Simplified model to predict indoor air temperature distribution

This  paper  describes  a  simplified  computational model to predict indoor air temperature distribution. This model is based on the energy conservation equation combined with a scaling analysis of the momentum equation. Three-dimensional domains can be discretized in a number of finite volumes and the energy balance is considered for each volume. The resulting set of non-linear equations is iteratively solved using the line-by-line Thomas Algorithm. As long as the only equation to be solved is the conservation of energy and its coefficients are not strongly dependent on the temperature field, the solution is considerably  fast. Therefore,  the application of such model to a whole building system is quite reasonable. Case studies were carried out and comparisons with CFD solutions were performed. The  results  are  quite  promising  for  engineering purposes.