An innovative double-jet design as an air flow barrier to isolate temperature and humidity in a low-temperature storage room

Abstract

This study used an innovative double-jet design to isolate the temperature and humidity of a lower temperature storage room (-15 °C) from an adjoining higher temperature room (5 °C). This device can reduce the chance of forming a hazardous area in the working environment. Several axial fans are installed on the top of the flow isolation device (FID) to provide an air flow barrier. Those fans blow the air that can induce the Coanda effects outside of the FID. A blockage body is designed and installed in the downstream area on a perforated plate that can divide the flow into two symmetric separated jets. Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) is used to simulate the flow pattern with two different practical air velocities, 5 and 5.6 m/s. The results show that the case where the FID is installed in both rooms exhibits the highest isolation efficiency, up to approximately 94% for RH and 93% for temperature. The findings of flow analysis demonstrate that significant amounts of energy can potentially be saved. The practical implications of these findings could be in food and pharmaceuticals industries.