CFD Simulation of heavily insulated office cubicle heated by ventilation air

Abstract

The thesis investigates the airflow and temperature distribution in an office cubicle which is heated by ventilation air using a ceiling mounted active supply air diffuser. Numerical simulation using STAR CCM+ has been implemented in order to understand the flow nature of air inside the office cubicle. A two equation k-ε model has been employed. The results show that the effect of supply air temperature has no significant effect for higher and medium flow rates (volumetric flow rates of 126 m³/h and 76 m³/h). Moreover, varying the volumetric flow rate of the supply air shows an increase in room temperature with decreasing volumetric flow rate. The simulation results have been validated with the available experimental data and shows good an agreement with an error less than 12 % for temperature and an error less than 6 % for velocity. The effect of additional heating element has also been studied. The results show a high velocity generation around a heating element resulting a significant reduction in thermal stratification.