Airflow analysis in an air conditioning room

Abstract

The aim of superior air conditioning system is no longer constrained to advancing the efficiency of cooling machine, but includes the study of airflow with the assistance of the distribution of several significant parameters. A simple numerical study of the turbulent flow over an enclosed air conditioning system was not practicable a few decades ago since the computer facilities were not sufficient. In this paper, a standard office room was taken up for simulation. Temperature and velocity distribution over various virtual planes for different locations of the air conditioner blower were analyzed to achieve the maximum comfort for the occupant. With Fluent, as solution tool, k-epsilon and Reynolds stress models for turbulence flow were used for the analysis. The different locations of blower placement are analyzed for better comfort of occupant in the room and it is found that the occupant will experience most comfort if the air conditioner blower is placed on location II compared to the other two locations. This work can also be extended to a more complex air conditioning system like in the industries, hospitals as well as the gigantic shopping malls. © 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.