The comparison of vertical temperature distributions between the reduced-scale model experiments and the prototype on-site tests of a large space building with low-sidewall air inlets and middle air outlets

Abstract

ABSTRACTThis paper aims to take an insight into to what extent the reduced-scale model can reflect the thermal environment of a full-scale large space building with a stratified air conditioning system and how to improve the accuracy.A reduced-scale model for a large space building has been designed and constructed confined to the similarity principles. The indoor air inlets and outlets dimensions of the scale model are strictly designed according to the prototype with a geometry ratio of 1:4. The experiment results show that the Ar number and the Re number are both important in the stratified air-conditioned room. With the Re number increasing, the vertical temperature deviation from the scale model to the prototype decreases, which indicates that the self-similar zone for Re should be reconsidered. The non-air-conditioned zone in the large space building with stratified air conditioning system cannot be depicted well by a reduced-scale model.