scholarly journals Sustainable Smoke Extraction System for Atrium: A Numerical Study

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (13) ◽  
pp. 7406
Author(s):  
Martin Lyubomirov Ivanov ◽  
Wei Peng ◽  
Qi Wang ◽  
Wan Ki Chow

Smoke extraction systems, either static with natural ventilation, or dynamic with mechanical ventilation are required to keep smoke layer at high levels in many tall atria. It is observed that a design fire with high heat release rate (HRR) is commonly used for designing natural vents, but a low HRR is used for mechanical ventilation system. This will not produce a sustainable environment. There are no internationally agreed on design guides to determine the HRR in the design fire for different extraction systems and scenarios. This issue will be studied using a Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD)-based software, the Fire Dynamics Simulator (FDS) version 6.7.1. Simulations on natural smoke filling, static and dynamic smoke extractions were carried out in a big example atrium. CFD-FDS predictions were compared with previous full-scale burning tests. Results confirmed that static smoke extraction is a good option for big fires, and a dynamic system is best for small fires. A sustainable new hybrid design combining the advantages of static and dynamic systems is proposed, which could result in a lower smoke temperature and higher smoke layer interface height, indicating a better extraction design.

Author(s):  
W. K. Chow ◽  
S. S. Li ◽  
C. L. Chow

Computer thermal fire models are used in hazard assessment for performance-based fire design. Fire field model using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) is now a popular design tool. The thermal fire environment can be predicted in a ‘microscopic’ picture with air flow pattern, pressure and temperature contours. However, most of the field models are only validated by some experiments not specially designed for such purpose. Whether those models are suitable for use is queried, leading to challenges. In this paper, prediction on smoke filling in a big atrium by the CFD tool Fire Dynamics Simulator developed at the National Institute of Standards and Technology in USA was justified by field tests. Smoke layer interface height and air temperatures inside the atrium were taken as the parameters. CFD results predicted were compared with the field measurement results.


Energies ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (19) ◽  
pp. 4999
Author(s):  
Matthew Craig ◽  
Taimoor Asim

In this study, advanced Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD)-based numerical simulations have been performed in order to analyse fire propagation in a standard railway compartment. A Fire Dynamics Simulator (FDS) has been employed to mimic real world scenarios associated with fire propagation within railway carriages in order to develop safety guidelines for railway passengers. Comprehensive parametric investigations on the effects of ignition location, intensity and cabin upholstery have been carried out. It has been observed that a fire occurring near the exits of the carriage results in a lower smoke layer height, due to the local carriage geometry, than an identical fire igniting at the center of the carriage. This in turn causes the smoke density along the aisleway to vary by around 30%. Reducing the ignition energy by half has been found to restrict combustion, thus reducing smoke density and carbon exhaust gases, reducing the average temperature from 170 °C to 110 °C. Changing the material lining of the seating has been found to cause the most significant change in output parameters, despite its relative insignificance in bulk mass. A polyester sample produces a peak carbon monoxide concentration of 7500 ppm, which is 27× greater compared with nylon. This difference has been found to be due to the fire spread and propagation between fuels, signifying the polyester’s unsuitability for use in railway carriages.


2016 ◽  
Vol 78 (8-4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Fawaz Ghaleb Noman ◽  
Nazri Kamsah ◽  
Haslinda Mohamed Kamar

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%.


2019 ◽  
Vol 29 (7) ◽  
pp. 972-986 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiang Deng ◽  
Zijing Tan

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.


2019 ◽  
Vol 27 (03) ◽  
pp. 1950027
Author(s):  
Young Kwon Yang ◽  
Min Young Kim ◽  
Jin Woo Moon ◽  
Jin Chul Park

Ventilation in buildings is the simplest and most convenient way to purify indoor air. However, when the ventilation is not enough due to natural ventilation, it should be cleaned by mechanical ventilation or air purifier. This process requires building energy. Therefore, it is possible to save the energy of the building by merely increasing the natural ventilation efficiency. This study conducted airflow analysis simulations to investigate the effects of changes in the shape of ventilation openings and louvers on the ventilation efficiency of a window ventilation system. The streamlined window opening exhibited a greater increase in airflow (41.3%) than did the conventional window (24.3%) for the ventilation model with four openings. It was also observed that flow separation and wakes were generated by the adverse pressure gradient arising from the increased airflow speed when a louver was employed. Based on these results, it can be concluded that using a louver as a wind augmentation device is an obstacle to improving the airflow in a window ventilation system.


2019 ◽  
Vol 808 ◽  
pp. 39-45
Author(s):  
Mária Budiaková

The paper focuses on the analysis of reconstruction in terms of CO2 concentration. The reconstruction at the university included the exchange of windows. The original windows were exchanged for the modern wood tight windows. Providing CO2 concentration in the interiors of a university is immensely important for the students of the university. Not exceeding CO2 concentration limits is necessary not only for the physiological needs of students but also for the required performance of students. Teaching is conducted during the whole day in the researched university schoolroom. The short-term natural ventilation during the breaks is noticeably not sufficient. After 15 minutes from the beginning of the lesson, students started complaining about the air quality and they had to open the windows. To point out the unsustainable state of the poor air quality during the day-long teaching and to be able to prove the officials the importance of the continuation of the reconstruction by building mechanical ventilation or air conditioning system, there were carried out the experimental measurements in the schoolroom. The device Testo 480 was used for the measurements. Obtained values of CO2 concentration are presented in the charts. Interestingly, this reconstruction significantly decreased the air quality. The admissible values of CO2 concentration were exceeded after the first hours of teaching. These values were worsening with each additional hour of teaching. Therefore, another reconstruction is needed to enable the transition from natural ventilation to the mechanical ventilation system. In the conclusion of this paper, there are principles how to design new schoolrooms. Furthermore, there are presented recommendations how to operate the existing schoolrooms.


Author(s):  
Brady Manescau ◽  
Khaled Chetehouna ◽  
Quentin Serra ◽  
Aijuan Wang ◽  
Eric Florentin

In this chapter, a numerical investigation is presented in order to highlight the effects of outdoor wind on smoke movements along a corridor in a compartment. For this, the Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) code, fire dynamics simulator (FDS), was used to model the reactive flows in interaction with outdoor wind. The wind velocity is taken between 0 and 12.12 m/s, based on the experimental result data come from the work of Li et al. was performed. From numerical data, it was found that smoke stratification state in the corridor depends on Froude number (Fr) and it can be divided into three cases: stable buoyant stratification (Fr < 0.38), unstable buoyant stratification (0.38 ≤ Fr < 0.76), and failed stratification (Fr ≥ 0.76). When Fr ≥ 0.76, smoke stratification is completely disturbed and smoke occupies the entire volume of the compartment, highlighting a risk of toxicity to people. Indeed, it was observed that the velocity of the outdoor wind influences strongly the concentration of O2, CO2, CO, and visibility in the corridor and smoke exhaust. Moreover, for the input data used in the numerical modelling, the global sensitivity analysis demonstrated that the main parameters affecting the smoke temperature near the ceiling are the mass flux of fuel and the activation energy.


Energies ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (11) ◽  
pp. 2934 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marouen Ghoulem ◽  
Khaled El Moueddeb ◽  
Ezzedine Nehdi ◽  
Fangliang Zhong ◽  
John Calautit

A windcatcher is a wind-driven natural ventilation system that catches the prevailing wind to bring fresh airflow into the building and remove existing stale air. This technology recently regained attention and is increasingly being employed in buildings for passive ventilation and cooling. The combination of windcatchers and evaporative cooling has the potential to reduce the amount of energy required to ventilate and cool a greenhouse in warm and hot climates. This study examined a greenhouse incorporated with a passive downdraught evaporative cooling windcatcher (PDEC-WC) system using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD), validated with experimental data. Different hot ambient conditions of temperature (30–45 °C) and relative humidity (15–45%) were considered. The study explored the influence of different spray heights, layouts, cone angles and mass flow rates on indoor temperature and humidity. The average error between measurements and simulated results was 5.4% for the greenhouse model and 4.6% for the evaporative spray model. Based on the results and set conditions, the system was able to reduce the air temperature by up to 13.3 °C and to increase relative humidity by 54%. The study also assessed the influence of neighbouring structures or other greenhouses that influence the flow distribution at the ventilation openings. The study showed that the windcatcher ventilation system provided higher airflow rates as compared to cross-flow ventilation when other structures surrounded the greenhouse.


Author(s):  
W. K. Chow ◽  
N. Cai ◽  
Y. Gao

The characteristics of flame rotation induced by a fire at the top of kitchen stove were studied numerically with Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD). Four cases with different locations of fire sources and vents were set up; simulations of swirling air flow and temperature distributions in the kitchen room were carried out. Ventilation by ceiling vents was identified as the necessary condition for internal fire whirl. Recommendations on the design of kitchen ventilation system were made.


Author(s):  
A. R. Niktash ◽  
B. P. Huynh

A windcatcher is a natural ventilation device fitted on the roof of a building and divided internally into two halves to deliver fresh outside air into the building’s interior, and induce the stale air to the outside, working by pressure difference between outside and inside of the building. In this work, air flow through a two-dimensional but real-sized room fitted with a windcatcher is investigated numerically, using a commercial computational fluid dynamics (CFD) software package. The standard K-ε turbulence model is used. Flow pattern and flow velocity are considered in terms of the windcatcher’s location, inlet velocity, the shape of the windcatcher’s bottom and the length of the windcatcher’s bottom. It is found that when inlet velocity is not too low, the windcatcher’s shape at its bottom strongly affects flow pattern and flow velocity in the room. This leads to a way of improving the windcatcher’s effectiveness in ventilating the living area (lower part) of a room.


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