• Korean Journal of Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Engineering
• /
• v.24 no.10
• /
• pp.718-723
• /
• 2012

The purpose of this study is to propose modeling method of Underfloor Air Distribution System with reliability and validity by comparing characteristics of modeling methods. For this, the modeling methods of UFAD were selected by investigating various modeling methods of previous researches. Then, simulations were conducted by using EnergyPlus which is dynamic analysis program of building energy. Annual energy consumption for each method was compared with a wide range of indoor thermal loads. As a result, the methodology of reducing internal gains can cause under sizing of the system. It suggests modeling methods to reflect occupied zone air-conditioning, temperature stratification and supply plenum which are the main characteristics of UFAD.

• Korean Journal of Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Engineering
• /
• v.29 no.3
• /
• pp.105-110
• /
• 2017

Underfloor air distribution (UFAD) is an air distribution strategy for providing ventilation and space conditioning in buildings. UFAD systems use the underfloor plenum beneath a raised access floor to provide conditioned air through floor diffusers that create a vertical thermal stratification during cooling operations. Thermal stratification has significant effects on energy, indoor air quality, and thermal comfort performance. The purpose of this study was to characterize the influence of a linear bar grille diffuser on thermal stratification in both interior and perimeter zones by developing Gamma-Phi based prediction models. Forty-eight simulations were carried out using a Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) technique. The number of diffusers, the air flow supply, internal heat gains, and solar radiations varied among the different cases. Models to predict temperature stratification for the tested linear bar grille diffuser have been developed, which can be directly implemented into dynamic whole-building simulation software such as EnergyPlus.

• Korean Journal of Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Engineering
• /
• v.20 no.11
• /
• pp.711-717
• /
• 2008

Despite the fact that UFAD(Under Floor Air Distribution) systems have many benefits and are being applied in the field in increasing numbers, there is a strong need for an improved fundamental understanding of several key performance features of these systems. This study numerically investigates the effect of supplied air temperature and supplied flow rate on the performance of UFAD, especially focused on thermal comfort. Also this study has compared UFAD with conventional overhead air distribution system. In contrast to the well-mixed room air conditions of the conventional overheat system, UFAD system produces an overall floor-to-ceiling airflow pattern that takes advantage of the natural buoyancy produced by heat sources in the occupied zone and more efficiently removes heat loads and contaminants from the space. Thermal comfort parameters were evaluated by CFD approach and then PMV was computed to detect the occupants' thermal sensation. Results show that radiative mean temperature plays crucial role on the evaluating PMV. Until now, the radiative temperature has been the missing link between CFD and thermal comfort, but the present study paves the way for overcoming this weakness.

• Korean Journal of Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Engineering
• /
• v.13 no.4
• /
• pp.252-261
• /
• 2001

Room air flow and temperature distribution was numerically investigated where a PAC(personal air conditioning) system was installed. The calculated results were compared with those from experiments. The effects of the important operation parameters such as the air flow rate, velocity, and temperature at the diffuser on the thermal performance of the system were studied. The possibility of energy saving using the PAC system was verified from the results, It was shown that the warm air from the diffuser could not spread over the whole task area if the inlet temperature was too high.

• Korean Journal of Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Engineering
• /
• v.15 no.5
• /
• pp.346-351
• /
• 2003

This paper aims at suggesting design guidelines for a perimeter-less HVAC system that contributes energy savings. Perimeter-less HVAC system is one that relieves difficulties fuck as handling mixing loss, uneven radiative environment, and maintenance and repair. It prevents heat load gained through window and outdoor wall without modifying a previously equipped building skin system. In this paper, we performed several kinds of CFD (computational fluid dynamics) cases through numerical simulation to obtain an optimized perimeter-less design, and then we conducted a large-scale model experiment to see how the push-pull air flow would handle indoor heat to obtain an optimized perimeter-less design.

• Journal of the Korean Solar Energy Society
• /
• v.27 no.3
• /
• pp.127-133
• /
• 2007

Underfloor air distribution system is generally known to be more energy-saving and provide more comfort as compared with overhead air distribution system. In practice, however, some buildings to which underfloor air distribution system is applied have less effectiveness in saving energy and are getting dissatisfaction with cold draft caused by wind velocity of air distribution in terms of comfort. It is judged that such problems are due to failure to consider properties of underfloor air distribution system in applying it and identical design with the design standards for the existing overhead air distribution system. This study aims at introducing an air conditioning type of the occupied zone for underfloor all distribution system to see its effectiveness in saving energy for air conditioning of the occupied zone through a comparative simulation with the existing air conditioning type.

• Korean Journal of Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Engineering
• /
• v.12 no.5
• /
• pp.439-447
• /
• 2000

The PEM(Personal Environment Module) system is an individual air conditioning system developed in order to improve thermal comfort in office buildings. In this study, thermal characteristics of a PEM system have measured experimentally and compared with UFAC(Under Floor hir Conditioning) system in the EC(Environment Chamber) constructed in KIER. Results showed that the PEM system was better than UFAC system for thermal comfort and energy conservation.

• Korean Journal of Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Engineering
• /
• v.25 no.1
• /
• pp.14-19
• /
• 2013

The present study has been conducted for evaluating and comparing the performance of the underfloor air distribution system(UFAD) and the ceiling based air distribution system(CBAD) under cooling condition. Simulations and experiments were carried out for verifying the model by TRNSYS program about UFAD and CBAD. The results of simulation for various conditions of thermal load are summarized as followings. UFAD had an advantage for making thermal comfort because of lower temperature of the floor surface. Moreover, UFAD showed lower fan power about 30~50% than CBAD under the same conditions of thermal load. The energy saving rates of UFAD were increased to 17.7% in proportion to the thermal load on unoccupied zone(lighting). Ultimately, additional investigations should be done for analyzing optimized operating conditions of UFAD with considering the thermal performance of building envelop and the thermal load.

• Journal of the Korean Solar Energy Society
• /
• v.30 no.4
• /
• pp.92-99
• /
• 2010

The purpose of this study is to apply pressurized plenum under floor air conditioning system to office areas to understand characteristics of indoor thermal environment based on forms of diffusers. For doing this, the author conducted experiment of module measurement, and based on the results, analyzed indoor temperature distribution and velocity distribution based on direction of diffusion by using Computational Fluid Dynamics(CFD), and estimated the Predicted Mean Vote(PMV) of residents based on forms of diffusers to present the optimal air conditioning of the pressurized plenum under floor air conditioning system in heating. The results of this study are as follows. First, as for forms of diffusers, distributed diffusers rather than conical and grill diffusers were favorable in maintaining $24^{\circ}C$, the established temperature in heating, were active in velocity flowing, and were wide in a radius of diffusion. Second, as for position of pressurizing, the difference between upper and lower temperature was wider in center, lateral, and dispersed pressurizing (in order). As for velocity distribution, the velocity was more increased in lateral, center, and dispersed pressurizing(in order), indicating that dispersed pressurizing maintained uniform thermal environment. Third, as for diffusion direction, mixed direction showed less difference between upper and lower temperature and the difference in velocity between center and lateral part was 0.01m/1, indicating that it maintained uniform thermal environment. Fourth, as for the PMV of residents based on the forms of diffusers, the dispersed type showed(+) values above (0) when applied variably based on the position of diffuser, presenting thermal feeling of "being comfortable" to residents.

• Journal of the Korean Solar Energy Society
• /
• v.22 no.4
• /
• pp.85-96
• /
• 2002

Recently the number of auditoriums such as theaters, assembly halls, and concert halls is increasing in Korea. Auditoriums have generally large space volume, have a high density of occupancy per unit floor area, compared to other buildings. Since they have relatively high ceilings, some heat may stratify above the occupied zone. The under floor air conditioning system, which is set under seats, is frequently selected in an auditorium, because typical air conditioning system where air is supplied from ceilings often causes drafts and unequal temperature distribution. Therefore, this study aims to suggest basic data for air conditioning system design of a middle-sized auditorium. Features and problems of air conditioning system of an auditorium which has about 500 seats are investigated as a case study. In addition, indoor thermal comfort and cooling energy consumption are analyzed with a CFD program and an energy analysis program.