Article ID Journal Published Year Pages File Type
668893 International Journal of Thermal Sciences 2012 13 Pages PDF
Abstract

The present paper deals with CFD study of flow and thermal characteristics in air-conditioned rooms under turbulent mixed convection conditions. Air enters room from a sidewall slot flush with isothermal ceiling and leaves through a slot in opposite wall flush with floor. Velocity and temperature distributions are determined by a CFD model that has been previously validated by comparison with experimental data. Rigorous dimensional analysis shows that performance of the air-distribution system depends on: supply Reynolds number Red, Grashof number Grd (or Archimedes number Ard), room aspect ratio L/H, dimensionless heights of supply and return ports (d/H and t/H), where H is room height. For a room with fixed geometry, the effects of Red and Grd (or Ard) are investigated systematically by varying one parameter at a time. Results show that ceiling average Nusselt number (Nud,av) increases with Red and decreases with Grd (or Ard). For a given Grd, the heat removal index (HRI) increases with Red up to Red ≈ 9000, then stays practically constant thereafter. For a given Red, HRI decreases with increasing Grd (or Ard). A criterion for distinction between forced and mixed convection situations is developed, resulting in a critical Archimedes number of 0.11. Results further indicate that Ard alone, irrespective of the particular values of Red and Grd, determines to a reasonable extent Nud,av and HRI when Ard is above its critical value. Streamlines and temperature contours are found to be consistent with other results and helped explain them.

► Performance of mixing air-distribution system in room is investigated under mixed convection conditions using CFD. ► Rigorous dimensional analysis is conducted to establish dimensionless parameters that govern performance of ventilation system. ► Effects of Red and Grd on ceiling average Nud, HRI, and ηe are investigated. ► Convection regimes in room ventilation are identified in terms of critical Archimedes number (Ard,cr). ► In mixed convection regime, performance of ventilation system is determined to a large extent by Ard alone.

Related Topics
Physical Sciences and Engineering Chemical Engineering Fluid Flow and Transfer Processes
Authors
, , ,