Assessment of virtual thermal manikins for thermal comfort numerical studies. Verification and validation

Cristiana Croitoru,Ilinca Nastase,Gabriel Cojocaru,Florin Bode,S.I Tanabe,J Kurnitski,P Wargocki,C Inard,H Zhang,M.C Gameiro Da Silva,I Nastase,L Mazzarela,G Cao

doi:10.1051/e3sconf/201911102018

Abstract

This study is a part of a larger experimental and numerical campaign intended to evaluate the influence of the turbulence intensity at the inlet of the terminal air distribution systems on the local draft sensation and thermal discomfort of ventilation users. In this paper we present preliminary results of CFD simulations using a realistic model of human body along with an experimental validation. The model is further used in a piston distribution scheme to evaluate the influence of turbulence intensity on the comfort indicators. The recorded velocity, turbulence and temperature fields allowed us to estimate the distributions of DR, PPD and PMV indexes. For the investigated case, the results indicated a direct correlation.

Highlights

Heating Ventilating Air Conditioning (HVAC) systems have to ensure clean air and to maintain comfortable conditions for their users as in the industrialised countries people spend up to 90% of their time indoors [1]
The reduced air mass flows being introduced in the occupied zone, should uniformly distribute fresh air and conditioning cooling or heating loads in order to achieve thermal comfort and acceptable air quality
During our research study we ran computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations using a realistic model of human body along with an experimental validation

Summary

Introduction

Heating Ventilating Air Conditioning (HVAC) systems have to ensure clean air and to maintain comfortable conditions for their users as in the industrialised countries people spend up to 90% of their time indoors [1]. The reduced air mass flows being introduced in the occupied zone, should uniformly distribute fresh air and conditioning cooling or heating loads in order to achieve thermal comfort and acceptable air quality. Innovative diffusers should be designed to improve mixing. The improved mixing will logically lead to a more stable flow and to a uniform distribution of the thermal load and will improve the air quality. This is not sufficient if an adequate air diffusion strategy is not implemented in the same time [3]

Objectives

Methods

Results