A review of total volume environment and individually controlled micro-environment

Abstract

Indoor environment has great effects on the health, comfort, and performance of occupants in modern buildings. The energy used for ventilating of buildings is substantial. However, ventilation based on total volume air distribution in spaces is not always an energy efficient way to provide high-quality indoor environments. Recently, individually controlled ventilation, which is designed to supply clean air where, when, and as much as needed, makes it possible to efficiently achieve high-quality indoor environment while reducing energy use. The personalized solutions generate a micro-environment that covers the space where the user spends a relatively long time. This review based on a number of experimental and numerical studies on total volume ventilation, zonal ventilation and personalized ventilation to assess the most suitable methods for indoor environment. Performance in terms of thermal comfort, air quality and energy efficiency are examined. In this study, different ventilation systems are classified according to specific requirements and assessment procedures. Finally, a discussion on the application and benefits of these ventilation is conducted and gives a direction for further investigation. The analysis results form a basic framework regarding the application of personalized ventilation in future.