Multi-zone models are a common tool for calculating air and contaminant exchange within rooms of a building and between building and outdoors. Usually a whole room is then modelled by one calculation node with the assumption of homogeneously mixed conditions within this room whereas in real cases temperature and contaminant concentrations vary in space. The exchange to the neighbouring nodes via the flow paths is then a function of the local values of these variables.
A mathematical model has been developed which will facilitate the prediction of infiltration rates within multi-zone buildings. The aim was to cater for: (i) significantly different temperatures in different parts of the building; (ii) flow paths at any height, including vertical connections between zones; and (iii) flow paths extending over large vertical distances. These aims led to the requirement in the associated computer program that the variation of pressure with height be accounted for independently within each zone of the building.
Login