Comparing zonal and CFD model predictions of isothermal indoor airflows to experimental data

It is inappropriate to use the assumption of instantaneously well-mixed zones to model airflows and pollutant transport in large indoor spaces. We investigate two approaches for describing the details of airflows in large indoor spaces, for accuracy and suitability for integration with multi-zone infiltration models. One approach, called the zonal method, was developed over the last 15 years to provide an improvement over the well-mixed assumption. The second approach is the use of a computational fluid dynamics simulation using a coarse grid model of the large indoor space. We compare velocity predictions from different formulations of zonal methods and coarse-grid k-epsilon computational fluid dynamics (CFD) models, to measurements, in a 2D mechanically ventilated isothermal room. Our results suggest that, when airflow details are required, coarse-grid CFD is a better-suited method to predict airflows in large indoor spaces coupled with complex multi-zone buildings, than are the zonal methods. Based on the comparison of pressure predictions from different models, we offer guidance regarding the coupling of a model of detailed airflow in large spaces to algebraic multi-zone infiltration models.     

Large eddy simulation and zonal modeling of human-induced contaminant transport

An immersed boundary method for particulate flow in an Eulerian framework is utilized to examine the effects of complex human motion on the transport of trace contaminants. The moving human object is rendered as a level set in the computational domain, and realistic human walking motion is implemented using a human kinematics model. A large eddy simulation (LES) technique is used to simulate the fluid and particle dynamics induced by human activity. Parametric studies are conducted within a Room-Room and a Room-Hall configuration, each separated by an open doorway. The effects of the average walking speed, initial proximity from the doorway, and the initial mass loading on room-to-room contaminant transport are examined. The rate of mass transport increases as the walking speed increases, but the total amount of material transported is more influenced by the initial proximity of the human from the doorway. The Room-Hall simulations show that the human wake transports material over a distance of about 8 m. Time-dependent data extracted from the simulations is used to develop a room-averaged zonal model for contaminant transport due to human walking motion. The model shows good agreement with the LES results. PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: The effect of human activity on contaminant transport may be important in applications such as clean or isolation room design for biochemical production lines, in airborne infection control, and in entry/exit into collective protection or decontamination systems. The large eddy simulations (LES) performed in this work allow precise capturing of the local wakes generated by time-dependent human motion and thus provide a means of quantifying contaminant transport due to wake effects. The LES database can be used to develop zonal models for the bulk effects of human-induced contaminant transport. These may be incorporated into multi-zone infiltration models for use in threat-response and exposure mitigation studies.     

Comparison of sensor systems designed using multizone,zonal, and CFD data for protection of indoor environments

Sensors that detect chemical and biological warfare agents can offer early warning of dangerous contaminants. However, current sensor system design is mostly by intuition and experience rather than by systematic design. To develop a sensor system design methodology, the proper selection of an indoor airflow model is needed. Various indoor airflow models exist in the literature, from complex computational fluid dynamics (CFD) to simpler approaches such as multizone and zonal models. Airflow models provide the contaminant concentration data, to which an optimization method can be applied to design sensor systems. The authors utilized a subzonal modeling approach when using a multizone model and were the first to utilize a zonal model for systematic sensor system design. The objective of the study was to examine whether or not data from a simpler airflow model could be used to design sensor systems capable of performing just as well as those designed using data from more complex CFD models. Three test environments, a small office, a large hall, and an office suite were examined. Results showed that when a unique sensor system design was not needed, sensor systems designed using data from simpler airflow models could perform just as well as those designed using CFD data. Further, only for the small office did the common engineering sensor system design practice of placing a sensor at the exhaust result in sensor system performance that was equivalent to one designed using CFD data.     

The influence of ventilation on reactions among indoor pollutants: modeling and experimental observations

This study examines the influence of ventilation on chemical reactions among indoor pollutants. We have used a one compartment mass balance model to simulate unimolecular and bimolecular reactions occurring indoors. The initial modeling assumes steady-state conditions. However, at low air exchange rates, there may be insufficient time to achieve steady-state. Hence we have also modeled non steady-state scenarios. In the cases examined, the results demonstrate that the concentrations of products generated from reactions among indoor pollutants increase as the ventilation rate decreases. This is true for unimolecular and bimolecular reactions, regardless of whether the pollutants have indoor or outdoor sources. It is also true even when one of the pollutants has an outdoor concentration that displays large diurnal variations. We have supplemented the modeling studies with a series of experiments conducted in typical commercial offices. The reaction examined was that between ozone and limonene. The ozone was present as a consequence of outdoor-to-indoor transport while the limonene originated indoors. Results were obtained for low and high ventilation rates. Consistent with the modeling studies, the concentrations of monitored products were much larger at the lower ventilation rates (even though the ozone concentrations were lower). The potential for reactions among indoor pollutants to generate reactive and irritating products is an additional reason to maintain adequate ventilation in indoor environments.     

Data-based mechanistic modelling of indoor temperature distributions based on energy input

Energy used for building heating, ventilating and air conditioning contributes to a great share in the total energy consumption worldwide. Better understanding and management of energy distribution in those processes is essential for the improvement of process quality and efficiency of energy use. This paper presents the data-based mechanistic modelling approach which has been developed to model the dynamic indoor temperature distribution in an imperfectly mixed ventilated airspace based on energy input to the system. The combination of classical heat balance differential equations and the data-based modelling techniques for continuous-time system has brought a robust dynamic model suitable for model-based controlling and yet providing a profound insight at the energy and temperature distributions in ventilated systems. The effect of changing heat input on the temperature distribution inside a ventilated structure was studied. Dynamic response of indoor temperature to varying energy input could be explained by a second order transfer function model with a high coefficient of determination (R² > 0.99), a low Young Identification Criterion (YIC < −2.3) and a low model standard error (SE < 0.028 °C). The physically meaningful model parameters as local heat load fraction γ and the coefficient of local temperature change h (°C J⁻¹) were revealed. This modelling approach is very useful for future design of model-based predictive controller for zonal control of indoor temperature by the direct adjustment of heat load into ventilated structures.     

哈尔滨地区办公建筑夜间机械通风能耗及室内热环境分析

采用EnergyPlus软件对哈尔滨地区典型办公建筑在常规空调系统运行模式与夜间机械通风系统运行模式下的室内热环境和能耗进行了模拟。结果表明,在哈尔滨地区,白天室外最高温度高于24℃时都适合进行夜间机械通风,一共约60d,占空调运行期的72.3%;整个夏季空调运行期内,采用夜间机械通风系统该办公建筑节电量指标为1.15kWh/(m2.a),节省运行费用指标为1.02元/(m2.a);在人工制冷阶段,夜间机械通风模式下的室内热环境明显优于常规空调模式,且房间体积与表面积比越小,越有利于提高室内环境的热舒适性;当室内空气设计温度较高时,室内温度下降大,延迟人工制冷开启时间长,但是节能量未必比室内设计温度较低时高。     

A CFD-based test method for control of indoor environment and space ventilation

System dynamic simulation has been adopted to test and evaluate the local and supervisory control of air-conditioning systems for over twenty years, while the modeling of the space ventilation was usually simulated using perfect mixing models. However, the complete-mixing air model fails to consider the impact of non-uniform air temperature stratifications. This paper presents a CFD-based virtual test method for control and optimization of indoor environment by combining a ventilated room with a ventilation control system. The ventilated room and its dynamic ventilation control system are represented by a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model and models of the temperature sensor, PID controller and actuator and VAV damper model respectively. The ventilation and its control system are programmed using the user defined function program and interfaced with the CFD model. A space temperature offset model is developed to improve the accuracy of temperature measurement and control at the occupied zone as a virtual sensor. Case studies show that the ventilation control models can interoperate with the CFD simulation of the space online which presents a new application approach of CFD simulation for testing and developing control and optimal control strategy before a system is constructed practically. The use of the virtual sensor can effectively compensate the effect of non-uniform stratification on the temperature control and improve system control reliability in a mechanical ventilated room.     

Effect of ventilation and filtration on submicrometer particles in an indoor environment

The effect of filtration and ventilation on reduction of submicrometer particle concentration indoors was investigated in an office building. The air-handling system consisting of dry media filters and an air-conditioning unit, reduced particle concentration levels by 34%. The characteristics of indoor airborne particles were dominated by, and followed the pattern of, outdoor air, with vehicle combustion aerosols as the main pollutant. The ratio indoor/outdoor particle concentration varied between 14 and 26% for different sub-zones. The presence of significant source of particles indoors was not observed. A simple mathematical model predicting evolution of particles indoors is presented. The model, based on a particle number balance equation, was validated with experimental data and showed very good agreement between predicted and measured parameters.     

A multiple model approach for predictive control of indoor thermal environment with high resolution

Realtime and precise control strategies for indoor micro-climate are increasingly needed due to the requirements of thermal comfort and energy consumption saving in recent years. In this paper, a precise control scheme with high resolution is proposed for indoor thermal regulation. Finite volume method discretization/linearization are employed to construct the state-space model of the thermal process. Proper orthogonal decomposition method is further applied for model order reduction. On this basis, a multiple model approach is used to treat the thermodynamic coupling effect and a multi-model switching model predictive control (MPC) scheme is proposed for temperature tracking. Two cases including cooling and warming scenarios are designed, respectively, for performance validation. Results show that compared with the classic MPC method, the developed method can alleviate the model mismatch problem, and facilitate an optimal control of the spatial temperature in the considered ventilation room.     

Experimental performance investigation of natural,mechanical and hybrid ventilation in urban environment

An experimental investigation of the performance of natural, mechanical and hybrid ventilation systems was carried out in an urban measurement campaign during summer period 2002 in Athens, Greece. Three building apartments characterized by different geometry and located in two street canyons with different orientation were studied. The aim was to show the impact of the urban environment on the ventilation efficiency of natural and hybrid systems. The tracer gas decay method has been applied during the experimental procedures with one (N₂O) and two tracer gases (N₂O and SF₆). Based on the results of air-exchange rates using multizone methods from a previous study, a further analysis is performed in the present work for the evaluation of the performance of different ventilation systems in urban conditions, with emphasis on the ventilation efficiency. A methodology to estimate the air-exchange efficiency, on the basis of room mean age of air, in multitracer gas experiments is introduced. In spite of the reduced wind speeds due to the canyon effect, appreciable ventilation rates can be obtained with natural ventilation, especially when cross-ventilation with two or more windows is measured. For single-sided ventilation or under calm conditions, hybrid ventilation has only a slight advantage over natural, either in terms of air-exchange rates or of air-exchange efficiencies.     

Influence of acidic environment and temperature on mechanical behavior of cement-treated Masado and numerical modeling with a thermoelasto-viscoplastic model

Cement-treated Masado (CTM), as a common cement-mixed geomaterial, is usually only used in ground improvement for temporal structures in Japan. However, in recent years, it has been used for new permanent structures, such as the supporting ground of pile foundations and direct foundations. Masado, a completely decomposed granite, is distributed widely in Japan. However, the long-term stability of CMT has not been thoroughly investigated, despite that it has the risk of exposure to environmental changes in acid conditions and temperature, which are very common in volcanic areas in Japan. In this study, to investigate the influence of acidic environments and temperatures on the mechanical behavior of CMT, a systematic test program using uniaxial and triaxial tests was conducted on CMT specimens under different acidic environments, temperatures, and confining pressures. To avoid the extra influence of water on the mechanical behavior of CMT, a special double-cell was designed within the pressure chamber of the triaxial loading device so that the volumetric strain of the specimens completely sealed with rubber sleeve can be accurately measured in triaxial compression and creep tests. In addition, the chemical components of all the tested specimens are investigated by X-ray fluorescence spectrometry analysis to identify the influence of calcium leaching and hydration reactions in the curing period. Combined with the influence of the initial confining pressure, the influence of the acidic environment and temperature on the strength and dilatancy of CMT is carefully investigated. Based on the test results, a relation between the stress ratio at the critical state and the influential factors, including the initial confining pressure, acidic environment and temperature, is proposed by regression analyses. Meanwhile, an existing thermoelasto-viscoplastic model is modified to properly describe the influence of the abovementioned influential factors on the mechanical behavior CMT. The applicability of the modified model is then verified by triaxial compression and creep tests.     

Experimental investigation of the air flow and indoor carbon dioxide concentration in classrooms with intermittent natural ventilation

Air flow and the associated indoor carbon dioxide concentrations have been extensively monitored in 62 classrooms of 27 naturally ventilated schools in Athens, Greece. The specific ventilation patterns as well as the associated carbon dioxide concentrations, before, during and after the teaching period are analysed in detail. During the teaching period, only 23% of the measured classrooms presented a flow rate higher than the recommended value of 8 l/p/s while the mean daily fluctuation was close to 40%. About, 52% of the classrooms presented a mean indoor CO₂ concentration higher than 1000 ppm. The specific experimental data have been compared against existing ventilation rates and carbon dioxide concentrations using published information from 287 classrooms of 182 naturally ventilated schools and 900 classrooms from 220 mechanically ventilated schools. The relation between the air flow rates and the corresponding indoor carbon dioxide is analysed and then compared to the existing data from naturally and mechanically ventilated schools. It is found that all three data sets present a CO₂ concentration equal to 1000 ppm for air flows around 8 l/p/s. Specific adaptive actions to improve the indoor environmental quality have been recorded and the impact of indoor and ambient temperatures as well as of the carbon dioxide concentration on window opening is analysed in detail. A clear relation is found, between the indoor temperature at which the adapting action takes place and the resulting air flow rate. In parallel, a statistically significant relation between window opening and the indoor–outdoor temperature difference has been established.     

Computer modeling of displacement ventilation systems based on plume rise in stratified environment

A model for displacement ventilation system based on plume rise of single point heat source was developed. The errors for temperature gradient ratio were less than 6% in most cases. Errors for temperature gradient and displacement zone height were relatively higher (up to 28.1%) which might be due to the derivation of the parameters from experimental data. Still, the errors were lower than those from design model/method of some other workers (68.5% for the temperature gradient ratio and 15.7% for the temperature difference between the supply air and at 0.1 m above floor level). With a room height of 2.4 m (common for office in Hong Kong) and design room temperature 25.5 °C defined at 1.1 m above floor level under the normal load to air flow ratio of 12,000 W/m³/s (typical values for sub-tropical region) and minimum supply temperature of 18 °C, there existed a zone capacity range from 1000 to 5000 W that stand alone operation displacement ventilation system was feasible and that the displacement zone height (minimum 2.2 m) was above normal breathing level. The feasible zone capacity range diminished with decrease in design room temperature and/or room height. In this case, the load to air flow ratio had to be reduced, resulting in a higher flow rate when compared to a mixing ventilation system, or an auxiliary cooling facility such as a chilled ceiling had to be used.     

Air management modeling of condensing units in a confined space and its impact on the chiller system performance

The small air cooled chillers that serve an apartment building or residential villa often have the outdoor condensing units installed within a confined space. The installation distance between chiller and wall or between two chillers has significant impact on the chiller performance. In this study, three CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) approaches to condensing unit air management modeling are proposed and compared with each other first. The predicted air flow rates are compared to the test data as well. The comparison shows that the CFD approach with fan boundary definition is the most cost-effective, easy to be implemented, and accurate. Together with the chiller system modeling, a parametric study is further conducted to investigate the effect of the wall-chiller distance and the chiller-chiller distance on the chiller performance.     

建筑环境设计模拟分析软件DeST第8讲自然通风与机械通风系统的联合模拟分析

建筑通风对建筑环境的影响是直接而迅速的,因此对建筑热环境的模拟必须解决建筑通风的模拟问题。建筑的通风包括自然通风和机械通风,二者本质相同并且经常是同时发生的,计算时应该一起考虑,而不是分离开来。详细介绍了建筑热环境模拟软件DeST中根据多区域网络模型和管道流体网络模型发展出来的建筑通风的统一的网络模型,介绍其求解方法,并给出了建筑中常见的通风支路阻力模型,实现了建筑热环境和自然通风真正的耦合模拟。通过介绍几个利用通风模拟来分析解决设计中问题的实例,指出了建筑通风模拟的应用范围和实际意义。     

Inverse design of an indoor environment using a filter-based topology method with experimental verification

In order to create a healthy, comfortable, productive, and energy-efficient indoor environment, the computational fluid dynamics (CFD)-based adjoint method with an area-constrained topology method can be used to inversely design the optimal number, size, location, and shape of air supply inlets and air supply parameters. However, this method is not very mature, and the distribution of retained inlets is always scattered. To solve that problem, this investigation introduced a filter method that smooths the intermediate results during the inverse design process. Using a three-dimensional, non-isothermal, asymmetrical office with pre-set air supply inlets as an example, this study verified the performance of the proposed filter-based topology method. The verified method was then used to solve a multi-objective design problem and design an optimal indoor environment for a room. The results indicate that the proposed method was able to find the optimal number, location, and shape of air supply inlets and the optimal air supply temperature, velocity, and angle that led to a thermally comfortable, healthy, productive, and energy-efficient indoor environment. Finally, this investigation installed the optimal inlets in an environmental chamber to mimic the room. The measured air temperature, velocity, and mean age of air in several typical locations in the environmental chamber matched the CFD simulation results very closely.     

An experimental study on effects of increased ventilation flow on students' perception of indoor environment in computer classrooms

The effects of ventilation in computer classrooms were studied with university students (n = 355) in a blinded study, 31% were women and 3.8% had asthma. Two classrooms had a higher air exchange (4.1-5.2 ac/h); two others had a lower air exchange (2.3-2.6 ac/h). After 1 week, ventilation conditions were shifted. The students reported environmental perceptions during the last hour. Room temperature, RH, CO2, PM10 and ultra-fine particles were measured simultaneously. Mean CO2 was 1185 ppm at lower and 922 ppm at higher air exchange. Mean temperature was 23.2 degrees C at lower and 22.1 degrees C at higher air exchange. After mutual adjustment (temperature, RH, CO2, air exchange), measured temperature was associated with a perception of higher temperature (P < 0.001), lower air movement (P < 0.001), and poorer air quality (P < 0.001). Higher air exchange was associated with a perception of lower temperature (P < 0.001), higher air movement (P = 0.001), and better air quality (P < 0.001). In the longitudinal analysis (n = 83), increased air exchange caused a perception of lower temperature (P = 0.002), higher air movement (P < 0.001), better air quality (P = 0.001), and less odor (P = 0.02). In conclusion, computer classrooms have CO2 levels above 1000 ppm and temperatures above 22 degrees C. Increased ventilation from 7 l/s per person to 10-13 l/s per person can improve thermal comfort and air quality. PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: Computer classrooms are crowded indoor environments with a high thermal load from both students and computer equipment. It is important to control room temperature either by air conditioning, sun shields, or sufficiently high ventilation flow. A high ventilation flow is also crucial to achieving good perceived air quality. Personal ventilation flow should be at least 10 l/s. Possible loss of learning ability due to poor indoor air quality in university buildings deserves more attention.     

基于粗糙集理论的室内环境模糊评价方法

引入室内空气质量和噪声,结合温度、相对湿度、风速和平均辐射温度作为室内环境综合评价参数。应用粗糙集理论约简不必要的属性,建立了评价模型,确定了权重系数。在此模型基础上进行模糊变换计算出评价集。这种评价方法以居住者对建筑环境的评价值来衡量居住环境的舒适性,无需专家参与。     

A laboratory experiment on natural ventilation through a roof cavity for reduction of solar heat gain

The study targets the reduction of roof solar heat gain through the use of natural ventilation in a roof cavity. This study is mainly concerned with factory buildings. Experimental outcomes were obtained from an inclined cavity model which was heated on the upper surface to mimic solar radiation on a roof. The dimensions of the cavity were 4882 mm× 400 mm × 78 mm. The two opposing smallest sides were allotted as the inlet and outlet, and narrowed to simulate resistance of the air flow in practical applications. Temperature and velocity measuring facilities were prepared in the experimental model. A number of measurements were carried out by varying the combinations of different heat production, inclination angles, and opening ratios. It was found that resistance to heat and air flow in the cavity was strongly influenced by the opening size. When the Reynolds number was examined, it showed that the flow belonged to the laminar region. The average velocity reached to 0.25 m/s at the highest in the examined cases. In other words, the cavity air was turned over 184 times in an hour. Natural ventilation in the roof cavity seemed to be effectively applicable to solar incidence discharges in factory buildings.     

Prompt tracking of indoor airborne contaminant source location with probability-based inverse multi-zone modeling

Indoor air quality (IAQ) has a significant influence on occupants' comfort, health, productivity, and safety. Existing studies show that the primary causes of many IAQ problems are various airborne contaminants that either are generated indoors or penetrate into indoor environments with passive or active airflows. Accurate and prompt identification of contaminant sources can help determinate appropriate IAQ control solutions, such as, eliminating contaminant sources, isolating and cleaning contaminated spaces. This study develops a fast and effective inverse modeling method for identifying indoor contaminant source characteristics. The paper describes the principles of the probability-based adjoint inverse modeling method and formulates a multi-zone model based inverse prediction algorithm that can rapidly track contaminant source location with known source release time in a building with many compartments. The paper details the inverse modeling procedure with modification of an existing multi-zone airflow and contaminant transport simulation program. The application of the method has been demonstrated with two case studies: contaminant releases in a multi-compartment residential house and in a complex institutional building. The numerical experiments tested the source identification capability of the program for various contaminant sensing scenarios. The investigation verifies the effectiveness and accuracy of the developed method for indoor contaminant source tracking, which will be further explored to identify more complicated indoor contamination episodes.