Numerical Simulation of Air Temperature and Velocity in a Naturally Ventilated Office

Abstract

This paper presents a numerical simulation of air velocity and air temperature distribution in an office room of Computer Engineering Department of University of Maiduguri which is naturally ventilated. The office room under investigation with the dimension 5 m × 5 m × 4 m has a door in the East direction, and two windows, one in the East direction and the other in the South direction. For cost effectiveness, numerical solutions of steady-state airflow and heat transfer were done using a complete two-dimensional model. The results showed that the windows and the door could not undertake indoor heat load that can make the occupants to be thermally comfortable. In activity area where people sit and stand, the air velocity is moderate, this is about 0.98 m/s on the average. In addition, the temperature in this area is relatively high of about 302 K (29 °C) on the average. Based on the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) standard for comfort environment in summer (air temperature: 293 – 299 K (20 – 26 °C); air velocity: 0.5 – 0.8 m/s), the natural ventilation for the office room cannot give a thermal comfort for the inhabitant of the room. However, a window, if installed opposite the door could improve the ventilation of the office.