Numerical procedure for predicting annual energy consumption of the under-floor air distribution system

As compared with the mixing system, indoor air temperature stratification in the under-floor air distribution (UFAD) system offers an opportunity for cooling load reduction in the occupied zone. This stratification is a major feature that offers the energy saving potential, but it has not been thoroughly taken into account in most energy simulation programs. In this article, a numerical procedure, based on coupling two types of modeling, i.e., CFD (computational fluid dynamic) simulation and dynamic cooling load simulation, is proposed to predict annual energy consumption. The dimensionless temperature coefficient is first defined in the UFAD system and obtained from CFD simulation, based on the boundary conditions from a cooling load program ACCURACY. According to this coefficient, temperature stratification input to ACCURACY is then revised to calculate the updated supply and exhaust air temperatures for final annual energy prediction. To demonstrate the method, a small office room is investigated using Hong Kong weather data. With the constant air volume (CAV) supply in the UFAD system, it is found that the dimensionless temperature coefficient is almost a constant, when the locations of heat sources are fixed. As compared with the mixing system, the UFAD system derives its energy saving potential from the following three factors: an extended free cooling time, a reduced ventilation load, and increased coefficients of performance (COP) for chillers.     

Free-running temperature and potential for free cooling by ventilation: A case study

Free-cooling by ventilation is one of the most energy efficient techniques for cooling. When ventilation is used for cooling, variable airflow rates should to be used in order to achieve comfortable room temperatures and to minimize the energy demand for mechanical ventilation. Thus, free-cooling, requires, obviously, the existence of a potential for cooling and needs control mechanisms for the airflow. In this study, the free cooling potential by ventilation for office buildings is evaluated by the free-running temperature. The free-running temperature approach is based on the energy balance of heat gains and losses. It is adapted to evaluate the potential for free cooling by ventilation of office buildings for which the gains through the walls are negligible as compared to the internal and solar gains. The free-running temperature of each office room considers solar and internal heat gains, outdoor temperature, indoor temperatures and ventilation air flow rates. The approach is applied to 14 office rooms in a passively cooled office building in Germany and is used to estimate the potential and to evaluate the total energy saving by free cooling by ventilation. The good fit between monitoring data and calculation procedure proves that the free cooling potential can be accurately estimated by using the difference between the comfort limits, i.e. the target value of the indoor temperature, and the free-running temperature.     

置换通风的发展及研究现状

基于置换通风舒适、健康和节能的显著特点,本文回顾了置换通风的发展历程,从室内空气品质和节能等方面阐述了国内外置换通风的研究现状。气流组织、热舒适性和污染物分布是影响置换通风室内空气品质的主要因素,因而论文主要从置换通风的两个显著特性：热力分层和垂直温度梯度的角度讨论了室内热舒适性影响因素和研究现状,从颗粒和气体污染物的分布情况论述污染物对室内空气品质的影响,根据置换通风的气流特性,提出可以把室内污染物分为热源和冷源污染物进行研究;最后简要介绍了置换通风节能的情况和优势。     

Effects of double skin envelopes on natural ventilation and heating loads in office buildings

The influence of natural ventilation on heating load and energy savings in a building with a double skinned envelope (DSE) was examined in this study. Field measurements and computer simulations were performed under various weather conditions. The DSE was effective for saving energy and creating natural ventilation rates under clear and partly cloudy skies. Due to insufficient irradiance, the DSE was not effective for reducing the heating load under overcast sky conditions. When natural airflow rates from the cavity space between internal and external skin to the indoor space were controlled, the southwest-facing DSE effectively reduced heating loads due to the accumulation of solar irradiance.Regression models showed that outdoor air temperature was the most significant factor governing variations in cavity temperature under all sky conditions. Computer simulations indicated that natural ventilation was practical at an appropriate supply temperature only when the sky ratio was less than 0.7. The airspace in cavity of the DSE provided additional natural ventilation rates to the indoor space and effectively reduced heating loads. Natural ventilation was available for 135 h during three winter months without consuming additional energy to heat the outdoor air. The heating load was reduced by the DSE ranged from 17.98% to 18.7% depending on the airflow control options for the cavity space.     

暖通空调系统几项重点节能设计措施探讨

详细探讨了暖通空调系统的几项重点节能设计措施,主要包括:室内设计计算温度取值、冷热负荷计算、供暖系统设计、风系统设计、空调水系统设计、冷热源选择、补水定压、保温及水力平衡、室温调控与冷热量计量,以供专业人员在工程设计中参考。     

Measurements of indoor thermal environment and energy analysis in a large space building in typical seasons

Shanghai International Gymnastics Stadium is the selected object for site-measurement. The site-measurements have been carried out during summer, winter, and the transitional seasons. Their indoor thermal environments were controlled by continuous air-conditioning, intermittent air-conditioning and natural ventilation, respectively. The site-measurement includes outdoor environment (the weather conditions and peripheral hallway), indoor air temperature distribution (the occupant zone temperature, radial temperature near upper openings and the vertical temperature distributions, etc.), and the heat balance of air-conditioning system, etc. It is found that temperature stratification in winter with air-conditioning is most obvious. The maximum difference of vertical temperature is 15 °C in winter. The second largest one is 12 °C in summer, and less than 2 °C in the transitional season. The results of measurements indicate that it is different in the characteristics on energy saving of upper openings during the different seasons. With heat balance measurements, it is discovered that the roof load and ventilated and infiltrated load account for larger percentages in terms of cooling and heating load. In this paper, many discussions on the results of site measurements show some characteristics and regulations of indoor thermal environment in large space building.     

Floor heating and cooling combined with displacement ventilation: Possibilities and limitations

Design guidelines envisage that floor heating can be used together with displacement ventilation (DV), provided that the supply air is not overly heated before it can reach heat and contaminant sources. If this is not controlled a mixing flow pattern could occur in the room. The use of floor cooling with DV is also considered possible, although draught risk at ankle level and vertical air temperature differences must be controlled carefully, because they could increase.Few studies on these topics were found in the literature.An indoor environmental chamber was set up to obtain measurements aimed at analysing the possibilities and limitations of combining floor heating/cooling with DV. Air temperature profiles, air velocity profiles, surface temperatures and ventilation effectiveness were measured under different environmental conditions that may occur in practice. These values were compared to equivalent temperature measurements obtained using a thermal manikin.The measurements show that floor heating can be used with DV, obtaining high ventilation effectiveness values. A correlation between the floor heating capacity and the air temperature profile in the room was found. Measurements showed that floor cooling does not increase draught risk at ankle level, although it does increase vertical air temperature differences.     

室内气流组织和空气品质的数值研究

分析了气流分布性能的评价指标、热舒适性评价指标和室内空气品质的评价指标。将通风方式分为置换通风和混合通风,利用暖通空调专用模拟软件Airpak对室内气流进行模拟。模拟某小型会议室的温度、速度、CO2浓度、平均空气龄、PMV值和PPD值,并依据模拟结果分析不同气流组织下的室内空气品质、人体热舒适性和空调能耗情况。指出不同气流组织对室内空气品质、人体热舒适性和空调能耗的影响不同,置换通风和上侧送上回送风方式能得到较好的空气品质和有效的能量利用。     

Mixing characteristics in a ventilated room with non-isothermal ceiling air supply

A two-dimensional turbulence k–ε model is used to predict distribution of air velocity, temperature and turbulence kinetic energy in an air-conditioned room using ceiling air supply. Mixing characteristics of the airflow are analyzed under different air supply velocities and temperatures. A modified Archimedes number is correlated with the parameters characterizing heat transfer, ventilation system, and turbulence kinetic energy of room air flow. Significant correlations have been shown. It is found that the linear ceiling air supply air-conditioning system with a high level return air provides excellent air mixing across a wide range of Archimedes numbers. The results are useful for air-conditioning design and thermal comfort study.     

A study on the characteristics of nighttime bedroom cooling load in tropics and subtropics

In both tropical and subtropical regions, residential air conditioning serves to maintain appropriate indoor thermal environments not only at daytime, but also at nighttime in bedrooms for sleeping. However, the current practices for air conditioning are primarily concerned with the situations in which people are awake at daytime. Therefore, these may not be directly applicable to nighttime bedroom air conditioning. This paper reports on a simulation study on the characteristics of nighttime bedroom cooling load in tropics and subtropics, using a building energy simulation program. The weather conditions of and the typical arrangements of high-rise residential blocks in Hong Kong are used in the simulation study. The simulation results on the cooling load characteristics in bedrooms under three different operating modes of room air conditioners (RACs) at the summer design day, the breakdown of the total cooling load in a bedroom at nighttime operating mode (NOM), indoor air temperature and mean radiant temperature variation at NOM, and the effects of indoor design air temperature on the cooling load characteristics at NOM are presented. The differences in the cooling load characteristics among three different operating modes and the issues related to the sizing of RACs used in bedrooms are discussed.     

The characteristics of space cooling load and indoor humidity control for residences in the subtropics

For residential buildings located in the subtropics, it is more challenging and difficult to deal with space latent cooling load than space sensible load, using a room air conditioner (RAC), partly due to hot and humid climates. This paper reports a simulation study on the characteristics of space cooling load and indoor humidity control for residences in the subtropics, using a building energy simulation program. Both the weather conditions and the typical arrangements of high-rise residential blocks in subtropical Hong Kong were used in the simulation study. The simulation results on both the space cooling load characteristics and the hourly application sensible heat ratio (SHR) in the living/dining room and the master bedroom in a selected west-facing apartment under different operating modes of RACs in the summer design day are presented. The problem of indoor humidity control due to the mismatching between an application SHR and an equipment SHR in the two rooms both in the summer design day and during part load operations and the influences of indoor furnishings acting as moisture capacitors on indoor RH level are discussed.     

Ceiling mounted personalized ventilation system in hot and humid climate—An energy analysis

This study is to evaluate energy saving potential of ceiling mounted personalized ventilation (PV) system in conjunction with background mixing ventilation compared with mixing ventilation system alone and with mixing ventilation system when occupants are provided with individually controlled desk fans for generating additional air movement at each desk. Control strategy applied includes different number of personalized ventilation air terminal devices used and different PV airflow rates supplied. Energy calculation is based on design conditions in Singapore, representing a hot and humid climate. The results reveal that increasing room temperature can save cooling energy when the combination of PV with ceiling mounted personalized ventilation nozzles and background mixing ventilation is used. In this case the energy for transport of air increases but the total energy decreases, i.e. energy can be saved due to elevated room temperature. Comparing with mixing ventilation plus desk fans, ceiling mounted personalized ventilation cannot only realize better cooling effect but also decrease the total energy consumption.     

Investigation of indoor climate and power usage in a data center

Thermal management of data centers is an important issue for many high technology companies. The power requirement to provide proper indoor climate in data centers is considerable. Thus, possibilities for energy savings and efficient electricity utilization are quite important. In this paper, the airflow and temperature patterns, as well as the electrical power requirement within a small data center, have been investigated.The power requirement within the data center is considerably high, due to an oversized air conditioning system. An infrared camera was used to visualize the airflow and temperature pattern, showing that cool air does not reach the upper levels of the racks, despite a very high air exchange rate. Point measurements of temperatures in a rack show that recirculation cells are present, causing accumulation of heat and improper cooling of electronic equipments. Thus, the chilled air is not distributed properly and consequently the cooling energy is not used effectively.     

Thermal plumes of kitchen appliances: Cooking mode

The main method in the design practice of kitchen ventilation has been the calculation of the airflow rate, which is sufficient to extract the convective heat and contaminants. Undersized airflow rates could lead into indoor air problems and oversized ventilation system increases unnecessary energy consumption and the life-cycle costs of the system. In the most accurate design method, the design of a kitchen ventilation system is based on the airflow rate of the thermal plume. When the convection flow is calculated, the influence of the cooking process is ignored. In this paper, the actual measured plume characteristics of typical kitchen appliances are presented during cooking mode. The conducted measurements show that the generic plume equation gives a suitable platform for practical applications during the cooking mode as well. The critical factors affecting the accuracy are the estimation of the actual convection load and the proper adjustment of the virtual origin.     

Experimental investigation of the velocity field and airflow pattern generated by cooling ceiling beams

In the modern office environment there are numerous heat generating equipment, heat loads from solar radiation and heat produced by people. The loads will often exceed the load the ventilation system can cope with. To meet this demand on extra cooling capacity the commercial market provides cooling ceiling panels and chilled beams. A chilled beam is a source of natural convection, creating a flow, vulnerable to disturbances, of cold air into the occupied zone. Experiments have been conducted in a mock up of an office room; qualitative information has been obtained by visualisation. Instantaneous velocity profiles of the airflow generated by the chilled beam has been registered. In addition, the temperature field below the chilled beam has been measured with a whole field measuring technique. The results show that the airflow from the chilled beam has behaviour similar to a two-dimensional plume but exhibits strong oscillation both sideways and along the chilled beam. These oscillations (intermittence) might cause a sensation of draught but in order to clarify this further investigations are required. Furthermore, airflow generated by heat sources in the room may reverse the flow generated by the chilled beam.     

Returning characteristics of pollutants for a local domain in the presence of returning and recirculating airflow in indoor environments

Heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems usually supply air, which is a mixture of fresh air from the outdoor environment, and return air from rooms via the ventilation ductwork. This air reduces the heat load and cost impact of air conditioning using outdoor air. This recirculation of room air in air-conditioning systems is reasonable in terms of energy saving; however, the deterioration of air quality might be a concern because of the recirculation of contaminated room air. Here, we numerically investigate the effect of pollutant recirculation/return on the formation of concentration distributions of local pollutants in indoor environments when the mixing ratio of recirculated air in the HVAC system changes. We discuss the detailed structure of the formation mechanism of local pollutant concentration distributions using various indices for indoor ventilation efficiency in simplified room models. Among the indices, visitation frequency and net escape probability are the ones that directly assist in evaluating the recirculation/return characteristics of indoor pollutants. As a result, when the proportion of air that is recirculated becomes large, the number of pollutants returning to a target local domain, the visitation frequency, increases exponentially, and the net escape probability—which directly expresses the probability of pollutant discharged from the target domain—is close to zero.     

Ventilation and energy performance of partitioned indoor spaces under mixing and displacement ventilation

Large variation in indoor air quality (IAQ) and thermal comfort can occur in partitioned office spaces due to heterogeneous air mixing. However, few published studies examined IAQ, thermal comfort, and energy performance of partitioned occupied spaces, which are commonly found in today’s buildings. The objective of this study is to evaluate indoor environmental quality and air conditioning performance of a partitioned room under two typical ventilation modes: (1) mixing ventilation and (2) displacement ventilation. For a total of six representative air-conditioning scenarios, three-dimensional computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations are performed to examine temperature distribution, ventilation effectiveness, energy consumption, and local thermal comfort for two partitioned spaces. Simulation results indicate that temperature distribution in a partitioned room is a strong function of ventilation strategy (mixing vs. displacement), but marginally affected by diffuser arrangements. Local age-of-air (air freshness) significantly varies with both diffuser arrangement and ventilation strategy. Regarding energy consumption, displacement ventilation can achieve an indoor set-point temperature in the partitioned spaces about two times faster than mixing ventilation. Under mixing ventilation, the time to achieve a set-point temperature was notably reduced when each partitioned space is served by its own diffuser. For the same supply airflow rate, displacement ventilation can generate local draft risk at ankle level, while mixing ventilation may result in a draft sensation in wider areas around an occupant. Overall, the results suggest that mixing ventilation system can save energy if each partitioned zone is served by its own diffuser such as a multi-split air conditioning. However, when multiple partitioned zones are served by only one diffuser, displacement ventilation is more energy-efficient and can achieve higher ventilation effectiveness than mixing ventilation.     

Influence of air supply parameters on indoor air diffusion

This paper presents the field distributions of air velocity, temperature, contaminant concentration, and thermal comfort in an office with displacement ventilation for different air supply parameters such as the effective area, shape, and dimension of the diffuser and the turbulence intensity, flow rate, and temperature of the air supplied. The research is conducted numerically by using an airflow computer program based on a low-Reynolds-number k-ε model of turbulence. It can be concluded that the effective area, shape, and dimension of the diffuser and the turbulence intensity of the air supplied have little effect on the room air diffusion except at floor level. The influence of the flow rate and temperature of the air supplied is very significant on the air diffusion as well as on the thermal comfort and indoor air quality.     

Radiational panel cooling system with continuous natural cross ventilation for hot and humid regions

This paper investigates a hybrid cooling system, utilizing wind-driven cross ventilation and radiational panel cooling in an office setting. The characteristics of the indoor environment are examined using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation, which is coupled with a radiation heat transfer simulation, and HVAC control in which the PMV value for a human model in the center of the room is controlled to attain the target value. The system is devised with an energy-saving strategy, which utilizes stratified room air with a vertical temperature gradient. The cooled air settles down within the lower part of the room, while the hot and humid air passes through the upper region of the room, sweeping out the heat and contaminants generated indoors. This strategy is found to be quite energy-efficient in the intermediate seasons of spring and autumn in Japan. Even under hot and humid outdoor conditions, the hybrid system coupled with radiational cooling would bring significant energy savings are possible compared with a hybrid system coupled with underfloor air-conditioning.     

Experimental investigation into the interaction between the human body and room airflow and its effect on thermal comfort under stratum ventilation

Room occupants' comfort and health are affected by the airflow. Nevertheless, they themselves also play an important role in indoor air distribution. This study investigated the interaction between the human body and room airflow under stratum ventilation. Simplified thermal manikin was employed to effectively resemble the human body as a flow obstacle and/or free convective heat source. Unheated and heated manikins were designed to fully evaluate the impact of the manikin at various airflow rates. Additionally, subjective human tests were conducted to evaluate thermal comfort for the occupants in two rows. The findings show that the manikin formed a local blockage effect, but the supply airflow could flow over it. With the body heat from the manikin, the air jet penetrated farther compared with that for the unheated manikin. The temperature downstream of the manikin was also higher because of the convective effect. Elevating the supply airflow rate from 7 to 15 air changes per hour varied the downstream airflow pattern dramatically, from an uprising flow induced by body heat to a jet‐dominated flow. Subjective assessments indicated that stratum ventilation provided thermal comfort for the occupants in both rows. Therefore, stratum ventilation could be applied in rooms with occupants in multiple rows.