COMPUTER MODELING OF UNDERFLOOR AIR SUPPLY SYSTEM

An underfloor air supply system is considered to provide better thermal distribution than a conventional overhead air supply system. A computer model of an environmental chamber under construction was developed to investigate the performance of these two systems. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) was applied in this research to compare the temperature and air speed distribution patterns of both systems under different supply air grill locations. The CFD modeling has shown the underfloor air supply system to provide improved temperature distribution over the conventional overhead system. Under identical conditions, an underfloor air system can achieve lower air temperatures within the seated zone above the floor than possible with an overhead system leading to the possibility of energy savings. Initial results also indicated less air turbulence with an underfloor system.