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Numerical Study on Effects of Air Return Height on Performance of an Underfloor Air Distribution System for Heating and Cooling

Author

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  • Yaming Fan

    (Indoor Environment Engineering Research Centre of Fujian Province, Fujian University of Technology, Fuzhou 350118, China)

  • Xiangdong Li

    (School of Engineering, RMIT University, GPO Box 2476, Melbourne VIC 3001, Australia)

  • Minfeng Zheng

    (Indoor Environment Engineering Research Centre of Fujian Province, Fujian University of Technology, Fuzhou 350118, China)

  • Rengui Weng

    (Fujian Eco-Materials Engineering Research Centre, Fujian University of Technology, Fuzhou 350118, China)

  • Jiyuan Tu

    (School of Engineering, RMIT University, GPO Box 2476, Melbourne VIC 3001, Australia)

Abstract

The exhaust/return-split configuration is regarded as an important upgrade of traditional under-floor-air-distribution (UFAD) systems due to its higher energy efficiency. Moreover, existing studies are mostly focused on the effect of the return vent height on the performance of an UFAD system under cooling conditions. Knowledge of the performance under heating conditions is sorely lacking. This paper presents a numerical evaluation of the performance characteristics of an UFAD system with six different heights of the return vents in heating operation by comprehensively considering thermal comfort, air quality, and energy consumption. The results show that, in the heating mode, the general thermal comfort (predicted mean vote-predicted percentage dissatisfied (PMV-PPD) values) and indoor air quality indices (mean age of air and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) concentration) were greatly improved and energy consumption was slightly reduced with a lower return vent height. Although these were opposite to the findings of our previous study regarding the performance in cooling mode, an optimal return vent height in terms of the comprehensive all-year performance can be recommended. This method provides insight into the design and optimization of the return vent height of UFAD for space heating and cooling.

Suggested Citation

  • Yaming Fan & Xiangdong Li & Minfeng Zheng & Rengui Weng & Jiyuan Tu, 2020. "Numerical Study on Effects of Air Return Height on Performance of an Underfloor Air Distribution System for Heating and Cooling," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(5), pages 1-17, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:13:y:2020:i:5:p:1070-:d:326730
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Ki-Hyung Yu & Seong-Hoon Yoon & Hae-Kwon Jung & Kee Han Kim & Kyoo-Dong Song, 2015. "Influence of Lighting Loads upon Thermal Comfort under CBAD and UFAD Systems," Energies, MDPI, vol. 8(6), pages 1-19, June.
    2. Arman Ameen & Mathias Cehlin & Ulf Larsson & Taghi Karimipanah, 2019. "Experimental Investigation of Ventilation Performance of Different Air Distribution Systems in an Office Environment—Heating Mode," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(10), pages 1-13, May.
    3. Yuanda Cheng & Jinming Yang & Zhenyu Du & Jinqing Peng, 2016. "Investigations on the Energy Efficiency of Stratified Air Distribution Systems with Different Diffuser Layouts," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 8(8), pages 1-13, July.
    4. Arman Ameen & Mathias Cehlin & Ulf Larsson & Taghi Karimipanah, 2019. "Experimental Investigation of the Ventilation Performance of Different Air Distribution Systems in an Office Environment—Cooling Mode," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(7), pages 1-15, April.
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    Cited by:

    1. Sangmu Bae & Yujin Nam & Joon-Ho Choi, 2020. "Comparative Analysis of System Performance and Thermal Comfort for an Integrated System with PVT and GSHP Considering Two Load Systems: Convective Heating and Radiant Floor Heating," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(20), pages 1-19, October.

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