Experimental study of the influence of a moving manikin on temperature profile and carbon dioxide distribution under three air distribution methods

• The influence of movements is studied under three air distribution methods.
• Different moving speeds and different moving routes are tested.
• Movements can transport carbon dioxide under displacement ventilation.
• Stratum ventilation has potential for application even with frequent movements.

The influence of occupants' movements is seldom considered in room air distribution studies. However, sedentary and walking occupants mix in many conditioned rooms, such as in an open plan office. The influence of movements on the room air distribution has been reported. In this paper, series of tests under three air distribution methods (stratum ventilation, displacement ventilation and mixing ventilation) with a moving manikin are conducted. The manikin is moving at speeds of 1.0 m/s and 0.5 m/s, along two moving routes respectively. Velocity, temperature and CO2 concentration are measured to determine the influence on air distribution. The results show that temperature profile and CO2 distribution are not influenced significantly by a short-time movement. When the movement lasts for a long time, the moving manikin produces a mixing effect and reduces the ventilation effectiveness. The influence under mixing ventilation is the smallest. The influence under stratum ventilation is smaller than that under displacement ventilation. Stratum ventilation has higher ventilation effectiveness at the occupant's head level than that of the other two air distribution methods. The results show the application potential of stratum ventilation under a condition with frequent movements.