Potential of stratum ventilation to satisfy differentiated comfort requirements in multi-occupied zones

It is desirable to establish collective air distribution systems to simultaneously accommodate individual preferences for the thermal comfort parameters of different occupants. In the study, the potential of stratum ventilation for providing differentiated thermal parameters in different occupied zones in a shared space according to different thermal comfort requirements is numerically investigated with air supply temperatures from different inlets that are adjusted independently. Eight cases are set up, and the numerically calculated results are analyzed in terms of air velocity, temperature, and PMV distributions with respect to different occupied zones. It is concluded that: (1) the differentiated zonal thermal environment is obtained in two occupied zones facing two different supply air inlets groups to satisfy individual requirements for thermal comfort. The control effect on the occupied zones in the first row exceeds that in the second row; (2) the zonal thermal environment is obtained in the room such that both the general and local thermal comfort levels are satisfied; and (3) the difference in zonal thermal parameters increases by increasing the difference in supply air temperature from different inlets groups and is influenced by the heat source distribution. The study may provide guidance for accommodating individual preferences for the thermal environment with collective air distribution systems.