IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v13y2021i14p7931-d595172.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

The Role of HVAC Design and Windows on the Indoor Airflow Pattern and ACH

Author

Listed:
  • Behrouz Pirouz

    (Department of Mechanical, Energy and Management Engineering, University of Calabria, 87036 Rende, CS, Italy)

  • Stefania Anna Palermo

    (Department of Civil Engineering, University of Calabria, 87036 Rende, CS, Italy)

  • Seyed Navid Naghib

    (Department of Mechanical, Energy and Management Engineering, University of Calabria, 87036 Rende, CS, Italy)

  • Domenico Mazzeo

    (Department of Mechanical, Energy and Management Engineering, University of Calabria, 87036 Rende, CS, Italy)

  • Michele Turco

    (Department of Civil Engineering, University of Calabria, 87036 Rende, CS, Italy)

  • Patrizia Piro

    (Department of Civil Engineering, University of Calabria, 87036 Rende, CS, Italy)

Abstract

The purpose of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems are to create optimum thermal comfort and appropriate indoor air quality (IAQ) for occupants. Air ventilation systems can significantly affect the health risk in indoor environments, especially those by contaminated aerosols. Therefore, the main goal of the study is to analyze the indoor airflow patterns in the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems and the impact of outlets/windows. The other goal of this study is to simulate the trajectory of the aerosols from a human sneeze, investigate the impact of opening windows on the number of air changes per hour (ACH) and exhibit the role of dead zones with poor ventilation. The final goal is to show the application of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation in improving the HVAC design, such as outlet locations or airflow rate, in addition to the placement of occupants. In this regard, an extensive literature review has been combined with the CFD method to analyze the indoor airflow patterns, ACH, and the role of windows. The airflow pattern analysis shows the critical impact of inflow/outflow and windows. The results show that the CFD model simulation could exhibit optimal placement and safer locations for the occupants to decrease the health risk. The results of the discrete phase simulation determined that the actual ACH could be different from the theoretical ACH as the short circuit and dead zones affect the ACH.

Suggested Citation

  • Behrouz Pirouz & Stefania Anna Palermo & Seyed Navid Naghib & Domenico Mazzeo & Michele Turco & Patrizia Piro, 2021. "The Role of HVAC Design and Windows on the Indoor Airflow Pattern and ACH," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(14), pages 1-31, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:14:p:7931-:d:595172
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/13/14/7931/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/13/14/7931/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Behrouz Pirouz & Natale Arcuri & Behzad Pirouz & Stefania Anna Palermo & Michele Turco & Mario Maiolo, 2020. "Development of an Assessment Method for Evaluation of Sustainable Factories," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(5), pages 1-15, February.
    2. Jong-Il Bang & Jeongyeon Park & Anseop Choi & Jae-Weon Jeong & Jin Yong Kim & Minki Sung, 2018. "Evaluation of UR-UVGI System for Sterilization Effect on Microorganism Contamination in Negative Pressure Isolation Ward," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(9), pages 1-19, September.
    3. Behrouz Pirouz & Domenico Mazzeo & Stefania Anna Palermo & Seyed Navid Naghib & Michele Turco & Patrizia Piro, 2021. "CFD Investigation of Vehicle’s Ventilation Systems and Analysis of ACH in Typical Airplanes, Cars, and Buses," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(12), pages 1-22, June.
    4. Mazzeo, Domenico & Matera, Nicoletta & De Luca, Pierangelo & Baglivo, Cristina & Maria Congedo, Paolo & Oliveti, Giuseppe, 2020. "Worldwide geographical mapping and optimization of stand-alone and grid-connected hybrid renewable system techno-economic performance across Köppen-Geiger climates," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 276(C).
    5. Behrouz Pirouz & Stefania Anna Palermo & Mario Maiolo & Natale Arcuri & Patrizia Piro, 2020. "Decreasing Water Footprint of Electricity and Heat by Extensive Green Roofs: Case of Southern Italy," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(23), pages 1-16, December.
    6. Jinghua Yu & Kangxin Leng & Feifei Wang & Hong Ye & Yongqiang Luo, 2020. "Simulation Study on Dynamic Thermal Performance of a New Ventilated Roof with Form-Stable PCM in Southern China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(22), pages 1-21, November.
    7. Mark Nicas & Rachael M. Jones, 2009. "Relative Contributions of Four Exposure Pathways to Influenza Infection Risk," Risk Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 29(9), pages 1292-1303, September.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Krzysztof Nering & Alicja Kowalska-Koczwara & Anna Shymanska & Michał Pawluś, 2022. "The Possibility of Providing Acoustic Comfort in Hotel Rooms as an Element of Sustainable Development," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(20), pages 1-21, October.
    2. Claudio Sassanelli & Tiziano Arriga & Stefano Zanin & Idiano D'Adamo & Sergio Terzi, 2022. "Industry 4.0 Driven Result-oriented PSS: An Assessment in the Energy Management," International Journal of Energy Economics and Policy, Econjournals, vol. 12(4), pages 186-203, July.
    3. Kun Lan & Yang Chen, 2022. "Air Quality and Thermal Environment of Primary School Classrooms with Sustainable Structures in Northern Shaanxi, China: A Numerical Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(19), pages 1-19, September.
    4. Zhuona Zhang & Xia Li & Keyang Lyu & Xiaoning Zhao & Feng Zhang & Dong Liu & Yonggang Zhao & Fan Gao & Jian Hu & Dongqun Xu, 2023. "Exploring the Transmission Path, Influencing Factors and Risk of Aerosol Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 at Xi’an Xianyang International Airport," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(1), pages 1-11, January.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Piero Bevilacqua & Stefania Perrella & Daniela Cirone & Roberto Bruno & Natale Arcuri, 2021. "Efficiency Improvement of Photovoltaic Modules via Back Surface Cooling," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(4), pages 1-18, February.
    2. Behrouz Pirouz & Stefania Anna Palermo & Mario Maiolo & Natale Arcuri & Patrizia Piro, 2020. "Decreasing Water Footprint of Electricity and Heat by Extensive Green Roofs: Case of Southern Italy," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(23), pages 1-16, December.
    3. Domenico Mazzeo & Giuseppe Oliveti, 2020. "Advanced Innovative Solutions for Final Design in Terms of Energy Sustainability of Nearly/Net Zero Energy Buildings (nZEB)," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(24), pages 1-5, December.
    4. Silva, Ana R. & Pousinho, H.M.I. & Estanqueiro, Ana, 2022. "A multistage stochastic approach for the optimal bidding of variable renewable energy in the day-ahead, intraday and balancing markets," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 258(C).
    5. Nan Zhang & Yuguo Li, 2018. "Transmission of Influenza A in a Student Office Based on Realistic Person-to-Person Contact and Surface Touch Behaviour," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(8), pages 1-20, August.
    6. Domhnall Melly & Emmet McLoughlin & Kelly Maguire, 2023. "Emerging Venue Considerations for Event Management: The Case of Ireland," Tourism and Hospitality, MDPI, vol. 4(1), pages 1-15, March.
    7. Behrouz Pirouz & Sina Shaffiee Haghshenas & Behzad Pirouz & Sami Shaffiee Haghshenas & Patrizia Piro, 2020. "Development of an Assessment Method for Investigating the Impact of Climate and Urban Parameters in Confirmed Cases of COVID-19: A New Challenge in Sustainable Development," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(8), pages 1-17, April.
    8. Christos Nicolaides & Demetris Avraam & Luis Cueto‐Felgueroso & Marta C. González & Ruben Juanes, 2020. "Hand‐Hygiene Mitigation Strategies Against Global Disease Spreading through the Air Transportation Network," Risk Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 40(4), pages 723-740, April.
    9. Hisham Alghamdi & Aníbal Alviz-Meza, 2023. "A Novel Strategy for Converting Conventional Structures into Net-Zero-Energy Buildings without Destruction," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(14), pages 1-14, July.
    10. Yuke Wang & Christine L. Moe & Peter F. M. Teunis, 2018. "Children Are Exposed to Fecal Contamination via Multiple Interconnected Pathways: A Network Model for Exposure Assessment," Risk Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 38(11), pages 2478-2496, November.
    11. Behrouz Pirouz & Sina Shaffiee Haghshenas & Sami Shaffiee Haghshenas & Patrizia Piro, 2020. "Investigating a Serious Challenge in the Sustainable Development Process: Analysis of Confirmed cases of COVID-19 (New Type of Coronavirus) Through a Binary Classification Using Artificial Intelligenc," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(6), pages 1-21, March.
    12. D'Adamo, Idiano & Gastaldi, Massimo & Morone, Piergiuseppe & Ozturk, Ilhan, 2022. "Economics and policy implications of residential photovoltaic systems in Italy's developed market," Utilities Policy, Elsevier, vol. 79(C).
    13. Alaa Khadra & Mårten Hugosson & Jan Akander & Jonn Are Myhren, 2020. "Development of a Weight Factor Method for Sustainability Decisions in Building Renovation. Case Study Using Renobuild," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(17), pages 1-15, September.
    14. Paolo Maria Congedo & Cristina Baglivo & Simone Panico & Domenico Mazzeo & Nicoletta Matera, 2022. "Optimization of Micro-CAES and TES Systems for Trigeneration," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(17), pages 1-14, August.
    15. Fei Tian & Xuelin Li & Mengdi Liu & Changfa Xia & Xudong Guo & Xiaocheng Fang & Lei Huang, 2024. "Application of a GIS-Based Multi-Criteria Decision-Making Approach to the Siting of Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion Power Plants: A Case Study of the Xisha Sea Area, China," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(20), pages 1-19, October.
    16. Francesca Cattai & Annunziata D’Orazio & Gianluca Sbardella, 2023. "A Systematic Review on the Application of Ultraviolet Germicidal Irradiation to HVAC Systems," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(22), pages 1-26, November.
    17. Houssem Rafik Al-Hana Bouchekara & Mohammad Shoaib Shahriar & Muhammad Sharjeel Javaid & Yusuf Abubakar Sha’aban & Makbul Anwari Muhammad Ramli, 2021. "Multi-Objective Optimization of a Hybrid Nanogrid/Microgrid: Application to Desert Camps in Hafr Al-Batin," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(5), pages 1-24, February.
    18. Konstantin Osintsev & Sergei Aliukov & Sulpan Kuskarbekova, 2021. "Experimental Study of a Coil Type Steam Boiler Operated on an Oil Field in the Subarctic Continental Climate," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(4), pages 1-23, February.
    19. Rong Wang & Fayuan Wang, 2022. "Exploring the Role of Green Finance and Energy Development towards High-Quality Economic Development: Application of Spatial Durbin Model and Intermediary Effect Model," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(14), pages 1-17, July.
    20. Kotowicz, Janusz & Uchman, Wojciech, 2021. "Analysis of the integrated energy system in residential scale: Photovoltaics, micro-cogeneration and electrical energy storage," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 227(C).

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:14:p:7931-:d:595172. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.