3045 -- Airflow Characteristics in the Occupied Zone of Ventilated Spaces PDF

Draft is one of the most common causes of complaint in ventilated or air-conditioned spaces. Therefore, knowing the turbulent airflow in these spaces and the impact of this flow on the sensation of draft is very important. The characteristics of turbulent flow (turbulence intensity, length scales of turbulence, turbulence kinetic energy, etc.) were investigated in 20 typically ventilated spaces. Relationships between these characteristics and the mean velocity were found. The mean velocities and turbulence intensities of all ventilated spaces varied widely - the mean velocity from less than 0.05 m/s to 0.40 m/s and the turbulence intensity from 10% to 70%. The turbulence energy spectra are similar to those in a fully developed turbulent flow. The spectra reveal the major contribution to total turbulent energy made by the larger eddies in the low-wave number range. Some of the experimental results were compared with existing numerical predictions.

Units: SI