Modeling air exchange in office premises using a microperforated fabric air duct

Summary

The issues of improving the quality of the internal environment of an office building using an advanced air dispersion device – a fabric air duct with micro-orifices are considered. The advantage of this device is supplying the incoming air by jets with a low impulse allowing to locate the devices near the working space in offices eliminating the risk of drafts at the working places. The purpose of the work is a comparative numerical calculation of the efficiency of arranging the air exchange in an office building with two air supply schemes: through supply grilles and through a fabric air duct with microperforation. Modeling was carried out using the commercial STAR-CCM + software package. The system of Reynolds equations with closure using the k-ω SST turbulence model (Mentor) is used to describe the air movement. As part of the study, data on the nature of the change in temperature and air speed along the height of the working area of the office were obtained. It has been determined that while air is supplied through the supply grilles, the temperature (23.3–27.2 °C) and air speed (0.06–0.22 m/s) meet the permissible microclimate standards (GOST 30494-2011); while arranging the air exchange with the use of a microperforated air duct they correspond to the optimal parameters (temperature 23.1–25.4 °С, air speed 0.09–0.13 m/s) that are comfortable for the human body. Thus, the use of a microperforated air duct enhances the efficiency of heat surplus assimilation in comparison with traditional air distribution devices (ventilation grilles).

Key words

numerical simulation , ventilation , control volume approach CFD , air distribution , heat-mass exchange , microperforated fabric air duct