Sustainable Design and Numerical Analysis of Auditorium Air Distribution Systems: Equal Friction Method and CFD Insights

This paper examines the use of Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations to improve thermal comfort in enclosed spaces, such as theatres, halls, and offices. Thermal comfort is crucial for occupant well-being and productivity, and is influenced by various factors, including air temperature, humidity, and airflow. To create tailored models for specific spaces, we suggest using CFD simulations to predict airflow patterns and temperature distribution, thereby identifying discomfort zones. This research aims to optimize thermal comfort and improve building design and energy efficiency by iteratively adjusting ventilation strategies. The practical applications of this approach include improved design and construction, as well as retrofitting existing buildings. To achieve this, CFD simulations should be integrated into the design phase to proactively address thermal comfort issues and achieve energy-efficient layouts. Customising CFD models for existing buildings allows for the analysis of airflow patterns and optimisation of ventilation strategies to enhance thermal comfort. HVAC systems can be evaluated using CFD to identify areas for improvement and select energy-efficient solutions, leading to enhanced energy efficiency. The benefits of these improvements include enhanced well-being and productivity, as improved thermal comfort can lead to better occupant health and focus, ultimately boosting productivity. Additionally, the risks of Sick Building Syndrome (SBS) can be reduced. CFD analysis can help reduce the risks of Sick Building Syndrome by optimizing ventilation and improving indoor air quality. In the future, it is recommended to integrate CFD simulations with Building Information Modelling for comprehensive thermal comfort analysis. This study highlights the potential of CFD to optimize thermal comfort in enclosed spaces by promoting occupant well-being and energy efficiency through iterative ventilation adjustments. It is important to adhere to established standards when integrating CFD.

Mechanical Heating Ventilation and Air-Conditioning (HVAC) systems account for 60% of the total energy consumption of buildings. As a sector, buildings contributes about 40% of the total global energy demand. By using passive technology coupled with natural ventilation from wind towers, significant amounts of energy can be saved, reducing the emissions of greenhouse gases. In this study, the development of Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) analysis in aiding the development of wind towers was explored. Initial concepts of simple wind tower mechanics to detailed design of wind towers which integrate modifications specifically to improve the efficiency of wind towers were detailed. From this, using CFD analysis, heat transfer devices were integrated into a wind tower to provide cooling for incoming air, thus negating the reliance on mechanical HVAC systems. A commercial CFD code Fluent was used in this study to simulate the airflow inside the wind tower model with the heat transfer devices. Scaled wind tunnel testing was used to validate the computational model. The airflow supply velocity was measured and compared with the numerical results and good correlation was observed. Additionally, the spacing between the heat transfer devices was varied to optimise the performance. The technology presented here is subject to a patent application (PCT/GB2014/052263).

Commercial green houses are the back bone of farming industry in world where the climatic conditions are not stable especially in Middle East, Europe and United states. The commercial greenhouses are often high tech production facilities for vegetables or flowers. The glass greenhouses are filled with equipment like screening installations, heating, cooling, and lighting and also may be automatically controlled by a computer to maximize potential growth. Greenhouse concept will provide the stable indoor plant growth environment throughout the year irrespective of the outside climate variance. The indoor climate conditions can be maintained using the properly designed HAVC systems. The conventional commercial green houses are equipped with axial fans and the cooling pads to control the indoor climate conditions without central control of the equipment’s. Financial conditions of the commercial green houses are very important since the cost per plant will be determined by the overall contribution of the capital and operational expenses. In the present scenario the almost 30% of the net profit is eating by the HVAC systems operational cost. The major operation cost is due to the cooling pads work force and the electricity operational cost for the axial fans equipped with metal blade. The up gradation involves mainly the involvement of individual evaporative air-conditioned system instead of conventional systems. The green houses are equipped with individual evaporative cooling units, circulating fans, top mounted air louvers and the control systems to control the entire set up. The initial heat load calculations will give us an idea about the total heat load required to maintain the ambient conditions for indoor plant cultivation. CFD analysis will provide the exact equipment orientation and the load requirement. In conventional greenhouses the conventional equipment’s are equipped to get the results but the same will consume more electrical power and which is not effective in all weather conditions. Heat load calculations will provide us the system demand in a conditioned space based on the available material properties. Based on the heat load results we can do the proper equipment selection and set the airflow based on the demand. CFD analysis will help the modeling of the system in the actual condition. The aim of the study was to analysis the performance study of the individual evaporative cooling units in the greenhouse conditioned space. The results obtained from the heat loads and CFD analysis can be compared. The objective of the present work is to examine the designed Air conditioning system effectiveness in peak summer heat load conditions to check the design parameters (25 °C temperature and 50%RH) inside the greenhouse using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) Analysis.

Integration of CFD and machine learning for vehicle cabin thermal management using innovative materials

Nowadays, the building sector is a substantial consumer of world’s energy. The dominant energy share of Heating, Ventilation and Air-Conditioning (HVAC) systems, makes it the focus of research for saving energy. Current air conditioning systems often rely on maximum occupancy assumptions and fixed schedules to maintain sufficient comfort level. Having information regarding occupancy situation may lead to significant energy-savings. On the other hand, focusing on the reduction of energy only, may lead to sacrificing the thermal comfort of the occupants in a building. Moreover, due to the difference of preference of thermal comfort of individuals, particularly in a shared space, a fixed set point for HVAC systems, can cause discomfort. Therefore, a comprehensive technique is required to save energy while maintaining thermal comfort. The present research proposes an occupancy-driven HVAC control system based on thermal comfort analysis. A ZigBee-based indoor localization system is developed to monitor the location of occupants inside the buildings. Algorithms are used to improve the accuracy of positioning system, which include Near Neighbour Area (NNA), Principle Component Analysis (PCA) and Exponential Moving Average algorithms (EMA). Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) is used to simulate the thermal comfort through modelling the indoor air distribution and flows. Wind velocity and temperature are simulated in several scenarios and the Predicted Mean Vote (PMV) and the Predicted Percentage Dissatisfied (PPD) are computed. The simulation results are verified through a survey asking for occupants’ real feelings and consequently thermal comfort zones are identified with associated occupants, which are used for possible energy saving while providing satisfied level to all the occupants. To investigate different satisfaction feeling of occupants, a personalized thermal profile is created for individuals inside the test bed area. A fuzzy based approach is used to develop a fuzzy map of each occupant and as a result, a personal thermal preference profile is created. Based on the present occupants in the room, the minimum and maximum preferred temperatures are estimated and used for controlling the HVAC system. The Semi-hidden Markov chain method is used to create the occupants’ behavioural pattern which can reduce the frequencies of turning ON or OFF the HVAC systems. The real-time locations of the persons, estimated based on the NNA and MA localization method, are combined with their behavioural patterns and thermal preference profiles and their comfort zones to control the corresponding HVACs. The proposed method has been implemented to a shared office occupied by nine users and equipped with two individual air conditioners. The comparison of different control strategies show that the proposed intelligent control has a significant potential of saving energy and at the same time maintaining occupants in a reasonable thermal comfort range.

Study on the impacts of occupant distribution on the thermal environment of tall and large public spaces

The primary purpose of a Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) course is to provide the details and principles necessary to design a HVAC system. This encompasses the study of the many aspects of the various heating and air conditioning systems such as the moist air properties and conditioning processes, the comfort and health concerns, the cooling and heating loads and the system design including duct sizing, equipment and controls selection. This also includes the learning and using of software such as Trane Trace or Carrier HARP to calculate the heating and cooling loads for a commercial building and applying the applicable American Society of Heating Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) standards. It is important to develop a method of dissecting a project to its essentials and solving it in a logical, organized manner. In our institution, we offer a one-quarter long HVAC class for the Mechanical Engineering and Mechanical Engineering Technology students. This is a comprehensive course which teaches our students the various aspects and topics of HVAC along with completing several realistic projects to help the students to learn real world applications of the design. This includes using the blueprints of a commercial building to design a HVAC system. Also included are labs, field trips, and guest speakers to help our students learn even more about HVAC. It is hoped that, after taking this course, students, if they choose, will be well prepared for a HVAC career. This paper will discuss and explore the many ways in which a HVAC class should be taught in order to make it a successful class. This includes teaching the basic principles and applying it to several real-world projects. One of the projects we have our students do at our university is to calculate the heating and cooling loads of a car dealer’s building which consists of an upstairs a front lobby, offices, kitchen, restrooms, and several car bays and to then recommend the equipment and controls necessary for the design. We also have the students complete a separate duct sizing project using both the equal friction and equal velocity methods. Further, we have several labs, including a refrigeration lab, calculating the coefficient of performances (COP) for various operating conditions. In addition, we explore alternate methods of energy savings such as ground source heat pumps, evaporative cooling combined with vapor compression refrigeration etc. Included in this course we have at least one guest speaker from ASHRAE as well as other professionals in the field. We also have our students visit our own universities’ steam and chilled water plant used for our heating and air conditioning as well as other relevant field trips.

This research is to assess effects of a partition on thermal comfort, indoor air quality (IAQ), energy consumption, and perception in an air-conditioned space via computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis. The variables of indoor air are numerically determined before/after installation/removal of a partition. Accordingly, predicted mean vote (PMV) of thermal comfort, carbon dioxide concentration, rate of energy consumption in making up air, and an overall perception index are proposed to quantify effects in a partitioned space. For a case study, a partition is used to tightly separate a study area from a rest area in a library during peak time. The CFD analysis is performed so that the mean differences between the measured and simulated variables at 14 locations are less than 5%. After partitioning in the CFD analysis, it is found that the average PMV value decreases to −1.4 in the rest area, and it remains at −0.7 in the study area where occupants perceive a slightly cool sensation. In the study area, the carbon dioxide concentration increases to 450–500 ppm, while the rate of energy consumption increases by 8.3%. From the overall perception index of 0.9, the occupants feel spacious in the partitioned areas. Therefore, installing the partition is encouraged with the recommendation that cooling supply can be reduced for energy savings. It is apparent that the proposed methodology yields quantitative indicators for decision making of installation/removal of partitions. The interior investigation of partitions in buildings can be performed before making real physical changes.

This paper presents an application of energy production in a solar Double Skin Facade (DSF) used in a Heating, Ventilation and Air-Conditioning (HVAC) system for a ceiling-mounted localized air distribution systems in a virtual classroom. In this numerical work, a virtual classroom, an inlet ceiling-mounted localized air distribution system, an exhaust ventilation system, and a DSF system are considered. The numerical simulations consider an integral building thermal response (BTR) and a coupling of an integral human thermal-physiology response (HTR) and differential computational fluid dynamics (CFD). The BTR numerical model calculates, among other parameters, the DSF indoor air temperature and energy production. The HTR numerical model calculates, among other parameters, the human thermal comfort. The CFD numerical model, among other parameters, calculates the indoor air quality. In this study which is performed for winter conditions, the energy produced in the DSF is used for driving the HVAC system. Six different airflow rates are used. The air temperature and energy production in the DSF are also evaluated. The influence of the airflow rate on the HVAC system performance is evaluated by the Air Distribution Index for mid-morning and mid-afternoon conditions. The results show that energy production reduces when the airflow increases and the operating point can be selected using the acceptable levels of thermal comfort and air quality levels or using the maximum Air Distribution Index value. In this study, the application of the thermal comfort and air quality levels criteria demonstrates that the HVAC system uses an optimum airflow rate.

Buildings around the world are consuming a significant amount of energy. Up to 64% of the power is consumed by Heating, Ventilation and Air-Conditioning (HVAC) appliances. Ventilation is the job of an HVAC system and it takes a substantial amount of energy. Ventilation is one of the strategies of green building that improves indoor air quality, provides better thermal comfort, and strategical ventilations improve energy efficiency of buildings. In this paper, we proposed a Fuzzy Inference System (FIS) that coordinates natural ventilation with the HVAC system and users' occupancy mode, in accordance with temperature, humidity level, and optimal set points. We have added an additional feature of occupancy mode which is an important criterion to start or stop natural ventilation. The proposed model is evaluated using Mamdani FIS. The simulation results show that the efficiency of energy consumption can be improved by better utilization of natural ventilation with the HVAC system by 26%, which led to reduction of electricity bill by 23%.

Energy conservation effect of new HVAC system for condominiums with solar collectors integrated with the balcony handrail

In this study the numerical simulation of a Heating, Ventilating and Air Conditioning (HVAC) system, based in a personalized ventilation system, installed in an occupied office desk is made. The energy is produced in a Dual Skin Facades (DSF) system installed in the outdoor environment. The personalized ventilation system, placed above and below the writing area, installed in the desk central area. The office desk is occupied by eight virtual manikins. The numerical simulation is made in a winter typical day. This numerical study considers a coupling of a differential numerical model and an integral numerical model. The differential numerical model simulates the Computational Fluids Dynamics (CFD), evaluates the air velocity, air temperature, turbulence intensity and carbon dioxide concentration and calculates the indoor air quality. The integral numerical model simulates the Multi-Node Human Thermo-physiology Model, evaluates the tissue, blood and clothing temperatures distribution and calculates the thermal comfort level. The HVAC system, based on a DSF system, is built using three DSF unities, is equipped with internal venetian blinds. Each one, installed in a virtual chamber, is turned to south. The personalized ventilation system, made with eight upper and eight lower air terminal devices, is installed in the desk central area. On each table top two upper and two lower air terminal devices are considered in the left and right manikin area, while on each side of the table two upper and two lower air terminal devices are placed between the manikins. The office desk is occupied by eight virtual manikins, one sitting on each table top and three sitting on each side of the meeting table. In this numerical study, carried out in winter conditions, the occupants’ clothing level is 1 clo. In these situations a typical activity level of 1.2 met is considered. The evolution of indoor environmental conditions, in the DSF and in the office room, are calculated during a full winter typical day. The thermal comfort, the indoor air quality, the effectiveness for heat removal, the effectiveness for contaminant removal and the Air Distribution Index (ADI), are evaluated. In accordance with the obtained results the thermal comfort levels increase when the air renovation rate increases and the indoor air quality level increases when the air renovation rate increases. However, the ADI is quite constant when the inlet airflow rate increases, because the thermal comfort number decreases when the inlet airflow rate increases and the air quality number increases when the inlet airflow rate increases.

Over the last few decades, the use of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and experimental fluid dynamics (EFD) methods has penetrated into all fields of engineering. [...]

Knowledge-based automation for energy conservation and indoor air quality control in HVAC processes

In Heating Ventilating and Air Conditioning (HVAC) systems, ventilation strategies impact building energy consumption, occupants' thermal comfort and Indoor Air Quality (IAQ). Ventilation strategies such as Mixing Jet Ventilation (MJV), Displacement Ventilation (DV), and Impinging Jet Ventilation (IJV) are operated on the different principals. MJV relies on dilution, while DV and IJV rely on both dilution and stratification. Due to climatic variation, ventilation strategies must be operated under different cooling and heating load scenarios. Typically, each ventilation strategy controls the indoor environment through a single adequate flow rate with suitable supply parameters such as temperature, pollutant concentration, vapor, velocity, etc. Hence, the indoor thermal and IAQ condition are independently impacted. A room with excellent thermal condition is possible to have poor IAQ. Given this limitation, vast air flow variables, and occupants' activities, the performances evaluation of these strategies are complicated. In this study, three ventilation strategies, MJV, DV, and IJV are thoroughly investigated. The Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulation was mainly utilized to handle the complexity of this study. The parametric studies of 48 CFD simulations are presented. Referring to ASHRAE RP-1133, the experimental data from a specially built HVAC-IEQ laboratory was used to validate the CFD data. The research results indicate both advantages and disadvantages in all three strategies. In addition, there is no single strategy that can perform excellently in all indexes. Using the well-known index called ventilation effectiveness (VEF), DV performs outstandingly. However, under a newly proposed index called ventilation performances, DV fails because the stratification discomfort exceeds 36% of room area. MJV suffers from low VEF and excessive draft. However, the IAQ of MJV is not as poor as expected. IJV can be an alternative especially for space where sleeping and sitting activities dominate. IJV can conserve HVAC energy, while maintaining good IAQ. Compared to DV, although VEF is lower, stratification discomfort is minimized to 24%–12% (depending on supply velocity). Overall, this study demonstrates that ventilation strategies are the key to enhance IAQ. Therefore, the utilization of an appropriate ventilation strategy might increase, Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) score, particularly for Indoor Environmental Quality, Innovation and Design Process, and Energy and Atmospheric categories.