How realistic is CFD as a tool for indoor environment design and studies without experiment

Qingyan Chen, Zhiqiang Zhai

Research output: Chapter in book / Conference proceedingConference article published in proceeding or bookAcademic researchpeer-review

9 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

This paper presents a short review of the applications of CFD to indoor environment design and studies, and introduces the most popular CFD models. The paper concludes that, although CFD is a powerful tool for indoor environment design and studies, a standard procedure must be followed so that the CFD program and user can be validated and the CFD results can be trusted. The procedure includes the use of simple cases that have basic flow features and experimental data available for validation. The simulation of indoor environment also requires creative thinking and the handling of complex boundary conditions. It is necessary to play with the numerical grid resolution and distribution in order to get a grid-independent solution with reasonable computing effort. This investigation also discusses issues related to heat transfer. It is only through these incremental exercises that the user and the CFD program can produce results that can be trusted and used for indoor environment design and studies.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationProceedings of the 2003 - 4th International Symposium on Heating, Ventilating and Airconditioning
EditorsY. Zou
Pages62-77
Number of pages16
Publication statusPublished - 2003
EventProceeding of the 2003 4th International Symposium on Heating, Ventilating and Air Conditioning - Beijing, China
Duration: 9 Oct 200311 Oct 2003

Publication series

NameProceedings of the 2003 4th International Symposium on Heating, Ventilating and Air Conditioning

Conference

ConferenceProceeding of the 2003 4th International Symposium on Heating, Ventilating and Air Conditioning
Country/TerritoryChina
CityBeijing
Period9/10/0311/10/03

Keywords

  • Air distribution
  • Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD)
  • Experimental validation
  • Indoor environment

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Engineering

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