Title: CFD studies of pollutant spatial distribution in a large office

Authors: Nektarios Koutsourakis; John G. Bartzis; George C. Efthimiou; Ioannis Sakellaris

Addresses: Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Western Macedonia, Sialvera & Bakola Str., 50100, Kozani, Greece; Environmental Research Laboratory, National Centre for Scientific Research 'Demokritos', Patriarchou Grigoriou E & 27 Neapoleos Str., 15341, Agia Paraskevi, Greece ' Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Western Macedonia, Sialvera & Bakola Str., 50100, Kozani, Greece ' Environmental Research Laboratory, National Centre for Scientific Research 'Demokritos', Patriarchou Grigoriou E & 27 Neapoleos Str., 15341, Agia Paraskevi, Greece ' Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Western Macedonia, Sialvera & Bakola Str., 50100, Kozani, Greece

Abstract: One of the goals of research on indoor air quality is the reduction of human exposure due to the dispersion of hazardous airborne materials. The purpose of this study is to analyse, by using computational fluid dynamics (CFD), the flow and the concentration patterns of floor-emitted pollutants inside a real, mechanically ventilated office of simple geometry. The simulation results show complex airflow and high heterogeneity of concentration distribution. Another objective of the study is to examine how alternative ventilation scenarios (vents' position and flow strength) could affect the human exposure in the same office. Furthermore, additional simulations and sensitivity tests are performed in order to discuss CFD reliability issues. Studies like this contribute to the determination of the parameters that influence the modelling results and prepare the ground for improved and more reliable future simulations of indoor pollutant dispersion.

Keywords: computational fluid dynamics; CFD; indoor air quality; IAQ; offices; complex flow; pollutant dispersion; concentrations' heterogeneity; ventilation optimisation; simulation reliability; modelling parameters; ADREA.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEP.2019.101837

International Journal of Environment and Pollution, 2019 Vol.65 No.1/2/3, pp.125 - 148

Received: 20 Jan 2018
Accepted: 07 Jan 2019
Published online: 28 Aug 2019 *

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