Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) investigation of the thermal efficiency of micro climate conditioning of a typical workstation

Napper, Bryce (2006) Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) investigation of the thermal efficiency of micro climate conditioning of a typical workstation. [USQ Project]

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Abstract

Energy efficiency of buildings is becoming more critical, evidenced by the fact that building rating schemes and minimum efficiencies are now referenced in section J of the Building Code of Australia (BCA), and it would be reasonable to assume these requirements will be expanded in due course. This project aims to investigate micro climate air conditioning as an alternative to conditioning the entire space in order to provide a more efficient system to be implemented in typical office workspaces. Conventional air conditioning systems typically are based on supplying conditioned air at low velocity from ceiling mounted registers. The basis for a micro climate system is to provide low air quantities at a higher velocity and slightly higher temperature locally at the workstation level. Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) computer programs provide a predictive tool to simulate the resultant thermal output from an air conditioning system. The effectiveness of a micro climate system was tested in a typical open plan office workstation. Phoenics CFD software was used to provide results on the expected thermal gradients in the space which was then compared against the data compiled from two data loggers located both at the workstation and the ceiling level. Reasonable correlations between the CFD analysis and the data loggers output were achieved. A number of assumptions were made in order to develop the CFD model, which appear to have been substantiated particularly for the summer conditions. A number of variables were changed to improve the performance of the system; some of these were immediately implemented with favourable results.

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Item Type:	USQ Project
Refereed:	No
Item Status:	Live Archive
Faculty/School / Institute/Centre:	Historic - Faculty of Engineering and Surveying - Department of Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering (Up to 30 Jun 2013)
Supervisors:	Ruth Mossad
Date Deposited:	11 Oct 2007 01:11
Last Modified:	29 Nov 2013 01:04
Uncontrolled Keywords:	building code of Australia (BCA); fluid dynamics; thermal control; air conditioning; ventilation
Fields of Research (2008):	09 Engineering > 0913 Mechanical Engineering > 091399 Mechanical Engineering not elsewhere classified 12 Built Environment and Design > 1204 Engineering Design > 120402 Engineering Design Knowledge 09 Engineering > 0915 Interdisciplinary Engineering > 091501 Computational Fluid Dynamics
Fields of Research (2020):	40 ENGINEERING > 4017 Mechanical engineering > 401799 Mechanical engineering not elsewhere classified 40 ENGINEERING > 4010 Engineering practice and education > 401001 Engineering design 40 ENGINEERING > 4012 Fluid mechanics and thermal engineering > 401204 Computational methods in fluid flow, heat and mass transfer (incl. computational fluid dynamics)
Socio-Economic Objectives (2008):	E Expanding Knowledge > 97 Expanding Knowledge > 970109 Expanding Knowledge in Engineering
URI:	https://sear.unisq.edu.au/id/eprint/2630

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