Numerical simulation of indoor aerodynamics in big enclosed spaces

The technique of field modelling is applied to predict the indoor air movement and convective heat transfer induced by thermal sources in big enclosures. This is achieved by solving a system of partial differential equations describing the conservation of momentum, enthaply and mass. The k-e model is used to describe the turbulent effect. The equations are discretized using finite difference method and solved by the Semi-Implict-Method-for Pressure-Linked-Equations-Revised (SIMPLER) scheme. Examples taken to illustrate the capability of the model are the smoke movement pattern in an atrium fire, part of an air-conditioned atrium, the ventilation of a big cargo terminal and a fire compartment for validating the field model. The predicted results are particularly useful for critizing the performance of the mechanical system in those big spaces.