Development of a new method to analyze and quantify the combined energy efficiency and indoor air quality of HVAC systems based on air mixing in commercial and institutional buildings

One metric of HVAC systems’ performance that is largely underestimated is the efficiency of air mixing in the room, determined by multiple factors including room dimensions, the selection of air inlets and outlets as well as their location in the room. Air mixing can have a significant effect on the energy consumption of HVAC systems and indoor air quality in mechanically ventilated buildings. The objective of this research is to better understand air mixing efficiency using CFD, then to establish a method for the combined analysis and quantification of both energy efficiency and indoor air quality as a function of air mixing in the room, an accurate and reliable method which could be adopted by the industry when approaching the design of new buildings. The expected benefit for society is a large-scale reduction of energy consumption and CO2 emissions, and a deeper understanding of air mixing for EffectiV HVAC.

Faculty Supervisor:

Didier Haillot;Andrew Rowe

Student:

Partner:

EffectiV

Discipline:

Physics

Sector:

Manufacturing

University:

École de technologie supérieure; University of Victoria

Program: