operation of natural ventilation, the thermal comfort can be improved from Grade II to Grade I.

scholarly journals Operation Testing of an Advanced Personalized Ventilation System

Energies ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (9) ◽  
pp. 1596 ◽  
Author(s):  
Csáky ◽  
Kalmár ◽  
Kalmár
Keyword(s):  
Air Quality ◽  
Thermal Comfort ◽  
Indoor Air Quality ◽  
Indoor Air ◽  
Distribution System ◽  
Noise Level ◽  
Background Noise ◽  
Ventilation System ◽  
Air Distribution ◽  
Personalized Ventilation

Using personalized ventilation systems in office buildings, important energy saving might be obtained, which may improve the indoor air quality and thermal comfort sensation of occupants at the same time. In this paper, the operation testing results of an advanced personalized ventilation system are presented. Eleven different air terminal devices were analyzed. Based on the obtained air velocities and turbulence intensities, one was chosen to perform thermal comfort experiments with subjects. It was shown that, in the case of elevated indoor temperatures, the thermal comfort sensation can be improved considerably. A series of measurements were carried out in order to determine the background noise level and the noise generated by the personalized ventilation system. It was shown that further developments of the air distribution system are needed.

Numerical study of different ceiling-mounted air distribution systems for a virtual classroom environment

2016 ◽  
Vol 26 (10) ◽  
pp. 1382-1396 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eusébio Z. E. Conceição ◽  
Cristina I. M. Santiago ◽  
Hazim B. Awbi
Keyword(s):  
Air Quality ◽  
Thermal Comfort ◽  
Air Temperature ◽  
Distribution Systems ◽  
Numerical Study ◽  
Virtual Classroom ◽  
Comfort Level ◽  
Air Distribution ◽  
Air Supply ◽  
Distribution Index

This paper presents a comparative numerical study of different ceiling-mounted-localized air distribution systems placed above students in a virtual classroom in summer conditions. The influence of four different ceiling-mounted-localized air distribution systems, using vertical descendent jets, on the thermal comfort, local thermal discomfort, and air quality levels was numerically evaluated. The air distribution index, developed previously, was used for non-uniform environment. This index considers the thermal comfort level, air quality level, effectiveness for heat removal, and effectiveness for contaminant removal. Numerical simulations were conducted for a virtual classroom equipped with one of four different ceiling-mounted-localized air distribution systems and with 6 desks, 6 or 12 students, and 2 upper airflow outlets. Inlet air supply temperature of 20 and 24℃ and an outdoor air temperature of 28℃ were used. The simulation results show that the air supply system having a vertical air jet placed at 1.8 m above the floor level (Case III), and with an inlet area of 0.01 m2 and a supply air velocity of 3 m/s would represent the best option in comparison with other air supply methods. In general, the air distribution index value decreases with an increase in inlet air temperature and the number of occupants. The air distribution index values are highest for Case III representing a classroom with 6 or 12 occupants with an inlet air temperature of 20 or 24℃.

scholarly journals Evaluation of Integral Effect of Thermal Comfort, Air Quality and Draught Risk for Desks Equipped with Personalized Ventilation Systems

Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (11) ◽  
pp. 3235
Author(s):  
Eusébio Conceição ◽  
Hazim Awbi
Keyword(s):  
Air Quality ◽  
Thermal Comfort ◽  
Numerical Study ◽  
Heat Removal ◽  
Thermal Conditions ◽  
Air Distribution ◽  
Pv Systems ◽  
Integral Effect ◽  
Personalized Ventilation ◽  
Air Removal

This work evaluates the integral effect of thermal comfort (TC), indoor air quality (IAQ) and Draught Risk (DR) for desks with four personalized ventilation (PV) systems. The numerical study, for winter and summer thermal conditions, considers a virtual chamber, a desk, four different PV systems, four seats and four virtual manikins. Two different PV configurations, two upper and two lower air terminal devices (ATD) with different distance between them are considered. In this study a coupling of numerical methodology, using one differential and two integral models, is used. The heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) system performance in this work is evaluated using DR and room air removal effectiveness (εDR) that is incorporated in an Air Distribution Index (ADI). This new index, named the Air Distribution Turbulence Index (ADTI), is used to consider simultaneously the TC, the IAQ, the DR and the effectiveness for heat removal (εTC), contaminant removal (εAQ) and room air removal (εDR). The results show that the ADI and ADTI, are generally higher for Case II than for Case I, increase when the inlet air velocity increases, are higher when the exit air is located at a height 1.2 m than when is located at 1.8 m, and are higher for summer conditions than for winter conditions. However, the values are higher for the ADI than ADTI.

Improved Thermal Comfort of Office Occupants Through Better Air Diffuser Designs

2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yu-Cheng Liu ◽  
Mihai G. Burzo ◽  
Scott Sier ◽  
Cassandra Ellis
Keyword(s):  
Thermal Comfort ◽  
Cfd Analysis ◽  
Hvac System ◽  
Vertical Temperature ◽  
Cooling Mode ◽  
Air Jets ◽  
Heating And Cooling ◽  
Air Diffusion ◽  
Heating Mode ◽  
Vane Diffuser

In this work we are exploring the influence of the design of air diffusers on a number of parameters that influence the thermal comfort of building occupants. In particular we are looking at calculating the Air Diffusion Performance Index (ADPI) and vertical temperature difference as well as the throw and drop parameters for various diffuser designs. The results show that while a complex radial vane diffuser that uses the Coanda effect could offer good performance if the HVAC system is used for cooling, the same design might not give any advantage as compared to a regular multi-cone design while the system is used for heating. This is mostly due to the strong air stratification observed for both diffuser designs, while the HVAC system is in the heating mode. Consequently we propose a better alternative, namely, to use a variable geometry (angle) air diffuser. To prove this concept we performed a CFD analysis of several diffusers, each delivering the air at different angles, for both heating and cooling mode, and we show that indeed using a design that allows changing the angle of the air jets between the heating and cooling season is the optimal way of delivering air to a room.

scholarly journals Energy Production in Solar Collectors in a University Building Used to Improve the Internal Thermal Conditions in Winter Conditions

2021 ◽  
Vol 246 ◽  
pp. 03005
Author(s):  
Eusébio Conceição ◽  
João Gomes ◽  
Mª Manuela Lúcio ◽  
Hazim Awbi
Keyword(s):  
Air Quality ◽  
Thermal Comfort ◽  
Indoor Air Quality ◽  
Indoor Air ◽  
Energy Production ◽  
Numerical Study ◽  
Thermal Conditions ◽  
Solar Collectors ◽  
Transient Conditions ◽  
Winter Conditions

In this numerical study the energy production in solar collectors in a University building used to improve the internal thermal conditions is made. Passive and active solutions, using external solar collector and internal thermo-convectors, are used. The numerical simulation, in transient conditions, is done for a winter typical day with clean sky. This numerical study was carried out using a software that simulates the Building Dynamic Response with complex topology in transient conditions. The software evaluates the human thermal comfort and indoor air quality levels that the occupants are subjected, Heated Ventilation and Air Conditioned energy consumption, indoor thermal variables and other parameters. The university building has 107 compartments and is located in a Mediterranean-type environment. External solar water collectors, placed above the building’s roof, and internal thermo-convectors of water/air type, using mixing ventilation, are used as passive and active strategies, respectively. The thermal comfort level, using the Predicted Mean Vote index, and the indoor air quality, using the carbon dioxide concentration, are evaluated. The results show that in winter conditions the solar collectors improve the thermal comfort conditions of the occupants. The indoor air quality, in all ventilated spaces, is also guaranteed.

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