On The Performance Of Stratified Ventilation

People nowadays spend most of their time indoors, for example in their homes, cars, in trains, at work, etc. In Sweden, the energy demand in the built environment is a growing issue. The building sector accounts for 40% of total energy use and 15% of total CO2 emissions, and around one-third of the energy use in the world is related to providing a healthy and good comfort indoors. To achieve acceptable indoor climates new designs for the ventilation systems have been proposed in recent decades, among them stratified ventilation systems. Stratified ventilation is a concept that often allows good performance for both indoor air quality and thermal comfort. Stratified ventilation systems are effective in reducing cross contamination, since there is virtually no mixing in the space; the temperature and the pollutant concentration increase linearly from the heat source with the height of the occupied zone. There are many different ventilation supply devices using the stratified principle, such as displacement supply device (DSD), impinging jet supply device (IJSD) and wall confluent jet supply device (WCJSD). The main aim of this thesis is to analyze and compare different supply devices based on stratified ventilation, with different setups, related to thermal indoor climate, energy efficiency and ventilation efficiency. The ultimate goal is to contribute to an increased understanding of how ventilation systems with stratified supply devices perform. Two scientific methods have mainly been used in this thesis, i.e., experimental and numerical investigations. For numerical experiments the CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) code ANSYS and FIDAP have been used. Experimental studies have been performed with thermocouples, Hot-Wire Anemometry (HWA) and Hot-Sphere Anemometry, thermal comfort measurement equipment and tracer gas measurement equipment. This thesis mainly focuses on three research questions: Interaction between a supply device based on stratified ventilation and downdraft from windows; Flow behavior, energy performance and air change effectiveness for different supply devices based on stratified ventilation; and Thermal comfort for different supply devices based on stratified ventilation. Research question one showed that the arrangement of displacement supply device and window in cold climate has significant effect on the flow pattern below the window. Different supply airflow rates have an effect on both the velocity and the temperature of the downdraft. In this case the velocity decreased by approximately 9.5% and the temperature in the downdraft decreased 0.5°C when the flowrate from the supply device increased from 10 to 15 l/s. Research question two showed that airflow patterns between different air supply systems were essentially related to characteristics of air supply devices, such as the type, configuration and position, as well as air supply velocities and momentum. For WCJSD, IJSD and DSD, positions of heat sources (such as occupant, computers, lights and external heat sources) played an important role in formation of the room airflow pattern. One interesting observation is that the temperature in the occupied zone is lower and a more stratified temperature field implies a more efficient heat removal by a stratified air supply device. The results revealed that the lowest temperature in the occupied zone was achieved for DSD, but with IJSD and WCJSD slightly warmer, while the system with a mixing supply device (MSD) showed a much higher temperature. The results confirm that air change effectiveness (ACE) for the DSD, WCJSD and IJSD is close to each other. However, MSD shows lower ACE in all the present papers than IJSD, WCJSD and DSD. Research question three showed that ventilation systems with stratified supply devices in almost all of the studied cases showed an acceptable level for predicted percentage dissatisfied (PPD), predicted mean vote (PMV) and percentage dissatisfied due to draft (DR). If comparing ventilation systems, using IJSD, WCJSD or DSD with MSD always showed thermal comfort better or at the same level. Människor spenderar en stor del av sin tid inomhus, exempelvis i sina bostäder och bilar, på tåg och på arbetet. Sveriges energibehov i den byggda miljön har en växande trend. Byggnadssektorn står för 40 % av det totala energibehovet och för 15 % av CO2 utsläppet och för cirka en tredjedel av energianvändningen i världen för att tillhandahålla en hälsosam och bra inomhusmiljö. För att skapa en bra inomhusmiljö har nya sätt att ventilera inomhusmiljön utvecklats under de senaste årtiondena. De olika principer som används för att ventilera en byggnad kan indelas i: kolvströmning, omblandande strömning och deplacerande strömning. De genererar rumsförhållanden som ger olika fördelning av hastighet, temperatur och föroreningar i det ventilerade utrymmet. Stratifierad ventilation är ett koncept som ofta ger ett bra utfall av både inomhusluftkvalitet och termisk komfort. Stratifierade system är effektiva för att minska korskontaminering, eftersom det nästan inte finns någon omblandning i rummet, temperaturen och föroreningskoncentration ökar linjärt från värmekällan med höjden i vistelsezonen. Det finns många olika ventilationsdon som använder den stratifierade principen, såsom deplacerande ventilationsdon (DSD), impinging jet-ventilationsdon (IJSD) och väggbaserad confluent jet-ventilationsdon (WCJSD). Huvudsyftet med denna avhandling är att analysera och jämföra olika tilluftsdon baserat på stratifierad princip i olika rumskonfigurationer med avseende på termiskt inomhusklimat, energieffektivitet och ventilationseffektivitet. Det yttersta målet är att bidra till ökad förståelse för hur ventilationssystem med olika stratifierade tilluftsdon fungerar. Två vetenskapliga metoder har huvudsakligen använts i denna avhandling: experimentella och numeriska analyser. För numeriska analyser har CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) använts. De simuleringsprogram som utnyttjats för detta ändamål är ANSYS och FIDAP. Experimenten har utförts med hjälp av termoelement, varmtråds- och varmsfärsteknik, mätutrustning för termisk komfort och mätutrustning för spårgas. Denna avhandling fokuserar framför allt på tre forskningsfrågor: interaktion mellan ett tilluftsflöde från ett deplacerande don och kallraset från ett fönster; strömningsbilden, energiprestandan och luftbyteseffektiviteten för olika tilluftsdon baserat på stratifierad ventilation; och termisk komfort för olika tilluftsdon baserade på stratifierad ventilation. Forskningsfråga ett visade att kombinationen av tilluftsflöde genom ett deplacerande don och fönster i kallt klimat har tydlig effekt på strömningsbilden för kallraset under fönstret. Olika tilluftsflöden har en effekt på både hastigheten och temperaturen i kallraset. I detta fall minskade hastigheten med ca 9,5% och temperaturen i kallraset minskade med 0,5°C när flödeshastigheten från tilluftsdonet ökade från 10 till 15 l/s. Forskningsfråga två visade att luftflödesmönstren mellan olika luftförsörjningssystem väsentligen var relaterade till egenskaper hos tilluftsdonen, såsom typ, konfiguration och position samt lufttillförselhastigheter och impulskraft. För WCJSD, IJSD och DSD spelade värmekällans placering, d.v.s. människor, datorer, belysning och externa värmekällor, en viktig roll vid utformningen av rummets luftflödesmönster. En intressant observation är att temperaturen i vistelsezonen är lägre och rummet har ett mer stratifierat temperaturfält, vilket innebär en effektivare ventilering av den zonen. Resultaten visade att den lägsta temperaturen i vistelsezonen uppnåddes för DSD medan IJSD och WCJSD visade en något högre temperatur, systemet med ett omblandande don (MSD) visade en påtagligt högre temperatur. Resultaten bekräftar också att luftförändringseffektiviteten (ACE) för DSD, WCJSD och IJSD ligger nära varandra. MSD visar dock i alla ingående artiklar lägre ACE än IJSD, WCJSD och DSD. Forskningsfråga tre visade att ventilationssystem med stratifierade tilluftsdon i nästan samtliga studerade fallen haren acceptabel nivå för predicted mean vote (PPD), predicted mean vote (PMV) och percentage dissatisfied due to draft (DR). Om man jämförde ventilationssystem IJSD, WCJSD eller DSD med MSD visade det sig alltid att den termiska komforten var bättre eller på samma nivå som för MSD.

HVAC systems, load shifting, indoor climate, and energy and ventilation performance analyses are the key topics when improving energy performance in new and renovated buildings. This development has been boosted by the recently established nearly zero energy building requirements that will soon be in use in all EU Member States, as well as similar long-term zero energy building targets in Japan, the US, and other countries. The research covered in this Special Issue provides evidence of how new technical solutions have worked, in practice, in new or renovated buildings, and also discusses problems and how solutions should be further developed. Another focus is on the more detailed calculation methods needed for the correct design and sizing of dedicated systems, and for accurate quantification of energy savings. Occupant behavior and building operation is also examined, in order to avoid common performance gaps between calculated and measured performance. These topics demonstrate the challenge of high performance buildings as, in the end, comfortable buildings with good indoor climate which are easy and cheap to operate and maintain are expected by end customers. Ventilation performance, heating and cooling, sizing, energy predictions and optimization, load shifting, and field studies are some of the key topics in this Special Issue, contributing to the future of high performance buildings with reliable operation.

This book covers advanced theories and methods in the field of heat and mass transfer, which are expected to improve thermal systems performance and energy efficiency. It reports on novel findings relating to a wide range of topics in industry, building, transportation and agriculture. Offering a good balance of fundamental and applied research, this book provides scientists, engineers and other professionals with a timely snapshot on advances in thermal science, renewable energies and sustainable energy technologies. It also offers a source of inspiration for future research and collaborations.

This guide is ideal for HVAC design engineers, architects, building owners, facility managers, equipment manufacturers and installers, utility engineers, researchers, and other users of underfloor air distribution (UFAD) technology. UFAD systems are innovative methods for delivering space conditioning in offices and other commercial buildings. Improved Thermal Comfort, Improved Ventilation Efficiency and Indoor Air Quality, Reduced Energy Use and Reduced Life-Cycle Building Costs -- The guide explains these as some of the advantages that UFAD systems have over traditional overhead air distribution systems. This guide provides assistance in the design of UFAD systems that are energy efficient, intelligently operated, and effective in their performance. It also describes important research results that support current thinking on UFAD design and includes an extensive annotated bibliography for those seeking additional detailed information.

This book has been written by two experts in ventilation and indoor air quality with vast experience in the field of kitchen ventilation in both Asia and Europe. The authors share their extensive knowledge of the subject and present the results of their research programs as well those of other researchers. Discussing advanced theories of and design approaches for kitchen ventilation, it is a useful reference resource for a wide range of readers, including HVAC researchers, designers and architects.

This book presents system performance evaluation, and includes a 10-step design guideline for displacement ventilation systems for U.S. buildings. These design guidelines present two important models: 1) to calculate the temperature difference between the head and the foot level of an occupant; and 2) one to determine the ventilation effectiveness at the breathing level.The book notes that: A displacement ventilation system can provide a thermally comfortable indoor environment at a high cooling load through careful design. The indoor air quality in a space with displacement ventilation is better if the contaminant sources are associates with the heat sources. The displacement ventilation system can also save energy but requires a separate heating system if it is applied to building perimeter zones. 6 x 9, soft cover.

The Indoor Air - An Integrated Approach international workshop, held in Australia, 27 November - 1 December 1994, provided an unequalled forum for the development of an integrated approach to the research, health risk assessment and management of indoor air quality. The aims of the workshop were to discuss strategies for comprehensive characterisation of indoor air; develop a framework for integrated health risk assessment; integrate strategies for controlling and managing all indoor air pollutants; and define areas for future research that will lead to an overall improvement of indoor air quality.

Proceedings of the 8th International Symposium on Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning is based on the 8th International Symposium of the same name (ISHVAC2013), which took place in Xi’an on October 19-21, 2013. The conference series was initiated at Tsinghua University in 1991 and has since become the premier international HVAC conference initiated in China, playing a significant part in the development of HVAC and indoor environmental research and industry around the world. This international conference provided an exclusive opportunity for policy-makers, designers, researchers, engineers and managers to share their experience. Considering the recent attention on building energy consumption and indoor environments, ISHVAC2013 provided a global platform for discussing recent research on and developments in different aspects of HVAC systems and components, with a focus on building energy consumption, energy efficiency and indoor environments. These categories span a broad range of topics, and the proceedings provide readers with a good general overview of recent advances in different aspects of HVAC systems and related research. As such, they offer a unique resource for further research and a valuable source of information for those interested in the subject. The proceedings are intended for researchers, engineers and graduate students in the fields of Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC), indoor environments, energy systems, and building information and management. Angui Li works at Xi’an University of Architecture and Technology, Yingxin Zhu works at Tsinghua University and Yuguo Li works at The University of Hong Kong.