CFD Analysis for Air Conditioning System for Outdoor Environment PDF

Designing a HVAC system to meet the demands of architect for creating and maintaining a microclimate thermal comfort is a challenge at many fronts. Human thermal comfort is the ultimate goal of the system. Furthermore, condensation, humidity level and air velocity have to be controlled in order to provide for a one-of-kind outdoor experience. The wellness center is comprised of a number of rooms each with a specific purpose/service (example: oxygen bar, massage, skylight terrace etc), indoor features (water pond, live plants) and misting stations.

The HVAC design for this project incorporates conventional duct-delivered conditioned air system and under floor cooling and heating system. Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations are performed on the submitted HVAC design to investigate thermal comfort within the indoor environment of the wellness center building at a resort in Qatar. CFD is a flexible tool for predicting system performance for a given flow system. In this paper, various system configurations for the wellness center were explored and simulated with CFD.

Thermal CFD analysis is performed for the full-scale 3-D model of the wellness center. In close coordination with architect, designer and concerned MEP contractor, a full-scale geometry was prepared taking into account all the features in the construction which will directly contribute to the HVAC performance. External climate criteria is considered as the wellness center is connected to the external environment through louvers on facade, the percentage opening of which is to be controlled relative to outdoor conditions in order to maintain a certain moist microclimate indoors.