Multi-zone indoor CFD under limited information: An approach coupling solar analysis and BIM for improved accuracy. (20th January 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kwok, Helen H.L.; Cheng, Jack C.P.; Li, Alison T.Y.; Tong, Jimmy C.K.; Lau, Alexis K.H.
• Is Part Of: Journal of cleaner production. Volume 244(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-01-20
• Subjects: Building information modeling -- Computational fluid dynamics -- Indoor air quality -- Indoor partition -- Solar analysis -- Thermal comfort; Factory and trade waste -- Management -- Periodicals; Manufactures -- Environmental aspects -- Periodicals; Déchets industriels -- Gestion -- Périodiques; Usines -- Aspect de l'environnement -- Périodiques; 628.5
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2019.118912
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0959-6526

Abstract

Abstract: It is important to monitor the indoor air quality and thermal comfort of an office environment for the wellbeing of its occupants, and, to do so, computational fluid dynamics simulation is more cost-effective than measuring an entire floor. Computational fluid dynamics simulation has been used by previous studies for single rooms and partitioned spaces, but not for office floors with multi-zone ventilation systems, and air infiltrations between different zones through closed doors have been neglected. Also, since it is often not possible to take measurements across an entire floor due to concerns of tenant privacy, few studies have used the limited obtainable field measurements to validate multi-zone computational fluid dynamics simulations. This study describes a methodology to conduct indoor multi-zone steady-state computational fluid dynamics simulation, with improved accuracy, on a typical office floor where there is limited information on carbon dioxide concentrations and temperatures. Heat and mass conservation equations were used to compensate for the lack of information. The mechanical ventilation and air conditioning layout was considered along with the sources of heat and carbon dioxide emissions. To improve the accuracy of the simulation on temperature, a solar analysis, based on building geometry, orientation, materials, location, and weather, was conducted to estimate any solar heat gain and distribution through curtain walls. Building information modeling supported the solar analysis and provided geometric information for the computational fluid dynamics simulation. The methodology was validated by a real case of a commercial building, where the accuracy of the temperature simulation improved by 9.9%. Graphical abstract: Image 10392 Highlights: Proposed an approach coupling solar analysis and BIM for improved accuracy of CFD. Validated a CFD model of a real case in a commercial building. Achieved an 9.9% accuracy improvement in temperature simulation results on average. Simulated airflow distribution is in good agreement with the observed airflow path.