Life cycle assessment of residential ventilation units in a cold climate

The life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology is used in this paper to assess the environmental impacts of residential ventilation units over a 50 year life cycle in Finland. Quantifying the consumption of the energy and material resources during the life cycle permits the estimation of the harmful emissions into the environment (air, water and soil) and the potential changes in the environment (climate change, acidification and ozone production). Two different ventilation units are evaluated, both of which include air-to-air energy exchangers. The research demonstrates that a residential ventilation unit, with a function of providing 50 l/s of outdoor ventilation air, but not heating the air, has a net positive impact on the environment when it is equipped with a air-to-air energy exchanger with an effectiveness greater than 15%. The greater the effectiveness, the greater the positive impact on the environment.     

Natural ventilation in the double skin facade with venetian blind

As a new-style building, the thermal performance of double skin facade with the venetian blind cannot be predicted for the absence of suitable tool. In the paper, a detailed analysis of the thermal process in glass double facade with venetian blind was made. The governing equations were solved by comprising CFD, optical and heat balance model for multi-layer transparent system. It is shown that the more complex natural ventilation exists in the two air gaps divided by venetian blind, which cannot be reflected with the simplified model. Comparing the simulation results with the experiment data in the literature, a good agreement was achieved. Hence, it can be used as a reliable tool to analyze the ventilation in the double skin facade with a venetian blind.     

正压送风量的一种计算方法

针对装有正压送风系统的高层建筑，分析了影响正压送风量分配状况的因素，这些相关因素包括送风部位，同时开门楼层数和开门门洞的风速。提出了以门开启时通过门洞的空气流足以阻挡着火层或有烟层烟气流的水平扩散为基础的正压送风量计算公式。     

送风高度对碰撞射流热风供暖房间热环境影响的实测研究

在人工气候室内,对碰撞射流通风两种送风高度下的室内温度与气流速度进行了实测。结果表明:碰撞射流送风高度对室内温度竖直分布影响不大,但对紧贴地面的空气温度的衰减过程有明显影响;送风高度对室内气流分布有较大影响,增大送风高度可以减小地面附近气流的速度,但增大了离地面较远处的风速;由于送风高度较低时近风口处的空气温度较高,导致碰撞射流热风供暖时送风口越低,人体吹风感越小。     

Energy consumption and ventilation performance of a naturally ventilated ecological house in a cold climate

In this paper, the thermal and ventilation performance of an ecological house in Helsinki, Finland are presented. The single-family dwelling has a well-insulated, wooden frame construction with no plastic vapour retarder. The measured and simulated results show that the energy consumption of the house is low and that the outdoor ventilation rate is generally satisfactory based on the measured CO₂ concentrations. Extrapolating the measured ventilation data shows that, when the operable windows are closed, the ventilation rate is expected to be about 0.45 air-changes-per-hour (ach) in the winter and about 0.25 ach in the summer. The consumption of total primary energy and space heating energy were measured to be 30% less (162 kWh/(m² a)) and 36% less (76 kWh/(m² a)) than in typical Finnish houses, respectively. The paper also uses a numerical model to investigate the sensitivity of energy consumption to the insulation level, household electricity and domestic hot water consumption, window area, ventilation rate and heat recovery effectiveness.     

CFD study on effect of the air supply location on the performance of the displacement ventilation system

The purpose of this paper is to investigate using a numerical simulation (computational fluid dynamics or CFD) the effect of the air supply location on the design and performance of the displacement ventilation (DV) system. The results are reported in terms of thermal comfort and indoor air quality. The study focuses on the typical Hong Kong office under local thermal and boundary conditions. This includes the high cooling load used in Hong Kong. Several pollutants typically found in the office such as carbon dioxide and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were investigated. The results indicate that the supply should be located near the center of the room rather than to one side of the room. This will provide a more uniform thermal condition in the office. The DV system was found to be effective in dispersing VOCs within an office environment for all cases studied. The exhaust was found to have minimal effect on the thermal comfort. For a DV system in Hong Kong, it is possible to use 100% fresh air without extra energy consumption.     

Optimal supply air temperature with respect to energy use in a variable air volume system

In a variable air volume (VAV) system with 100% outdoor air, the cooling need in the building is satisfied with a certain air flow at a certain supply air temperature. To minimize the system energy use, an optimal supply air temperature can be set dependent on the load, specific fan power (SFP), chiller coefficient of performance, outdoor temperature and the outdoor relative humidity. The theory for an optimal supply air temperature is presented and the heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) energy use is calculated depending on supply air temperature control strategy, average U-value of the building envelope and two outdoor climates. The analyses show that controlling the supply air temperature optimally results in a significantly lower HVAC energy use than with a constant supply air temperature. The optimal average U-value of the building envelope is in practise mostly zero.     

着火楼层有无送风口对楼梯间加压送风的影响

通过建立建筑模型,运用FDS软件,对着火楼层有无送风口对楼梯间加压送风系统的防烟效果的影响进行模拟研究。火源设置在一层,设置每层有送风口、奇数层有送风口和偶数层有送风口的工况。研究发现,当着火楼层楼梯间内设有送风口时,加压送风系统工作良好。而当着火楼层楼梯间内没有送风口时,烟气在很短的时间内侵入楼梯间,导致楼梯间内的温度较高,将造成人员的伤亡。结果表明:着火楼层没有送风口将导致加压送风系统失效。建议对于需要设置加压送风系统的楼梯间,应在楼梯间每层都设置送风口,以保证在火灾发生时建筑物内人员的安全疏散。     

The fluid mechanics of the natural ventilation of a narrow-cavity double-skin facade

This paper investigates the natural ventilation of a double-skin facade connected to a room in a multi-storey building. The room and the facade are connected to the exterior through vents at different levels. The room contains a horizontally distributed heat source analogous to occupants in an open-plan office or an underfloor heating system. The facade cavity contains a vertically distributed heat source analogous to a shading blind/louvers heated by solar radiation. These two sources of heat combine to provide buoyancy driving the ventilation. Two basic modes of facade operation are proposed and investigated. These two modes of operation should be alternated according to exterior climatic conditions. In colder seasons, the room draws air from the portion of the facade which extends one floor below the room, and solar radiation on the facade preheats supply air into the room. In warmer seasons, the room vents to the exterior through the portion of the facade which extends one floor above the room, and solar radiation on the facade enhances the ventilation and prevents overheating in the system. A quantitative model is developed to describe the fluid mechanics of the ventilation in these two modes of operation. The model is successfully tested with laboratory experiments. It shows how the height of the facade and the size of the openings can be adjusted to maximise the preheating of the room in colder seasons, and to prevent overheating in the room and the facade in warmer seasons. The model is used to explore the principles for design and control in different climatic and occupancy conditions.     

Thermal comfort and IAQ assessment of under-floor air distribution system integrated with personalized ventilation in hot and humid climate

The potential for improving occupants’ thermal comfort with personalized ventilation (PV) system combined with under-floor air distribution (UFAD) system was explored through human response study. The hypothesis was that cold draught at feet can be reduced when relatively warm air is supplied by UFAD system and uncomfortable sensation as “warm head” can be reduced by the PV system providing cool and fresh outdoor air at the facial level. A study with 30 human subjects was conducted in a Field Environmental Chamber. The chamber was served by two dedicated systems – a primary air handling unit (AHU) for 100% outdoor air that is supplied through the PV air terminal devices and a secondary AHU for 100% recirculated air that is supplied through UFAD outlets. Responses of the subjects to the PV-UFAD system were collected at various room air and PV air temperature combinations. The analyses of the results obtained reveal improved acceptability of perceived air quality and improved thermal sensation with PV-UFAD in comparison with the reference case of UFAD alone or mixing ventilation with ceiling supply diffuser. The local thermal sensation at the feet was also improved when warmer UFAD supply air temperature was adopted in the PV-UFAD system.     

热车间内有局部排风时自然通风量的计算

分析了现有手册中车间内有局部排风时消除车间余热所需自然通风量计算公式中存在的问题，通过车间内的热平衡和空气平衡，推出了合理的计算公式，并进行了探讨。     

某实验室通风空调系统设计

通过对某实验室通风空调系统的具体设计要点及设备的选型过程进行分析,依据实验室设计的原则及业主的要求,设定了送排风量、空调方式及控制方式,以满足实验室环境要求。     

某药厂混合车间空调通风系统改造

针对某药厂混合车间室内空气不够新鲜、洁净走廊与各功能间的静压差波动较大、各功能间正静压值难于保证等现象，分析了其主要原因，提出了系统改造方案。调试结果表明改造后的系统能达到GMP要求。     

置换通风在某车间空调改造中的应用

分析了原有工程空调系统存在的夏季室温降不下来、室内空气品质差等问题,改造设计中采用了水平置换通风空调系统,改造后空调系统运行良好。介绍了设计经验,认为置换通风空调方式在大空间工艺性空调中使用有其优越性,提出了发展这种空调方式尚需解决的一些问题。     

Investigation of a windvent passive ventilation device against current fresh air supply recommendations

Recent ecological and political developments have created an increased focus on sustainable energy sources. The purpose of this paper is to examine a passive ventilation device, the windvent, and evaluate its potential against current British Standards BS5952:1991 [British Standards, Ventilation principles and designing for natural ventilation, BS5925:1991 (1991)] recommended fresh air delivery rates. The results provide useful information for both engineers and architects when examining ways to reduce new and existing buildings running costs, and conform to new legislation. Numerical analysis is carried out using a commercial Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) code, to investigate the effect of various external wind velocities (1–5 m/s) and directions (concurrent and counter current) on the device performance. The results show that the windvent is capable of providing recommended rates of fresh air supply even at relatively low incident wind velocities. The performance indications show that the device warrants further analysis and provides a sustainable alternative ventilation system.     

Thermal behaviour of a ventilated double skin facade in hot arid climate

Modern Movement in architecture has resulted in a large number of high-rise buildings with glazed facades which increase the energy load of the buildings. To combat this phenomenon in colder climates, architects have turned to using double skin facades. These facades comprise of: a completely transparent external facade; an internal skin; and an air layer between the two. Research on the performance of double skin facades mostly considers cold and moderate climates. In addition, data collection is normally based on simulations, rather than actual field measurements. In this paper a building with double skin facade was monitored for 2 weeks in summer and 2 weeks in winter in the hot arid climate of Iran, in order to observe the behaviour of the facade both in hot and cold conditions. Additionally, simulations were performed on the case study building with and without double skin facade, to assess the effectiveness of the facade. The results revealed that the temperature difference between the outer skin, the inner skin and the cavity can significantly save heating energy in winter. To reduce the cooling loads in summer it is essential to introduce additional techniques such as night ventilation and installation of shading devices for the cavity.     

地板送风技术条件与舒适条件的研究

本文阐明了下部送风房间热力分层和垂直温度分布规律，给出了确定垂直温度分布曲线的方法及确定最佳送风量的原理。为了计算冷负荷，作者初步推荐了不同位置热源的负荷系数，并且说明了如何决策送风口的型式与数量和相关数据。最后在实验基础上分析了地板空调的热感觉，其结果说明这种送风系统在适宜的风量与温度下能够提供舒适条件，并使风感百分数低于１５％。     

内呼吸玻璃幕墙热工性能研究

本文采用CFD模拟计算了内呼吸玻璃幕墙的稳态热工过程,比较了不同通风量和有无遮阳条件下内呼吸玻璃幕墙内层玻璃内表面温度分布,讨论了内呼吸玻璃幕墙的传热系数的概念,定量分析了呼吸玻璃幕墙使用遮阳措施的节能效果。     

Real climate experimental study of two double window systems with preheating of ventilation air

This paper aims to characterize the thermal performance of a window system that consists in doubling an existing window, converting it into a ventilated double window. The air coming from the outside circulates upwards through the channel between windows and enters the building through a vent on the top of the window's case. A series of experimental measurements was conducted in a test cell exposed to real outdoor weather conditions located in a mountain region at Centre of Portugal, during heating season in order to determine how this window system can act as a heat exchanger. It was found that such window system act as an efficient heat exchanger using transmission heat losses and solar radiation to preheat ventilation air, thus reducing the building's operational energy costs. An average of about 19 m³/h of air flow rate was found with an air temperature increment within the air gap of about 6 °C, during night-time, for an indoor/outdoor temperature difference of about 16 °C. Air temperature increment reached up to 12 °C using a plastic shutter. With solar radiation, the average of that increment was about 10 °C. This is a simple and cheap building technology which can be implemented both in new and existing buildings.