SIMULATION OF FREE CURRENT FLOWS IN BUOYANCY-DRIVEN VENTILATION SYSTEMS

Abstract

Objectives . The aim of the study is to analyse the effect of the design and methods for heating the ventilation duct of a buoyancy- driven system on the formation of free convective air currents in it. Methods. The study of free convection under the conditions of interior problem was carried out using the CFD software, based on the finite volume method with unstructured grid. Ansys Fluent software was used as a calculation tool in the study, due to its having a high convergence of numerical solutions offering full-scale measurements of convective currents.To evaluate the reliability of the results obtained, a validation procedure was carried out, allowing us to determine how accurately the selected conceptual model describes the investigated flow through a comparison of experimental and numerical data. Results . The results of numerical modelling of free convective currents occurring in the heated channel of the ventilation system of the top floor of a multi-storey residential building are presented in the article. In the course of the study, the air velocity at the entrance to the ventilation duct was found to depend on the calculated temperature difference θ ˚C for various heating methods. A gradual increase in the discrepancy between the numerical simulation and experimental results is observed if the calculated temperature difference > 20 ° C. This phenomenon is due to the fact that with increased duct temperature, it is quite difficult to achieve even heating under actual conditions; this is especially noticeable when considering the variant when the vertical part of the vent duct and the take-off are both heated. The maximum deviation of the results is 4.4%. The obtained velocity profiles in the calculated sections indicate the impact of the ventilation take-off on the nature of the air flow motion. Conclusion . One of the drawbacks of the existing systems of natural ventilation of residential buildings is the low efficiency of work in the warm and transitional periods of the year, especially in bathrooms. The use of buoyancy-driven ventilation with vertical heating of the vent duct combined with the take-off allows a stable air exchange in the rooms to be provided.