Application of Coupling of CFD and Human and Clothing Thermal Response in Ceiling Mounted Localized Air Distribution Systems in Winter Conditions

Abstract

This work presents and applies a numerical model, developed by the authors in the last years, that considers the coupling of the CFD (Computational Fluids Dynamics) and HCTR (Human and Clothing Thermal Response). The coupling system, itself, generates the external occupants’ surfaces and the surrounding surfaces and transfers the inputs/outputs between the CFD and HCTS numerical models. The input of the compartment, using the CAD (Computational Aid Design), the location of the occupants and the external environmental variables are introduced in the software, while the occupants’ geometry is generated by empirical equations, based in height and weight. The study is made in a virtual chamber occupied by twelve virtual manikins, six desks and twelve seats and equipped with a new ceiling mounted localized air distribution system. The ventilated system is equipped with an inlet system, built with two horizontal ducts, and an extraction system, built with six ducts. The inlet horizontal ducts consider twelve jets located above the head and in front to the occupants’ level and twelve jets located above the desk area. In the present study the thermal comfort level, the air quality level and the ADI (Air Distribution Index) are calculated, for an inlet air velocity of 1, 3 and 5 m/s, in winter conditions. The ADI index is highest for highest inlet air velocities.