Efficient "Horizontal Flow" Ventilation: Influence of Supply Inlet Designs.

An even distribution of room air can improve indoor air quality, lower energy costs, and create thermally comfortable environments. This paper investigates the influence of the design of plaque diffusers on the efficiency of supply air. For better comfort and more accurate observations, the isothermal flow investigation was made in a small scale chamber with the air supply and exhaust on opposite walls. The supply air was spread radially and symmetrically over the vertical inlet wall. Plaques of different sizes, both solid and perforated were tested. The diameter of the plaques and the distance to the inlet wall were important parameters. They both influenced the general flow pattern in the room and the flow pattern close to the inlet region. Promising results regarding air change efficiency were reached by perforated plaques. The experimental results are compared to the results from numerical simulations on a fine grid where the plaque perforation degree has also been taken into consideration. An acceptable agreement was reached between experimental and numerical results.