Task 05-09. Application of Computational Fluid Dynamics for High Energy Efficiency Design with Human Comfort of CAD – VAV and UFAD Systems

Objective

In recent years HVAC system has been applied widely to provide thermal comfort and maintain good indoor air quality (IAQ). These conditions also are essential for a quality, high performance environment. However, HVAC system design has been strongly influenced by increasing emphasis on indoor air quality (IAQ), energy conservation, environmental effects, safety, and economics. The relative placement of system component can significantly affect the thermal comfort and energy performance of the air handling system. To design high energy efficiency with human comfort HVAC Systems, it is necessary to gather the detailed information about the behaviors of the air flow in both the spaces and the rooms of the building. The fundamental information concerning the flow comprises air velocity, temperature, relative humidity, and species concentrations. All these parameters are important in assessing thermal comfort and indoor air quality. The conventional design of ventilation systems normally relies on valuable know-how, empirical formulas and past experience. Although practical knowledge and basic methods provide successful solutions, this type of engineering cannot take into account specific air flow patterns which are affected not only by the positioning of openings and exhausts in a room, but by the distribution of objects and energy sources as well. Consequences related to the absence of these elements include over-designing and unnecessary cost

Subtask 1 will conduct a review of the scientific and trade literatures to evaluate what have been reported from field investigations and compare with results between experimental and numerical studies. In Subtask 2 the design of geometry and mesh generation for different types of CAD-VAV and UFAD Systems will be established. In Subtask 3 CFD models and numerical analysis on 3-D air flow and thermal performance will be performed. In Subtask 4 will analyze energy efficiency and thermal performance of CAD – VAV and UFAD systems based on numerical data.

Major Sub-awardees

This project is being executed by the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. The Principal Investigator is Yitung Chen, Ph.D., Associate Professor.
This project was initiated October 1, 2005 and will be completed in 12 months.