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The Role of HVAC Design and Windows on the Indoor Airflow Pattern and ACH

Author

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  • Behrouz Pirouz

    (Department of Mechanical, Energy and Management Engineering, University of Calabria, 87036 Rende, CS, Italy)

  • Stefania Anna Palermo

    (Department of Civil Engineering, University of Calabria, 87036 Rende, CS, Italy)

  • Seyed Navid Naghib

    (Department of Mechanical, Energy and Management Engineering, University of Calabria, 87036 Rende, CS, Italy)

  • Domenico Mazzeo

    (Department of Mechanical, Energy and Management Engineering, University of Calabria, 87036 Rende, CS, Italy)

  • Michele Turco

    (Department of Civil Engineering, University of Calabria, 87036 Rende, CS, Italy)

  • Patrizia Piro

    (Department of Civil Engineering, University of Calabria, 87036 Rende, CS, Italy)

Abstract

The purpose of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems are to create optimum thermal comfort and appropriate indoor air quality (IAQ) for occupants. Air ventilation systems can significantly affect the health risk in indoor environments, especially those by contaminated aerosols. Therefore, the main goal of the study is to analyze the indoor airflow patterns in the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems and the impact of outlets/windows. The other goal of this study is to simulate the trajectory of the aerosols from a human sneeze, investigate the impact of opening windows on the number of air changes per hour (ACH) and exhibit the role of dead zones with poor ventilation. The final goal is to show the application of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation in improving the HVAC design, such as outlet locations or airflow rate, in addition to the placement of occupants. In this regard, an extensive literature review has been combined with the CFD method to analyze the indoor airflow patterns, ACH, and the role of windows. The airflow pattern analysis shows the critical impact of inflow/outflow and windows. The results show that the CFD model simulation could exhibit optimal placement and safer locations for the occupants to decrease the health risk. The results of the discrete phase simulation determined that the actual ACH could be different from the theoretical ACH as the short circuit and dead zones affect the ACH.

Suggested Citation

  • Behrouz Pirouz & Stefania Anna Palermo & Seyed Navid Naghib & Domenico Mazzeo & Michele Turco & Patrizia Piro, 2021. "The Role of HVAC Design and Windows on the Indoor Airflow Pattern and ACH," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(14), pages 1-31, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:14:p:7931-:d:595172
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Jong-Il Bang & Jeongyeon Park & Anseop Choi & Jae-Weon Jeong & Jin Yong Kim & Minki Sung, 2018. "Evaluation of UR-UVGI System for Sterilization Effect on Microorganism Contamination in Negative Pressure Isolation Ward," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(9), pages 1-19, September.
    2. Behrouz Pirouz & Stefania Anna Palermo & Mario Maiolo & Natale Arcuri & Patrizia Piro, 2020. "Decreasing Water Footprint of Electricity and Heat by Extensive Green Roofs: Case of Southern Italy," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(23), pages 1-16, December.
    3. Behrouz Pirouz & Natale Arcuri & Behzad Pirouz & Stefania Anna Palermo & Michele Turco & Mario Maiolo, 2020. "Development of an Assessment Method for Evaluation of Sustainable Factories," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(5), pages 1-15, February.
    4. Mark Nicas & Rachael M. Jones, 2009. "Relative Contributions of Four Exposure Pathways to Influenza Infection Risk," Risk Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 29(9), pages 1292-1303, September.
    5. Behrouz Pirouz & Domenico Mazzeo & Stefania Anna Palermo & Seyed Navid Naghib & Michele Turco & Patrizia Piro, 2021. "CFD Investigation of Vehicle’s Ventilation Systems and Analysis of ACH in Typical Airplanes, Cars, and Buses," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(12), pages 1-22, June.
    6. Mazzeo, Domenico & Matera, Nicoletta & De Luca, Pierangelo & Baglivo, Cristina & Maria Congedo, Paolo & Oliveti, Giuseppe, 2020. "Worldwide geographical mapping and optimization of stand-alone and grid-connected hybrid renewable system techno-economic performance across Köppen-Geiger climates," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 276(C).
    7. Jinghua Yu & Kangxin Leng & Feifei Wang & Hong Ye & Yongqiang Luo, 2020. "Simulation Study on Dynamic Thermal Performance of a New Ventilated Roof with Form-Stable PCM in Southern China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(22), pages 1-21, November.
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    Cited by:

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    2. Zhuona Zhang & Xia Li & Keyang Lyu & Xiaoning Zhao & Feng Zhang & Dong Liu & Yonggang Zhao & Fan Gao & Jian Hu & Dongqun Xu, 2023. "Exploring the Transmission Path, Influencing Factors and Risk of Aerosol Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 at Xi’an Xianyang International Airport," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(1), pages 1-11, January.
    3. Krzysztof Nering & Alicja Kowalska-Koczwara & Anna Shymanska & Michał Pawluś, 2022. "The Possibility of Providing Acoustic Comfort in Hotel Rooms as an Element of Sustainable Development," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(20), pages 1-21, October.
    4. Kun Lan & Yang Chen, 2022. "Air Quality and Thermal Environment of Primary School Classrooms with Sustainable Structures in Northern Shaanxi, China: A Numerical Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(19), pages 1-19, September.

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