Influences of Heat Rejection from Split A/C Conditioners on Mixed-Mode Buildings: Energy Use and Indoor Air Pollution Exposure Analysis

Abstract

The heat rejected by outdoor units of split A/C conditioners can impact the ambient outdoor environment of mixed-mode buildings. Nevertheless, how this environmental impact may affect the space-conditioning energy use and indoor air pollution is poorly understood. By coupling EnergyPlus and Fluent, this study examines the effects of outdoor units’ heat rejection on the building surroundings, building cooling load, and indoor PM2.5 exposure of a six-storey mixed-mode building. The building had an open-plan room on each floor, with the outdoor unit positioned below the window. The coupled model was run for a selected day when the building was cooled by air conditioning and natural ventilation. Five mixed-mode cooling strategies were simulated, reflecting different window-opening schedules, airflow rates of outdoor units, and cooling set-points. The results indicate that compared with the always-air-conditioned mode, the mixed-mode operation could significantly mitigate the negative impact of heat rejection on space-cooling energy consumption. Increasing the airflow rate of outdoor units led to a lower increase in demand for space cooling and lower indoor PM2.5 exposure. If one of the six rooms needs to be cooled to a lower temperature than the others; choosing the bottom-floor room helped achieve more energy savings and better indoor air quality.