This research grows out of a desire to find a Solar-Wind Generated Roof Ventilation System for low-cost dwellings located in high building density urban areas where horizontal air movement is restricted. A general purpose computational fluid dynamics (CFD-ACE+) program was utilised to explore, analyse and develop a roof model based on its aerodynamics and thermal performance to obtain optimum wind pressure and temperature differences. Comparisons were made with physical scale models.
We report on a series of measurements of the temperature at Houghton Hall, Luton,over the Spring and Summer of 2003. The data show that the building tracks the externaltemperature, but that the amplitude of diurnal temperature fluctuations typically lies within 2-6 C,while the external fluctuations may be as large as 15-25 C. This buffering of the internaltemperature is largely due to the thermal mass of the space which introduces a time-lag ofbetween 0.5-3.0 hours in the response time of the interior to the exterior space, over the periodof our survey.
The aiflows driven by a revolving door that links two rooms of initially uniform temperature are examined. Two situations are considered, the first in which the rooms are at equal temperature, and the second in which there is a temperature difference between the rooms.
The flows were examined using a small-scale model of a revolving door and with fresh- and
salt-water solutions to represent temperature differences. The results presented herein reveal
how the transfer of air across a revolving doorway depends on the rotation rate and temperature
Rising energy prices have contributed to the development of heat pump-based heating systems in Sweden. Low flow temperature in the secondary heat distribution system to rooms is a requirement for energy-efficient systems. This increases the thermal efficiency of the heat pump and decreases thermal losses in the distribution system. Flow temperatures in water-based systems for heat distribution in buildings have been decreased from 55C to temperatures around 30C. This is to maximize the efficiency of heating systems that are based on heat pump technology.
Cooling ceiling systems are controlling only the sensible heat balance of the rooms; they are always combined with a ventilation system foreseen to control indoor humidity and to cover air renewal requirements. Between the types of cooling ceiling in use, the passive chilled beams seem to be the most sensitive to ventilation air influence. Jn most of the cases, the ventilation outlets are located in the ceiling void, and consequently this generates a penalty on the beam cooling power. The work presented aims at estimating this influence, through results issued from experimental studies.
Displacement ventilation may provide better indoor air quality than mixing ventilation. Proper design of displacement ventilation requires information concerning the air temperature difference between the head and foot level of a sedentary person and the ventilation effectiveness at the breathing level. This paper presents models to predict the air temperature difference and the ventilation effectiveness, based on a database of 56 cases with displacement ventilation. The database was generated by using a validated CFD program and covers four different types of U.S.