Improved buoyancy-driver hybrid ventilation system for multiple-heat-source industrial buildings

Abstract

An industrial building may have several heat sources which together create a high-temperature working environment that puts the health of workers at risk. Ventilation is an effective way to remove heat, but improperly designed systems may fail to create a healthy thermal environment. The performance of buoyancy-driven hybrid ventilation in a multi-heat-source industrial plant was investigated in this study. The effects of the height of the inlet above the floor and exhaust velocity on the hybrid ventilation performance were studied; properly increasing the above-floor inlet height appears to improve the thermal environment while excessive mechanical exhaust velocity leads to increased energy consumption with a negative impact on ventilation efficiency. The optimum parameters of the improved ventilation system were determined and compared against existing ventilation systems. In summer, the improved ventilation system shows an average temperature of 34.61 °C, which is 3.40 °C lower than the existing system. The allowed exposure time (AET) is 52 min, which is 18 min longer than the existing system. In winter, the improved ventilation system shows an average temperature of 18.68 °C, which meets the design requirements for industrial buildings. The improved ventilation system can provide thermally comfortable conditions in both summer and winter.