Computational and experimental evaluation of airflow behavior and thermal comfort in a cassette air-conditioned classroom

Tóm tắt

This study evaluates thermal comfort and airflow characteristics of an HVAC system in a university classroom to improve indoor thermal environmental quality. A cassette air-conditioner layout was analyzed using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations conducted with Ansys Fluent. The simulations investigated supply air outlet angles of 15°, 30°, and 45° with inlet velocities ranging from 1.22 m/s to 1.92 m/s. The results indicate that airflow velocity and supply air temperature significantly influence airflow distribution and thermal comfort. Within the investigations, an inlet air velocity of 1.56 m/s with a 60° discharge angle provided a good balance between cooling performance, thermal uniformity, and occupant comfort. The low supply air temperature cases were employed to investigate trends in airflow organization and temperature distribution, rather than to recommend long-term operating conditions for the HVAC systems.