Investigation of operation performance of air carrying energy radiant air-conditioning system based on CFD and thermodynamic model

Abstract

This study aims to investigate the operation performance of a new terminal form of radiant air-conditioning system called the air carrying energy radiant air-conditioning system (ACERS). Three summer operation conditions, namely steady condition (without opening door and window), open-door condition and open-window condition, are researched in a residential apartment using experimental, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation and thermodynamic methods. The concept of dynamic synergistic operation of mechanical ventilation driven by the air-conditioning system and natural ventilation driven by the open door or window is proposed. A thermodynamic model formulated by the dynamic enthalpy equation, dynamic temperature equation and dynamic moisture equation is developed to analyze the heat and mass transfer process of the test room under the synergistic operation of mixing ventilation. Moreover, the CFD simulation results are used to analyze the synergistic operation and thermodynamic energy transfer of the test room under the mixing ventilation of ACERS and open door/window. It is indicated that ACERS is an important technology with a low temperature gradient of less than 0.1 °C between the head (1.5 m) and ankle level (0.1 m) and low velocity of approximately 0.1 m/s in the occupied zone under the steady condition. The thickness of the boundary zone under the orifice plate of ACERS under the steady, open-door and open-window conditions is 12, 6, and 8 cm, respectively, which can effectively prevent condensation. This study proves that ACERS is a promising technology for air conditioning in residential buildings in regions with hot and humid summers.