Application of open-source CFD software to the indoor airflow simulation

The use of open-source CFD has been growing in both industry and academia. Open-source CFD saves users a considerable license cost and provides users with full transparency of implementation and maximum freedom of customization. However, it is often necessary to assess the performance of an open-source code before applying it to the practical use. This study applies one of the most popular open-source CFD codes – OpenFOAM to the indoor airflow and heat transfer prediction. The performance of OpenFOAM is evaluated and validated against a well-documented benchmark test.

Improvement of CFD application in ventilated enclosures: a test case.

The aim of this study is to improve the utilization of CFD approach in the applications of air conditioning technology. More precisely, to establish principles and recommendations to follow in order to design air distribution systems in small enclosures at low room air changes per hour by means of CFD technique. By the use of a commercial code, Fluent, the accuracy and reliability of such a numerical simulation are elucidated in this work for a mixing ventilation system; the air supply terminal is a commercial diffuser which creates a complicated 3D - wall jet below the ceiling.

Numerical modelling of three dimensional ventilation duct flow.

Presented in the paper is an efficient and accurate numerical method for simulation of ventilation duct flow. The mathematical method is based on the three-dimensional incompressible RANS equations with isotropic k-w near-wall turbulence closures, written in generalized curvilinear coordinates in strong conservation form. The numerical method presented here is used to calculate the turbulent flow through a bend of rectangular ventilation duct featuring pressure induced secondary motions and rotation effects on turbulence.