Optimizing air distribution system in swimming halls

Abstract

This study examines different ventilation strategies for swimming pools using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations, with a particular focus on Åfjord swimming pool. The purpose of the study was to optimize the air distribution system to improve the indoor climate and reduce energy consumption. By simulating different scenarios with different locations and amounts of air intake and outlet, the effect on air quality and thermal comfort was assessed. The simulations showed that using intakes in the roof alone provided better ventilation efficiency and thermal comfort for the users of the swimming pool than the other alternatives. This supports the importance of strategic placement of ventilation openings to achieve optimal air distribution. In addition to the main findings, the study experienced several limitations, including challenges with the STAR-CCM+ software where the server was often unresponsive, and the simulations took up to 2 to 3 days to complete. These challenges limited the number of simulations that could be carried out and affected the progress of the project. The findings from this study provide valuable insights for future projects with similar objectives, and future work should focus on improving the simulation resources and details of the models to achieve even more accurate results