diffuser

It is evident from the existing research that poor thermal comfort can adversely affect the health and productivity of the occupants. The analysis of thermal comfort is even more significant in the health care environments where the occupants are potentially more vulnerable due to poor individual health (patients) and/or extended exposure to such conditions (staff). This study focuses on the evaluation of thermal comfort in hospitals’ recovery rooms considering both health care staff and patients.

The most carefully calculated and designed air conditioning installation will not be comfortable for the occupants unless the air diffuser is chosen correctly. It is the determination of the former which will enable a zone to have a homogenous temperature at all points and an absence of noxious draughts in the occupation zone. The classic large scale air diffuser therefore is the intermediary between installation of air conditioning and the premises to be conditioned. Discusses the role of the air diffuser in detail.

In this study the instantaneous temperatures and velocities close to a diffuser for displacement ventilation have been recorded by using whole-field measuring techniques. The air temperatures were measured indirectly by the use of a low thermal mass screen in conjunction with infrared thermography. The measuring screen was mounted parallel to the airflow, acting as a target screen. By using the thermal images the size of the near zone was also calculated. To determine air movements a whole field method called particle streak velocimetry (PSV) was used.